Inselburg - Part 2

 

Where the Travellers escape Inselburg with Garrukh, the Vargr cryptologist and their cache of information.

This note is from our September 13th, 2015 session and was mostly written by Carl and Kay with additional material provided by myself.

Continued from: Inselburg - Part 1.

Date: 168-1105 Imperial.

Location: Inselburg on the planet Lewis in the Aramis Subsector.

While Leon was told he couldn't get trained on Inselburg's G-Carrier (anti-grav armored personnel carrier) for a couple of weeks, the transport section decided to check Kipenzi out in it. She went up with Jacquette Reijnders, and did pretty well. No surprise there.

There are 7 total vehicles in the main habitat area, but the G-Carrier was the only one with weapons. That was our choice for departure all along - the training made it easier to plan around.

169-1105
Arriving back at emergency services after running an errand, Medicus overheard a conversation between Krastio Gage, Inselburg's security chief and Jiao Madden, the supervisor of emergency services. They were speaking about Medicus and his future on Lewis. In the previous few days Medicus had been caught trying to get drugs out of the system (for Gvouzdon) and intruding into the computer systems.

Krastio Gage: “What are we going to do with [Vance] Corwin?” (Medicus’ cover name)

Jiao Madden: “I would hate to send him to grounds maintenance, he is a good medic and we would be short handed again.”

“Sometimes I think he is too good.”

“Do you think he is a spy?”

“Not really, a spy would be a worse medic and better at snooping. He is too inept at that to be a spy. On the other hand, I would bet you that he lied on his application.”

“Really? About what?”

“I think he has done time.”

“How can you tell?”

“He has certain mannerisms and the way he carries himself tells me that he has spent time in prison. I’ll bet that he is a doctor who fell afoul of the law and used bribes or family connections to cover up his record.”

“I think we should send his biometrics back, look for a criminal record. Let’s bypass Central Hirings this time. “

“Let’s post another req. for the position. In the meantime, keep him on the job, but keep an eye on him in case he tries something else.”

Medicus, Fig and Kipenzi had been arrested on Zila almost exactly a year ago and their biometrics are on file with the police there. While we would be gone before the incriminating information got back from Zilla, we would be leaving a trail leading back to the Skylark.

Later that afternoon while talking with Gvouzdon, Garrukh indicated that she knew where a cave near their laboratory area was located. When she and Gvouzdon made their break, it could be a hiding spot while waiting for pickup.

170-1105
We kept on looking into the computer systems as time permitted, and found some good information about planned trading and pricing on many planets. Both Oberlindes and Sam Penney back at the Skylark would be able to use that to considerable advantage.

171-1105
Medicus rode up to the mine and toured the tailings area on his day off. The mine work results in large piles of tailings, and semi-precious stones called "sparklies" can be found. These could be made into jewelry and trinkets. Medicus also checked out possible landing areas for the G-Carrier. In a few more days the New Horizons was due to arrive for an ore pickup. Just call us nuggets, because we were the only ore scheduled for loading.

172-1105
Kipenzi and Leon went to the tailings on their common day off. They set up a tight beam comm device, but didn't find any gems.

173-1105
Gvouzdon took the tour also. Kipenzi got a second checkout in the G-Carrier, and we decided to set our escape for 177-1105, around midnight. Those of us in the main area would meet near the vehicle bay, and go from there.

We planed to pick up Gvoudzon and Garrukh about 2 hours after that.

174-1105
There was a big party for the Tukera family at the main dome that evening. We weren’t invited although Kipenzi working as a driver got to shuttle some dignitaries to and from it.

177-1105
Around midnight we put our plan into action. Kipenzi went into the vehicle bay with coffee liberally dosed with a sleeping agent that she got from the infirmary after complaining about sleep problems due to the week long “nights”. It was a common problem on Lewis and she had no trouble getting it.

Kipnzi said, “Guess who wants to go out at this time of night?”, and brought the coffee for the security guard as a peace offering for the disturbance.

