Traveller : The Story So Far

Volume 4

Our Heroes (253-1118)

Natasha Alexevich (Yvonne Barker) - SolSec 1Lt (maybe).

Kiell Randor (Mark Lavery) - Solomani Marine Captain/SolSec Master Chief Agent.

Mary Webster II (Andrew Moreton) - Solomani Army Major/SolSec Master Chief Agent.

Interlude: "Mind Games"

254-1118 (23 December 5638)

Kiell goes back to his island, and Webster and Natasha leave for Ember/Sol.

255

Webster and Natasha in jump. Webster starts writing letters, complaining about being given a Banner of Terra.

256

Webster and Natasha in jump.

257

Christmas. Webster and Natasha in jump.

258-261

Webster and Natasha in jump.

262

Webster and Natasha reach Ember. Webster posts her letters.

263

Webster and Natasha jump to Dismal/Sol.

264

New Year. Webster and Natasha in jump.

265-270

Webster and Natasha in jump.

271

Webster and Natasha reach Dismal.

272

Webster and Natasha jump to Tlaloc/Kukulkan.

273-279

Webster and Natasha in jump.

280

Webster and Natasha reach Tlaloc.

281

Natasha starts giving Webster Psionic training.

282

Psionic training. Kiell goes on an Extremely Dangerous mission.

283-316

Psionic training. Kiell on mission.

317

Psionic training. Kiell returns to Terra. Webster receives a reply from Terra.

318-344

Psionic training.

345

Psionic training. Kiell goes on a Marine mission.

346-365

Psionic training. Kiell on mission.

001-1119

Imperial New Year. Psionic training. Kiell on mission.

002-056

Psionic training. Kiell on mission.

057

Advanced Psionic training begins. Kiell on mission.

058-113

Advanced training. Kiell on mission. Webster receives replies from Capella.

114

Webster and Mikhail jump to Dismal/Sol. Kiell on mission.

115-120

Webster and Mikhail in jump. Kiell on mission.

121

Webster and Mikhail reach Dismal. Kiell on mission.

122

Webster and Mikhail jump to Ember/Sol. Kiell on mission.

123-129

Webster and Mikhail in jump. Kiell on mission.

130

Webster and Mikhail reach Ember. Kiell on mission.

131

Webster and Mikhail jump to Terra/Sol. Kiell on mission.

132-137

Webster and Mikhail in jump. Kiell on mission.

138

Webster and Mikhail reach Terra. Kiell on mission. Webster receives replies from Home: Banners of Terra awarded for previous mission are down-graded to Orders of Sol.

Our Heroes (139-1119)

Mikhail Denchenko (Yvonne Barker) - Solomani Navy Lt Cmdr/SolSec Snr Chief Agent.

Steve Brickman (Mark Lavery) - Solomani Navy Lt/SolSec Chief Agent.

Mary Webster II (Andrew Moreton) - Solomani Army Major/SolSec Master Chief Agent.

Session 1: "Give Peace a Chance"

139-1119 (30 August 5639)

Mikhail and Webster are summoned to David Carter's office, where they meet Brickman. They are told about a forthcoming peace conference, organised by the Hivers but consisting of delegations from the Solomani Confederation, the Imperium, and the Vegan Autonomous District. The conference will take place aboard a liner, in jump from Nusku to Vega, in a weeks time, and the three agents are to form SolSec's part of the Solomani delegation. Meanwhile, Kiell returns to Terra, where he's awarded a Solomani Starburst, a Blood Crest, and a promotion to Marine Major, which almost, (but not quite), makes up for losing his Banner of Terra.

140

Mikhail, Brickman, and Webster board a Courier for Nusku/Sol.

141

Jump to Nusku. Kiell makes a large donation to Party funds.

142-147

In jump.

148

Courier reaches Nusku. Dock with liner Procyon, and go aboard. Everyone fights over the best stateroom, until Webster pulls rank, (and a big gun). Meet Fleet Admiral Rebecca O'Connor and Party Leader Edwin Fox, the heads of the Solomani delegation. Webster has a play with the computer, and then everyone goes to Dinner, where they meet the Imperials, the Vegans, the crew, and Herbert and George, the two Hivers. In the bar after, Mikhail gets friendly with Imperial Consul Beverly Taylor; Webster discusses strategy, tactics, and the military uses of peanuts with Imperial Marine Colonel Sir Alexander Medici; and Brickman fails to chat up the ship's doctor, Janice Holmes. At midnight, the ship jumps to Vega.

