Chapter 2: Gyuen

Space Butterfly: NASA/JPL-Caltech

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

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

Chapter 2

Gyuen

Deimos exits jump space a week later in the Gyuen system. Lero rubs his eyes. He’s been on the bridge for several hours. He drinks some coffee, hoping it renews his vigor. Let’s hope this goes better than Krenshawz. He says, ”Okay, give me what we’ve got.”

The Lieutenant Scraber says, “Sir, map of Gyuen on screen.”

“Water world. Officially, 98.23% water. Class B down port. Planet size of 10,423-mile diameter. A dense, but high atmosphere.”

Lero says, ”So water world. There’s no highlands for the pressure to be bearable?”

Scraber says, “Aye, sir. The cities are sealed domes atop pylons driven deep into the planet’s ocean bottoms. Oceans are, however, fairly shallow, 1,500 meters. Population of 4,034,126 from last census data. That’s four years ago. Government is oligarchy. Looks like five families dominate. They take turns—every four years—serving as chief executive. Weapons are prohibited, and tech is average Imperial.”

Lero sniffs. ”Okay. Let’s get our ears on broadcasts and see if we can get some intel.”

“Aye, sir.”

Roll Average (8+) sensors
r/ 2d6+1+2  = (2+3)+1+2 = 8
/r 1d6
1d6 = (2) = 2
The intelligence unit begins tuning the passive receivers and start collecting SIGINT.

Roll 1d6 for number of blips on sensors
/r 1d6
1d6 = (6) = 6

"Sir, we’ve got six bogies in range.”

3 scheduled traffic, 3 private
/r 3d6 x 3
3d6 = (3+2+6) = 11
3d6 = (6+2+3) = 11
3d6 = (6+1+3) = 10

”Get me IDs,” says Lero.

“Sir,” says Petty Officer Cairhein, “we’ve got two passenger liners and a bulk hauler. Liners are Stellar Flare and Firebrand. Transponders check out. The hauler is Infineon. Also checks out.”

/r 3d6 x 3
3d6 = (6+5+1) = 12
3d6 = (5+3+3) = 11
3d6 = (6+2+6) = 14

“The private traffic are a yacht, a free trader, and a mining barge. Marchana, Arcadian, and Reliant, respectively. All transponders check, sir.”

Lero orders the Deimos to make for orbit around Gyuen. He breaks for a light meal—greens with a vinaigrette and an egg salad sandwich, spicy in the Dlan fashion. When he returns to the bridge, the first reports and analysis from the intelligence team await him. ”Give me the rundown.”

Lieutenant Perez says, “The oligarchy is currently ruled by Markenn Fines. They style the leader with the title Administer. He has a year left on his term. The other ruling families are Lopow, Hingte, Iarhyn, and Piraic. Next term, Iarhyn will provide the Administer. The consulting body, er, really a rubber stamp, is the Assembly. A group of a few hundred. Seems to be mostly lesser members of the five families or the richest corporate owners. They’ve been peacefully ruling this planet for a couple of hundred years now.”

roll for major imports and exports
d100 = (63) = 63
d100 = (93) = 93
d100 = (40) = 40
d100 = (14) = 14

Perez continues, “Major exports are edutainments and catalysts for nano-engineering. Major imports are bulk dusts and antique art.”

”Count, are you ready to send a message?” asks Lero. He then orders the comms ensign to send a notification to the starport of their entry to Gyuen orbit. He edits the order. ”Ask for permission to enter orbit.”

Permission comes through the channel, along with a nervous response to contact the governing authorities about an Imperial naval vessel arriving. Lero orders the staff to convene in the briefing room in 30 minutes.

roll for onboard event
d66 = (11) = 11

Lero reads over the reports. The power plant malfunctions have returned. He forwards the report to the chief engineer, Lieutenant Orie Vabsley, and asks him to look into this personally. Plenty of backup power, but no need to be cavalier.

The shuttle departs at 0830 ship time, 1045 local time. The initial response to the count’s first inquiry was positive. The Count sure knows to play up the connections that could enrich the oligarchs of this place.

roll for diplomacy request.
d66 = 1, 3 = 13
result is 13.... whoo boy.

The leader of the local government demands the Travellers kill a rival before entering negotiations. Roll 1d6. On a result of 1-3, the rival is a legitimate political threat (i.e., in the case of a representative democracy, perhaps it is a powerful military leader who has expressed interest in a coup). On a result of 4-6, the rival is not a legitimate political threat, and the request is based on personal gain--whether money, power, etc. Successful killing of the rival adds a +2 to Diplomat checks. Failure to kill the rival results in a -1 to Diplomat check. Not even considering the option adds a -3 to Diplomat checks.

1d6 = (5) = 5
rolling a 1d6 to see which rival family. If a 6 results, then it is in the family.
1d6 = (3) = 3
it’s in the Iarhyn family, the next up to be an Administer. Generating random character to be the target.
Jossie Iarhyn. Young. Journalist. Avoided the draft and dropped out of university.

The shuttle is directed to land at the Vandals IV city-plex, which the Deimos intelligence team had identified as the Fines stronghold. Every change in Administer corresponds to a change in governmental offices and bureaucracy. 

The shuttle pilot cedes control to traffic control, who guides the shuttle through an airlock door. The shuttle settles into place as the door closes behind it. Forceful winds shake the shuttle as the landing bay is pressurized to normal and the toxins of Gyuen’s atmosphere are filtered out.

The Deimos delegation leaves the shuttle, greeted by a tall man, nearly 6’5”. A single aide accompanies him. “Greetings delegation from the Imperium.” The man crosses his arms and holds them in front of him. “Welcome to Gyuen.”

