Main / 1104-346

Calendar

1104-345 -- 1104-346 -- 1104-347

Passengers on board this trip:

Timing of events
Fourth day in Jump space
6:00 - Start of day
6:30 - Morning Meeting
12:00 - Mid-day office hours
??? - ???

1104-346 06:30

Morning Agenda - Meeting of the Circle of 5

  1. - Crockett's security plan approval
  2. - Answers for Yellon's proposal
  3. - Potential crew positions to hire for
    1. - Engineering/Mechanical (Mikhel's input)
    2. - Astrogation (Mikhel's input)
    3. - Steward (if passengers are to be considered going forward) (Mikhel's input)
  4. - Silas and Shantina potential for continuing to Drinax as part of the team
  5. - Nicola's position
    1. - Suggest Imperial Navy 'HumInt recommendation', or, minimum, Security Check (Mikhel's input)
  6. - Options for time in Torpol system {up to 7 days in system if desired}
    1. - Tailor Consult and time for suit production/tailoring (Mikhel's input)
  7. - Items to be purchased at Torpol (Crockett's input)
  8. - Report from Sultana on Operating Budget (Crockett's request)
  9. - Vargr potential for joining crew? (Crockett's question) - If this is about Vellueo no one has said anything to him about trying to hire him away from GeDeCo, if this is about Ronnagh he is in the unknown future still

Anything about hiring crew we haven't met yet shouldn't be on an agenda for a meeting. Can we remove the last item? Save this for Discord.

The hiring mention was to start the conversation about how are you going to staff a second ship? You know when you get to Drinax you will get a ship, how will you staff it? Do you want others for the Pioneer, etc.

"If morning meetings are to become a common occurrence, we will need to stock up on coffee or other stimulates," said Athena as she sat down with her coffee, frowning. She had work to do. Why were they needing yet another meeting? Hopefully this ended after Drinax.

With a wave of tired disinterested, she continued, "Let's get the paperwork aspect out of the way first. I believe that is either the budget report or the security plan. Sultana or Crockett, please proceed with your presentations. I do not care who goes first or if we go in order."

"Thanks Captain...I'm happy to present a working document of the Ship Security Plan (SSP) I've drafted and run by both the "Doc" and the "Lieutenant"....Nothing is perfect in this world but hopefully you will support its immediate implementation. It gives priority of course to keeping a watchful eye as best we can on the security of your scientific work area on board here as best we can with the security systems that are presently in place. Sultana and I have both reviewed what's currently been stored from our cameras and thankfully we can say that as of last night there were no apparent abnormalities. I've also discussed our passengers with both the "Doc" and with the "Lieutenant" and the only one we tend to be jointly suspicious about is YELLON and I gather Mikhel has briefed you Captain about that situation." (See Ship's Log for SSP--it's below Operations)

Any questions?

Mikhel has put in what he thought important for security through comments directly in the plan. Until others put forth comments, Mikhel really doesn't think he knows enough about Pioneer's 'ships operations' to comment. Mikhel's experience has been all on established ships, with fully developed Security Plans written out and required reading coming aboard.
I missed Yellon's Proposal, so without a link to that, the player is clueless, therefore no comment by the Traveller.
Thinking about any future crew: Without knowing what the 'new to us' ship's crew requirements are, discussing potential positions is premature. We haven't heard the proposal, nor seen the ship, nor know the condition of the ship, to know if we want the job? The job for which we are considering crew? Perhaps a process for hiring going forward is worth nailing down, being that Nicola was very spur-of-the-moment, and probably not well thought through.

"Athena waited a moment to see if Sultana or Mikhel had anything to add. As both still seemed to be in the process of waking up as well, she remarked, "This is a good SOP, Crockett. Interview aside, it is a relief to see you have the skills you stated and you took quickly to them. My only suggestion is to spell out the acronyms. Most of my scientists, myself included, do not have military backgrounds. Perhaps it is because the caffeine has not hit yet, but I am unsure what CSO or SSO refer to at this moment."

"If you have not conducted your interviews yet, please proceed as initially planned. And continue keeping an eye on the passengers. Only a few more days before Torpol."

Athena gave a sigh, and sipped her coffee, looking to see if the Lieutenant wanted to present the budget yet. Unfortunately, she lacked patience for these meetings. Perhaps it was better to conduct them in a manner of each speaking up when they were ready rather than waiting for them to speak.