149

After breakfast, the conference begins. The Vegans state their position, which is they don't really care about anyone else as long as they're left alone. Mikhail tries some Vegan food for Lunch, and lives to tell the tale. After Lunch, the Imperials state their position, which is that they're willing to surrender the Rimward half of the Sector, providing they can keep the Coreward half. After this, Webster and Mikhail retire to Webster's stateroom where they duel for the position of Best Hacker, finishing just in time to miss Dinner. More mingling in the bar afterwards...

150

...until about 02:30, when Mikhail and Beverly leave, (shortly after Webster and Medici have staggered back to their respective bunkers...sorry, staterooms).

02:36 Beverly invites Mikhail in for "coffee".

04:03 Mikhail telepathically wakes up Webster, and demands that she go to his room and arrest him.

04:05 Mikhail teleports into his shower.

04:09 Webster gets to Mikhail's room, persuades the door to open, and goes in. She finds his gauss pistol, and waits for him to come out of the shower. When he does, he explains that he just woke up in Beverly's shower, with the extremely-dead body of the Consul in the next room - but he didn't kill her, honest!

04:25 Webster wakes up Admiral O'Connor.

04:30 O'Connor contacts Army Major Nigel Smith, the only other Solomani military officer on board.

04:35 Smith contacts Brickman.

04:40 O'Connor and Smith arrive at Mikhail's room.

04:45 Mikhail explains again.

04:55 O'Connor and Smith leave, to contact the Imperial leaders, just as Brickman arrives.

Session 2: "An Innocent Man"

150-1119 (10 September 5639)

Webster and Brickman argue over who's going to guard the prisoner, (Webster wins). Everyone else goes to examine the scene of the crime. Webster leaves to start checking the computer records, and Brickman goes to look at the body. The Admiral discovers that nobody is guarding Mikhail, and shouts at Webster, who explains that she left Brickman in charge, so everyone shouts at Brickman instead. Webster fries the intercom system, and Brickman goes around sniffing vac suits. The doctor finishes her tests and moves the body into a low berth. Webster interrupts the Helmsman and Navigator, then goes to bed. For some reason, she later shoots her stateroom. Mikhail is interrogated, (via lie detector and truth drug), during which he says he doesn't remember killing the Consul, but agrees that he might have done it and then forgotten! The Captain and the Admirals agree to confine Mikhail to his cabin, under armed guard, and re-start the conference in the morning. Brickman finds something interesting in the coffee cups. Webster confesses to frying the intercom and planting false fingerprints, and the Admiral threatens to throw her out of an airlock. Webster spends the rest of the day sniffing shoes, and Brickman pisses off the Colonel. Everyone finally retires to the bar.

Session 3: "Another One Bites the Dust"

150-1119 (10 September 5639)

Webster goes to bed, Brickman talks to people, and Mikhail does a bit of painting.

151

06:00 Mikhail goes to bed, and Webster gets up to pump iron in the hold, (or in her case, probably pump bonded super-dense...)

06:19 Brickman wakes up, and gets very paranoid.

06:33 Brickman has a shower.

06:42 Brickman finds Arthur Bolgi's body.

06:43 Brickman enters Mikhail's room and contacts Webster.

06:44 Webster arrives.

06:45 Find body pistol in Mikhail's fresher.

Webster discovers Deputy Consul Colin Garvey is dead, and lets everyone know. Major Smith arrives to guard Mikhail, and Brickman and Webster go and look at the body, where they meet Colonel Medici. Discover that the emergency O2 bottles are empty. Everyone goes to the bridge to question Pyrus and Brown. Webster discovers something strange in one of the control panels, and Brickman finds something equally strange in the lower air lock. Brickman scares Marks, while Webster and Medici scare Grant.

