Chapter 3 — The Journey towards Marinagua

Chaala nods at the team's suggestions. "We won't know the situation on the ground until we get there. The odds that everything can be resolved at the starport given the knowns are nearly zero, so planning for contact with the locals and with any new players, expected or unexpected, makes a lot of sense."

She looks at the Captain, "I assume when we arrive in system we'll do a full passive sweep same as we have everywhere else. We might want to do the coded active sweep when we have some guess where Harrier might have gone to ground if there's no message waiting for us. Of course, there might be a 'message' of some sort from one of the players that we'll have to react to. With what we just saw, I think we need to be prepared for the possibility that there are competing downports based on what we know of the status at the last full report and the current sector situation. If so, we'll need to figure out how best to determing which one to set down at and we might have to be cagy about things before we do."

Wilbur sits stiffly, clearly ill at ease.

"I’ve been underestimating them. What I’m seeing here isn’t civilian procedure — it’s intelligence‑grade discipline. No casual talk, no comments about work or superiors, no fraternizing with visiting crews except to extract information. Even their ‘gifts’ come with embedded devices.

The whole operation is too clean. Even other visitors look uncomfortable around them. And the speed at which they pulled complete data on on the Harriet… that means a centralized database, probably extensive.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this place is a corsair front. Makes me wonder how many ships have passed through here and were attacked somewhere else."

Bohdie listens to the comments and nods thoughtfully at Wilbur’s statements. "I agree with Wilbur that it’s high level intelligence gathering and infosec. The implanted devices, alone, are reason for concern. But I also understand they pulled of scans of the ship as well. And it is certain that they did a crew count as well. And now that I think about it, the thirty minutes cleaning time is plenty of time for a thorough examination of our clothing.".

Bohdie looks around at the others, noting who is wearing the ballistic shirts provided by IronHand.

"But I don’t know if I agree it’s some sort of Corsair front. It seems far too organized for that."

Captain Halsson remains seated at the head of the table, forearms resting lightly on the surface, fingers loosely interlaced. Her tone is calm, measured—engaged rather than performative.
"We have several threads on the table," she begins. "Sector dynamics are shifting. Information is aging faster than expected. Harrier approached on a slower vector and may have given local actors time to prepare a response posture. Seital demonstrated disciplined information control—embedded devices, structured social contact, centralized data aggregation. The conclusion from several of you is that answers will not sit neatly behind a Downport counter. That assessment is reasonable."

She nods slightly toward Wilbur and Bohdie.

"Facts first. No distress signal from ISS Harrier."

"No confirmed hostile engagement."

"Junior Administrator Silva Dominicus was operating under IISS authority in the Marinagua system we are approaching."

"IF there is a Niparoo Trade Corporation established or operating a commercial enterprise on Marinagua despite the world’s development profile not aligning with their historical expansion pattern, she would have encountered it and taken appropriate actions."

"The Korsumug Empire is twelve parsecs distant; the nearest confirmed Korsumug naval base is fourteen parsecs away. At Jump–3, that places formal naval intervention well outside immediate response range. So there is a low threat potential there of hostile Korsumug actions"

She shifts her hands slightly but does not rise.

"Assumptions. Governance on the inhabited world may be fragmented or under external commercial influence. Harrier may have encountered procedural resistance, commercial pressure, or quiet containment rather than overt force. Niparoo corporate presence may represent strategic positioning rather than opportunistic trade."

A glance to Chaala.

"IISS standard emergence protocol in a low-threat stellar environment does not call for discretion. We translate at the hundred-diameter limit, declare transponder identity, and conduct active sensor sweeps at maximum effective range. Active arrays provide earlier contact solutions and greater maneuver margin. Passive sweeps are for contested systems where stealth has value. Nothing in current intelligence suggests the need to arrive quietly."

Her voice remains even.

"From what we have discussed, I am leaning toward executing a full active long-range sweep immediately upon emergence. Orbital traffic, anomalous mass concentrations, undeclared platforms, and thermal signatures will be cataloged before committing to a descent vector. A coded active ping keyed to ISS Harrier’s communications suite will follow once geometry allows. If the ISS Harrier remains operational, that signal should produce acknowledgment. If it does not, silence will be informative. I am open to suggestions from you if you see any reason why we should not do this?"

She looks around the table.

"Regarding Niparoo. Review the IISS report.

OOC:

the image is a link to the report if you need it

Niparoo Trade Corporations expand where centralized authority lacks the cohesion or leverage to resist contractual dominance. Resource-rich, politically fragmented environments are typical. The inhabited world ahead possesses sufficient population and industrial capacity to negotiate terms, yet Niparoo maintains presence. That divergence from pattern is notable. These entities are corporate actors, not state policy extensions—but corporate actors with long-term leverage strategies."

