Introduction

It's become something of a pattern recently that I have no idea how I want to start the Introduction. This week is no exception.

As I said once we got started, we were about to commence Espisode 12 of Series 2, and Episode 12 of Series 2, Episode 13 of Series 2, and Episode 1 of series 3 were pretty much narative constrained which didn't give you all much room for manoeuvre. This doesn't mean you shouldn't pay close attention. There are inconsistencies or other factors which may indicate something isn't right, which the characters in the series sometimes got right. This week was no exception so a thorough reading ot the log might be in order, although the start of the next sesion may provide more "ammunition" as it were. If you don't figure certain things out as players, then where necessary particular characters will at the relavent juncture.

There is also the fact that as participants in the story you don't get to witness the details of certain events that occur, that as viewers of the series you do. You might find it useful to actually go watch some of the episodes as we complete them. Another element which generally doesn't happen are the "character to character" dialogues that occur in the series, although sometimes I'll use them, particulalry when writing up a log, where the "narrative" requires it.

Sometimes in life you dont get ....

We pickup with the Razza crew having gained control of the server room. With control established its over to Emily to work her magic, although she fails her "Nero" roll and is soundly booted from the system by Agent Smith. This means she has to resort to more mundane and tedious methods to access the system. Control establish she goes in search of the information that Ryo wanted, primaily what intelligence Pyr had on Zairon, it's notable figures, and the disposition of its ships. She also decides to retrieve additional data relating to logisitics, Pyr Ship movements, and other avalilable data on other Mega Corporations. Using access she previously gained to the Communitaton subsystem, she begins transmision all this data back to the Razza for later analysis. Realizing that she doesn't have to be present for the duration of the upload, she configures a program to manage it then delete evidence of it having occurred once complete. Just to make life difficult for any Pyr Technician's who may appear to find out what happens she sets up recursive diagnostics routines on all the sub-ssystems. The tech will have to countermand each of these before they can begin their own investigations by which time the Razza will be long gone.

[GM note: none of you correctly got the hint about guarding your rear. You left the Marauder completely unguarded in the Hanger. I decided to be kind and not have Pyr lauch an attack against it whilst you were in the server room.]

Back on the Razza Emily sets up search algorithms to sift through the data retrieved. She fairly rapidly finds the individual Ryo was particulalry interested in, now a general in teh Ashieda Command chain with his own cruiser. Unfortunately the data relating to the cruiser is 5 days old, but she correctly surmises that if this relates to a patrol route then the likelyhood is the cruiser won't be far away from its last known position.

Whilst almost all of the data relating to Pyr ships and stations is encrypted, data on most of the other megacorporations such as Ferrous and Mikkei aren't. The oddities, [GM note which nobody really picked up on either although there are some hints in the log for Session 34], were that some of the data relating to Traugott, Vanguard, Vermogen, and [I forgot this one] Volkov-Rusi was also encrypted.

Ryo now knowing that Drago, a childhood friend and ally, is alive and well, it's time to pay him a visit and convert him to Ryo's call. [GM note: this is actually the opening scene to Episode 12, the writers conveniently 'handwaved' the acquisition of such knowledge]. The Razza blinks into the system relatively close to the last reported location if Drago's cruiser. It doesn't take them long to locate the cruiser. [GM Note: Lisa is more than capable of working out attack and defense strategies, even if the rest of the crew have forgotten or don't know, or in your case as players its not familiar, although you did use a similar strategy against the Seers, at least in the initial attack.] With shields and weapons powered, the Razza blinks in front of the Cruiser and opens fire, downing it's forward shields, ventral shields, aft shields, major weapons systems, and knocking out both it's FTL and sublight engines, as the Razza passes under the cruiser, and before the crew of the Cruiser can react to the attack.

Ryo then opens a channel to the Cruiser, "This is Ashieda Ryo. Your ship is at my mercy, surrender or die."
General Drago surrenders the ship. Ryo asks Six to pilot the Marauder so that he can go aboard the Cruiser. Seven goes along as a bodyguard for Six, although Ryo assures Six that as the Cruiser has surrendered he would be left alone.

Six pilots the Marauder and Ryo goes aboard the Cruiser. He returns to the Marauder about 20 minutes later, and they return to the Razza.

Ryo then explains the next phase.