Session 4:

151-1119 (11 September 5639)

Brickman plants bugs in Mikhail's room, while Webster examines the forward ventral air lock. Webster is nearly killed when the airlock closes, and she shouts at a lot of people. Brickman fails to hide a bug in Medici's room, then shows everyone the video he made of someone in Mikhail's room. Brickman and Medici search the Captain/Medic's and the Helmsman/Navigator's staterooms. Everyone gathers on the bridge to interrogate Mikhail again. The Marquis wants to execute him on the spot, but suddenly has a hot flush and has to be given a cold shower to stop him spontaneously combusting. Webster hassles the Baron, who storms off and locks himself in his cabin. Brickman and Medici check on the other Delegates, and find that someone has turned up the gravity in the cabin of Gwi, one of the Vegans, (with fatal results). Brickman discovers that someone has welded the iris valve to the ventral missile turret shut from the inside. Medici puts on his combat armour and gets out his gauss rifle (!), and he and Webster storm the Ship's Boat. They find a man in a vac suit in the cockpit, and Webster shoots him, (and the controls!), lots, just as he teleports out. Mikhail scans the turret, and finds him, plugged into a medicomp, with, rather worryingly, just a skull for a face, (although this turns out to be just a hologram). Brickman goes EVA, to get in through the missile tube, leaving an Engineer to cut through the iris valve. He gets inside, but then gets stuck when Webster annoys the controls. Brute force and ignorance gets him through, and he empties a gauss pistol into the man. This kills him, which is a pity since they wanted him alive, but First Aid keeps him alive until the Engineer cuts through the hatch and the Doctor arrives. Meanwhile, Mikhail psionically searches the room and puts all the interesting stuff, (six holocubes and a small black box), into Brickman's bag. The man is put in a portable cold-sleep berth and taken to Sick Bay. Mikhail probes him, discovering that his name is Joshua Havel and he was hired to do this by "Mr Johnson", (but not that Mr Johnson), while Webster starts forging a thumb. Webster breaks into the box and finds MCr5 and some false ID, then reads the 'cubes and finds a diary and secret recording. Everyone goes for Lunch, and then the Conference continues. The Solomani state their position, which is, not surprisingly, that they want the whole Sector for themselves.

Session 5:

151-1119 (11 September 5639)

After the Conference, Mikhail talks to the Baron about psionics, and Webster and the Electronics Officer duel for control of the computer, while George the Hiver does something sneaky in the background.

152

The Electronics Officer gives up and goes to bed. Brickman discovers that someone has turned off Havel's life-support machine, and warns everyone. Mikhail teleports in and turns it back on again. Webster thinks George the Hiver did it, and Brickman threatens to shoot the squid-head. Admiral O'Connor turns up and tells him to stop it until he can find some evidence. Brickman decides to go and crawl around in the (empty) fuel tanks for a while, and shows what a great spacer he is by spinning out of control, throwing up in his helmet, passing out, and nearly choking on his own vomit. Luckily, Anna Marks rescues him before everyone dies laughing. At the Conference later, the Solomani agree to leave the VAD alone, providing they stay neutral and demilitarised.

153

Brickman feels a bit better. The Conference continues. Everyone finally gets a decent night's sleep.

154

Havel is put into a cold-sleep berth. At the Conference, the Solomani agree to let the Vegans keep a small Navy, for self defence.

155

Brickman feels OK again.

156

The ship reaches Vega/Vega. Everyone transfers to the Ship's Boat while Smith and Medici disarm the first two bombs, then they transfer back and the bomb on the Boat is disarmed. The ship docks at the Starport, and a couple of MIBs come aboard. They introduce themselves as Imperial Ministry of Justice agents, and they want to ask Mikhail a few questions. Brickman demands to be there, and they finally agree as long as he stays quiet. The MOJ MIBs seem satisfied with the answers, and leave with Havel, (still frozen). The Imperials, Vegans, and Hivers leave, and Our Heroes decide to go shopping. Webster's idea of civilian clothing gives a whole new meaning to the term "undress uniform". After accidentally wandering down a dark alley, Webster butchers three muggers, (after giving them all a chance to stab Brickman, of course). They finish their shopping and return to the ship.

157

Procyon jumps to Nusku/Sol.

158

Procyon in jump. Back on Terra, Kiell buys an office in LA, and starts recruiting a private army...

159-163

Procyon in jump.

164

Procyon reaches Nusku. Refuel.

165

Procyon jumps to Agidda/Sol.