"If there is nothing more to add, let's move on to reaching Torpol. Items to purchase, passengers to recruit as crew, and crew we may need to seek in Torpol for this supposed... ship we may acquire? My hands are full with the Pioneer, but if you all think it worth accepting this ship, how will it be manned? What items need purchasing? We'll have a few days before continuing to Drinax."

"Speak freely. The sooner you speak up, the sooner we can wrap this all up."

Thank you Captain. I appreciate your support of this security plan and your kind words. The proposed amendments will be added immediately.

Moving on to the topic of "Reaching Torpol" as you suggest...and taking the subtopic of "Items to purchase" first. (1) We should all settle on a standard mobile comms and make sure we have enough supply in ship's locker to outfit all of us who will be going onto the starport with equipment...and failing that seek authorization from you to purchase some....(2) Obviously there will be individual clothing purchases for those attending the King's Party -- but those are individual decisions and at personal cost; (3) I'd like your approval to purchase a couple more security cameras if possible--I think the Pioneer could use them regardless of its future; (4) and while I'm personally interested in having the Pioneer install some kind of external gun or laser defense system I'm thinking we can't afford that right now and anyway I realize it's not something you're keen to do....but I'm just raising it. That's my list.

"For budget items, the attempted fix for the Galley took up about Cr1000 in filters and consumables. It helped, but there will need to be heavy maintenance sometime in the future that will take a few days in a port. Perhaps during the next scheduled maintenance overhaul. I would like to suggest we wait until then, if no external agency raises the issue. I will provide that agency with test data and records of the work to date, and hope that satisfies them. We should replace the filters and consumables at Torpol, for future routine maintance."

"As for clothes, if anyone has suggestions on a suitable clothing outlet or boutique, I'd appreciate it."

"I'm not aware of any tailors on Torpol, but I'd be happy to look over the available vendors when we get there and give you my recommendations. For my information, I was asked to provide a running monthly budget for the Pioneer, so here the numbers I was able to gather together:"
"The Pioneer's regular monthly maintenance appears to be about 11,336 credits. If stationary, the ship burns 2 tons of fuel a week, so 4000 Cr per month if the ship goes nowhere. A jump burns 40 tons for a cost of 20500 Cr. Stateroom life support is 1000, times 20 rooms, so 20000 credits. Stateroom supplies for occupied rooms is another 1000 per, so 20000 if the ship is fully occupied. And another 1000 per head in other supplies, so in total, a fully occupied Pioneer is 60000 credits/month in expenses. Comparatively, the Voyager only requires 728 per month in maintenance, and burns 1 ton of fuel per month, for 500 credits."
"So if I've got my numbers right, and there's always space for errors, the monthly cost to maintain the Pioneer if it remains stationary in a system and be fully occupied is 76,564 credits per month. That does not include salaries (lifestyle) to the scientists or crew or any remaining mortgage payments on the ship. Those are all fairly variable and are up to the Captain's discretion to manage.""

So while that's not a budget and not really our concern as crew (unless we get asked to help get expenses balancing revenue a bit more by our Captain)...I think it helps us understand where we're at a bit more....This is all in addition to the numbers Sultana has uncovered about mortgage costs on the remaining 25% of Pioneer yet to be paid off....it really remains with you Captain to keep pulling rabbits out of hats as you have done these past several months and years of operation.....So aside from the financial position of the Pioneer itself these numbers given us by Sultana...sort of help drive the point home...We (as five individuals) don't have many credits to our name and it is going to make it very difficult to respond to the King's offer and challenge when we have no financial resources of our own to operate another ship that could be in the offing (no offense made to the Captain here but we have to consider this)... Somehow we'll need financing from a benevolent sugar daddy or something I guess. Just rambling a bit...I have no solid proposal at moment but am happy the reality of our financial situation does seem a little bit clearer....including the absolute FACT that apparently there is no spare cash in ship's treasury and that likely means if we want something we're going to have to run it by our Captain for approval including for items purchased on Torpol to benefit the Pioneer.

"We need to make a good impression. If money must be spent to do so, then do so. Repairs we may need to hold off on if they are not urgent."

"As for proposals of money in the immediate future. opportunities always arise. Perhaps we'll find something in Drinax or a fascinating new grant will appear once we are out of Jump. Perhaps Eleni will convince me things are so dire I should take Yellon up on the offer to work with Dr. Maris for his expedition," said Athena, making an unpleasant face at the very thought. "We never know what Torpol will bring, either. If we need to take more passengers and cargo in the meantime, we will."

