Deep Space
Meridian 200
Aboard ISS Belfast Windfall

The Interstel Superphotonic Starship Belfast Windfall shot across space in utter silence, bounding over Meridian 200 and entering the Dead Zone, the long-cooled ruins of an Old Empire. Biggs Hilsfar, presiding over his bridge at that particular moment, marked the occasion by muttering something about a long dead pirate while slipping drink coasters under one of his desk's legs in an effort to make it balance properly. Arella walked onto the bridge. "You wanted to speak with me, sir?"

"What? Oh, right-hang on," said Biggs, putting one last coaster under the desk. It was still wobbly. He sat up and poured Arella a cup of his infamous "no blend" coffee. "Okay, so there's English, Veloxi and Thrynn on that permalite imprint, right? Arella nodded. "So where's the Elowan? It's a universal navigation aid stamped on a rock for ships that get lost or disoriented or whatever�"

"2770." Arella nearly spat the year. "How did I miss that?" Biggs made a comment about interference coming from the communications station, and Arella tried to ignore it, but Mack didn't.

"Hee-haw, I'm just a lovin' man," hooted Mack, doing a drum routine on his console. Biggs laughed and Arella shook her head.

"Insufferable barbarian," she said. "Right, then. 2770 AD, the year Earth made first contact with the Elowan and the Thrynn揺ow painfully obvious. There was a lag of several months between the two," she said, refering to months during which the Thrynn had hidden the sentience of the Elowan. "...so anything built during the gap wouldn't have had Elowan inscribed on it."

"That's the angle. I figure we ought to be focusing on the downspin range葉hat's where all the activity would have been at that point. So like you and Grix pinned down, we're looking for a dead world orbiting a bright middle-aged star様ike myself幼oreward of the Elowan border, I'd say." Biggs couldn't make coffee to save his life, but Arella had to smile葉he old man didn't get a ship in the 4620 batch for being stupid. "Grix, throw some more downspin in the trajectory mix," he said, "let's head for the downspin range."

Heaven Colony
Ez Fortuit Spaceport
4th Class Yards

Boz had been sweating all afternoon with his welding gun and a powerlift cart, trying to get his fiasco of a bargain sub-basement ship ready to go. Yssk pointed to the rounded rectangular modules that Boz was welding onto the ship. "I find it remarkable that you sssee fit to attach thosse to a ship in which you intend to ride." Boz had had enough.

"Listen croc, I can't believe you bought this," he said, bouncing a stray wrench off the pitifully small command module, "and called it a 'starship' just because somebody bolted it to that," he continued, gesturing to the single superphotonic engine well that powered the vessel. "This thing is a forklift on shyneum thrust! I should be on safari!" Yssk tossed Grabow a cold beer. The former Interstel captain stopped short and leaned back on the guard rail. "Thanks, chief," he offered, cracking the can. He thought for a moment. "You're right, it is pretty crazy to stick 'em on there, isn't it?"

"Crazy sseemss to work well thesse dayss," said Yssk.

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Next: "Big Game"

TCS Jussru
Kryssthoggr-Class Frigate
(Interstel Designate: Scout)
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A small, scout-sized vessel, the Kryssthoggr-Class was designed as a stop-gap utility warship for the Thrynn Navy, filling numerous roles with the aid of a modular, adjustable spacefrare design. Uncommitted space in the Kryssthoggr line can be allocated to weapons, troop transport, cargo space or scientific equipment. Solid design keeps refit time to a minimum. [See attached intelligence data and photographs.] 009A7T-Low Priority Classification.
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Hilsfar & Company: ...but then we'd have to kill you.
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