166-171

Procyon in jump.

172

Procyon reaches Agidda. Refuel.

173

Procyon jumps to Terra/Sol.

174-179

Procyon in jump.

180

Procyon reaches Terra. Kiell is distracted long enough for Webster to arrive without him killing her.

181

Everyone is debriefed, and then they go on holiday.

Interlude

182-1119 (12 October 5639)

Webster and Brickman leave for Ys/Gemini. Mikhail leaves for Ember/Sol.

183-188

Everyone in jump.

189

Mikhail reaches Ember.

190

Webster and Brickman reach Ys.

191

Webster and Brickman leave for Teucer/Capella. Mikhail leaves for Scandia/Arcturus.

192-197

Everyone in jump.

198

Webster and Brickman reach Teucer. Mikhail reaches Scandia.

199

Brickman leaves for Tarsus/Capella.

200

Webster leaves for Capella/Capella. Mikhail leaves for Tlaloc/Kukulkan.

201-206

Everyone in jump.

207

Brickman reaches Tarsus. Webster reaches Capella.

208

Mikhail reaches Tlaloc.

209

Everyone on holiday. Back on Terra, Kiell hears about being stripped of his Imperial rank, his Knighthood, and his medals...and gets a bit upset.

210-214

Everyone on holiday.

215

Webster leaves for Teucer. Mikhail leaves for Scandia.

216-220

Everyone in jump.

221

Webster reaches Teucer. Mikhail reaches Scandia. Back on Terra, Kiell's island is attacked by 4 Imperial Marine Commandos. After a fire-fight in the house, 1 is killed and another captured, and one of Kiell's men is blown away. Kiell calls for reinforcements.

222

Webster leaves for Ys. Mikhail leaves for Ember. Back on Terra, Kiell's grav tank is disabled by missiles from the commandos' mini-sub. Reinforcements arrive, in the form of a platoon of Solomani Marines. Kiell has a shoot-out with the sub, (the sub loses), and then tracks the commandos to the workshops. In the fire-fight that follows, both commandos are killed, and the building collapses on top of Kiell.

223

Everyone in jump. Back on Terra, Kiell recovers and starts probing his prisoner.

224-225

Everyone in jump. Back on Terra, Kiell plotting.

226-228

Everyone in jump. Back on Terra, Kiell in hospital, having himself altered to look like the killer.

229

Webster reaches Ys. Mikhail reaches Ember.

230

Webster leaves for Terra.

231

Mikhail leaves for Terra.

232-234

Everyone in jump.

235

Everyone in jump. Kiell jumps to Agidda.

236

Everyone in jump.

237

Webster reaches Terra.

238

Mikhail reaches Terra.

Our Heroes (239-1119)

Mikhail Denchenko (Yvonne Barker) - Solomani Navy Lt Cmdr/SolSec Snr Chief Agent.

Khir Eal Hisoli Pournelle (Mark Lavery) - Solomani Marine Sergeant Major/SolSec Master Chief Agent (Aslan).

Mary Webster II (Andrew Moreton) - Solomani Army Major/SolSec Master Chief Agent.

Session 6: "One Of Our Ships Is Missing"

239-1119 (8 December 5639)

Mikhail and Webster are summoned to SolSec HQ by Colonel Axel Rhodes, Deputy Operations Director (Sol), where they meet Khir. Rhodes explains that a few weeks ago, the Cruiser Vantage misjumped en route to Terra. Unfortunately, the ship was carrying a high-ranking Party official and several important Naval Intelligence officers. According to a report from an undercover agent, the ship reappeared at Hsivyu/Esperance. The party are given a Yacht - the Sinbad - and told to go fetch...

240

The Sinbad is taken aboard a Battle Tender, which jumps to Zaggisi/Dingir.

241

Everyone in jump. Khir starts teaching Webster Unarmed Martial Arts.

242

Everyone in jump. Kiell reaches Agidda.

243

Everyone in jump. Kiell jumps to Nusku.

244-247

Everyone in jump.

248

Battle Tender reaches Zaggisi.

249

Sinbad jumps to Hsivyu.

250

Everyone in jump. Kiell reaches Nusku.

251

Everyone in jump. Kiell jumps to Vega/Vega.

252-255

Everyone in jump.

