Chapter 1, Part 6: Krenshawz

Public Domain: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ.of Ariz.

If you want to start at the beginning....

Rules for this referee-less, play by post game.

Chapter 1

Part 6

Krenshawz

McRoddon and Lero parted at the hotel some Krenshawz government personnel secured for the Deimos crew. Called The Crown Haven. The building rose 20 stories and was made of a bright blue colored stone. Numerous flags fluttered from angled poles above the entrance. Lero was escorted by a clerk to his room on the 20th floor. One of the marines stood outside his door. He saw two others outside what Lero assumed were the Count’s and XO’s rooms. The marine salutes Lero, who returned it.

The room was decorated in a gaudy array of bas-relief landscapes and cityscapes. One featured a tall central figure in what looked to be the High Court of Appeals President Morrissy had pointed out earlier that day. The figure was surrounded by prostrate people. Lero guessed it was some historical representation.

The commander contacted the Deimos. The re-supply was proceeding apace and nothing out of the ordinary. After finishing the conversation, Lero contacted the Count and XO and invited them to his room to confer. He then asked the marine to fetch one of the bottles of Regina whiskey that was brought down in the shuttle, one of Lero’s favorites.

Zernov enters the Commander's room. Having arrived ahead of the Count. "Well we know what they want, and they want it for free. We can just glass that rock and send them the bill."

Zernov pulls up his datapad and transfers the latest reports from the Deimos to Lero's pad. He doesn't send it to the room displays for Op-Sec reasons.

Roll Deimos investigation into system pirates and political backers to the President and Premier, 3 separate roles, all Average (8+).

Pirates:
/r 2d6+3
2d6+3 = (4+4)+3 = 11

President:
/r 2d6+3
2d6+3 = (6+1)+3 = 10

Premier:
/r 2d6+3
2d6+3 = (6+4)+3 = 13

Lero nods. He pulls out a crystal tumbler from the cupboard in the kitchenette. He plops a cube of ice into it and pours a generous pour of whiskey and hands it to the XO.

Lero says, "The marines swept the rooms for surveillance. We’re clear.” He pours himself a glass of whiskey, but neat.

Glancing through the reports Zernov flags a couple interesting tidbits for the commander to review. "Look here. These pirates, the Akai Aneh aren't even the worst in the system. That honor goes to Kopan. Just in terms of what they're able to pull off, Akai Aneh are second-tier thugs. Why point us their direction?"

Taking the tumbler and tilting it in a motion to cheers the drink. "Thanks commander. I don't know how you can tolerate this without ice."

Lero chuckles. "Running around on Dlan’s streets and those religious zealots did not tolerate alcohol. So what we found was only ever neat. Never learned to drink it otherwise.”

Zernov hasn't heard much about the commander's past, other than the official CV and field reports, which get scrubbed and fabricated. "How big was your outfit in Dlan? Dodging theocratic thugs. you couldn't have been too big. I would think families with kids are out of the question too."

After taking a drink and savoring it, Lero looks at Zernov. "Just me. Me being a snot of a kid. My parents were good parents. My grandfather was better. My brother, well, he's a different story." He shakes his head. "And you, Zernov. What's your story?"

Meanwhile, Count Hertwig storms out of the President's office, visibly upset because of the way things turned out. Sublieutenant Chapman is patiently waiting for him outside of the office.

Chapman says, "With all due respect Count, from the look in your face, I can tell President Morrissy proved to be a tough nut to crack."

"Yes, she was," said Hertwig, looking around just to be sure nobody was overhearing their conversation. "But she is clearly underestimating us as well. There is something going on between the Premier and the President and I want to figure out what it is and how we can use it to our advantage. Take some money from my personal account and hit the streets. Get me as much intel about these two as you can. Just be careful and report regularly. If you run into trouble, don't hesitate to contact us." The Count's aide, Lera, gave the him a quick nod and immediately headed out of the building.

