Elite roleplay: The docks

THE DOCKS (Dockyards)

The Docks is where all pilots berth their ships. It is the first place that pilots find themselves upon landing their ship. Docking and launching is controlled by the Citi Gateway’s Traffic Controllers while each individual dock is controlled by a dockmaster and a team of orange clad dock crew workers.

The Docks is a sparse and desolate, 0.1G environment, littered with service vehicles, cranes and landing pads. While cool, the air is dry and lightly filled with the smell of burnt metal and ship grease. Public Service Announcements blare across the the docks reminding all pilots of station regulations. The docks contain 45 individual ship docks, several warehouses storing massive tank of hydrogen fuel, and standard shipping containers of cargo, the dock’s traffic control tower and the local pilot’s market which resides in one of the warehouses.

Ship docks
Each specific dock has a landing pad, a ship hangar and adjoining terminal. In each terminal there is a passenger waiting area, the dockmaster’s control tower and several dock crew vehicle bay.

Warehouses
If the docks were already unpopulated, warehouses would be completely vacant of anyone if not for a small handful of security staff. Warehouses are completely automated and highly guarded facilities as they contain massive amounts of valuable and flammable material.
"Loitering is a crime punishable by death" - Station Announcements

Pilot's Market
The pilot’s market is best described as a tourist trap for pilots. Every person who’s not a pilot is trying to guile a pilot to part with their credits.

"The station administrators would like to remind all pilots that transactions in the pilot’s market are not protected by Citi Gateway or The Bank of Zaonce" - station announcements

General Roleplay Etiquette:

1. Control only the actions of your own character(s). (AKA: God Mode)
This doesn't matter how small the action is, even if it is as simple as scratching their nose or a direct reaction to something else that just happened. This applies to everything from casual conversation to full blown fight scenes. If you'd like someone to do something specific, PM that person, however keep in mind they are completely within their rights to say no. Especially if said action is inappropriate to their character and/or circumstance.

2. Don't brute force your way into another persons RP.
Approaching with a conversation starter is fine, or indeed some other small action. However charging in, guns blazing and disrupting the flow of another person/pair/groups conversation/arc is about as rude as doing so in real life. If something is going on that you'd like to participate in, be subtle about it. Put out a gentle hook for someone to take, but again, be aware that said hook may not be taken. If you fear it was simply unnoticed, PM the person or people it concerns. Or even leave a message in the OOC forums.

3. Good grammar and spelling is preferred.
We're not asking you to be perfect, but please at least demonstrate willingness. no1 iz gna tak u srsly usng txt spk. There's a wide variety of people here, many who speak English as a second, or even third language. There are even some with varying degrees of dyslexia and/or likely other issues that affect spelling/grammar. We accept them all here. However, people who aren't accepted, are those unwilling to accept polite correction. Remember that even a small thing like the placement of a comma, or the wrong use of there/their/they're can completely change the definition of an entire sentence.

4. Accept constructive criticism gracefully and politely.
If someone spots an issue with your writings, they may wish to help you improve that writing. They may do this through PM or even publicly air their thoughts on the OOC forum. If they have taken the time to be polite and explain what is wrong with your writing, the best way to behave is to respond in kind, using the same manner they have approached you with. It means they have taken an active interest in what you have written and wish to see more. Basically, you have a fan!

5. Don't take the actions or opinions of things done IN RP, to be directly relevant to the writers thoughts or opinions.
Basically, if some ones character calls your character a jackass, it doesn't mean the writer thinks you are a jackass. It's a ROLE they are PLAYING. Watch a movie. The argument between the characters isn't an argument between the actors involved. The same applies here.

6. It's not a popularity contest.
Your RP might be bustling with participants. You have 3 people off station in a fire fight, while another 2 are infiltrating the darkest areas of the station, meanwhile a group of 4 others are tracking your movements in an effort to stop you. Good for you, I'm sure it will be a thrilling read! But you know what? Sometimes the absolute BEST work, comes from two RP characters having a simple heart to heart. Both are valid, both are great, but NEITHER is categorically better than the other. Period.


Inara RP Etiquette:

1. Respect the setting and rules of the universe.
Inara is an Elite: Dangerous 3rd Party Tool. The RP Forums are set in the Elite: Dangerous universe. Elite: Dangerous has rules, as any fictional universe does from Lord of the Rings to Star Wars, or Game of Thrones to Star Trek. If you intend to RP within the Elite: Dangerous universe you are bound by the history and rules of that universe. Simply put, this RP forum is bound by the same rules as the game, so if it can't be done in the game, it is not permitted here. This applies to things from a 50Ly Jump Range on a normal, unmodified Sidewinder, to the destruction of entire stations.

