Captains Log #5

Quick review of the past:"
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?"
Captain:"We need to buy another ship or possibly refit this. And besides that we'll have to register one planet to Imperium. Questions?"
Jack:"OK. That means trip to planet, then. Lets park in the orbital city of Regina Prime City"
Csptain's note:"We have approximately ~1 mo supply of lifesupport."

Turn 759, at Regina prime

(Background information, found from Galactic Encyclopedia: Corfu (Arrasag) was visited by some scouts long ago, found a deadly virus, thereafter named Corfu Claw, thus the whole solar system was made "no-go".)

Captain: "We have some things to sell here -- mainly jewels." Jack: "Hmm... in that case, let's contact some jewel brokers. Typically, some kilos of jewels are sold on the market each day."

Jack arranges a meeting with a jewel broker named Wilbur Strike, in a hotel room. Captain shows one liter of selected jewels.

Wilbur bids 11000 cr/liter, for "a cubic meter or two". Captain asks for 23 Mcr for 2 cubic meters. Captain brings a bigger, 100-liter random sample, which makes Wilbur look disappointed. He bids only 9500 cr/liter for this quality, so we sell the 100 liters, for 0.95 Mcr.

Captain asks Jack to find out about some more jewel brokers, and some shotguns. John will seek information of spaceship prices.

Dick finds some public market quotes in a local economic newspaper: raw jewels 7000 - 12000 cr/l (depending on quality and crystals 5500 cr/l

While Jack and John are on their way, Captain buys 50 100-liter cargo boxes and a floater for moving them around; also spends 250 cr for food.

Jack returns, having found a better deal (10500 cr/l -- by Wilbur Smith!). Captain sells now 2 cubic meters for 21 Mcr.

Some spaceship costs found: 100-ton TL15, 28 Mcr (new), 15 Mcr (used) 300-ton TL14, 43 Mcr (used)

200-ton TL14, 55 Mcr (used), former Vargr courier ship, jump-3, has a ship's boat, 54 m3 free space, required crew 2, 3 turrets.

Plan: We'll sell our old ship for a good price, and buy a decent ship.

What we need: - harmless looking - reasonably armed - very, very fast, for quick escapes - absolute maximum for required crew size is 5 (3 is better)

We put a "for sale" ad in local newsgroups, about our wonderful, one-of-a-kind, antique, curiosity ship. Some bids: 2 M, 17 M. We accept the 17M deal; also, we sell the ship's boat from our new courier for 12M. We spend two days wandering around spaceship yards, browsing the available spaceships; meanwhile, we bid 55M for the Vargr courier.

Wilbur happily buys another 2 m3 of jewels for 21M. Also, we sell 4 m3 of crystals for 22M at the raw material market.

While we are waiting to hear about the Vargr cruiser bid (3 days), Jack and John take their 2-day shore leave. They return, looking happy but tired.

We buy: - the 200-ton Vargr courier, Llongakol, 55M - a 20-ton Gig, Greawwuz, 13.78 M - a 10-ton Fighter, Urrgae's Honor, 14.26 M - triple missile turret for the Gig, 0.25 M

The ships are painted in nice color, and marked with the official Arrassag emblem: a giant flask of water, supported by a human and a vargr. This costs 0.09M.

Next, we go to a nearby Navy base, and enlist for one month for self-paid intensive courses.

Jose: 2500 cr/month, as a mechanic. Captain: 5000 cr/month, flying with our own ships. Dick: 5000 cr/month, mostly simulated turret weapon fights, also one week of real-life practise.

Everybody finishes their courses, finding them quite refreshing, and passes final exams quite ok (though some of theoretical background studies were rather dull).

We spend another month: Jose: 3000 cr, "Efficient Thinking" at a local university. Captain: 3000 cr, same as Jose. Dick: 2500 cr, as a mechanic.

And a third month: Jose: 3000 cr, "Peaceful Cultural Exchange in Contemporary World" (= liaison). Captain: 4000 cr, "Basic Turret Weapon Fighting". Dick: 5000 cr, "Contemporary Medicine" to keep up with current medical technology.

Jack and John return from their leave, proudly wearing brand-new suits... and black sunglasses. Captain commands them to get rid of them and wear the ship's official uniform with the ship's logo. They are not exactly fascinated, but obey.