Lero returns the gesture. He notices a box near the man’s throat. A translator. The commander says, ”Thank you for having us and greetings.”

roll for culture
d66 = (6, 3) = 63

Result, 6-3. “Unusual Customs: Sex – the culture has an unusual attitude towards intercourse and reproduction. Perhaps cloning is used instead, or sex is used to seal commercial deals.”

Having read about the use of clones was one thing. Lero takes it in. Gyuen ruling families were clones—each with a different “model.” Behind Fines and the primary representatives of the other four families—Lopow, Hingte, Iarhyn, and Piraic—stands younger and older versions of each. The effect is...unsettling. 

Fines, the Administer, is regal in bearing. Haughty even. Tall and with black hair pulled back into a pony tail, his smile is too perfect. White teeth. Straight. If you’re cloning yourself, might as well clone what you like.

The convoy of grav vehicles takes them from the starport to the opposite end of the city, where they pull to a stop at a walled palace. Gleaming white under the sunlight, the palace had been built over the course of centuries, the gradual accretion of outbuildings, gardens, and paths.

Fines maintains a discussion the entire time. He focuses particularly on the count, impressed by the title and an Aslan in the formal Imperial governmental structure. The Administer queries as well about goings on in the Imperium and the mission of the Deimos. The count deftly handles the questions.

As they step out of the grav cars, servants and aides stand at attention. Reporters stand nearby, and as everyone gives the Gyuen greeting, they capture and broadcast to the planet’s citizens.

Lero stares beyond the encapsulating dome and toward the vast ocean. The Administer interrupts the visage, “Shall we get negotiating?”

For—in the end—low-stakes negotiations, the tedium of them is brutal. Probably more so because of the stakes, thinks Lero. The Count seems relaxed, in his environment. The XO glances around, watching the situation and engaging with the intelligence leadership.

During a break, Grand General Ella Gilbert pulls Lero aside. Her insignia incorporates the Fines family crest, a circular arrangement of six starts and an encompassing ring. She starts with small talk, seeking to bond with shared military backgrounds. Eventually she gets to the point Lero guesses she was wanting to get to.

“Commander, I don’t think this negotiation will go very far.”

”Why not?” Lero lifts a piece of lint from his pants and flings it to the side.

“Because the Administer think your arrival is fortuitous to help him with his agenda.” She leans in closely after looking around. The room they are in is closed with a conference tables and a dozen empty chairs. “He is due to give up office soon. It is the way of our government. Has been for centuries. But Administer Fines thinks that...”

Lero says, ”Him staying in power longer is best?”

“Yes, you understand. And the next leader is likely an Iarhyn. Jossie. She’s a draft dodger. Used some connections to avoid it. Can you believe it? She would lead our troops. That’s unthinkable.”

Lero smiles thinly. ”What are you asking me?”

Gilbert looks down at the floor and then back at him. She whispers, “She needs to be gone.”

Lero frowns. ”This seems like a strictly local matter. I’m not sure it’s—“

Gilbert waves away his talking. “Yeah. I hear you. You can walk away from it. But if you want anything from these negotiations, you’d be wise not to.”

”The rejection of any agreement seems to me detrimental to Gyuen’s future.”

She laughs. “We were fine before you showed up. We’ll be fine after you’re gone, agreement or no.” 

Lero grimaces and takes a drink to hide it.

“I don’t need an answer now,” Gilbert continues. “Talk it over. Think it over.” She rises, smiles, and turns abruptly.

Lero is certain he can smell the devil in her wake.

Later that night, Lero swirls whiskey around in a tall, narrow glass. The whiskey on Gyuen is straw colored, with a flowery bouquet and a bite of pepper. Pepper grown in specialty vats in one of the domed cities.

He nurses the whiskey, wondering how to best respond to the Grand General. One option was off the table. He would not participate in assassination. If the negotiations bore no fruit because of that, then so be it. The question is, should he warn Jossie Iarhyn? He thinks his XO would argue for non interference, and he is probably right.

He calls the Count. ”Pack it up. We’re done. We’ll take the shuttle back to the Deimos tomorrow morning at 0800.”

The ride back to the Deimos is quiet. Lero lets everyone know that they were asked to assassinate a potential rival. Any value of an agreement between Gyuen and the Imperium was not worth blood on their hands.

roll d66 for onboard events
d66 = (34) = 34

As Lero steps off the shuttle, Sublieutenant Carter reports a serious insubordination incident by Petty Officer Mellie Brewer.

Lero shakes his head. Brewer was 70 years old and should never have been assigned to the ship. But Baron Vendash had ensured his aunt joined the crew. Lero curses and says he’ll read the report later. ”Let’s get out of here first.”

After freshening you and checking in on operations, Lero orders the ship to leave orbit and begin the acceleration to leave the gravity well and jump to the Ravyn system. He then reviews the insubordination reports, drinking cups of strong coffee. The reports are lengthy, in the naval way, seeming far more substantial than the incident warrants.

Brewer had been ordered to assist in the clean up of the shuttle bays. She was given duties commensurate with her rank and age. While aged 70, she certainly had taken anagathics. Surely—if she violated by Imperial law and the Imperial Navy code—she didn’t bring a supply of those drugs to last the anticipated timeline for the trip?

Brewer objected to the task assigned her, verbally swearing at the Ensign overseeing the work. She raised her hand, but stopped short of attempting to strike the officer.

Lero decides to demote her from Petty Officer First Class to Petty Officer Second Class and make a formal reprimand in Brewer’s file. The commander notes to himself to talk to the ensign.

The power flutters quickly as it is diverted to the jump engines. The warning lights flash amber and without otherwise knowing it, the Deimos is in jump space heading toward Ravyn.