Ryo "It's the least bloody path to the Throne. If my brother abdicates in favour of my claim, then the rest of the Court will have no choice but to fall into line."
Two "I can think of at least one problem with that plan. Your brothers co-operation. Why would he renounce the Throne?"
Ryo "For the good of our people."
    "Like General Drago he'll see the reason in my argument. The only way to save Zairon is by stepping down an letting me lead."
Three "So What? You just going to call him up?"
Ryo "No to convince him and prove my point we'll need to meet face to face, nd thanks to General Drago, I will shortly know when and where he'll travel."
Two "You want to ambush him?"
Ryo "Yes"
Two "And how are we going to do that?"
Ryo "By using an asset we acquired during our escape from Hyperion-8, although we will need to go and retrieve it... The Ashieda shuttle."

[GM Notes: I should probably point out a few things that have come to light at this point in the series. Five has become very much aware that Ryo is behaving much like his old self, the version that was extant when his, Portia's, and Boone's old selves were restored by the Neural link episode. She doesn't like this new version of Ryo. Nyx and Ryo appear to have had a falling out. Nyx is generally avoiding Ryo. Three has also realised that Ryo is now avoiding him, but has also come to the conclusion that if Ryo is avoiding him, then Ryo must know something about his past, and if Ryo is avoiding him, it must be pretty bad, as he guess Ryo doesn't want to be put in a position where he'd be forced to reveal what it was, and if it really is that bad he doesn't want to know.]

Based on the Navigation data in the logs for when they left Hyperion-8 Lisa calculates a probably cone of traversal for the shuttle. She calculates an optimum search path and they jump to the Hyperion system. Assuming the shuttle hasn't crashed into or been impacted by anything it should still be intact. Given in game, Emiliy forcibly undocked the shuttle as they had the Volkov-Rusi in the rear shuttle bay, and they need it for this scenario, Narrative Imperative takes over here, and after 8 hours of searching they find the shuttle intact. It needs a service, a recharge and refueling, but is otherwise fully intact and functional.

A few hours later, General Drago calls informing Ryo as to when his brother will travel. He will be travelling alone (Single Cruiser).

They spend the next 3 days killing time, before jumping to a system on Hiro's route. Ryo undocks the Ashieda shuttle [GM Note: As noted in the session, this was another major flaw in the series. The shuttle would have to be flown by somebody otherwise Hiro's cruiser would not have dropped out of FTL in repsonse to the distress call.] and 'parks' it enroute activating the Distress Beacon. The Razza departs for a distant part of the system and waits.

A short while later an Ashieda Cruiser drops out of FTL close to the shuttle. The Razza repeats the Blink Maneouvre, targeting the cruisers FTL and sublight engines, and navigation systems.
Ryo then hails the cruiser, "Hiro. Your Ship has been crippled. You're at my mercy lets talk."

Hiro agrees to talk to his brother and the Ashieda shuttle is taken on board.

Three minutes tick by, before 3 Ashieda cruisers drop out to FTL to surround the Razza. The Cruisers don't open fire but do have their weapons and shields powered. As per Ryo's instructions the crew of the Razza sit tight, at least for the time being. [GM Note: from the series, Three wants to take down all the cruisers but Two is willing to let things play out.]

More minutes tick by, then the Razza receives a subspace call. Its Ryo. "Razza it's me show them."

The Razza blinks behind one of the Cruisers, then a couple of seconds later Blinks out to appear in front of Hiro's cruiser, before Blinking out again to appear directly behind Hiro's cruiser. With the Cruiser's aft shields still down a single volly would destroy it.

Several minutes tick by before the Ashieda Shuttle undocks and Ryo returns to the Razza. Ryo "Now we wait for Hiro. He will return to Zairon and make the necessary arrangements for me to take the throne"

Approximately 60 hours pass before Ryo receices the call from his brother..
Hiro "I've made the arrangements. Tommorrow night I will address our people on the status of the war with the Republic of Pyr. Immediately following my prepared speech I will abdicate the Throne."
Ryo "You've taken precautions?"
Hiro "Yes. Mother still holds influence over certain generals. I'll have a half dozen ships in orbit waiting my instructions. They can descend on Zairon should anyone try and stop us."
Ryo "I should be there with you."
Hiro "No. We can't take the chance of you being spotted. You'll come down and officially claim the Throne but only after I've secured the Court."
Ryo "very well brother. Good Luck."
Three "You trust him?"
Ryo "I need him"
Three "You didn't answer the question."
Ryo "He could have killed me back when I was on his ship."
Three "hmmm"
Ryo "Or taken me back to Zairon."
Three "It's funny about that isn't it?"
      "How our ambush of his ship suddenly turned into a reverse ambush of our ship. Almost like he'd been tipped off."
Ryo "its not unreasonable to assume that he would have been travelling with an escort."
Three "Except that according to your boy General Drago he was travvling alone."
      "So either Drago's getting duff information or you're being played."