"And speaking of passengers, what are your verdicts? As they all leaving at Torpol? Do any have use to try to convince to go to Drinax? An update on Nicola would be appreciated as well. Her probation periods ends at Torpol. If she would like to stay, and she has earned it, she will be allowed to stay unless someone has something dire to report on her.

Security wise Captain, on the question about passenger verdicts and then Nicola.....There have been no direct issues that have come up other than what you and others here have already been briefed on this morning. My concerns though about Nicola continue and if she was to be invited to stay beyond Torpol my advice would be for perhaps you Captain to have a sit down with her and see if your approach to interegation might work any better in terms of getting a better background story out of her....I personally still don't trust her mainly because of her reluctantness in being straight with us and dodging our questions about her background. Enough said on that though. I'm certainly strongly in favour of cargo over passengers from Torpol to Drinax and maybe we could also pick up some mail delivery at the starport.

Mikhel considers what has been said, and doesn't figure he can add anything that will be constructive at this point. Nicola was an issue, and Mikhel would rather Crockett's suspicions weren't accurate. Wasn't he going to contact NavInt in Torpol to have her checked out?

"Mail is always a safe option for cargo. We'll just have to see what's available when we get there. Passengers are also an option, but maybe not the best. I'm passable as a Host, but only barely so. That's the kind of thing we'd need a profressional if we're going to do it often. And I'm not sure how well the Captain's staff has handled the crowded conditions."

[Although it's not really his role Crockett chimes in] Well if Sultana here wants to go on prowl a bit to see what Cargo is available, I'm happy to go with him as long as Mikhel can do a shift minding the Pioneer in our absence? Seems to me it would be a good idea to carry as much cargo as possible right now to bring in some more revenue....!...and btw isn't there something on our agenda for this morning about "Yellon's proposal"???

"I have a few errands to run, besides the tailors. Not an immediate priority. I have an associate with whom I'd like to meet. Not a priority. I do have to arrange a meeting with someone for a security check on Nicola, which I consider a very high priority. This is independent of any need of the ship, or whether we decide to continue our association with her. The meeting may provide us with a thorough, independent info source concerning our coy young lady. I am available at the ship's convenience to stand bridge watches."

"I do not know who put that there, but I no intention of taking up Yellon on her proposal," said Athena, simply. Seeing that Crockett likely wanted more explanation, she sighed, and added, "She offered to get me a spot on the expedition with Dr. Maris who will apparently be searching the oceans for the rumored Gods of Marduk. The methods Dr. Maris employs are suspect at best. His fame comes from his flashy productions, not from his scientific methods - or lack thereof."

"We are certainly not desperate enough for me to lower myself to such ...tripe. But I will leave open a line of communication with Yellon against my better judgement for other such opportunities or if, cosmos forbid, I need to work with Dr. Maris for some dire reason."

Moving on, Athena continued, "If there are no concerns with Nicola, I will speak with her before we dock at Torpol. If she still wishes to work on the Pioneer, I have been given no evidence to reject her. The proposal was for this jump to be her probation period and for her to be allowed to remain if she passed it. As she did, per condition of the deal, she will have that option."

"Anything else to discuss this morning?"

Not from me Captain. Thanks for your support for the SSP as Agenda Item 1....and it was not me who added the Yellon proposal topic...must have been Mikhel here.

[turning to Sultana] Lieutenant Sir...Wonder if we might have a quick chat after this meeting on the Bridge here about watch shifts when we arrive Torpol?

"Of course, Crockett. Come by when you have time." Sultana slides his padd off the table and looks around for any other business before leaving (assuming there isn't any).

1104-346 10:00

Mikhel meets Crockett as they move through their joint stateroom, heading out to their respective duties. "Crockett, I saw your raised brow when I mentioned Nicola at the meeting this morning. Just so you know, if I haven't mentioned it, I intend to contact NavInt at Torpol, to see if they have anything on her. As she hasn't given us much, I will provide an image and my MediScans to see if they get any hits. There may not be anything to find. I also intend to have them consider her as a HumInt Agent, whether we continue with her as part of our crew or not."

"Oh. And I didn't add anything to the agenda for the meeting this morning. I would have gone through the Captain to add anything. FYI."

That's fine....and it's great you are going to check with NavInt while on Torpol....Don't suppose you're going to learn much as the young lady isn't type of person (I don't think) to be leaving bread crumbs around for people to locate her....but glad you are going to try...