Illogical Jim

Cheers IN SPAAACE!

@ActRaiserTheReturned@Windicator@KaiserElectric@User@Jerkchicken@AtlasRedfox@greywolf375@Lord Coake

The OOC is up, admittedly a little later than I'd intended!

All interested parties may proceed thence, and go ahead and post character sheets at your leisure.

Cheers IN SPAAACE!

Tales from the Asimov Lounge

Or...

CHEERS IN SPAAACE!

Back in the old days, when Humanity had only just left the ole Cradle of Civilization, space was pretty much a strictly military-scientific realm. Your average John Q. Astronaut or Yuri Alexeivich Cosmonaut had a pretty hard time unwinding out in the void. Them days are past- and I mean long past. You got bars, casinos, whole resorts orbiting this or that little star, millions upon millions of miles from Earth. But that's mostly in the centers of commerce and industry, and along the major trade routes, where humans rub shoulders with all kinds of funky-looking aliens. Some of 'em friendly, and some of 'em a bit touchy when you bring up probes and cattle mutilations. But we're a long way from center, friend. A good long way, as it happens. Out here, long-haul freighter captains and hard-drinkin' miners are your most common sort, and never mind the pirates.

But I thank ya for choosing the Asimov Lounge on good ol' Tsiolkovsky Station anyway. It's the best saloon this side of Alpha Centauri, if I might say so myself. Might not look like much- but we serve as a much needed oasis for folks that find themselves out this way, humans and otherwise. Little known fact- the Grays just love Mojitos. Did'ya know that? It's true. Just about anything with rum in it, really. I'm dead serious, they'll drink down Admiral Nelson like it's Pinot Noir, and then talk about its wonderful bouquet- whatever the Hell that even means when you're talking about hard liquor.

But I'm ramblin'. If you're a miner, a small time courier, or a "gentleman of the spacelanes," this is the place for you, friend. And if you're after gainful employment, I hear the station is hiring on new hands in most sections. Did y'hear? Dreadful accident last week in the airlock, wiped out a lot of good people. We held a little party in here, actually, in memory of the honored dead, and all that. If yer not really qualified for government work, I could actually use a few more employees, since Jack and Linda called it quits and moved back to Mars. Weren't cut out for life out here, I guess. Some of the other shopkeepers on Main Street- that's what we like to call the Promenade, Main Street- are looking for folks. Hell, there's even a couple of open storefronts, if you got a bit of capital stored up.

Anyhow, I'm Dan O'Brien, I own this fine establishment. Now, are you gonna let me gab all day, or are you gonna order a drink?

About Tsiolkovsky Station

Tsiolkovsky Station is a Class-4 Civilian station operating on the edge of Human space, and nominally answers to the United Terran States. First constructed a little over two decades ago in 2390, the station is roughly cylindrical in shape, and consists of five decks: In ascending order, these decks are Engineering, Cargo, Ore Processing, Civilian, and Security/Command.

The Engineering Deck is headed by the chief engineer and houses the sublight engines and the power core, in addition to several other vital systems such as the artificial gravity and the air recycling system.

The Cargo Deck is run by the Station Quartermaster, handling and storing all incoming and outgoing cargo. This section also handles routine cargo-related communications and facilitates docking procedures for inbound and departing vessels.

The Ore Processing Deck is the domain of the local Mining Authority Foreman, who answers directly to his corporate superiors. All raw ores and minerals brought to the station from the nearby asteroids are processed here. The smooth operation of this deck is considered vital to the continued existence of Tsiolkovsky station, being its chief source of income.

The Civilian Deck falls under the command of no particular department head, but any trouble is promptly sorted out by the Chief of Security. This deck is laid out in a simple loop, bringing a visitor in a large circle if they were to keep walking down the Promenade, often called Main Street by locals. Quarters are to be found on this deck, including accommodations for visitors at the Starlight Inn and the Asteroid Hotel. The Asimov Lounge is one of the chief landmarks of this deck, while many other shops and restaurants of numerous descriptions can also be patronized. Additionally, the Civilian Deck houses the infirmary, which presently lacks an actual doctor. The nurses have attempted to pick up the slack, but management is offering a hefty sign-on bonus to anyone capable of holding the post of Chief Medical Officer.

The Security and Command Decks, being essentially two sections together, are run by the Chief of Security and the Station Commander directly. The brig, courtroom, and security office are to be found here. The Commander runs Tsiolkovsky from the Bridge, from which communications, shields, weapons and the maneuvering thrusters are operated.

---

All lifeforms disembarking at Tsiolkovsky Station, organic or otherwise, must fill out this brief form before leaving the docking ring. Failure to do say may result in criminal prosecution and fines up to a maximum of 1000 Terran Credits.

Visitors and potential inhabitants are warned against acts of violence and other criminal activities aboard the station, being here forewarned that all such activities will be punished to the full extent of Earth law.