Her expression firms slightly.

"Mission clarity. The objective is recontact with Junior Administrator Silva Dominicus and confirmation of ISS Harrier’s status. Intelligence collection is incidental to that purpose. If conditions require extraction, we extract. If conditions permit stabilization through formal channels, we stabilize."

she thinks for a moment and then adds

"I believe you have a duty to provide reports to Ironhand and any intelligence is useful to Ironhand."

"I have a duty to the IISS to file my report and of course all intelligence encountered will be in my report."

"I just don't want us to concentrate on may be's. Stick to facts and if you have assumptions, clearly mark them as assumptions. Our primary mission is locating Dominicus, and finding out if she needs any help or not."

She lets the silence breathe for a moment.

"What I am leaning towards is Active sensors on emergence. Formal declaration of arrival. No concealment, no provocation. Once on the ground, observation broadens beyond port authority. Comments?"

She looks at everyone around the table

"This is not final, if you have something else or have considerations beyond just system entrance now is the time to discuss this. The Niparoo trade corporation on Sietal was bit of a surprise to me and I think you too. So what contingences would you offer if the Niparoo trade corporations are present at Marinagua?"

Her gaze moves from one officer to the next. Clearly she is still looking for input from all of you.

Bohdie listens to Captain Halsson and then says, "Captain, I recommend initial caution upon emergence. Passive scans, initially, will help provide a picture of system traffic. That will allow us to identify potentially hostile contacts before the active sweep. Then we proceed with the mission.

Chaala nods at Bohdie's suggestion. "We can follow up the passive with active if nothing is out of the ordinary, but we know that Harrier would have followed standard procedure and my inclination would be to not do whatever she did just in case what she did triggered a hostile response. We know it should not have, but we also know that something did not go according to expectations. As for Niparoo, I am still concerned that they will have established themselves in a polity separate from the one that operated the known starport. They have demonstrated the ability to build a starport in a relatively short period of time and, if there is a fragmented government situation, they may have found one faction that fit their profile and started there."

"I believe that is a likely scenario with Niparoo. There is still the question of what Niparoo’s part is in all of this. And are they connected to what happened to the Harrier?"

Looking back and forth between the others, JEEM gives his opinion.

Basically, we assume that NSTC has nothing to gain from lying to us. We can take all statements about the Harriers at face value for now. If Lt. Dominicus did not arrive, that is perhaps a detail we should reconsider.

Ultimately, we can behave the same way next time as we did here, but we should not limit ourselves. The only question is whether we will enjoy the full service or not, or whether we should better prepare ourselves with our own equipment.

EDIT for JEEM comments that came while I was writting this.

Captain Halsson studies the emergence vector scrolling across the display, one hand resting lightly along the edge of the crew lounge table. She is composed, not rigid — weight balanced, voice steady, eyes moving to the faces in the room. She nods once. "Bohdie, your caution has merit. Chaala, your instinct to avoid repeating Harrier’s pattern also has merit."

A subtle shift of posture — decision forming, not imposed. "We will emerge under a tight passive profile for initial orientation. ten minutes only. Long enough to establish a basic traffic picture and confirm no immediate threats inside close envelope."

Her eyes return to the holographic display of Marinagua system. "After ten minutes, we transition to controlled active sweeps. Wide cone. Maximum practical range. I want early detection and maneuver room. We are not sneaking. If something is out there, I prefer it knows we can see it." She folds her hands loosely in front of her.

"Now. Let us think through the branches." She gestures to the holo-projection.

"Scenario one: passive and active sweeps reveal nothing. No traffic. No emissions. No anomalous power signatures." A brief pause. "give me your suggestions on how to proceed if the system is truly quiet, and how to learn why."

She shifts her focus. "Scenario two: we detect a Korsumug raider." The word hangs in the air. "what are your suggestions if the contact is beyond immediate weapons range, do we hold position and observe. What do we do if they close distance aggressively?"

"Scenario three: a Niparoo trade vessel." She tilts her head slightly. "That requires a different posture. Niparoo operates within commercial plausibility. Do we acknowledge them professionally? Request port authority identification codes? I think we would observe their flight plan, construction patterns, and escort profile, right? What would you do, do you have any input?"

She lets the silence stretch a moment. "Now." Her eyes move everyone deliberately. "I do not want this to be a one-voice plan. What are your recommendations for follow-on posture after emergence?" She gestures to the holo. "If sweeps are clean, do we approach high orbit first or remain at extended range?"

