Begin a Session: rolled for this and got 16 - flashback reveals an aspect of a faction; took the opportunity to flesh out one of the Clans
"You buy that story of a survey?" said the Ninses Bannersworn as he watched the Viktor motoring away from Sita.
"Not for a hot minute," said his buddy, "But the money's good."
"Indeed! Good enough for a couple of nights on the town."
"Damn good nights at that!" came the laughing reply.
Clan Ninses' presence on Fanum was not large, and most of their Bannersworn on the planet considered it a 'punishment' posting, or more coarsely as 'the arse-end of nowhere'. They were not an occupation force - the Clan had made an agreement with the Fanum's democratic government. The government paid Clan Ninses to protect Fanum as the spaceport developed and created its own security force.
The Ninses were supposedly training the locals, but in reality they were placing their own people in all the positions that mattered, gradually consolidating all the real power on Fanum. It was only a matter of time before they took complete control.
Hammer would have said that that was how Clan Ninses operates - taking a sideways approach, coming from unexpected directions. Unlike Clans Arata and Zursano who would attack and conquer, Ninses would sidle in and take control before you could stop them.
But Hammer was no longer a Bannersworn - not since Arata had destroyed the Kenduri making him Ronin. The Kenduri had been Hammer's Clan, but now he couldn't care less about any Clan - what he wanted now, more than anything else, was to find the traitor who had sold out the Kenduri ...
Begin a Session: end of flashback
* +1 momentum : now 10
* * * * * * *
Hammer closed the door to the vault and the Professor put a University of Nemus seal on the doors - not to keep anyone out, just to let them know if the vault was entered in their absence.
Using the grav compensators, the team was soon back at the surface and loading the Viktor with their kit
Set a Course: back to Sita : roll +supply : 5 +4 vs 3 & 4 : strong hit
* reach destination, situation favors you
* +1 momentum : maxed at 10
"Hammer, you have a message from Dropship," KOMie told him.
"Is it tagged immediate or urgent?" Hammer asked.
"Negative."
"Then keep it until I reach you," Hammer said, leaving 'one thing at a time' unsaid.
They reached Sita without incident. Hammer dropped the team at a hotel and said his farewells as he collected his payment.
Reach A Milestone: dangerous vow : "I will escort Professor Doyce and his team into, and out of, the vault on Fanum"
* progress, now 8 / 10
Fulfill Your Vow: "I will escort Professor Doyce and his team into, and out of, the vault on Fanum" : roll progress : 8 vs 5 & 7 : strong hit
* dangerous vow : mark 2 ticks on Quests Legacy track
Note: I did think about trying to Make a Connection with Doyce (or his assistant), but Hammer doesn't do that very often
Returning to Retribution, Hammer removed his armour, parked the Viktor in its garage pattern container and then went to the pilot's chair in the upper bridge.
"Play Dropship's message please KOMie," he said as he dropped into the chair.
KOMie complied and Dropship appeared on the screen in front of him; "Hammer, hope you're well. Got a job for you. Come see me ASAP."
"When was this sent KOMie?" queried Hammer.
"Approximately 34 hours ago," replied the Overseer.
"Get us cleared from the spaceport and then on the way to Lodurr," Hammer told KOMie. "I'm going to sleep, wake me if you need me."
"Will do," confirmed KOMie
Hammer levered himself up and staggered back to the Pilot's cabin where he let himself fall onto the bed. Hammer and Retribution had been to Lodurr before and knew the passage there from Fanum, so he had no concerns regarding KOMie's ability to get them there.
Set a Course: Fanum to Lodurr : roll +supply : 1 +4 vs 3 & 10 : weak hit
* arrive, but face cost
* -2 suffer move : -2 momentum, now 8
The jumps took longer than Hammer had expected, but neither he nor KOMie could discern why. Running diagnostics on the e-drive diverted power from the engines and the run to the main station in the Lodurr belts, Bulwark, was delayed. The diagnostics showed no problems, so they engaged the engines and resumed the run at normal speed, wondering what had happened.
As they reached comms range, Bulwark called them, "Lelantos class vessel, this is Bulwark station, state your destinaion."
"Starship Retribution requesting docking clearance," Hammer replied.
"Retribution, you are cleared to dock, proceed to level 3, dock 6," came the bored response.
"Thank-you Bulwark," Hammer said, "can I send a message on your internal system?"
"Of course. Bulwark out," said the Bulwark controller.
Hammer updated the ETA on the message he had recorded for Dropship and dispatched it, then settled back to doze for the rest of the run to the station, leaving KOMie in control.
Before long they had docked at Bulwark and Hammer left Retribution in the capable 'hands' of KOMie while ha entered the station and began the journey to Dropship's place.