Captains Log #4Stardate 100: 30;4694, turn of 604 in Knorbes The imperial time is day 334 of year 1107. Imperial years are counted since the rise of the Third Empire. the morning after the arresting of captain. Captain was released from jail after paying the bail of 100.000cr. The hunting trip started just a couple of hours after it should have done. Captain summons Jose to the ground. The ship is sealed and the military ship will be guarding it. It's time for little exercise by the crew; a hunting trip. Captain sings in Vargr:"
It's time to kill some tree-Krakens, "
fight, fight when on sight and the krakens die, die, die, death, death, death to tree krakens!
And then another merry ballad, called:"Who can smell the foul smell of fallen Kraken?" Not so keen Urrgae, relentless Captain, looking-for-donut-shop-Jose and cautious Dr. Dick proceed to the jungle of Knorbes. The tough looking guide, Juan, will head the landcruiser of ours to the dense forest of Knorbes National Park. Juan doesn't allow anyone else to drive; we don't have local drivers license. The seaside forest is nice and peaceful, a sort of Eden. "Drive to jungle should take ~2-3h", says Juan and continues driving. Memories of home, Arrasag, are taking over the captain. Occasionally gargantuan animals slow down the ride. Knorbes seem to be very rich in wildlife. Dick:"How many shotgun shots is needed to kill Kraken?"
During the ride, the last puffs of morning mist is burned away by the hot sun. "It's very day for hunting", comments Juan. There're couple of Sea Dragons and other biggish monsters swimming in the sea. Finally we arrive the jungleside, cover the vehicle and grap our stuff. "The krakens are known to destroy all uncovered stuff", warns Juan. Terrible sounds are coming out of the jungle. Juan explains that the most horrible noise comes from Kraken. Urrgae carries Captains laser rifle (TL9) after captain promises that he doesn't have to be on the first line if he carries the rifle. Captain and Dick have the autoshotguns, Jose is the cameraman (though armed with a sniper rifle). The jungle is dark, murky, moist and noisy. There're loads of animals, some poisonous, some not. We'll proceed in to the deepest jungle. In some openings we'll see the sun again, usually it's dark and using of goggles is recommended. After 30 minutes of hiking, we'll see the first to-be-kraken. The individual is standing in the treetop. It seems to be ~1.5 tons bird, which is smaller than Krakens. Juan informs:"That is just another birdie, meateater, but definitively not Kraken, Krakens are round about 20 times larger." Urrgae is shivering and is very pale. It also seems that Urrgae has a bad hair day. Jose has a very well planned escape route in mind. Captain seems to in full hunting mood, ears pointed. Dick is anxious to shoot in the middle of iris of the Kraken. After a bit more than hour we'll hear krakens voice closeby... after just after couple of minutes of crawling, we'll see the krakens. Surprisingly there're three huge, enermous krakens. We'll estimate that the largest (male) has ~15 meters tall, while resting. The two others are much smaller females. Jose takes pictures of the crew and krakens and some other animals. While taking pictures the giant kraken attacks the smaller saurus animal (approximated size of ~4t). After small fight the small animal is butched. Urrgae leaks under himself. Laughing Juan:"People have killed several krakens using shotguns, it's not easy game, but doable." The female krakens try to fly, it's again windy. The male kraken devours the body of smaller animal at 200 meters. Captain:"Is this normal sized kraken`?"
After while of pondering we'll decice that captain uses laser pistol for first shot and shotgun after that and dick uses laser rifle. Jose is blasting with his sniper rifle. The combat The first shot:
Juan comments:"Excellent! Blast more!" The second round:
Juan:"It's not faking, it seems to be dead" Captain finishes the job after gun cleaning cleaning. Captain:"Can we climb on top of it to take pictures?"
Urrgae is taking pictures almost in the open area. Kraken seems to notice him. Captain:"Hey, after the head of the kraken is after me, I'll open fire from here below. Then shoot that motherfucker!" Captain shoots the other kraken and it falls down in bits and pieces... and lands of top of poor Urrgae, still taking pictures. Captain rushes to help Urrgae. Urrgae seems to be vanished under the huge bulk of a kraken. Captain:"Juan, Dick come on and help me. We've got to help Urrgae! Jose, you'll stay and watch." Juan starts hacking the trunk with his axe. After a short while we'll find the an arm of Urrgae. It seems that there's no pulse and no bones either. Dick manages to salvage the video recorder. The last picture of Urrgae is still on the screen. Horrible! It seems quite likely that Urrgae is dead. Captain howls painfully and continues digging using his bare claws. After 10 minutes of "digging" captain manages to salvage the mutilated body of the Urrgae. Captain graps Urrgae to his back and suggest the others:"Lets go on top of the larger kraken and take picture." Juan will takes pictures of the brave crew of Arrasag-1 on it's interstellar mission. Dick:"Maybe we should kill couple of those vultures, just in case". Captain:"Agreed." Blatatatataaammm!...and shotguns are singing again. After taking souveniers and collectibles from the big kraken, we'll head back to the jeep. Captain takes one claw of kraken. Conversation on the way back home: Sad Juan:"Damn. Again in my trip some fatalities. Darn"
Return to base After sun sets, captain says non-humorously:"Urrgaes' mother will be proud of him, a real vargr always dies in the battle. Urrgae is the first space faring hero of Arrasag." After a while Juan asks depressed:"I assume that you're insured?"