"If a Korsumug vessel is present but non-aggressive, do we shadow at distance or proceed to Marinagua on declared course?"

"If Niparoo is present in force, do we make first contact ship-to-ship… or go directly to planetary authority and let them decide who speaks for the system?"

Her tone is not challenging — it is invitational. "Speak now. I would like to have your input before we decide before we emerge." Then, quieter: "We do not control what we find in Marinagua." A calm, steady look around the common room lounge. "But we will control how we respond to it. So give me your input."

Looking at Wilber "Mr. Tholinar - you seem quite...what are your thoughts?"

"Assume NSTC has nothing to gain from lying." She repeats it quietly, not mockingly. "That is a useful starting position." She steps closer to the central display, hands clasped loosely behind her back now — not stiff, just settled. "Niparoo–Seital Trading Company profits from stability, infrastructure, and predictable trade lanes. Fabricating a Harrier incident would invite scrutiny. Scrutiny is rarely profitable."

A slight nod. "So yes — we accept their statements provisionally. We treat their information as accurate until evidence contradicts it."

Her gaze sharpens slightly. "However… absence of arrival is not a minor detail. If Lieutenant Dominicus never arrived, then whatever occurred happened before formal port entry. That moves the problem outward — into orbital space or the system after Seital and before Marinagua."

She lets that settle. "As for ‘full service.’" A faint trace of dry humor touches her expression. "We will not assume hospitality."

She gestures lightly toward the ship schematic. "We prepare for independent operations. That means we assume no refueling assistance, no traffic control reliability, no dockside security, and no cooperative infrastructure. What do you think?"

Back to JEEM. "Behaviorally, yes — we enter professionally. We follow lawful procedure. We do not escalate posture without cause." Her voice firms slightly. "But preparation is not escalation. It is prudence."

She shifts her attention to the entire crew. "If Marinagua provides full service, we accept it. If they do not, we operate autonomously." A brief pause.

"So. Final refinement before emergence. We accept NSTC statements at face value. We prepare for independent operations, if need be otherwise we accept Marinagua support and we do not limit our options."

Her eyes move between Bohdie, Chaala, Dr. Shone Wilber and JEEM. "Any further adjustments or suggestions on the scenarios?"

Chaala listens to the Captain's lines of thinking before responding.

"Wildly different possibilties there. If there's no traffic at all, we have to assume something bad has happened and may still be happening. If we're wrong the harm is minimal, but if that is correct and we don't take a safety posture bad things can happen to us. I think there's two main possibilities with Niparoo, one is that there is a ship or two of theirs in system and it's just a trading partner or prospect and tha other is that there's a lot like at Seital and it looks like they've set up a permanent operation. If the former, we proceed as usual. If the latter, I think greater caution is warranted. And if there is Korsumug activity, well, I think that changes the whole operational footing. Unless you have orders to engage, then observe but accelerate the search for Dominicus so that we can fall back and report. Trooles will want to know, IISS will want to know, and we, and Harrier if she is there and recoverable, are the only way they're going to find out."

Captain Halsson nods and then looks to the others for their input.

Bohdie listens carefully to the exchange. He nods when JEEM speaks of taking the Niparoo statements at face value until evidence challenges those statements. He listens through Captain Halsson's scenarios and Chaala's refinements. He thinks for a moment before he speaks.

"I believe it was an ancient Terran who once said, 'Trust but verify'. I can think of no better way to say it. Like JEEM says, we 'trust' the Niparoo statements until evidence says otherwise. But I think it is wise to actively look for contradictions -- not blatantly, but deliberately, with caution and determination. He nods to JEEM.

"As for our postures in regard to the scenarios you presented, Captain... I think Chaala has the right concept. If we detect nothing, we should be alert. As I understand it, this system does have a normal level of activity. Now, perhaps, we will just be catching the system during a normal lull in activity. But the potential for a trap or worse is greater than zero and it is appropriate to take precautions and be prepared." Bohdie looks over to Chaala to see if she wants to add more before continuing.

"Scenario two is the real concern. This is where a decision must be made which is more important, the location of the Harrier and potential rescue of her crew or the reporting of Korsumug activity. Our best chance, in this case, we detect them during the passive search and they don't detect us. That situation would allow us to maneuver into a less observable location and continue to observe while searching for signs of the Harrier. If they do detect us and begin acting aggressively... he looks around the room, picking up his glass and taking a sip while letting the scenario sink in.