Immigration/Visitor Form 2-B

Name: Please use the Latin or Cyrillic alphabets, or the Chinese character set. If your species' language is rendered in ideograms/other non-phonetic symbols, please approximate as best you can.

Race: If non-human, please briefly note your races chief characteristics, whether or not your race has made official contact with the United Terran States, and whether or not your race is capable of withstanding a nitrogen-oxygen gas mixture and the pressure of one standard Earth atmosphere.

Age: In Standard Earth years, please.

Gender: Please indicate male, female, neither, or other. If 'other,' please explain.

Appearance: Either a photographic image or a prose description is acceptable here.

Personality: This section is entirely voluntary, and only serves the Security Section's new criminal profiling initiative.

Skills: See 'Personality,' above.

Reason for Visit: Why you're visiting the best station this side of Alpha Centauri!

Bio: Tell us about yourself! Duly note that all references to past crimes, both prosecuted and unprosecuted, will remain in the strictest confidence.

Equipment: All weapons and controlled substances must be declared upon docking.

Position applying for: If you're seeking exciting job opportunities, Tsiolkovsky Station is the place to be. Non-crew applications will be forwarded to the relevant parties.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Johnnytrash as Dr. Brent Bradford, the Station Psychiatrist

AtlasRedfox as Atlas "Atti" Dasun, the Station Quartermaster

Lord Coake as Officer Traz Varak, of Station Security

Windicator as Officer Maksimilian Abram Lagounov, of Station Security

SuperTacticalDerp as Arnold Kent, the Mining Authority Foreman

User as Charles 'Spanner' Richardson, of Station Engineering

KaiserElectric as Zhen Lin Shi, an alien waitress who is almost certainly not hiding a mysterious past

Stellar Uprising

Malone took another shot as the Captain made his announcement. The whiskey was cheap, but it was serving its purpose admirably. The navigator just found himself hoping he was still sober enough to shoot straight. He laid his glass aside and studied himself briefly, to be sure he was ready for action.

He was dressed as usual in his faded brown jumpsuit, a pair of scuffed boots on his feet. He was wearing a western-style poncho, of the sort old film heroes used to wear. At his hip rested his revolver and, leaning against the wall nearby his chair, his rail rifle. It was not an impressive arsenal, but Malone had made do with less in the past.

Satisfied with himself, the Irishman surveyed the room about him in passing. It was the lounge of the Washington, a common area where leisure was had. It was rather unassuming, really, though a goodly number of fine times had been had there in good company. Presently his only company consisted of Church, a somewhat disagreeable fellow some years Malone's senior, who nevertheless was an exceedingly competent crewman and moreover an accomplished drinker.

“Probably ought to get into position, eh, Church?” Malone said, slurring softly as he picked up his rifle.

“I reckon servitude ain't gonna abolish itself. Y'sober enough for a shootout?”

With a pretty good idea of exactly how the freedman would answer that question, Malone started out from the lounge into the corridor, moving at a quick trot. His steps were steady enough, though he was fairly certain he had less to drink than his compatriot.

Stellar Uprising

Name: Patrick “Paddy” Malone

Race: Human

Age: 30

Appearance: Of below-average height and 'ever-so-slightly' bulging in build, Malone is not exactly blessed with an athletic build. His coal black hair has receded nearly to his ears, and looks likely to retreat to the crown of his head within a few years. His brown eyes are soft and mellow, oft becoming entirely misty when he's imbibing.

Power: Uncanny Dodge- Malone has the ability to perceive the intent of others, allowing him to quite accurately predict the movements and attacks of enemy combatants. This gives him a rather significant edge in small-scale encounters, though he has thus far had difficulty making effective use of his ability when dealing with larger groups of opponents. He suspects that a large number of minds to be sensed at once make focusing on any particular one troublesome.

Personality: Malone is typically genial and mild-mannered in peaceful situations, making jokes and singing songs to mark the passage of time. He possesses what he would himself call a “healthy distrust of strangers,” but very much cares for his friends and comrades around him. When drinking, he tends to become rather maudlin, waxing romantic about this or that thing about Earth, and cursing the alien menace that had enslaved it. He only seldom panics under fire, preferring to hurl insults and abuse at the enemy- whether they can understand him or not.

Skills: Shooting, navigation, singing, and in a pinch, piloting

Crew position: Navigator/Astrogator, Morale Officer (Self-appointed post)

Bio: Patrick Michael Malone was born in Tipperary, Ireland to an American mother and an Irish father, both free humans. His early life was pleasantly uneventful, and Malone spent much of his childhood reading about Earth history. His mother particularly encouraged this, instilling in him a burning hatred for the tyranny of the Vs'Ks'Thi and the bondage his fellow humans were forced to endure. His father raised him within the Catholic faith, however, and from thence he learned above all humility and mercy.