"Any answer the guard gave would, of course, be the right one." – Kipenzi

Kipenzi brings the guard coffee while Fig and Medicus wait down the hall and Leon waits in the machine shop.

At the retreat, Gvoudzon was doing his own coffee delivery, and in short order the guards were sedated there also. He and Garrukh made their way to the pickup point.

The crew got into the G-carrier, with Leon taking the keys to all the other vehicles to delay any pursuit, and took off.

The crew escape in the G-Carrier past the unconscious guard, taking the keys to the other vehicles with them.

En-route to The Retreat to pick up Gvoudzon and Garrukh, we heard on the radio that the Aramis Maximus (the New Horizon's cover name) had arrived in system and was approaching Lewis and would be landing at the field near the mines.

We picked up the Vargr without incident, and headed circuitously for the mine and our pickup. Halfway to the mine, we hear over the radio that they found the unconscious guard and discovered that the G-Carrier was gone.

Landing at the tailings area, we set the G-Carrier to fly north a long ways and land. Since most of the planet was ocean, we figured that would take care of any residual evidence.

Before departure, Fig left the Admiral a long letter. Telling him what we knew, and implying that we were covert Naval Intelligence, Fig hoped this would help get the Mammoth crash investigation on the right track. The Admiral's nephew was the lead investigator, and one of the things we learned was that the Tukera family had asked him to put the blame on Oberlindes.

Admiral:

First, I have enjoyed our time with you, and in more than one way am sorry to see it end so abruptly. I wish you, and the family Tukera, well.

To that end:

As you will know by now, some of the personnel have vanished. Only one was unplanned, and she could not have been left behind once we became aware of her presence and knowledge.

The Imperial Intelligence Service

KNOWS

1. The loss of the Mammoth, and the previous sabotage of the Titan, were NOT accidental

2. Two Meson Guns, in component form, were diverted at Zila to points as yet unconfirmed.

3. This theft, and the sabotage associated with it, WERE planned and executed by Tukera personnel. Do not doubt my words.

4. The initial sabotage of the Titan was effected by a Tukera engineer/agent, Jellica Chan aka Sylvie Mobutu and other names. This was done at the orders of < name withheld for now, watch the news feeds >, a senior Tukera manager for the sector.

5. The weapon systems were rerouted to < withheld, we have to have some secrets > for sale to (we believe) the Vargr mercenaries/pirates. We are pretty sure we have learned the time of the transfer.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the near future, after we return to < specific location withheld > and report our findings, the Imperial Service will
KNOW
that Tukera initiated the trade war which has been happening for some weeks. I hope that it has been ended in the time I have been enroute and serving here.

That the Marquis of Aramis was, at the least, aware of the tradewar, will be passed on to the appropriate level of the Empire .

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, for the suspicions and best estimates associated with this:

We believe that the Tukera family was not directly responsible for the trade war or the casualties and damage resulting from it. Official(s) within the company will likely be held responsible and dealt with soon.

We believe that the Tukera family, and the company itself, were NOT directly involved in the theft of the guns or the sabotage of the ships. We know two names (withheld for now, keep your ear to the ground) who were part or possibly the entirety of the plot. Well done by them, but the pendulum is swinging back.

While here on Lewis our operatives learned that, though probably not directly involved in the theft, Tukera family and personnel are encouraging that the investigation target Oberlindes lines as the cause and source of many problems.

To return to the upper part, we KNOW that is not the case.

Out of respect, I take the small personal risk of sharing this information and suggesting that you contact your nephew at the earliest possible time and strongly suggest/TELL him to do a proper and unbiased investigation into the events. Should he follow the "hang it on Oberlindes" path, the chances that he will be joining you at Flag rank are...... limited.

Please contact him soonest, and pass on that he should listen to and heed information he received from The Red Baron. Though I do not know the source personally, they have been invaluable to Navy Intelligence many times in the past, and I hope in the future.

Again, I apologize for leaving you without an aide, but I am sure you had some experience in your active duty years with the exigencies of intelligence and Empire level concerns. I wish you well, and hope you get a replacement soon.