"If they act aggressively, then we will either have to fight or flee. I do not know what the chances are for us if it becomes a dogfight. That would certainly depend on how big the Korsumug presence is. My recommendation is to make the best use of our sensors and speed to complete as thorough a series of scans as possible and stay out of their weapons envelope until we can Jump out. I believe this would require some sort of wilderness refueling?" He looks to Captain Halsson for confirmation. "Alternately, we may be able to fake a jump or our destruction to throw off the Korsumug. I doubt this would be easy and it would be risky, but it could allow us to remain in system and continue our mission."

Bohdie pauses for an extra beat. "Finally, if Niparoo is here, then I believe a 'business as usual' footing is our best choice. To do otherwise would invite suspicion, which would be counterproductive. If we are to verify what we were told on Seital, then it is best to not show our hand too soon." Bohdie finishes and looks around for questions. If none are presented, he will nod to Captain Halsson saying, "Those are my thoughts, Captain." He will then sit down and take a long draw on his drink, preparing to listen to the others.

"I would like to make preparations for an operation. We're going out unprepared and unarmed again, I realise that, but I would like everyone here to have a quickly transportable emergency pack with which they can equip themselves in a minimum of time.

And for that, we should perhaps check again what everyone has taken with them, because we were all equipped quite differently - three different categories, I would say - and I don't know anything about the members of the ship's crew, for example."

A very army-like view of things: play along as long as possible and become insistent when you can no longer do so.

Wilbur takes a moment before answering, sorting the scenarios in his head.
"If there’s nothing out there, we stay cautious. Use the opportunity to sweep for signatures and see whether the Harriet passed through.

If we meet another vessel, we keep it friendly and gather what information we can. No confrontation — we’re not a warship, and any fight would be a bad idea. Shadowing a ship can still tell us plenty.

As for a rescue… that depends entirely on what we find. We’ll need to assess the situation first."

Virel sits quietly listening to the others without interrupting. He nods in agreement to Wilbur. When the room settles, he speaks.

"Soon enough, we’ll know what we’re stepping into."

He pauses.

"Until then I suggest, we remain exactly what we are: an IISS vessel executing a routine mission."

His gaze moves briefly toward the holo.

"If Niparoo is present, we proceed professionally. If Korsumug is present, we proceed cautiously. But we do not react until the situation demands it."

He falls quiet again.

EDITED FRIDAY 20 FEB 2026 1141 CST

All edits below in bold
Captain Halsson lets Bohdie finish completely. She does not speak immediately. Her eyes move once around the room — Chaala, Bohdie, JEEM, Wilber — measuring not personalities, but alignment. "Both of you are describing the same structure," she says at last. "Chaala identified escalation by scale. Bohdie identified verification by discipline." A small nod. "That is not disagreement. That is layering." She steps toward the holo display and gestures lightly to the system schematic. "Let us formalize it." Her voice remains steady — not raised, simply clarified.
Operational Tree.
She lifts one finger. First Branch: No Traffic
"If Marinagua is silent beyond statistical expectation, we assume system degradation until proven otherwise. We elevate readiness — engines hot, exit vector pre-calculated, sensor discipline tight." She glances briefly to Chaala. "Prepared without panic."

She lifts a second finger. Second Branch: Niparoo Presence
"One or two hulls, commercial profile — routine engagement. Professional. Predictable. Business as usual." She shifts slightly. "Just like Virel stated, Multiple hulls, escorts, infrastructure expansion — consolidation. In that case, we do not escalate militarily. We escalate diplomatically. We verify authority chains before committing to any dependency." A brief pause. "We observe. We document. We do not show suspicion."

She lifts a third finger. Third Branch: Korsumug Presence
"If confirmed, the operational footing shifts." She turns slightly toward Bohdie. "If undetected, we maneuver to reduced profile and conduct reconnaissance."....."If detected and pressured, we extend distance and preserve jump capability." No dramatics. Just clarity, She folds her hands lightly in front of her.

Mission Priority Order
"Our primary objective is to determine the fate of Lieutenant Dominicus and the ISS Harrier. Our secondary objective is intelligence acquisition regarding system stability and foreign presence. Our enduring constraint is survival." Her gaze holds steady. "If we are destroyed, rescue fails and intelligence dies with us."
She lets that settle. "Therefore — rescue is prioritized within survivable parameters." She inclines her head slightly toward Chaala and Virel. "If Korsumug presence is confirmed, we accelerate reconnaissance to determine whether Harrier is linked. We do not linger beyond safe envelope." She shifts to Bohdie. "Verification remains constant across all branches. Trust provisionally. Test quietly."

