Chapter 1, Part 7: Krenshawz

Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, I. Karachentsev et al.

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

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

Chapter 1

Part 7

Krenshawz

Scene after a night of rest. Follow ups with Krenshawz and return to ship and other prep: we have 3 days to RP with each other and the Krenshawz delegation and aides and Deimos crews. These are smaller conversations intended to prep for intelligence operations.

Refreshed after a night’s sleep, Lero takes breakfast out on the balcony of his room. Despite the chill, being able to enjoy the fresh air for even a little bit is cause for joy. He savors the coffee and the sweet buttery roll. Once he is done, he re-enters his room and closes the door behind him, shutting out the city’s sounds. He calls McRoddon’s aide and requests to speak with her.

“Just a moment sir.”
 
While listening to the on-hold music—a rhythmic, undulating trio of wind and string instruments—Lero thinks back to his childhood on Dlan. Zernov’s question about drinking whiskey straight had triggered a flood of memories he had not shared. All those years striving and trying and getting nowhere. Not because of effort. Not because of skill or talent. No. Just a born to a family without the right name. What would all those barons and knights and CEO kids think of Lero now. They wouldn’t, he knows. I never registered. 

“McRoddon here Commander.”

Lero says, "The count will give the news to your leaders if he hasn’t done so already. We’ll assist with the raiders. My XO will be gathering the intelligence you have and coordinating that with ours. I want everything. SIGINT. SOPHINT. Everything.”

“I’ll make sure it happens.”

"Thank you. And after we’re done, I’ll want you to tell me why your navy can’t handle this.”

McRoddon pauses before answering. “Do it, and I’ll tell you why.” She disconnects the call.

The Count walks swiflty past the multitude of bureaucrats trying to make it to their depressing cubes on time. Late last night, he sent the Premier and the President a message that he needed to speak to them first thing in the morning. Chapman cuts through a line of people waiting for their daily dose of caffeine, in a desperate attempt to keep up with the Count.

"Sir, may I ask why the sudden urge meet with the President."

"On of the few things I enjoyed during my time as an agent, was that I could skip all these nonsensical formalities during negotiations and we could just jump to business at hand. Now, due to my position, I have to follow a certain protocol in all official missions." As the Count approaches the last security checkpoint, the head of the security team recognizes him and lets him enter the main chamber through a side lane reserved for high level public officials and foreign dignitaries. The Count continues, "I don't mind playing along, but I hate it when people assume I am weak because I play the game. The President was not willing to help the us without asking us to help them solve an internal problem. I understand her motivation and I respect it, but I hate wasting time, and she just made us waste very valuable time."

The Count steps into the President's office, where she and the Premier are waiting for him. The Count signals Chapman to remain outside while he closes the door.

"Premier Rosa, President Morrissy. Thank you for receiving me with such a short notice. Based on our recent conversations we understand you have issues with some raiders and you require our help. As a token of good faith and to show you that we are interested in forming an alliance, we will gladly assist your with your problem."

Roll 2d6 for Reaction
/roll 2d6
2d6 = (2+4) = 6


The Count notices the President grinned briefly. It was a sure sign that she was enjoying the outcome of the first round of negotiations. You won the first battle, but you haven't won this war.

The Count leaned slightly forward in his seat, and stared directly at the President. "We will now head back to our ship so we can begin the operation. Commander Lero already instructed our ship to prepare all battle stations. I can assure you we will take care of these raiders."

Hertwig got up from his seat and made a quick bow two the Krenshawz dignitaries. "Premier Rosa. President Morrissy." As he was approaching the door, he stopped abruptly and turned around to face both women, the ones were just getting up from their seats. "By the way, once we take care of this situation, we would like to continue our negotiations, and the first thing I would like to understand is why you haven't solved this raider situation before. Either you are too weak to handle them or you are hiding something from us, and although in the Imperium we collaborate with a wide spectrum of creeds, races and political ideologies, we have little tolerance for incompetence or lies. Now if you will excuse me."

The Count then stepped out of the office without even bothering to see the reaction of both women.

As Lero rides in a private car taking him back to the shuttle, he accesses the intelligence the Krenshawz military had sent to the XO, who had ensured rapid delivery to himself. Lero is impressed thus far with Zernov. Sharp. Prompt. Seems to know everything. Lero learns that Kopan has been traced to one of the moons around the gas giant, Neronton. The Krenshawz system navy suggest they possess

Roll 1d6 for number of ships
/r 1d6
1d6 = (3) = 3


three ships in the large freighter category. Nothing substantial, though they seem well-armed. The Akai Aneh possesses 

Roll 1d6 for number of ships
/r 1d6
1d6 = (6) = 6


six ships. As Zernov noted, however, the ships are in much worse shape and they lack the number of personnel. The Akai Aneh are led by Lillie Connell. Kopan by Dixie Banks. And he sees why—at least a potential reason—why the focus is on Akai Aneh. Banks is a former Krenshawz security officer. Perhaps they are getting protection. Lero sends Zernov a message: Get SOPHINT on Banks’ former contacts. Kopan seems to have personnel numbering into the dozens, Akai Aneh seems to be about 18 and is based on one of the dwarf planets in an orbit between Neronton and Krenshawz.

Roll d66 for Deimos onboard event
/r d66
d66 = (56) = 56

Result = injury

Stepping into the shuttle, the acting captain calls down. “Commander?”

"Yes.”

“There’s been an accident. A serious one. During one of the cargo transfers, one of the crew, Ash, was injured. The container split open and dumped a bunch of ration crates on him. He lost the lower left leg.”

"Thanks for the info. He’s in sickbay now, I presume. I’ll swing by there the moment I’m aboard.”

“Aye, Commander.”

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