2. Respect the characters created by others.
We have a wide variety of characters already here. It's expected that some will be similar, just as it's expected that two characters will be vastly different. Opinions of each persons character will naturally be varied, but all are valid provided they follow the rules of the universe. You are allowed to interact with, or avoid interaction with, any character in the RP forums. But you have no right to belittle others for their creation. You are not an authority figure on writing, nor are you directly affected by another persons imagination. You might not like it, but you MUST respect it.

3. Be caught up on current events before joining in.
You need basic things like character descriptions in order to interact with them. You also need to know what's going on in the surrounding areas. This is simply because the people you are hoping to RP with, might be gearing up to something that you might not want to be part of. Or simply that the most recent post, out of context, could leave a different impression on the goings on than if you gather that context. We don't expect you to read every single post from the beginning of the forums, just enough to get that basic understanding.

4. Either subscribe to, or frequently check, the Roleplay: Q&A and OOC forum.
People may be discussing something relevant to you there, or even discussing you directly. Perhaps someone asked what the general consensus on the existence or non-existence of a certain object. Or we're just chatting about random gibberish. Either way, be aware of it and use it. If you're unsure about something, such as how guns would look and or behave, or even the music selection, use the OOC forum to ask. We don't have all of the answers, but the collective knowledge and logic usually allows us to overcome an issue and come to a decision on what should be allowed. Frontier Developments, and even David Braben himself, don't have the answers to every possible question that can be asked.

5. Large Scale events exploding out of nowhere are a complete no go.
We get it. Everyone wants their character to be noticed and for people to be tripping over themselves to interact with them. In some audiences, an introduction involving you blasting in for landing in a fiery wreckage of a ship, before cart wheeling out and sword fighting 35 Ninjas before whisking off with the local celebrity for a glorious night of passion, is in fact, cool. This is not one of those audiences. It is generally considered better to build your character up slowly over time. Eventually, you might even have a legitimate excuse to fight those Ninjas. Maybe even with other RP participants by your side.

6. Perfect characters are boring.
The point of a character arc, is that it is in fact, an arc shape. One who is morally unquestionable, fully kitted out and an infinite fountain of knowledge, cannot go through an arc. Give your character flaws. Be it a tendency towards befriending the wrong people, or a bad knee that frequently gives out at inopportune moments. It gives readers something to latch onto and empathise with. You can give your character exceptional capabilities at something, but it requires balance. She's a damn good pilot with no equal, but can't drive an SRV for peanuts. It can lead to some very interesting moments between characters, be it heartfelt or comedic.


Other Notes:
It should be noted that there can be exceptions to these points. For example, good grammar when a character is speaking is actually rare. Few people in real life actually speak with perfect eloquence after all. Or previously arranged actions during a fight scene, such as someone stumbling back after a punch. What's key to remember is context.

All in all, remember this is purely for fun. We have some seriously talented writers here, and others whose writing history starts and ends at high school. But many are willing to help out in whatever way they can. All it takes is that you ask nicely.

Also keep in mind that many people who RP here, also have logbook stories related to the character, or characters, they portray. If it looks like there's an "in joke" going on that you're unsure of, it's probably in those.

In fact, some users have even gone to the trouble of creating "alts" to RP with. If you read back far enough, it's usually pretty clear who has and hasn't, and which ones are the "alts". It's therefore not unheard of to see the apparent seizing of control of other characters. If you do spot one, point it out in the OOC section. If intervention is needed, it will be sorted quickly and (hopefully) politely.

Most, if not all RP participants here have Logbook stories pertaining to their character(s). These are for the reading pleasure of anyone who wishes to do so. While it can be useful to read them in order to gain a bit of backstory on a character you wish to interact with, it should not be assumed that your character shares that knowledge. Within the E:D Universe, these Logbooks either don't exist, or are private diaries kept by the characters. Either way, without explicit statements to say otherwise from the writer, your interactions should reflect that your character is in the dark about any information you, the writer/reader, have gained from reading the stories.
22 Oct 2020, 10:25pm
Spud_"I have seen this sort of thing before, but I must say it made the short hairs on my neck stand up, do you have anyone in your network in our home system? If not I have a pretty wide network of folks myself in our little area of the bubble and could put some feelers out as to what might be going down?"