Time passes..Most of the Crew assemble on the Bridge, Nyx is initially missing. Devon is in med bay.

Ryo "It's time." looks around "Where's Nyx"
Two doesn't answer
Ryo "Never mind. Android take us to Zairon."
Razza blinks to Zairon orbit.
Lisa "I'm detecting the presence of a number of Ashieda cruisers in orbit."
Two "How are they responding to our arrival?"
Lisa "They're not."
Ryo "Because they're expecting us. They're Hiro's ships, loyal to my cause."
Two "I'm not taking any chances. Full shields."
Lisa "Yes Two."
Nyx arrives, says nothing.
Lisa "I'm picking up a planetary wide broadcast from the Ashieda Palace."
Ryo "On screen."

Empress "Citizens of Zairon we are under siege. Your exalted Emperor, my son, was scheduled to address you today. But moments ago, he was the target of an assination attempt. Although he escaped serious harm, he has been take to a safe location for treatment, leaving me to rule in his stead. I have discovered that this was an attempted coup, orchistrated by the exiled traitor to the Throne Ashieda Ryo backed by traitorous forces within the Royal Court. These threats have been identified and they will be dealt with swiftly and without mercy."
Transmission ends.
Lisa "I'm picking up explosions on the orbiting Ashieda cruisers."

Two "Lisa get us out of here."

