During Jump to Fornice...

At 'jump', a power-surge lit up alarm-lights in Engineering and on the Bridge. Was there a mis-jump? So far there are no indications of such; no one showing signs of jump-sickness, no physical or sensor signs of anything wrong either.

Bronz and Tamm traced the fault to a cracked cryonic trispacial controller. Further investigation reveals the part is almost certainly a "knock-off", not a genuine 'name brand'. Engineering logs indicate the part was installed as part of a yearly maintenance five years back, just about the same time as the previous crew started doing some unauthorized and very sketchy re-modeling: installing extra low berths and staterooms, and modifying the cargo hold to include 'hidden & shielded' storage. Seems likely the ship was having serious financial trouble about then...

The good news is that the jump-bubble seems just fine. No instability or unusual fluctuation. All good on that score. The power-plant continues to provide power, enough to keep life-support and gravity going. Probably don't want to try another jump until the part is replaced, however!

The passengers have noticed something awry, though. And en lieu of any official announcement there is a low level kerfluffle.

In particular, the courier Thessa Ting seems particularly concerned. She tries to corner LEILANI NEKAII, asking for an explanation. She points to LC and Decherrek as they haul off to a private spot to confer. "Something's up. Something's wrong! Come on, spill. I'm already late for my delivery if there are going to be more delays I need to prepare."

Said Ma has checked and double-checked her low-berth passengers and found everything to be within 'spec' despite the power-surge. The capsules are built to withstand such, but it is standard procedure to check. (Unless someone calls her, she'll retire to her quarters to get some rest in case she's needed later.)

LC has had a private discussion with Decherrek, and now the two of them are proceding to the cargo bay to investigate the Captain's hunch that the 'special freight' of medical supplies destined for Frederick Santanocheev, Imperial Count and controversial former Sector Admiral during most of the Fifth Frontier War with the Zhodani. As a protoge of House Muudashir (Duchess of Mora) they have a long history of adversity and political gamesmanship with Norris, Duke of Regina. Something LC has some personal knowledge of.

Decherrek and LC reach the cargo hold and squeeze between containers to get to the cargo in question, a collection of crates and boxes making up about one displacement-ton total.

Monseur et Madame LeFrontaine (aka 'Terry' and Adriana) had been in the Passenger Lounge sharing a strained conversation with Thessa Ting. Until the normally shy & quiet Adriana had sprung to her feet, declaring alarmingly that there was "something wrong". She has since locked herself in her stateroom leaving 'Terry' acting distressed and worried. Terry latches on to Tharrok and like Thessa wants to know if something is genuinely wrong, or if Adriana is simply stressed from her first experience of space-flight and jump.

Your middle-passenger Aepheon Telom (who prefers to be called Shaky) remains calmly at one of the small tables in the lounge speaking with Steward (former Diplomat) Kayla Hong. He had previously been speaking with Decherrek, comparing notes regarding defeating Starship anti-hijack programs, a rather esoteric subject. Now he's enjoying kaffe and cookies and asking about recipes...

Bronz & Llogan remain in Engineering. Chief Engineer Tamm has discreetly commed LC that he's available for security duty if such is needed. While Bronz stews over the apparently slip-shod annual maintenance provided by First Bank of Fornice at their shipyard near Port-au-Prince Arcology on Fornice's surface. What other faulty or 'cheap' parts might be incorporated into the Power Plant or other critical systems aboard?

For now Engineering seems calm, with all indicators showing 'green'. The Cryonic Trispacial Controller will need replacing but will require a shipyard to do the work. Not a quick job, unless MISS FORTUNE wants to pay extra to expedite an already expensive job. And if a full shut-down and inspection of the Power Plant is undertaken..., well that's going to cost in time and credits, too.

Bronz can't help but continue to brood on the possiblity of sabotage. That might be a Pirate's ploy; trying to disable a ship to make it "easy pickins" once it emerges from jump. That would certainly be an 'inside-job', though. Who would do such a thing?