Roll for Sublieutenant Chapman - Average (8+) Streetwise roll to find data on the Premier and the President/roll 2d6+2
2d6+2 = (1+3)+2 = 6

Zernov takes a sip of his whiskey. And quietly considers what to share. It's strange, now that I think of it. All I wanted when I joined the scouts was to go places outside the Imperium and find new things. Here I am with Lero and Hertwig. Maybe we'll do some real good here, and maybe the next Imperial warship will come through and undo all of our efforts... damnit! History, that's what I've been forgetting to give Hertwig... What has the imperium done here in recent memory? Maybe they just want a pound of flesh for the last lot to come through here.

"The thing about Rhylanor was that she was a light planet... made all the tight halls and transport tubes worth it because an open space, well you could really enjoy it. I think that's why so many Lleellewyloly were there. They didn't seem to have as much issue with the atmosphere, but they had a strange way about them. Fascinated me as a kid. Getting away, out here into the void was the only path. I'm glad I got a second chance. You know Commander I was thinking about the history of this place, and what contact they've had with the imperium in the past couple generations. Do you have that or should I get the scientists on it?"

Lero stands and grabs the bottle of whiskey and walks back, tipping some extra in his glass and then doing so to Zernov’s. "We cannot escape our childhoods, can we? Our dreams or our pains.” He took a drink. "As to the history of Krenshawz, this is what I know. The raiders have been bothering them for a long time. Years. Different groups over different times, but the old ones are as bad as the new. The government here sent multiple requests to the Imperium for assistance. As you can imagine, we did nothing. One jump away, and we guarded our systems. Probably painful for these folks.” Lero raises his glass. "I guess this is our chance to do something. I think we need to smash some raiders. But your question is a good one. Why Akai Aneh and not Kopan? Or both?”

Zernov quickly adds "I'll drink to that," before hearing the commander out. He continues, "Mmm I'm not sure I'd trust the Deimos' scanners to figuring that one out. Do we have the time to develop local assets? Get the intel pod to work?"

Lero nods. "I think it’s time to work some assets. See if we can gather some human intel. We should also take a trip out to the outer system and see what we can find along with having these Krenshawz folks give us whatever intel they have. Get some specifics and then plan. I want to know from their High Command if they’re after justice or revenge.”

Zernov keys out a quick message to Hertwig, "Commander opened a bottle of whiskey. come in before it's gone." Looking to Commander Lero, the XO says, "Understood. When do you want the intel team to shift focus to the pirates? Do we have enough on the politicians already?"

Count Hertwig enters the room still with a clearly upset look in his face. "Gentlemen, I hope this small celebration is accompanied with good news. So far all Diplomatic approaches have been extremely unsuccessful with the Krenshawz. I am still trying to figure out if it all part of a historical grudge with the Imperium or if there is something else."

Lero hands over a glass the Count a glass with whiskey. Hertwig takes a quick sip and feels a slight burn in the back of his throat. Although Hertwig does not consider Lero a sophisticated man, he has to recognize that he has a superb taste in whiskey. "Commander, what is your take of this situation? Is this their way of 'getting back' at the Imperium or are we just in the middle of a domestic dispute between different factions in this region?"

Lero leans back in the chair and scratches his beard, which he noticed earlier showed some gray flecks. "I think we should communicate to our Krenshawz counterparts that we will assist here and ask for their intel. Let's go ahead and put our intel on the raiders now--but keep monitoring the government officials. I don't want to miss something." He looks over at Hertwig. "I think it's both. Regardless, raiders are a pestilence. Let's deal with them. Build some trust, but let's be careful we're not just helping one of these factions. They've only given us one raider group to target. Perhaps we deal with both."
Hertwig says, "I like the plan. It allows us to gain some goodwil with them without coming as servile."

Lero says, "Okay. Then let's carry the message we'll assist but not mention taking out both. XO, see about getting the intel from there," he waves his hands, "whatever their intelligence agency is that has this stuff. I presume, your excellency, you'd like to deliver the message back to Morrissy and Norman?"

"Yes, I’ll do it, although I think I’ll wait until tomorrow morning to do so. I am exhausted after dealing with such negative people. I can understand internal disputes when they involve real estate, but the Premier and the President are fighting for a seat in a government that has little to no power within the Imperium. Sometimes humans still amaze me." Hertwig takes one last sip from his whiskey and walks toward the door. "It has been a long day gentlemen. Rest well and see you tomorrow.”