The Estran Order
Having sent a briefing CEP command regarding the Estran interest in the Garland manufacturing of “machine parts,” Alex hacked the encryption of the order and learned that it was parts for an atmospheric craft for surveying in unusual planetary conditions such as extreme temperature variations or storm-chasing.
The plans suggested a propeller-powered aircraft rather than weaponry parts. There were three recently-surveyed worlds that were eligible for claim that the vehicle described would be appropriate for.
Kovak suggested altering the plans to include a tracking device or surveillance virus to keep tabs on it. Grendel noted that the planet 164 had the most appropriate conditions, but there were no bids for it. However, it was also the most coreward, meaning that it was in a prime location to explore deeper toward the galactic core.
The backup pilot jumped the ship to next dark point beyond the Garlan system where the Bad Wolf identify was replaced with the Alex Murphy. While there, the pilot reported getting the feeling of being watched again, but it was as if the entity were watching Garlan system.
Preparations
The Alex Murphy was taken back to the Garlan homeworld, where Bletherin debarked to attend his cousin’s wedding. The ship was then taken to a discrete CEP base on , where Alex altered the holographic plates to disguise the ship as the science ship Peter Weller.
In the meantime, Grendel used all available data to create surveillance craft appropriate to the conditions on all three target worlds. Kovak noted that the G’frar charts had 164 marked as unusable. There was no additional information on the other to planets. However, planet 170 was marked with a warning by the G’frar.
The BBQ Wars
While Bletherin attended the wedding, the Peter Weller was resupplied and took on some Garlan and Antar scientists.
Bletherin fabricated a small-scale replica of the dragon found on the dinosaur world as a present. Grrr attended the wedding as well, and brought a box of Desperadoes, his New Texan BBQ scented cigars, as a present.
The BBQ Wars had escalated with the Terran first contact when various human factions, notably the New Texans and the Confederates, took their sauce recipes to the stars. Upon contact with the Garlan and the Antar, those species added their takes on sauce to the culinary debate. The best sauce controversy continues.
Kovak had a good time. She got completely intoxicated and fabricated a story about a homeworld that unquiring beings believed. Grrr enjoyed the excessive amount of meat offered. His cigars smelled like on of the sauces on the barbecue.
Embarrassing Pirates
Having completed preparations, Bletherin plotted a course to the three target worlds via Imhotep, which was fifteen jumps away. The captain acquired another hyperspace pilot before departure.
The first jump was to a dark point along the major trade route. There a pair of surplus cutters in the area that attempted to flank the ship and demanded that the Peter Weller surrender and prepare to be boarded.
Suddenly another ship jumped out of hyperspace. It was (another) science ship. Alex hid the ship among the space debris and Kovak and Grrr launched in an armed shuttle. Alex alerted the new ship of the pirates and it jumped out again.
Alex maneuvered the ship to where they thought they were flanking the Peter Weller, but one of them was flanked by the shuttle. The pirates launched shuttles to board their prey.
Grrr fired an aimed shot at one of the ships’ engines. Smoke began to stream from the ship and it slowed significantly. Alex fired on the other ship and impaired it as well. Bletherin demanded that the boarding shuttles surrender.
Another ship jumped in. It was the ostentatious yacht they had encountered before. It powered up its pew-pew defense gun and fired in the general direction of the pirates. The cutters started limping toward the jump point.
Grrr fired again and further disabled the target cutter. Alex shot and disabled to the other. The first ship attempted to jump and blew their engines. Grrr disabled its weapons. The yacht then fired at the other ship and disabled its weapons. Then the yacht jumped out.
A large trader jumped to the dark point. They helped secure the cutters until the authorities arrived. Bletherin covertly informed the captain of their undercover mission and then the Peter Weller jumped out.
On to Rciba
They jumped into hyperspace with the new pilot at the helm. He detected a feeling of playful joy coming from something existing there. Then the Peter Weller arrived at Lyca, where they downloaded the mail. Lyca was home to the University of Lyca, a space station that had expanded into the galaxy’s premier institution of learning.
The next jump to the dark point on the way to Rciba was uneventful and the dark point was unoccupied. The final jump also went without incident, and the ship stopped for shore leave on Rciba.
Grrr and Kovak went down to the planet to relax. Grrr started and won a bar fight and Kovak collected handsomely on the betting.