House Keeping - Dates and Fuel

	Event	Date	FTL Jump Distance	Fuel	Fuel Remaining	Water Remaining
	Blink to Alt Regulus-12	2673.045.04	Inter-Dimension	4000l	1,086,320	52,000(26,000)
	Complete basic drive repairs	2673.045.07	N/A	N/A	1,086,320	52,000(26,000)
	Circumnavigate star to be able to view the Station	2673.045.13	N/A	500	1,085,820	52,000(26,000)
	Surrender to Alt-Truffault	2673.045.14	N/A	18610	1,067,210	52,000(26,000)
	Alt-Truffault departs/Razza jumps to wrecked station	2673.045.17	Intra-system	2000	1,065,210	52,000(26,000)
	Ryo makes fake call to Alt-Razza	2673.046.00	N/A	N/A	1,065,210	50,417(26,000)
	Meeting on the Station	2673.046.05	N/A	N/A	1,065,210	50,417(26,000)
	Alt-Razza Blinks out	2673.046.06	N/A	N/A	1,065,210	50,417(26,000)
	Alt-Truffault returns/Takes control of Razza	2673.046.10	N/A	N/A	1,065,210	50,417(26,000)
	Alt Razza returns to Alt Regulus-12	2673.046.14	N/A	N/A	1,065,210	50,417(26,000)
	Crew Retake Control of Razza	2673.046.15	N/A	N/A	1,065,210	50,417(26,000)
	Mikkei and Alt-Razza depart	2673.046.16	N/A	N/A	1,065,210	50,417(26,000)
	Re-Installation and Calibration of Blink Drive Complete	2673.046.19	N/A	N/A	1,065,210	50,417(26,000)
	Razza Returns to own Universe	2673.047.00	Inter-Dimension	4000	1,061,210	48,334(26,000)
	Razza Traverses around star	2673.047.00	N/A	500	1,060,710	48,334(26,000)
	Razza Blinks to Regulus-12 Station	2673.047.01	Intra-System	4000	1,056,710	48,334(26,000)
	Crew retrieve Nyx and Devon	2673.047.02	N/A	N/A	1,056,710	48,334(26,000)
	Razza jumps to FTL(Partial)	2673.047.03	7.5	5750	1,050,960	48,334(26,000)
	Razza Drops out of FTL/Blinks to Earth Orbit	2673.047.06	187	4000	1,046,960	48,334(26,000)
	First Scouting Trip to Surface	2673.047.07	N/A	N/A	1,050,310	48,334(26,000)
	Second Scouting Trip to Dwarfstar HQ	2673.047.09	N/A	N/A	1,050,310	48,334(26,000)
	Two, Three, Six visit Eric	2673.047.12	N/A	N/A	1,050,310	48,334(26,000)
	Eric's Biddies Arrive	2673.047.15	N/A	N/A	1,050,310	48,334(26,000)
	Eric,Six,Three infiltrate Dwarfstar HQ	2673.047.17	N/A	N/A	1,050,310	48,334(26,000)
	Two returns to the Razza	2673.048.00	N/A	N/A	1,050,310	46,751(26,000)
	Two, Nyx, Four, and Seven Assault the Research Station	2673.048.02	N/A	N/A	1,050,310	46,751(26,000)
	Return to the Razza	2673.048.03	N/A	N/A	1,050,310	46,751(26,000)
	Lisa Initiates Random 8ly FTL jump	2673.048.04	8ly	18,000	1,042,310	46,751(26,000)
	Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep	2673.049.04	N/A	N/A	1,042,310	46,751(26,000)
	Lisa pulls the Computer Core/Razza offline	2673.049.10	N/A	N/A	1,042,310	46,751(26,000)
	Basic Systems Restored to the Razza	2673.049.15	N/A	N/A	1,042,310	46,751(26,000)
	Marauder Blinks to Oshalt-2 Station	2673.049.18	N/A	4000	1,038,310	46,751(26,000)
	Marauder returns to Razza	2673.051.08	N/A	4000	1,034,310	41,525(26,000)
	Razza Blinks to (R&R Colony)	2673.051.13	N/A	4000	1,030,310	41,525(26,000)
	Razza leaves (R&R Colony) on Random 8ly jump	2673.051.17	N/A	6800	1,015,510	41,525(26,000)
	Razza Drops out of FTL	2673.052.09	N/A	N/A	1,015,510	39,862(26,000)
	Razza blinks to (Pyr Outpost System)	2673.052.10	N/A	400	1,011,510	39,862(26,000)
	Orbital Traversal to Outpost Moon	2673.052.12	N/A	50	1,011,460	39,862(26,000)
	Razza leaves (Outpost) on Random 8ly jump	2673.052.14	N/A	3600	1,007,860	39,862(26,000)
	Razza Drops out of FTL	2673.052.18	N/A	NA	1,007,860	39,862(26,000)
	Razza Blinks to Ashieda System	2673.052.18	N/A	4000	1,003,860	39,862(26,000)
	Razza Blinks to Ambush Drago's Cruiser	2673.052.19	N/A	4000	999,860	39,070(26,000)
	Razza Blink to Hyperion System	2673.052.19	N/A	4000	995,860	39,070(26,000)
	Search for Ashieda Shuttle	2673.053.07	N/A	200	995,660	39,070(26,000)
	Random 12ly FTL jump	2673.056.07	N/A	26000	969,660	33,685(26,000)
	Blink to System to Ambush Hiro	2673.056.08	N/A	4000	965,660	33,685(26,000)
	Blink to hiding position	2673.056.08	N/A	4000	961,660	33,685(26,000)
	Blink to execute Ambush	2673.056.09	N/A	4000	957,660	33,685(26,000)
	Demonstration Blink Pattern	2673.056.10	N/A	14400	943,260	33,685(26,000)
	Random 6ly FTL Jump	2673.056.11	N/A	14000	929,260	33,685(26,000)
	Waiting for Hiro's Call	2673.059.09	N/A	N/A	969,660	28,776(26,000)
	Blink to Zairon	2673.060.15	N/A	N/A	969,660	26,717(26,000)
	50AU FTL Jump to Outer edge of system	2673.060.16	N/A	2000	967,660	26,717(26,000)

Incidental Expenses (Bribes/Inducements/Payoffs) : cr700
AI Core Module: cr750,000

Docking Fees: c2420

Cash at hand:  cr1,854,221

Materials and Spare Parts On hand to the value of cr793,488 .

Scrap Metal On Hand 7m3

Current Oxygen reserve 26,516 (Tank capacity: 32000)
Current Nitrogen reserve 97,725 (Tank Capacity: 120,000)

Fuel Transfer Pod: 24,000l fuel

Iso Cargo Containers:-

	Container	Contents	Amount (m3)
	1	Survival MREs	60
	2	Assorted Mixed Recyling	45
	3	Diesel Truck Engines	60 (36 engines)
	4	Medical Supplies	36
	5	High Value Electornics	6
	6	Assorted Everyday workaday Clothing	30
	7	Assorted Steel plates, Bars, Tubing	21
	8	Carbon fibre fabric, spun carbon nanotube ropes, and carbon nanotube tubing	51
	9	Solar Panels	33 (6 pallets - 18 panels)
	10	Titanium plate, bars, and tubing	42
	11	Duralloy plate, bars, and tubing	36

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