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Tharrok had been hanging around trying to score some fresh cookies when Terry confronted him. When the passenger asks about there being anything amiss, Tharrok looks at him compassionately and says softly, "Naw. The ship is good to go. We had a small power surge but everything is fine.". Tharrok takes a bite of cookie and says, "Yummy, Leilani.". He turns back to Terry, "Besides, if there was a problem, you think I’d be here eating cookies?". Tharrok licks his lips and smiles.

BRONZ goes through the maintenance logs, particularly those from around 5-years past when the former crew (faced with imminent bankruptcy) apparently decided to start doing some sketchy work to improve their bottom line. He finds about a dozen additional repairs/improvements in the books that will need to be thoroughly checked over once they're in port. The good news (maybe?) is that only the stress of rapid & massive power-generation leading up to jump is likely to cause failures in any of these components.

The obvious follow-up question is why the First Bank of Fornice's repossed-starship rehabilitation crew hadn't done the simple records check that Bronz was working on. They would be familiar with the sorts of short-cuts financially challenged crews might take to keep their ships jumping. Why hadn't they caught this? Were other ships they'd 'cleared' for sale at similar risk?
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THARROK is eating fresh cookies provided by Kayla Hong and is trying to deal amiably with the distressed high-passenger Theodoric ("Terry") LeFrontaine. The Vargr's reassurances make some headway, it seems, and the restauranteur takes a seat and grabs a cookie. He forces a smile directed at Kayla and nods thanks. But he speaks to Tharrok: "This is a stressful time for Adriana. She is young and lacks experience. Though she is well educated, and very smart, too. For me, I am usually the cheerful type. Hardly anything bothers me. But seeing Adriana distressed naturally effects me as well. You are sure that there is nothing wrong? I thought I saw the lights in the stateroom flicker, then brighten. Is that usual in your ship?"

Relaxing against the back of the lounge seating, Tharrok takes another bite of cookie. "If it were something to worry about, I’d let everyone know. Certainly doesn’t happen every day, but it’s not any harbinger of doom, to be sure."

Looking up and seeing Leilani being pressed by Ms. Ting, Tharrok, without straightening his stance, says, "Please, Ms. Ting. There are no indications that we are anything but on time. As I was just telling Mr. LeFrontaine, if something were wrong, I wouldn’t be here eating cookies. When we emerge from J-Space, I will do everything I can to bring us in ahead of or at least on time.l. Tharrok licks his chomps and extends the plate of cookies toward the upset courier. "Have a cookie?" he asks.

Quote
"It is not typical to maintain an Engineering watch during jump. Although with the repeated problems Llogan may have decided otherwise. Usually only one crew member is on "Bridge Watch" at any given time to monitor and troubleshoot as needed."

Leilani, Kayla, and Said Ma are crowded together at the open hatch into Adriana's stateroom. Adriana stands in the center, her hands weaving a mesmerizing pattern through the workings of some intricate machinery. Flows of energy seem to travel this way and that, with Adriana's hands seeming to help and guide these flows...

Leilani the Engineer comes to the realization that she's looking at a larger-than-life size schematic of a part of a Fusion Power Plant. And energy/electronics distribution node, it seems. Is it real, or just some sort of simulation?

Adriana continues to act as though entranced, oblivious to the three women in the open hatch.

Theo LeFrontaine comes up behind the women and peers through them into the room. "Oh my!" He says, clearly startled. Surprised. "What is that? What is going on? Oh my goodness gracious!"

Thessa Ting looks unhappy still, but takes a cookie anyway. "So what do you think is up with that Adriana person, anyway? She and her much older 'spouse' Theo. Or "Teddy" or whatever he's called. Theodoric? Well shit. Something's up with those two, I'd bet on it. There's something not right about the pair of them!"

LC Rains:
[Climbing up the gandway up from the cargo deck, behind Decherrek, who is somehow able to float up the passage tunnel between decks. LC steps out beside Decherrek, hands still dusted with the dry scent of cargo grease and forgotten maintenance logs. His stride halts halfway down the corridor at the sight of a crew cluster — Leilani, Kayla, and Said-Ma crowded tight against the stateroom hatch like children spying on a ghost.]

