S32 And Now for Something Completely Different!

Aimo has re-invented FIFA Dave - originally an NPC - to make him more his own, and he now is/has always been Timo Mäkinen.  The major difference so far is that Timo greatly dislikes non-humans. This session was a bit of a challenge for Timo!

Coriolanus the Hiver

Ithklur and Human

As they were loading passengers on the second day, a ship of unusual design came in to land nearby and they were approached by a very unusual group from it. Two heavily armed seven-foot humanoids who the ship’s library identified as Ithklur. Behind them trundled a small rectangular wheeled robot, and in the middle of the group was a Hiver. A humanoid robot with blue plastic casings brought up the rear. 

Vespasian

There was much debate about this. Nevada made very sure to press for assurances that the robot would do nothing illegal at any of the stops, and were only slightly reassured by the confirmation of this and of Vespasian’s possession of Asimov Circuits. Coriolanus was quite happy for the crew to scan the robot any way they fancied to check for weapons or other problems, though he drew the line at any attempt towards dismantlement.  On discovering that he was programmed to play Poker, Feng became quite keen to take him along. Wombat was also keen, as with his interest in robotics he wanted to try and learn about him. Hivers were known to make the best robots in known space. 

The best difference AI could produce

The ship was spinning slowly in both vectors, and a few seconds later a bizarre sight met the eyes of those looking out. A vast … difference spread across the starfield, reported by the glitching sensors to be around a hundred kilometres long and ten high; it was disturbingly eye-shaped. Beyond it appeared a starfield that did not correspond with that around it; the whole thing was suffused with some bizarre pink radiance. 

Polixenes looks a bit like this but without the lake, obviously

Between them and it, apparently after emerging from it, was a small spacecraft, 100 tons or so, of a more or less normal appearance. It was tearing away from the difference, and its single turret was blasting fire back the way it had come.  Its whole aspect projected a frantic, desperate air. Beyond it, something vast and dark moved up to the difference from the other side, starting to force its way through – it was actually bigger than the rift. Its shape was indistinct, but massive weapons were firing on the fleeing vessel. As they watched, it took a hit, and a cloud of hydrogen ice announced destroyed fuel tanks, though the turret kept firing and other signs of power were visible. They must have been running on batteries, but Wombat shook his head slowly. No batteries known to Imperial science that could fit in a ship that size could sustain that much output.

Feaysen

While all this was going on, the ship’s passengers were not surprisingly in a state of some panic. Feng had Feaysen working to calm them down,  and Vespasian joined in on this, his calm and confident demeanour helping a great deal. Several were throwing up and most were convinced that they were all dead through a misjump.  This ceased when Timo found him and levelled a gauss rifle at him, demanding to know what he had done to the ship. It was some time before he was prepared to believe that whatever had happened, the Hiver robot wasn’t responsible; and he still wasn’t happy about it.

Captain Volt is very clearly in command, and seems a little older and more serious than the others. He does most of the talking, though the others chip in freely.

At that moment the pink mist disappeared - and the great eye-shaped rift slammed shut. The dark shape that had been trying to shoulder through it exploded into a vast cloud of vapour-ice and tiny fragments, cut in half by the closing of the difference. The airwaves cleared and communications were easy again. Video was established and the Cats got the first look at the people they’d encountered. It was a bit of a shock.

Prex is the engineer, and his everpresent goggles seem to have an infinite number of settings. Tools, gadgets and spare parts are strung all over him and he carries a roll-bag with more. He’s generally a bit detached as if he’s thinking of something else, unless the conversation is technical.

Wombat and the Shortning engineer Prex went back over to the Polixenes, to collect a dump of the ship’s stats and database as well as a few more items. As they were preparing to leave, Wombat mentioned the pink mist, and Prex’s eyes widened behind his goggles. “I nearly forgot the Thing!” he cried, and dashed into the drive room, pulling a small domed object off the Jumpdrive and shoving it into his pocket. “What’s that?” asked Wombat. “Oh, Maedhlyn gave us this,” said the engineer. “A Hume scientist, brilliant, erratic, not given to explanations. Said were were to use it in dire need. Slapped it on as we were ambushed by the Skvan. It went all pink, that thing appeared, we flew into it - and here we are.” Wombat frowned. “How does it work?” Prex shrugged. “Not a clue” he admitted.

