JUMP! Fornice to Jokotre

FORNICE/Mora/Spinward Marches. Main Orbital Port, mid-deck, 'soft' dock ready for departure. 0800, April 18, Imperial year 1115.

A few hours earlier the last of the "special freight" destined for the manufacturing facility on the surface of Jokotre was loaded and the 4 High Passengers came aboard with their luggage. With the sudden departure of Lu-Yam, Steward duties fall to Rin Bauer, so its up to him to greet the four 'technicians' and get them settled in their staterooms. They are Iggy and Marge Pilli, brother and sister, both seeming to be in their 40s (standard years) and looking stereotypically ex-military. The other two techs are cut from the same mold; Brucalli Shine and Uvi Theodoluck, though perhaps 10 years younger than the siblings. They are cooperative and knowledgable, seasoned travelers who will make life pretty easy for the Steward.

Decherek the Droyne 'Sport' is already settled in, of course, and he comes around to greet the 4 technicians as they settle in. All seems fine on the passenger front.

The six tons of general freight (consumer goods) and 5 tons of pharmaceuticals (pain killers) were loaded earlier with no problems.

But the 10 Low Passengers and 1 Middle Passengers require pick-up from the orbital station.

Said Ma rounds up the low-berth people, who are all headed to Jokotre with the promise of housing and jobs on the orbital space-port there. The middle-passenger is also heading for the main orbital port, but looking to join up with his brother-in-law on some un-specified business venture. Yu Min Tang looks young, not much more than '21', and needs some extra help getting settled aboard. "First time on a jump ship", he confides.

By 0930 everyone is aboard, the low passengers have been processed into the cold sleep berths, and T-Jive has Traffic Control on comms.

"Miss Fortune, Miss Fortune...... You are clear to break lock whenever you are ready." The Vargr pilot acknowledges and only a minute later a very slight lurch indicates seperation.

"We have you clear at 0935, Miss Fortune. Half-G to satellite buoy 3-Beta, then clear for 1G outbound lane three-six. Copy that, Miss Fortune?"

Everything goes as it should, the satellite marker is passed, and acceleration goes to 1G. All systems nominal.

It takes 5 1/2 hours to reach the calculated "jump point". Accelerate to half-way, then decelerate to jump. That leaves the ship at orbital velocity, relatively safe, easier on the navigator, and no need to bleed off excess velocity on exiting jump.

The computer's mechanical voice activates: "Warning, Warning. Jump initiation imminent. All crew and passengers check your safety straps now. Jump is imminent!"

JUMP!
A stomach-churning vertigo, there and then gone again in an instant. Perhaps some lingering visual strangeness. But that too passes within minutes. Systems nominal. Looks like a 'good jump', but only time will tell. A mis-jump will usually manifest as Jump-sickness within 12 to 24 hours. But you don't expect that to happen this time. Everything looks good!

-----
7 Days in jump-space. Passengers make use of the entertainment and educational systems from the computer. Engage in some physical training. Virtual fencing seems popular with the four technicians. Rin has to quickly get used to setting up meals and helping the passengers as needed, but every crew-member cycles through being a 'helper'. A bridge-watch is kept, but otherwise crew have time to study or catch up on the latest Tri-vid shows. They can stow the crew dining table and bring out exercise equipment between meals.
-----

April 25, 1515 Alice Petrov has the bridge watch. Before the automated systems kick in, she notices a slight variation in the jump-bubble integrity. Ah, jump-space precipitation should be soon, within 10 to 15 minutes! A moment later the ship computer's mechanical voice announces: "Jump Exit in approximately 10 minutes. Secure loose equipment and personal possessions. Please go to your designated stations and strap in." Somebody makes the old joke about putting your tray-tables in their upright positions...

And kabloom. Small type. A little lurch, a few seconds of vertigo. And... Normal Space!

First Question:
What happened to Lu-Yam?

As the ship emerges from jump space, Mama quickly repeats her earlier action upon entering jump space and checks the comfort and status of the high and medium passengers. After that she provides any medical needs for any ailments that the crew might have experienced. Once everyones needs are provided for, Mama checks in the cold storage passengers. Running a full diagnostics before setting the computers to start defrost at the appropriate time, Mama offers her assistance to any high or medium passengers needing pre departure assistance.

Roll for cold storage diagnostics and pre thaw actions
+1 can be added if help is offered

(Now we see my normal type rolling)

Said Ma detects no problems with the cold-sleep berths.