Halsson’s eyes shift to JEEM as he speaks. She listens fully, expression steady and attentive. When he finishes, she inclines her head once. "This is your area of expertise," she says calmly. "And it is one of the reasons you are here." A measured pause. "I do not expect Ironhand to think casually about preparation." She steps closer to the table, resting one hand lightly against its surface.
"You are correct — if we must move quickly, we should not waste time assembling equipment." Her gaze moves around the room.
"I can give you the equipment standard for my crew." She gestures toward the ship schematic that provides a window that contains the standard IISS personal loadout display.

"Each IISS Scout carries a vacc suit, first aid kit, emergency survival kit, and a monitoring and recording suite appropriate to survey operations." A slight nod. "And of course, a personal emergency kit." She shifts her weight slightly, tone still even. "The ship’s locker contains two shotguns for defensive use. They are currently loaded with non-lethal ammunition." No drama in the statement. Just fact.

"If circumstances required escalation, we would reassess." She looks back to JEEM. Her eyes sweep the room once more. "We prepare without advertising that we expect trouble." A small pause. "If we are welcomed, we arrive as professionals. If we are not, we are not improvising." She inclines her head slightly. "Coordinate a quick equipment review before emergence. give me an update 12 hours out." Then, almost as an afterthought: "We will not assume hostility. But we will not be surprised by it either."

Her gaze settles finally on Wilber. "You are correct," she says evenly. "Rescue depends entirely on what we find." She moves back toward the holo display and expands the system schematic. "Our sequence is as follows."

"First — emergence. Determine whether the system is contested before committing to inner orbit. Second — establish orbit and conduct full-spectrum scans for the ISS Harrier. We will transmit IISS coded IFF pings on secure band." A small beat.
"The Harrier is not streamlined. Standard protocol, absent hostile interference, would have been to remain in orbit and deploy her fifty-ton cutter to the capital starport." She taps the planetary display lightly. "If Harrier is present in orbit, we use her position as anchor. If not, we expand search to secondary bodies."
Her voice remains steady. "If we locate her and determine crew status, we assess condition and need."

She turns slightly toward the Ironhand team. "If a planetfall is required, the Ironhand team conducts the contact with me planetfall with the purpose of finding and securing Jr. Admin Dominicus and her crew."
Her gaze does not waver. "The Azure Voyager remains our lifeline — for extraction, for intelligence transmission, and if necessary… for reinforcements." A measured pause. "I will not unnecessarily endanger this vessel. so when we land we will pick the landing spot carefully. The Capital Star Port is the safest and logical place as the is the world government provides security and should allow us the safety margin in the event we have to venture to make contact " She folds her hands lightly in front of her. "If rescue becomes necessary, it will be deliberate, informed, and supported."

Now she looks at the entire group. "These structures came from you. I am integrating them." Her eyes sweep the room one final time. "We emerge. We assess. We adapt."

A final pause. "Does anyone object to this priority order?" She lets the silence stretch. "We decide now. We execute together."

"No objections here, Captain. But a somewhat embarrassing question. Does this ship have any small craft? It could become appropriate to disembark some or all of the Ironhand team to secure Dominicus and her crew and/or the survey information from the Harrier while Azure Voyager is elsewhere."

Victor had been very silent after the ship left Seital. He was not expecting espionage so soon. Niparoo planting bugs on their suits and scanning their ship, that too being a ship of IISS? Sometimes he wondered whether the war had ended or if there was ever a time of peace. He kept himself busy going through the engineering and maintenance of Life Support systems. When the meeting was held to discuss the next plans, he reluctantly joined in. He was a man of the medical profession, not a seasoned military commander making decisions for everyone, but a side of him appreciated that Captain Halsson wanted his opinion nonetheless.

After listening to the extensive discussion and planning, he was surprised when the captain asked his opinion. He was deep in thought trying to imagine how the next operation will play out, so he broke himself from his brooding and looked up. "Captain Halsson, I think what everyone has discussed is a very well-thought-out plan of operation. If you need any ideas from me, then I can suggest that if you want, I can talk to locals at the Startown and pose as a traveling medical professional in need of money. If I can have a fake ID, then I can probably interact with the local people and gather necessary information about what exactly is going on there. However, I suggest that I am not trained in covert operation, so I will need backup help if they detect my cover."

He stopped for some time as his logical brain finally caught up, and he realized how dangerous the plan was. So he swallowed his words and then blurted out, "Ah...never mind, captain. This will be a much riskier mode of action, and I will become more of a liability than an asset. Forget my naive ideas."