Crash is the Astrogator and also the Steward. He’s rather gentle and not a personal fighter, though completely committed to the ship and her crew.

With the Polixenes powered down and a beacon set to respond if pinged when they came back, they were ready to try and escape the empty space they were in. Wales had pinpointed their location as around three-quarters of the way between Talos and Mertactor; which nailed down the proof that this was not a misjump, but simply an early exit from Jump. Impossible as far as anyone knew. A new plan was built and the Long Walk very cautiously edged back into Jumpspace.

Scum is the gunner and the most aggressive of the four, unlikely to back down if challenged and usually up for a fight. He acknowledges Volt’s authority though he’s not above arguing with him. He will go to great lengths to protect his crewmates.

Most of their technology was roughly comparable to Imperial, though robots seemed not to be a significant thing and they were very impressed with Vespasian and the Panthers. However, their battery tech was massively better, and if they had an asset to trade for possible help, this was it. The Cats debated where to take this, with their old friends at Tyrex Walkers a strong candidate. Loyalty tugged at them to suggest the Imperium might benefit from it; but the Imperium had been around a long time and was in no means the desperate straits the Free were. Maybe later. 

Mertactor is occasionally referred to as The Gatekeeper of Glisten, as it is the spinwardmost Imperial planet along the length of the Glisten Arm. Before it is Egypt, Overnale, and Glisten itself—beyond it lies District 268, the Wild West of charted space. 

Descended from working-class deportees, Mertactans are proud of their uncompromising heritage. Mertactans tamed the wilds of their planet, forging an advanced and forward-thinking society. And, as befits any cosmopolitan world, the fashion and culture of Mertactor are heavily influenced by visiting merchants and adventurers. "Anything goes," is the motto on Mertactor. One will find visiting travellers sporting anything from traditional Vilani lagaash robes to the virtual nudity of Glistenite tailored vaccsuits. The jaded Mertactans are nonchalant and accepting of such diversity. Human powered flight is a popular leisure activity.

Within the last 80 years, the rimward encroachment of Aslan ihatei has had an interesting effect on the mercantile subculture. Disputes between trading companies are now frequently resolved by dueling. Unfortunately, the Aslan code of honor is absent in Mertactan dueling. Shooting or stabbing one's opponent in the back or poisoning his food the evening before the duel is not uncommon. Visiting free traders should not fear, however. Oddly enough, the virulence shown by one fellow Mertactan trader to another is not extended to offworlders. It is thought that a general sense of pity for the poorly trained foreign trader makes him unworthy of such treatment. The prevailing attitude is "if he's not Mertactan, he's no good at trading anyway!" Though you'll never hear a Mertactan say this in public.

Landing at Mertactor downport can be a harrowing experience. The unregulated close orbit and airspace of the planet are subject to more accidents per capita than any other planet in the sector. 

Starport Shopping

The Thing

Mertactor was also the site of a large Scout base, and perhaps to their surprise they discovered that their fame had preceded them.  They were very much well regarded, and managed to secure a very good deal on the replacement missiles for their turrets.  Passengers were unloaded, and cargo sold - including the Shortnings’ lanthanum which attracted a very good price given Mertactor’s active shipyards - after which they and Vespasian set out to explore the planet while Wombat did the required drive checks.  Nevada purchased the collapsible fuel tanks they’d need to get the Polixenes back to where repairs could be done.

Mille Falcs is one of only two Imperial systems in the subsector and is administered out of Glisten.

Mille Falcs is under military rule and has both a scout and a naval base. The latter houses a small force of older patrol vessels and escorts, backed up by a couple of old destroyers — officially a detachment of the Glisten force but operated independently.

Mille Falcs and Mertactor (Spinward Marches 1537) are used as a regional base for those Imperial firms trading into District 268.