The four "technicians" headed to Jokotre's surface with the 50 tons of "machine parts" are pretty open regarding their backgrounds. The 40-ish brother and sister, Iggie & Marge Pilli, were both 'Army' with 20 years in, including war service during the 5th Frontier War. "I was in logistics, and 'sis' was Intel. With 6th Army headquartered at Lunion when the balloon went up. The 6th was involved in defense against the Sword World incursions and some elements got pretty well mauled. I was in the rear with the gear so...., but sis got some action."

Marge says: "Well, not much to tell, really. Interrogation team, trying to squeeze some info from EPWs. Wrong place, wrong time. Sometimes it works that way. Ended up on the other side of the coin, as it were. Their Intel trying to squeeze me! But by then it was pretty clear the Sword World forces were on their last legs so I think they went easy on us..."

Brucalli Shine and Uvi Theodoluck say they were Marines, ship's troops. Buddied up while on assignment on a Dreadnaught. "Mainly we looked pretty for the Admiral, you know."

All four found their ways to Fornice and found work with "Machines Are Us", a subsidiary of Smugg Orney Enterprises.

"We help set up and maintain manufacturing plants on mid-tech worlds. The factory on Jokotre is for batteries. Their electric grid has gotten better in recent years and its expected that they'll want electric vehicles of all sorts. And those things will need power-packs, right?"

Yu Min Tang is a young man, shy, and largely keeps to himself. At meals he listens but rarely adds to conversation. Leisure time is spent mostly in his stateroom, though he does use the sports simulator every day for an hour of gymnastics. "Brother-in-Law and sister are setting up a small business, a bakery, at Jokotre High Port. I have need for a job, and they offered. So here I go. I hope it all works out..."

As "Miss Fortune" moves in towards the planet, they should be contacting 'Space Traffic Control'.Typically 'polite' to contact upon getting closer than 100-diameters, but required by Imperium Commerce Department regulation, is contacting 'control' before entering the 10-diameter zone.

"OK Miss Fortune, we have you on sensors at 96,000 klicks out. Approach path 7-mid, please. You are assigned docking station '4' on deck 17. Port Captain rep and Customs inspection will meet you there.

"You have traffic in your zone; two subbie liners outbound well clear to your 7 o'clock high and 9 o'clock. One outbound bulk freighter on parrallel course path 8-mid, watch for them as you may come as close as 100 klicks. Burgess Lines "Business as Usual" on ship-to-ship '2'.

"Welcome to Jokotre, Miss Fortune."

Welcome back

'Miss Fortune" decelerates as it closes on Jokotre High Port. The class-B facility is smaller than the main orbital station at Fornice, but still impressive. The docking rings have multiple starships nestled in, but there look like a good number are empty. Some 'hangar' type docks are on a lower deck; no telling if those are occupied or not. Edging towards the assigned spot (Deck 17, dock 4) an enclosed grav-vehicle flies over. It sports a large brightly lit "Follow Me!" display, and it guides the ship in the last 750 meters until a 'hard lock' is established.

As promised, the Port Captain representative arrives almost immediately, checks and signs off on the log-book, and asks if the crew need assistance from Port Control. He reminds that the 100cr wharfage fee needs paying promptly. "You're headed to the surface, are you? Well good luck, then. Be careful. Customs will give you the information you need. Well, most of the information you need..."

A Customs/Immigration inspection team arrives a few minutes after the departure of the Port Captain Rep. They check passenger documents first; only the middle-passenger is debarking at the orbital. "We'll need to get permissions from the government before you can go dirtside to a non-standard destination." Marge Pilli shows their documentation from "Machines Are Us/Smugg Orney Enterprises" and the agent nods agreeably. "That'll help, but you're still in for a wait of 3 or 4 days."

Cargo and Freight inspections go smoothly. The 6 tons of general freight is claimed by its owners, and arrangements are made for off-loading the next day. The 50 dTons of 'special freight' and the 4 technicians remain aboard waiting until they can get dirt-side.

Traveller Map / Jokotre and nearby systems

On the way in to the Orbital, Tamm asks the members of the Engineering Team to complete the post-Jump systems checks. This should be a quick process since there are at least three Sophants available. Tamm pitches in, too.

I'll be back in a week! Bye!

Have a great time! We will figure it out amongst us players...