Main / 1105-009-Torpol

Calendar

1105-008 -- 1105-009 -- 1105-010

Timing of events
04:30 - Gloamhound Mutiny
8:00 - Start of a new life for Crockett
12:35 - Harrier Arrives at Highport

04:30 - Torpol Highport

Cargo Deck – Gloamhound Docked Torpol Highport | Emergency Lighting Active

The blaring alarm screams through the ship as emergency lights strobe across scattered crates and tools. Khurn stirs, groaning on the cold deckplates.

Ears pressed flat, voice groggy and sharp,

(Khurn) Kzethra! Is that a real alarm? Shut it off!

(Kzethra calm, toneless)

(Kzethra) Negative. You instructed me to trigger a false reactor alert if anyone other than you opened the ship safe.

The alarm cuts off. Silence follows—just the pulse of emergency lights and Khurn’s slow rise. Though Kzethra often sounded like a person, she wasn’t sentient—just a high-function intellect program designed to run the ship’s systems and follow protocols.

snorting, rubbing at his muzzle

(Khurn) Right. That does sound like me. Ship status?

(Kzethra) All systems are green. Magazine reloaded. Fuel tanks full. Life support and maintenance optimal.”

A pause, just long enough to suggest bad news.

However, the ship’s safe and escrow account have been emptied. All crew members except yourself have evacuated.

(Kzethra) Are we still planning to rendezvous with Corsair Zuekhvi?

Khurn sits up. Something rolls under his hand. He picks it up—a bloodied tooth. His.

holding the tooth up to the flickering light

(Khurn) No.” he stated dryly.

He turns it between his claws, slowly standing.

voice low, bitter

(Khurn) I don’t think we’re going anywhere…

He flicks the tooth into a corner of the cargo bay.

(Khurn) …with them.

A few hours later, Khurn sat slouched in the Captain’s chair on the bridge of the Gloamhound, a half-full glass of bourbon cradled in one paw and a lingering headache pulsing behind his eyes.

His former packmates had gutted the ship. They’d drained the accounts, started raiding the supplies, and might’ve taken more—if the forced opening of the safe hadn’t triggered the false reactor alarm.

Khurn had watched the playback. The panic. The scramble. The undignified sprint to the airlock. If it hadn’t been his ship, his crew, and his damn money—they might’ve made him laugh.

He took a long pull from the glass, downing half in a single motion, then swiveled toward the comms and sensor array. The displays flared to life under his claws as he searched through local traffic logs. Arrivals. Departures. Transponder data.

He frowned.

Nothing looked familiar. No ships he recognized. No flags he trusted.

“Kzethra,” he muttered, voice dry. “Looks like we might be selling the ship’s boat.”

No reply. She didn’t comment on sarcasm.

With a grunt, Khurn routed the comm alerts to his quarters, drained the rest of the bourbon, and stood slowly—shoulders heavy.

“Morning problem,” he muttered, padding off the bridge.

The lights dimmed behind him.

Rakke, If you receive this, and are still looking for a berth. There are opportunities on the Gloamhound. Seek me out at dock 13– Khurn out.

To: Khurn
Fr: Rakke

Looking for something. Oghmans seem to have scared off travellers wanting to hunt game on Marduk and Thebus. Must've been a travel advisory or something. I'll head over see what you've got.

8:00 - Blue Ice Hotel Crockett sleeps in just a short while.

For the first time in his life, he has no duties, no responsibilities, no required place to be, no duty roster to check, he is on his own to do anything he wants. Right away out of the service he joined in with the Pioneer for a brief month and found that style of ship roster was not for him. He tried out a diplomatic mission, and found that he did not like the uncertainty of that lifestyle. Now he had his own time, his own day, his own path through Charted Space.

8:30 - Blue Ice Hotel [Crockett wakens--enough is enough--freedom is only good if you make something of it] [Musing to oneself...shower and coffee time...think I'll take a bit of stroll of highport with this new freedom]

[While showering...really need to make a decision about this Sternmetal offer and then move on... Let's think about this...being on the BOARD would certainly be challenging and something I think I could be up for...but I don't see the monthly cash flow for my immediate needs right now...so think I should quit the dreaming...My polite answer will be "THANKS ...BUT NO THANKS"...let's move forward."

[Think I will get dressed...go to hotel coffee room and contact 'POSON'. Does that and sends 'POSON' message to make contact today so he can answer questions posed.]

[Sending further message to 'POSON'] For Poson "Further...I require your assistance this morning on another small matter and that is getting message to my parents on Bowman in District 268 by fast J4 courier....Please confirm when we meetup today that cost of that is 100 cr and provide confirmation of estimated time of delivery and return message back to me in Torpol c/o STARPORT ADMINISTRATION here for my attention.

Crockett is in the common room having breakfast when he gets a message on his pad.

(Poson)"Very good Sir Crockett. Message sent out this morning for you to Bowman. Anticpated arrival in that system is 1105-094. For an estimated time of return it depends on the sender. I have lined up an interview for you with Sternmetal Holdings out at Traefar. Would you prefer to do the interview tomorrow or the day after?"

[Crockett responds to POSON radio message] "Day after works best for me. So will my response from BOWMAN return to me by time of crucial Board of Directors at STERNMETAL's next meeting....say it only needs Two Days on BOWMAN for prepration of return message?

(Poson)"Very good Sir Crockett. I will set up the meeting there for you on 011. For your response back, it does entirely depend on your recipient. It is certainly possible for it to arrive in time."

[Crockett to Poson] How is my travel to Traefar to be arranged on Day 11 and will I be able to return that same day to Torpol?

(Poson)"Very good Sir Crockett, I can arrange that for you. The interview on 011, then if you are not starting work right away travel back from Traefar to home. Currently it is just over 8 days outbound, it will of course be slightly longer on the inbound trip. Orbital mechanics being what they are. The round trip ticket will cost 200Cr. I will have it billed to your room for you. Alternatively I could arrange for the interview by Holo, the downfall of that is if they need any specific tests it would delay the start of your employment."

I decided after a brief trip into seasonal orbital mechanics for the Torpol system that it is better to just give a rough number of hours (or days) rather than actual travel times.

[Crockett to Poson] Regarding trip to Traefar....we will have to do this interview by HOLO? Must I really travel to Traefar for this sort of preliminary discussion about the future? Just asking....I'd prefer to remain on Torpol for Day 011 if possible....Sorry to be of trouble.

[Crockett to 'FLORT'] I understand you are trying to rendesvous with your old friend. It has been awhile. My plans for Day 11 are somewhat unknown at specific moment. But could we say we meet tentatively at my place of lodging -- the Blue Ice Hotel on the Starport at 0900 hrs? You can send radio message to "Blue Ice Hotel, Torpol Starport" Attn: of guest James Crockett.

(Poson)"Very good Sir Crockett, I have arranged a Holo Meeting for you for your interview. It will take place on 011 at 04:00 to be in sync with Treafar's work rotation." {appointment link included in the message}