"…Well, that’s either a tea party or a divine revelation."
[He advances with slow, deliberate steps, Decherrek close behind, until he too stands before the open hatch and takes in the scene. His eyes scan past the trio and Theo’s flustered frame to the young woman within.]

[Adriana floats in place — not literally, but in presence — her hands weaving invisible filaments through a holographic interface that seems impossibly precise. LC’s mind registers the tech first — Mora grade, cutting-edge, far too expensive for a passenger berth and far too classified for casual travel. Then the schematic: energy nodes, fusion conduits, system overlays. And Adriana, deep in the middle, conductor of some unseen orchestra.]

"…All right."
[His voice is soft, even. But there’s a tension behind it — the sort he saves for murder scenes, or when someone accidentally arms a proximity mine in customs.]

"Decherrek."
[He doesn’t turn, just lets the name drop like a pebble in water.]
"You’re seeing this. I want your read. Take your time — but don’t leave me guessing."

[Then, finally, he gives the crew women a small nod — not accusatory, not alarmed. Just: continue.]
"Kayla. Said-Ma. Leilani. I want your impressions, quick and clean. What are we seeing, and should I be worried it’s rewriting the jump equations under our boots?"

[His arms fold across his chest as he watches Adriana’s fingers ghost through the glow, her eyes lost in some private logic far beyond the confines of the stateroom.]

"Don’t poke her yet," he adds dryly, more to the group than anyone specific, "I don’t like interrupting performances unless someone’s bleeding."

Theodorick (aka Theo or 'Terry') LeFrontaine coughs once, then says: "I think there are way too many of us crowded into the passage in front of my spouse's stateroom. Might I suggest that most of you clear out? Captain, of course, that doesn't mean you.

"I'm as....surprised as anyone. Please though, if you allow me. I will talk to her..."

'Terry' turns his attention to Decherrek: "No. No, nothing of the sort. She is young and has not even been to university, though she is very smart and well read. Uh, we were hoping that her relations at Fornice might help get her into some useful and interesting training programs... But she's never expressed any interest in..." (he waves towards the intricate schematic projection in the stateroom)

Tharrok glances back at Terry and the gathering at the couple’s stateroom. "You are probably right. Something is odd with them. But I doubt they pose any serious concern. My Credits on this being her a new experience for her and she got a little freaked out." He puts the plate of cookies down and snags one of the glasses of milk, taking a drink then setting it down.

"You and I are well-seasoned travellers. And I’ve been doing this for a very long time. Like I said, there’s nothing for us to worry about."

LC addresses Theodoric "Terry" LeFrontaine:
Terry gives LC a sideways glance, but his gaze is riveted on Adriana and her mesmerizing weaving through the holographic projection. "We'll be fine, Captain. Much appreciated. Your discretion in this matter...er, however it resolves, is something worth far more than even the most rare of Terra-origin wines. Remember that I promised a 'big tip' upon you accepting us as passengers? That of course still stands. I will stay here with Adriana; I have no understanding of what this is about. But I intend to protect her. Including from prying eyes. If someone on your crew...at your behest...wants to assist in this matter I have no objection. But let us not make this some sort of sideshow for one and all to gawk upon."

Bronz has checked the Engineering displays and everything looks within "spec". No warnings or alerts from the automated hazard detection systems. There is some fluctuation, of course, but not enough to set off any alarm or rouse Bronz's attention.

In the Passenger section he sees 'Terry' LeFrontaine leaning on the hatch frame of his wife Adriana's stateroom. Glancing inside he might be startled at what he sees. Some sort of 3-dimensional schematic, almost certainly of some engineering sub-system, most likely Power Flow related.

Unfortunately, BRONZ can't make heads nor tails out of what he sees in Adriana's stateroom.

'Terry' greets the Engineer politely, though seems rather tense. With the crowd now dispersed he doesn't seem as concerned for privacy. "You are one of the Engineering Crew, are you not? I don't understand what's going on here. I am a 'chef', not a technician. Well, a technician with a good set of kitchen appliances, I suppose. Do you think something's wrong with the ship? Are we in any danger? I'm sure Adriana can't keep this up for the whole voyage!"

Tharrok ambles in from the bridge.