At almost bit earlier than midnight we'll return to the base. Our ship is still there, intact. Captain goes to cremate Urrgae. HOWLING and WAILING Dick goes to marine station to seek what's the status of Captains law troubles. Marines recommend marine club for drinking to sorrow. The rest of the crew goes to Imperial Club of Knorbes to be really drunk. After a while of heavy drinking couple of non-marine guys appears to our table offering administrative help and counceling. "My name is Jack Smith and this is my brother John, we'd require a safe passage to another solar system, called Forboldn." Captain:"But that's on the otherside of the Spinward marches"
The night was wild. We'll wake up (all 5 of us) at some place not-too-far-away. We'll wake around 11, one hour before the court. Jack:"Well, whether you'll give us a ride and we'll represent you or you'll go and represent you."
The trial is very simple. Our defense (Jack Smith) is performing very well. The end verdict is 'not-guilty' and the guy in the wheelchair must pay fines due provocation and agressive behaviour. The judge invites the crew and the defense to dinner. The dinner is at the military base canteena. It's not very tasty but rather healthy. After the dinner we'll repack and head toward our ship. We'll reach the ship at the beginning of turn 612. Immediadly upon the return to ship we'll continue the military style life we had before. Preparing for next voyage We have one turn to checkup the ship, ourselves and clean old Urrgaes room for John and Jack. We notice that the military ship is gone and our ship is untouched. Full medical checkup shows that all are in good condition, though still bit intoxicated and/or having hangover. At the start of turn 613 captain picks up Jack and John. Long discussions about possible military conficts between the Imperium and Zhodanis. To 1808 Forboldn Turn 615 Smooth entrance to hyperspace. Normal, mandatory routines, during hyperspace. Training continues just like during last trip. Dick:"How about starting a raider career? Killing those dudes could give us some extra currency?" Captain:"Not that bad idea, but I guess it might be hard to kill in space unnoticeably." Captain:"Lets try to find out more about those dudes, we could use them as crew members" Jack is a merchant and John lawyer, administrator. J & J seem to be free spirited, loyal and friendly. They seem to have travelled a lot. Dick and Captain do a recruiting meeting with John. Captain:"vargrs?"
And another meeting with Jack: Captain:"vargrs?"
Captain and Dick ponders a while, conclusion:"Let's suggest 2 month trial term, no salary no expenses." John:"Well, sounds reasonable, but we need to have 1 day shoreleave and 500cr. on each place we'll stay." Captain:"Lets agree that you'll have 500cr and one day shoreleave on all places we'll stop by, which are inhabitated." Captain:"To celebrate this occasion, lets eat barbeque gang and drink some booze" Jack tries to fix our old and new computer and sensor systems together. Turn 660, a smooth exit to Forboldn Forboldn is three million inhabitant colony which is being terraformed at the moment. J & J agrees that they'll spend their leave at Regina. We'll fill up the tanks at the gas giant. Captains does the first refueling gig, which goes smoothly. Jose does second immediadly after captains return. This time Jose doesn't wreck the smallship. Jack has managed to mostly integrate our two computers. Turn 675, Engaging to Hefry (1909) Smooth entrance to hyperspace. During the voyage, the standing orders will be
Shifts:
Turn 715, smooth exit to Hefry system After very quick checks, we'll recalculate next jump to Regina [1910]. Turn 716, smooth entrance to hyperspace. Turn 738, minor shaking Turn 756, smooth exit to Regina system. Regina, the main world of Regina sector, has both naval base and scout base. Captain flies to Regina Prime, which is a huge moon circling a gas giant. Around Regina Prime we notice hundreds of ships, spaceports and stuff. Jack:"Where would you like to go? What would you like to do?"
We have approximately ~1 mo supply of lifesupport. |