Well, I really know that no one can actually replace me, but do the best you can.


A last note: the company who provided me and a few others was in NO WAY involved directly. The Naval Intelligence Service has "a few" backstopped identities on almost every planet in the Empire, and several on many others. Changing the pictures to match the people is a trivial database hack. Please do not blame the company or punish them. They were fooled, just as the Tukera family was - I should note that you were also fooled by at least a couple of your employees too. Probably the corporation should go through a re-validation exercise, but that is up to you and yours.



____________________________ not my real name

Zila not my real planet

Naval Intelligence, Covert Ops not my real job..... or is it?

That should shake things up.

Loading onto the New Horizons, we got out of there as fast as possible and headed for Zenthra, the nearby gas giant to refuel. Once we had full tanks, we headed for deep space while we refined our fuel. We were not going to risk a mis-jump by using unrefined fuel. Three days later, the New Horizon's fuel tanks were full of pure hydrogen and we Jumped to the Aramanx system on 181-1105.

188-1105
We came out of hyperspace in the Aramanx system near Oberlindes' Trade War Base and got back to the Skylark and updated Sam on our adventures on Lewis.

We took a courier to Aramanx Station, where Gvoudzon took the opportunity to retrieve his brooch from the bank safe deposit. On the station we learned that Oberlindes and Aranroughl would be coming out to debrief us out at the base, a significant departure from the last time we met.

Back at the base, Garrackh took a couple of paperclips, some plastic tape and a quarter credit coin and then used a standard reader and finally provided us the Vargr brooch’s message:

Greetings:

Our plans have been finalized. I have made arrangements to acquire the material you need for completion of your fleet from a naval shipment. As agreed, this includes:

• Two type J LSP meson guns (spinal mount). Net tonnage 1,000 tons each.
• Two modell/7fib computers for fire control and operation. Net tonnage 18 tons each.

Shipments will be diverted as they pass through Aramis subsector and reshipped to Lablon in modules identified as farm machinery consigned to Ozarr. Total load 2,100 tons. Manifests have been prepared under the Akerut corporate letterhead. Export licenses have been procured under the numbers 1107-006350875. Steps are being taken to ensure that the Navy remains unaware of the true fate of the shipment.

As discussed previously, final delivery will await your procurement of sufficient funds. Your officer, Thane Dhurgeng, should meet with me to arrange final transfer details at the Brokers’ Exchange Market, Lablon. Shipment will be stored near the delivery site pending final payment.

Confirmation will follow by an alternate route, as always.
Sincerely, Aran Ashkashkur

No wonder they wanted Gvoudzon so badly on Aramis.

Kipenzi: "Hmm… ya know, Sylvie sent a message suggesting that one or more of the Skylark’s officer might be “brought into the inner circle” as a way of preventing the brooch from getting out. Maybe we should hang out a sign that says “pay bribes here”. Just a thought. Hey Medicus, are you all stocked up on that interrogation drug?"

195-1105
All of us, plus Oberlindes and Aranroughl went back to the base in a larger courier, and we had another briefing.

This time, Oberlindes wants us to:

1. Go to Jesedipere and prevent the gun transfer. Under no circumstances should the Vargr pirates get a working meson gun.
   
2. Intercept Ashkashkur (#1 will do that too) and detain him.
3. Set up a large conference room for a big discussion.
   

Oberlindes planned to go to Lewis and talk with Bulolo, head of subsector operations for Tukera and the Marquis of Aramis who will also be there. Then he wants to get them and the Navy to catch up with us at Jesedipere. He hoped to get the tradewar all laid to rest and many other issues settled once and for all.

He offered us a seat at the table if we wanted one, and a fitting share of the loot.

We hoped that Jellica Chan would be there too, as we prepped for departure.

Continued in Showdown at Jesedipere - Part 1

See Also: Dramatis Personæ, Skylark 2, Campaign Starts, The 2nd Adventure, The Chamax Plague, Horde, Shadows, Research Station Gamma, Twilight's Peak, Prison Planet, Leedor on Aramis, First Call at Zilla, Trade War.