POLL - to lance freely or not

OK, there are a lot of possibilities for how this expedition would work. There may be more possibilities than what I'm going to list. So let me know if you want an arrangement that I've overlooked.

PLEASE Discuss and then VOTE for one or another possibility.

1. We're Freelancing the whole thing. In it for the money. Selling to the Highest Bidder. If we have papers/permits they're probably forged. We have connections with the underworld and crime syndicates. Wealthy sorts with lots of credits are our clients. We wouldn't pass up the opportunity to steal from legitimate researchers or even museums!

2. We're Freelancing, but always on the up and up. Get the permits. Follow the laws. Apply for grants. Maybe hope for a Corporate sponsor or two.

3. We work directly for a Big Corporation. Maybe a MegaCorporation. They want Ancient Tech or salable 'art'. An accountant watches over us... Profit or Perish.

4. We work clandestinely for the Imperium. They will disavow any knowledge of our endeavors should we be caught. But in the meantime they support us with plenty of gear and lots of credits.

5. We work openly for the Imperium, possibly under an Imperial Navy charter. Plenty of Gear, Plenty of Credits, but watched over and given specific assignments.

6. We work for a Research Institute or Academic/Educational organization. A University. A Think-Tank. Credits might be tight. Gear is probably used (and re-used). Grants will probably specify specific sites (or at least planets) where they want you to explore.

7. Other possibilities.....

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Discuss please. But lets try to come to a consensus within our lifetimes...

Personally, I like 2 though may be on the fringes of 1 if the situation appears. I also like 6. However, I'm open to being swayed in other directions if anyone/group feels strongly about another option.

Option 6

We won't have to be concerned about a ship.
As long as the gear is there, we can use it. It was probably used by the last several expeditions and sourced from megacorp donations & grants.

I'm a scientist IRL. 🥴

I prefer 1, but only if number 6 doesn't make it (smile). The character I created is suited for #1, but he knows Dr. Yala who is a fit for #6. #6 allows for Soren to work in a legitimate way to help the university. PLus a University gives the group some legitimacy. But we have to keep the board pleased. Even if we are right....

Number 4 is a bit cloak and dagger where you can be left high and dry. No starport 13....

Number 4&5 : I would think not suit sekag's character??? (Rather no military IIRC)

Thoughts? am I off base?

My preferences in order: 6, 2, 3, 5, 4, 1. My PC is tired of the Imperium giving him orders and he doesn’t want to associate with known criminals. Any result is fine with me, though.

So we have 4 votes in. First choices look like 2 for option 6 and 1 each for 1 and 2.

Looking at second and third choices, it still seems as if no. 6 still has the advantage, with both 1 and 2 not far behind.

So for the moment at least I'm leaning towards: An Academic has received a large grant good for a year's worth of exploration and preliminary excavations of possible Ancient or other very old archeological sites. He has completed a meta-analysis of old Scout Survey and other Exploration studies and selected 3 primary targets and a single secondary target. The concept is to travel to these sites one by one, do a better and more specific survery and undertake preliminary excavations. Recover, preserve, and/or protect any evidence or artifacts discovered and write a preliminary report. 3 months at each primary site (unless there's a "dry hole" among them) with an additional 3 months for travel and a bit of 'time off'.

Starting point is Glisten. Sites could be along the Spinward edge of Glisten subsector or in District-268.

More on this to come.

Looking at the options: 1 sounds a bit too mercenary, 2 sounds like we have some freedom for who we want to work for and projects we pursue, 3 we're locked in with a particular Big Corp, 4 we're kinda like spies, 5 we're agents, 6 we're locked in with a particular Science Organisation.

I'm happy with all possibilities that group's happy with, but I'll put my vote down for Option 2 where we can pursue the research we want if something interesting comes up and have different choices of the factions whenever we feel it suits us best.

The good thing about working for a university is we get our equipment for "free" and we get to choose our research topics by writing grant proposals. A Professor of Xenoarcheology is not likely to be approved for a grant to study the psychosocial habits of Chirpers because he doesn't have the qualifications. But, that doesn't prevent him from applying for the grant.

Generally, a university doesn't care what kind of research is performed as long as the professor brings in the money and publishes papers. As a prof narrows his specialization, his credentials narrow the types of grants he is given. But, a professor can go anywhere and do anything if he writes a convincing proposal.