256

Sinbad reaches Hsivyu, and lands at main Downport. The starport officials are surprised to find two Nobles aboard, and immediately summon a grav-limousine to take them to the best hotel, (The Regency), where they are given the Imperial Suite. Khir goes out for a drink, while Webster and Mikhail get acquainted with the planet's computer system. Khir finds an Aslan merchant, empties a bar, and beats up a couple of Marines. Webster and Mikhail find the Naval Intelligence chief - Cmdr Victoria Davis - and decide to invite her to a party... along with nearly everyone else on the planet! Khir hears about this, and invites the merchant crew...before being arrested for speeding and assault.

257

Khir is released, after Mikhail 'phones up the Chief of Police in the middle of the night. Everyone sort of sits around until the evening, when the party guests turn up. Mikhail gets to know Commander Davis quite well, and Webster gets to know a Navy Lt Cmdr and two Marine Captains very well! Meanwhile, Kiell reaches Vega.

258

The party games begin. Ms Davis decides it's time to leave, and Mikhail escorts her home, (along with Khir and a platoon of Marines). The party staggers to a close, and the survivors leave. Later, Mikhail sends Davis some flowers. Webster does unspeakable things to the journalist who described her as Mikhail's girlfriend, and then goes 'boing' for a while, and finally goes out sight-seeing with Khir.

07:35 Mikhail surprises Cmdr Davis on her way to work, and persuades her to call a car.

07:40 The car arrives, but Mikhail changes his mind and they go back into her apartment for coffee.

07:50 Mikhail stuns Davis, and starts probing her, discovering that the crew of the Vantage have been sent to a secret prison camp on Hieronymus/Esperance.

08:50 Finish probing, and leave.

09:05 Mikhail calls Webster.

09:15 Mikhail calls Davis, but gets her driver instead, who tells him she's ill.

Meanwhile, on Vega, Kiell goes to the Marine base and meets Colonel Medici.

Session 7: "The Morning After"

258-1119 (27 December 5639)

Mikhail calls the Naval Hospital, and leaves a message for Davis. Shortly after, a Navy Lt visits him and asks a few questions. Mikhail doesn't tell him much, so he goes to talk to Webster, who tells him even less. Davis calls Mikhail, and he goes to see her at the hospital, where he sort of explains a bit about what happened, and then invites her out to dinner that night. After dinner, (in the Regency's restaurant, for security reasons), they go to the theatre.

259

About half an hour after Davis leaves, Mikhail gets a call from one of their engineers, saying that there's a group of Marines wanting to come aboard the Sinbad. Everyone rushes down there, and the Sergeant in charge explains that they think there might be a bomb aboard. The Marines search the ship, but don't find any bombs, (not even the ones that were aboard!). Sinbad takes off, and jumps to Hieronymus/Esperance. The nukes are taken out of their hiding places and hidden in the Power Plant and the Pinnace's engine room instead, then the engineers sabotage the manoeuvre drive.

Meanwhile, on Vega, Kiell kills a Navy Petty Officer, and steals his laser pistol, which he then uses to murder Colonel Medici and several Navy and Marine officers. He then blows up the armoury, sets a nuke to detonate in four minutes, and teleports to the starport, where he bullshits his way aboard the Cruiser Akari. He's rather surprised when the nuke doesn't go off, and he goes up to the Bridge, where he kills the Executive Officer and confuses the Captain. A couple of Marines come to investigate, and he kills them. He persuades the Helmsman to pull away from the Starport. More Marines storm the Bridge, and Kiell panics and presses the Jump button. Things get a bit dangerous, so he tries to 'port to one of the turrets, but ends up in the fuel tank instead! After bouncing around for a bit, he arrives at the Marine's gym, and hides in a store room, where he tries to fix his frozen Battle Dress. Kill more Marines, steal a new set of Battle Dress, blow up an FGMP, then blow up the gym and hide in a cardboard box.

260

Sinbad in jump. Meanwhile, Kiell has a rest, kills a few more people, and disintegrates most of the Life Support system.

261

Sinbad in jump. Meanwhile, Kiell pretends to be a Sergeant, blows up the backup Life Support system, and offers to let the crew surrender, (they refuse). Kill a few more people, and get shot a bit. Hack into the computers, storm the Sick Bay, and persuade the Navy to surrender. Then torture a few prisoners, so the Navy un-surrender.

