Jammers:Chapter 3, Turn 1 Summary

Comments, criticism, and flames always welcome and in fact are requested. I
crave feedback:)

Past turns and further information can be found at the Jammer's webpage:
http://lucas.dfl.doc.ca/emoo/jammers.htm

Start of a new Chapter:)

IC:
On the STAR:

Holland sits on the helm, using his expanded vision to watch the scene
between the wreckship and the GHOST. Holland blinks and then calls up the
voice tube for Leera to quickly come down to the Bridge.

Leera hurries below, wondering aloud if Holland is experiencing the same
effect that caused 'Pate to lose control of the ship.

Holland says, "Warn those on deck and shout a quick warning over to the
GHOST, for everyone NOT to talk about the pirate cove.  If asked, we took
the pirate ship GHOST in combat above Shipwrecker.  Hurry!!"

Leera listens, nods, and takes off at a run, heading above decks.

Holland tries to move the STAR so it is close enough for Leera's warnings
to be heard on the GHOST but the Bral wreckship approachs too fast.

After leaving Holland in the helmroom, Leera dashes up on deck. Seeing that
the wreckboats will arrive at the GHOST and the dragonfly first, she stops
and sighs. Trooping over to the speaking tube, she calls down to Holland
"Holland, I can't get the message across in time. Sorry."

Leera then moves out of sight of the wreckboat, shrugs, and transforms her
appearance. Her features soften, her hair becomes more lustrous, and her
figure becomes slightly more curvaceous. Her robes cling more tightly, and
seem cleaner and in better repair. All in all, she looks lovely. After
looking herself over, Leera moves back into sight of the wreckboat and
awaits the boarders.

Italapate grins as he watches the wreckboat close on the GHOST.  He munches
deliberately on a hard biscuit, one of the last remaining such item in the
ship's stores. He leans against the fore gunwhale to watch the show.

Nilaroo continues to work the sails as the three ships close on Bral.

As the STAR approaches the Rock, Kain makes sure that all the lines are
tended to, then steps away and makes his way to the stairs leading
belowdeck.  "I've.. ah.. got to get our books for the authorities," Kain
says as he pauses at the top of the stairs.

Heading straight for the bridge, Kain quickly opens the chest where the
ledger is stored, giving Holland a faint smile.  "Time to, well, deal with
the honest
Bralian bureaucracy," he sighs. Tucking the company ledger under his belt, Kain
hurries topside, taking the steps two at a time.  He gets back in time, as
the wreckboat hasn't finished it's approach of the STAR.

As Seguld watches the customs inspection begin aboard the FLOW GHOST,
Seguld decides to go below and gather up his paperwork as well.  It takes
him longer than Kain, but soon he returns to the deck, his inventory
documents in his hand, and the length of rope which Jamila had tied him to
the ballista over his other shoulder.  As he leans against the railing a
double clunking noise is heard. Two  maces are softly settling against the
rail themselves - one is the mace Seguld has been carrying, the second is
the mace which Holland and Leera identified earlier on the journey.

On the GHOST:

Deigatt stands foreward as the wreckboat approaches, the shaft of his axe
parallel to the deck beneath his feet.

The wreckboat pulls alongside and a bored looking man wearing chainmail
with a grey tabard bearing the Bralian coat of arms climbs out of the
wreckship onto its deck.  One of the two soldiers (who wear similar
outfits) standing next to the ballista straightens up.  "Ahoy the ship!
Name and last port!"

"This vessel his the FLOWGHOST," Deigatt bellows. "Hin from Shipwrecker."

"Prepare for Customs inspection,  FLOW GHOST!" the man says as he and one
of the guards jumps the short distance across to the GHOST's deck.

Talus lets Deigatt and Ferric do the talking and shouting.  The young
half-elf stays on deck keeping an eye on the wreckboat, absentmindedly
recoiling the same rope three times while the inspection goes on.

"Whose the captain?" the man says, glancing about the decks at the damage
apparent.  "Ownership papers, please."

Deigatt stares down at the man silently. Then he turns his head and calls
out, "Agent Ferric! Hon deck!"

Ferric comes up from the helm room and walks over to the customs inspector.
"Good day sir, I am Ferric Gundson and this ship is under my command for
the time being.  We do not have any papers as this ship was crewed by a
group of pirates who attacked us.  We, the Company of the Silent Star, have
claimed this vessel after defeating the pirates who tried to board us.

"Excellent.  Do you have any cargo to declare?"  He nods and notes things
down.  "Your air's clean, so the air tax will be 64 silver.  Please show me
below." The officer exudes a sort of professional boredom.

Ferric leads the customs inspector belowdecks.  "Holland, captain of the
SILENT STAR there will pay the fee for both ships."

"I'm afraid that's not possible." The officer follows Ferric through the
ship, looking about in a half-hearted manner.  "64 silver for air tax, 32
silver for 1 day's dock fees, after the first day you'll have to pay your
dock fee at the harbormaster's office.  No cargo, but she is a prize ship.
You won't be able to depart until you've gotten a prize court seal
indicating you've paid the 20% prize tax."

Looking meaningfully at the hold he just gave a very cursory inspection,
the Customs' Bureau officer says, "I'm sure you're anxious to get ashore.
How's about you just give me the tax in 3 platinum coins and we'll call it
even."

