Captains Log #7

Turn 1900, exit from jump in Keng. Start refueling.

Some facts we find about the Zhodani, from our Imperial Encyclopedia:"

The Imperium and the Zhodani had quite peaceful trade between them before the war.

The Zhodanis routinely use PSI powers. This scares the shit out of Dick, who insists that we absolutely must head back to more healthy regions of the Imperium. Once the Captain points out that we are MORE likely to run into Zhodani if we try to go back, Dick insists even more strongly that we MUST continue towards Arrassag.

The Zhodani can often read thoughts from 10 000 or 100 000 km's distance. Some elite corps are even rumoured to do it from 1 parsec!"

This makes us all bit wary, some more than others...

Turn 1903, jump to Heya.

Heya is a double star (mutual distance 620 AU), and there are two gas giants orbiting each star (four in total). We jump to the outer one.

Turn 2017, exit from jump, much sooner than expected. Everybody rushes to their positions.

As soon as Dick is on his seat at the gun controls, he takes a good amount of whisky, and looks considerably more relieved.

Sensors show a 850-ton mercenary cruiser nearby. No closer contact, it just leaves the place.

Captain commands everybody to have 4 cl of whisky for medical reasons. Dick takes some more to celebrate that we did not encounter any Zhodani here.

Refueling goes all right.

Turn 2020, jump to Arrassag, near the home planet.

During the jump, the crew has long discussions about what questions we might be asked and how we must answer them.

why did you take so long - in the first neighbor world, we could not register the planet, and besides, we had to flee from a Zhodani attack where did you leave your own ship, and what is this new one - it was not legal to fly with the old one, so we had to exchange it for this one where the heck is Urrgae - we'll show the film where did you spend all those jewels - Captain has full records (eg. the new ship cost quite a lot) so did you register Arrassag already - no, did not have enough money, besides, it will take quite some time too when will the first merchant fleet arrive - not until we are registered where's the nearest inhabited planet, can we go there - Heya, 2 pc, do NOT go there

Dick has found something about the mystical virus in Arrassag's historical records. There have been incidents where people have returned seriously ill from long overseas journeys.

Turn 2162, exit from jump.

70 large Zhodani ships seen near the gas giant.

Captain sends a radio message to the home planet.

Hello Arrassag, this is Captain Dhazarrou on ASS Llongakol. We have successfully returned from our great journey and will be landing on the planet within 3 hours.

Ground control welcomes us warmly, and is rather stunned about the fact that we are landing straight on the planet, and about the encounter speed, too.

We land in the capital's main market square. It is empty, but after landing, people rush out from buildings, holding their ears.

We descend from our ship, others in our official dress, Captain in the huge battle dress. Adults are stunned and children are crying.

The Vargr High Council welcomes us and holds long speeches. It is a warm day (83 degrees). John complains he is dying. Others are not comfortable either, except Captain in his air-conditioned battle dress.

Captain generously gives the keys to our speeder to the GSA boss.

Captain gives a short, fifteen-minute speech where he tells a suitable version of our journey, and some key facts about the surrounding universe (including the war and the 70 nearby Zhodani ships). The Imperium is a large, bureaucratic, and expensive place.

During the speech, Captain's wrist communicator beeps, telling that the ship's sensors have observed five Zhodani ships are coming towards the planet at high speed (ETA 12 hours). Captain quickly explains to the council that we have to hide for a while, and that probably the only one in danger is our ship, not the general public. Before hiding, we have to quickly fill our life supply reserves, and if possible, get some fuel.

We go back inside our ship.

Suddenly we hear foreign thoughts inside our heads. They say: "You have no chance. Surrender immediately. We have observed you for quite some time. We have seen you come out of an uninhabited planet and visit several solar systems."

Dick takes a very good amount of whisky from Jose's bottle.

The voices continue. "You will have to join us. You have no other choice, and it will benefit both sides. We will reward you quite well."

After some "negotiations", everybody agrees to join the Zhodani forces. Immediately after this, everybody feels happy and joyful.

Captain and Dick go to the shooting range. Captain tries out the fusion gun, causing a large explosion, melting some sand into glass, and is so frightened that he decides not to use the gun again until he knows how to use it.

Three days pass. We get another 9 cubic meters of jewels, and some food supplies. We leave a huge amount of stuff of various technical levels to Arrassag. Jose and Dick visit their families. Captain and John give guest lectures.

Turn 2181: We start the ship and leave the planet.

We hear a voice: "Stop immediately." Captain stops the ship. "Turn around." There is a Zhodani guy INSIDE our ship! He gives a crystal, telling that this with this crystal, we can deal with Zhodani people (kind of a passport and visa).

We tell that we desire to meet a person in Regina according to a prior appointment. The Zhodani, however, informs us that unfortunately, Jack Smith is dead, and that the scientist that we hired has already given his results to Zhodanis. (According to the results, the virus is quite harmless, causing an occasional slight flu for weak people.)

The Zhodani says they will permit us to use psi-shield helmets if we wish. They will be able to contact us anyway. <Man, does that feel bad, or what>

We say that next we plan to proceed to Heya - Kinorb - Pixie. The guy says ok, and in that case, we should transport 100 Mcr to Captain Olsinzho, whom we will meet in Kinorb. Kinorb is not yet under Zhodani rule, but that's a matter of time only. It is currently surrounded by strong Zhodani forces. For Heya, they do not have much interest.

Having given the money and the instructions, the Zhodani guy simply disappears.

We are suddenly enlightened that in Kinorb there is one of the biggest psi schools in the whole Spinward Marches, having some 6000 students.

Jump to Heya.

2217 (only 136 hours). Exit to Heya, refuel, jump to Kinorb.

Exit to Kinorb, nearby the gas giant (184 hours). Captain tight-beams the Zhodani forces a hello-message with the crystal.

Refuel.

Then fly to meet Captain Olsinzho and give him the 100 Mcr. He thanks and says that he is happy to see that we are trustworthy. He also informs that it will only take another couple of days or so to fully invade Kinorb.

We decide to wait that time here.