262

Sinbad in jump. Meanwhile, Kiell blows up the Bridge, floods the Emergency Bridge with liquid hydrogen, and kills lots more people.

263-265

Sinbad in jump. Meanwhile, Kiell finally persuades the crew to surrender.

266

Sinbad in jump. Meanwhile, Kiell comes out of jump, (in the middle of nowhere). Engineers start fixing Jump Drive.

267

Sinbad in reaches Hieronymus, and is hailed by the Imperial Cruiser Achilles. Mikhail explains that they've misjumped, and their Manoeuvre Drive is broken. Achilles sends over a Cutter full of engineers to help. Webster hacks into the Cruiser's computer , and the Cutter tows them onto a safe course. Sinbad's reactor is taken off-line, and power is taken from the Pinnace and Cutter instead. Webster discovers that some of the prisoners recently escaped from the prison. Against their better judgements, Webster and Mikhail decide to go down to the planet.

16:45 Webster tries to persuade Mikhail that drop capsules are perfectly safe, but finally gives up, tranqs him, and stuffs him into a capsule.

16:56 Mikhail's pod launched.

17:05 Webster's pod launched.

17:16 Mikhail's pod enters the atmosphere.

17:20 Webster's pod enters the atmosphere.

17:28 Mikhail's pod opens.

17:30 Webster's pod opens.

17:38 Mikhail lands.

17:40 Webster lands.

Meanwhile, Kiell defuses a bomb on the Jump Drive.

Session 8: "The Man Who Fell To Earth"

267-1119 (5 January 5640)

After a brief argument on the correct usage of drop capsules, Mikhail and Webster unpack their gear and head off Northwards, towards the nearest city. Mikhail scans the area, but doesn't find any brains he recognises.

268

Webster and Mikhail double-check their calculations, and realise that the escaped prisoners couldn't have got this far. Webster heads back up to the ship, and Mikhail teleports to the prison. Mikhail meets a hungry, but rather confused, pseudo-lion, then finds the escaped prisoners, including Commanders Travis and Douglas, plus a couple of suspicious Marines. Mikhail returns to ship, and Webster arrives back shortly after. They decide to blow up the prison, so Khir prepares several demolition charges. The Captain of the Achilles invites Mikhail to dinner, which he accepts. Mikhail 'ports back down and probes Travis, then 'ports to the prison, disguised as one of the Marine guards, and breaks into an office. He does a bit of hacking, then goes around planting bombs near the power plant and the armoury. Back on the ship, one of the Imperial engineers discovers the cache of weapons, so Webster kills him.

Meanwhile, Kiell finishes fixing the Jump Drive and Jumps...

Down Time

269-1119 (7 January 5640)

Mikhail and Webster rescue everyone and return to ship. Sinbad jumps to Umieh/Esperance.

270-274

Everyone in jump.

275

Kiell reaches Murphy/Banasdan; captured by Solomani cruiser; questioned, then frozen.

276

Sinbad reaches Umieh.

277

Sinbad refuels. Kiell is sent to Arrukir/Sol.

278

Sinbad jumps to Tyudhuar/Esperance.

279-283

Everyone in jump.

284

Kiell reaches Arrukir.

285

Sinbad reaches Tyudhuar.

286

Kiell sent to Ishimshulgi/Sol.

287

Sinbad jumps to Nusku/Sol.

288-292

Everyone in jump.

293

Kiell reaches Ishimshulgi.

294

Sinbad reaches Nusku.

295

Kiell sent to Agidda/Sol.

296

Sinbad jumps to Agidda.

297-301

Everyone in jump.

302

Kiell reaches Agidda.

304

Sinbad reaches Agidda.

305

Kiell sent to Terra/Sol.

306

Sinbad jumps to Terra.

307-312

Everyone in jump.

313

Kiell reaches Terra. Sinbad reaches Terra.

314

Mikhail and Webster debriefed.

315

Kiell defrosted.

316

Kiell debriefed.

317

Kiell enters hospital.

318-322

Kiell having plastic surgery.

323

Kiell leaves hospital.

+++END OF VOLUME 4+++