"Raken,, Talus. Would you gentlemen be able to contribute 6 gold pieces
each for our 'taxes'?"  Ferric digs into his own pouch and pulls out 6 gold
coins.

Talus gives Ferric a sour look, "I will be just a moment."  The young elf
quickly darts below where he grabs the required pieces of gold from his
pack.

"Why not," Raken says as he digs out six gold coins and hands them to
Ferric.  "Anything else you need, don't hesitate to ask."

Taking the coins from the others Ferric says, "I did not catch you name
officer.  It's good to know who you can work with on Bral and who a ship
should ask for if we are in need of future inspections." Ferric hands the
man 18 gold.

"We're all equally helpful." the man says smiling, the he gives Ferric a
berthing number and returns to his wreckboat.  The wreckboat then quickly
departs for the STAR.

Talus observes the blatant corruption of the port official with a
half-smile on his face.  Once they have left the GHOST,  the half-elf
remarks, "It is nice to see how some things are constant.  Bureaucracy is
the bane of all trying to make a living, especially when a dose of
corruption is added to the mix."

On the STAR:

When the customs officials arrive aboard the STAR, Leera moves forward to
greet them. "Well met! This is the SILENT STAR, jointly owned and operated
by this company and by House Moune. We're back from a trek to Shipwrecker,
as I'm sure you've already heard. We aren't carrying much cargo; most of it
was put to use repairing the ship." Leera turns and puts an arm around
Kain. "Kain here can show you our manifest." She looks around for Seguld.
Spotting him, she continues, "Our enterprising gnome there has his own
cargo aboard. He can tell you about it."

Kain blushes furiously as Leera puts her arm around him, but he offers the
company ledger to the official with softly spoken, "here sir."  He smiles
and says, "We.. ah.. also have a pair of ledgers from the FLOW GHOST, in
case you were.. ah.. looking to check their.. ah.. books too.  They weren't
very well kept though," Kain shrugs.

Releasing Kain, she turns back to face the officials. She smiles in an
open, friendly manner "Truth to tell, we're pretty banged up. I hope this
won't take *too* long."

Kain nods his agreement, "The SILENT STAR and her crew are all fairly tired
and ready for a.. ah.. few weeks of calm."  Kain stands by the official as
he examines the ledger.

The man stares at Leera's cleavage for a moment, obviously enjoying the
view.  "Well,  air tax will be 40 silver, first day's dock fees 20 silver.
He glances at the Seguld, then turns back to Leera, "How about you show me
below decks?"

Smiling and flirting Leera leads the man through the ship, he barely
glances at the various compartments,  instead he seems engrossed in her
walk.

For the most part, Raken stands around quietly during the inspection.  He
leans against the main mast, out of the way, and watches the inspection.
After the inspectors have headed down into the hold, he sighs and heads to
the foredeck to spend a few minutes watching the busy space port of Bral.
"Civilization," he mutters as he watches the bustling port.

As the tax collectors go about their inspection, Grigree hangs back out of
the way.  Most of his time is spent mindlessly straightening out the ships
rigging while watching the others over his shoulder.

The Customs Officer finally finishes his inspection,  collects his taxes
from Seguld and Kain, and then boards his wreckship.  The wreckship then
turns and heads for the RESPLENDENT.

As the port autorities leave, Billy rubs his hands in anticipation. "It's
been a while since my last mug..." He looks down and pinches his waist. In
imitation a feminine voice he says, "Why, Billy, you look positively
skeletal! You never eat right when you go on your 'adventures'!" Returning
back to his regular voice, he says, "I know, I know... I'll fix that soon
enough!" Billy smacks his lips in anticipation.

Back on the GHOST:

Heading back down to the helm, Ferric pauses as he notices a thin seam in
the back wall of the helmroom for the first time.  It looks like it might
outline a secret door.

Ferric calls out "Talus, could you come here a moment."

Making sure the men from the Dragonfly are not around, Ferric says quietly,
"Take a look at this wall would you.  Be careful though, this ship belonged
to some unsavory characters and I don't imagine the captain trusted
everyone in his crew so it could be trapped."  Ferric positions himself so
as to block Talus's activities and watches his companion work.

Talus rather quickly finds the secret doors latch and opens it up. Inside
is a small room, obviously used for smuggling materials but covered in dust
as if it were long disused.  Only a single crate, perhaps 5 feet long and 2
feet wide resides in the room. It too is covered in a thick layer of dust.

Talus and Ferric quickly close the door, intending to reexamine the box
when the RESPLENDENT's crew have disembarked.

Meanwhile:
The GHOST and STAR head for their berths, next to each other and just by
the shipyards.  The passage through the shipping lanes is without incident
and the vessels are soon docked and secured.

The two sailors from the RESPLENDENT walk ashore and disappear into the
dockside crowds.

The Company of the Silent Star regroups on the GHOST to distribute spoils
and plan their next move.  Kain reinburses the 18 gold paid to the Custom's
official by Ferric, Talus, and Raken as the crew debates.

Date/time: 1:00 pm 11th day of the 5th Month, 5049 OC


"We look on the same stars,  the sky is common,  the same world surrounds
us.  What difference does it make by what pains each seeks the truth?  We
can not attain to so great a secret by one road..."
Symmachus,  "Memorial on the Occasion of the Removal of the Altar of
Victory from the Senate House" (392 AD)

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer.3@???.edu
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State
Adjunct Faculty, Humanities Department, Columbus State Community College