In time he grew to be a bookish and fairly kind young man. Interested as much in the future as in the past, he studied technical manuals on starship navigation in his adolesence. In time he left home, taking with him what little money he had, along with a small token of his faith and a revolver, which had been passed secretly through his mother's family for three generations. He found work aboard a shipping freighter and found he immensely enjoyed the camaraderie and adventure that such a life brought.

Working under a number of different civilian captains, Malone found himself the navigator of the Washington, under the command of Timothy Harris.

Equipment: Rail rifle, Colt Peacemaker (.45 revolver), cleaning kit, light jumpsuit, western poncho, St. Michael medalion, wristcomp loaded with stellar cartography notes and traditional Earth music

Cheers IN SPAAACE!

Alright, cool!

I'll try to have an OOC post up tomorrow night- the next afternoon at the latest.

Stranger

Welcome to the site, dude.

Cheers IN SPAAACE!

Bump?

I'd like to have at least a couple more interested parties before getting this off the ground.

Stellar Uprising

@Illogical JimI like the character. The only "issue" I saw was that he had a single power, not a set. That's not a big deal, though, as you can always expand it later if you want. Not everyone needs a full set of powers. The description hints at lines of expansion into both telepathy and ESP. A cross class person would work well too.

Anyway, approved.

@TheUnknowable

Yeah, I was thinking he'd still be something of a novice, that being the only ability he's really able to use. With further use of Doma/drugs I imagine he'd develop somewhat more advanced powers.

Stellar Uprising

Name: Patrick “Paddy” Malone

Race: Human

Age: 30

Appearance: Of below-average height and 'ever-so-slightly' bulging in build, Malone is not exactly blessed with an athletic build. His coal black hair has receded nearly to his ears, and looks likely to retreat to the crown of his head within a few years. His brown eyes are soft and mellow, oft becoming entirely misty when he's imbibing.

Power: Uncanny Dodge- Malone has the ability to perceive the intent of others, allowing him to quite accurately predict the movements and attacks of enemy combatants. This gives him a rather significant edge in small-scale encounters, though he has thus far had difficulty making effective use of his ability when dealing with larger groups of opponents. He suspects that a large number of minds to be sensed at once make focusing on any particular one troublesome.

Personality: Malone is typically genial and mild-mannered in peaceful situations, making jokes and singing songs to mark the passage of time. He possesses what he would himself call a “healthy distrust of strangers,” but very much cares for his friends and comrades around him. When drinking, he tends to become rather maudlin, waxing romantic about this or that thing about Earth, and cursing the alien menace that had enslaved it. He only seldom panics under fire, preferring to hurl insults and abuse at the enemy- whether they can understand him or not.

Skills: Shooting, navigation, singing, and in a pinch, piloting

Crew position: Navigator/Astrogator, Morale Officer (Self-appointed post)

Bio: Patrick Michael Malone was born in Tipperary, Ireland to an American mother and an Irish father, both free humans. His early life was pleasantly uneventful, and Malone spent much of his childhood reading about Earth history. His mother particularly encouraged this, instilling in him a burning hatred for the tyranny of the Vs'Ks'Thi and the bondage his fellow humans were forced to endure. His father raised him within the Catholic faith, however, and from thence he learned above all humility and mercy.

In time he grew to be a bookish and fairly kind young man. Interested as much in the future as in the past, he studied technical manuals on starship navigation in his adolesence. In time he left home, taking with him what little money he had, along with a small token of his faith and a revolver, which had been passed secretly through his mother's family for three generations. He found work aboard a shipping freighter and found he immensely enjoyed the camaraderie and adventure that such a life brought.

Working under a number of different civilian captains, Malone found himself the navigator of the Washington, under the command of Timothy Harris.

Equipment: Rail rifle, Colt Peacemaker (.45 revolver), cleaning kit, light jumpsuit, western poncho, St. Michael medalion, wristcomp loaded with stellar cartography notes and traditional Earth music

Stellar Uprising

@TheUnknowable

I do have a couple more questions, if you don't mind.

1) What kind of small arms are prevalent in the setting? Energy weapons of some kind presumably exist, but would they be the sort of thing our crew would be armed with, or would we be largely relying on more primitive firearms (or slugthrowers, if you prefer)?

2) Has Earth been significantly altered by its enslaved status? By which I mean, do the old political divisions still exist? Do the former governments still exist on paper, or have they been done away with entirely in favor of some kind of Imperial alien administration? Also, what is life on Earth (and other places humans inhabit) like? Is it endless toil and misery for everyone, or are some humans given preferential treatment in exchange for cooperation and collaboration? Have the aliens tampered with human law, education, even culture?

Oh, and do you want the interested to go ahead and write up CS's, since you posted the form in the OP? I've got an idea for a character, I think.