I got up and refilled my coffee cup, this time with a couple of fingers of Lavian Brandey and asked, "JB, you want a shot?"


JB had eyeballed the Lavian Brandy as he'd entered the room... he'd tried to act coy as she waved at him across the room. When Spud offered a shot he felt it would be ungentlemanly to say no.

"Cheers, mate," replied JB, "If you can ask around, then great... but don't put yourself out. It was my fault for not scoping this job out properly first." JB sat in the comfortable chair as Spud sorted out the drinks. Taking the time to look around, JB noticed this was a real "Trucker's Cabin".

"So, Spud... I know what it's like to be out haulin' all the time, you got family back at your home system?"
23 Oct 2020, 2:01pm
Descartes' senses were at their peak. She heard Raglan coming before he tapped at the bridge door. Gently unfolding herself and stretching, her breathing returned to normal. She stood up slowly. By the time he reached the door the tatami mat had been carefully rolled and stowed.

She opened the central,  door. "Welcome to the bridge. Have a look around."

The Python is classed as a medium-sized ship.  It would easily accommodate  five or six sidewinders inside it's enormous hull. The bridge was spotless, the largest open space after the cargo-hold.

He was wearing the unofficial ex-academy off-duty uniform - jeans. And didn't wipe his feet. She made a mental note to tactfully drop him a hint later.

At the rear the bridge was several metres at its widest point, large screens and control panels on either side. Steps down to the forward area. Front left, the (out-of-bounds) pilot seat, the co-pilot's on the right. Two seats and a table could be unfolded over one side of the wide flat floor at the back. As with the galley and the head, there were foot loops in the 'floor' to stop one floating around.


Still in her white 'suit, Descartes sank into the made-to-measure pilot seat as it gently formed itself to her body, a luxury the wasn't shared by the co-pilot. She booted up a screen, looking briefly at the constant news feed. Still discussing events around the lockdown, but nothing about it being lifted. That was not unusual , more often than not, lockdown would be lifted unannounced.


"The basic flight controls are similar to those in a sidewinder." she said. "Everything else is more or less self explanatory."


"So, tell me something about yourself Raglan.  You tell me about your story, I'll begin mine." She said, rotating her seat to face him.


Last edit: 23 Oct 2020, 6:03pm
23 Oct 2020, 6:32pm
Rex looked around.

"Just like the sim we had back at Mawson, but cleaner"

He stretched his legs as he relaxed in the co-pilot's seat. Although it didn't appear as luxurious as the other, it was still a lot more cushioned than the basic seat in the sidewinder.

"Not really a lot to tell", he began.

"Never really knew my mother, she disappeared when I was 5. Dad was a trader back in his day, and a damn good one judging by my childhood. He died when I was about 11, and my elder brother paid for me to spend the next 7 years at a boarding school in Dromi. Guess he didn't want the responsibility of taking care of his little bro"

He paused and glanced over at her. She was listening intently, her face not showing any emotion.

"By the time I left school he was gone, and there was nothing left for me except the clothes on my back and 2000 credits in my personal savings account"

He stopped, not really wanting to continue at this point.

"Your turn"

He looked over at the news screen and waited.
23 Oct 2020, 6:57pm
I poured JB a shot and passed it over to him, "I will be discreet".

I looked down at the deck and tried not to wince; "My wife was killed in the recent terrorist attacks, 43 years she put up with me being gone, raised our daughter Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn is a pilot as well, I could not talk her out of it, by the time she was 14 she was better instinctively then I will every be."

Starting to get red faced, "She enlisted under Duval, and it seems had her grandads ability to slaughter enemies of the Empire, then one day while home on leave, one of the few times all three of us were together, she told us she was going to resign her commission and set out exploring. I have not heard from her now in 19 months. I took a bit that I had saved up and bought and outfitted a Phantom for her, as that was what she wanted, and she headed for the black. I did read something a couple of months ago about a new system and oddly enough, it had Dads name on it, so I figure she is fine and will head back this way when her heart wills it."

Clearing my throat; "May I ask discreetly of course, what business exactly are you in JB?"
23 Oct 2020, 7:26pm
Descartes was a little annoyed by his offhand casualness, but considered her reply...

"Not so far different. apart from the money. I know nothing of my parents. Grew up in a children's home. Seemed to be normal, we were all in the same boat. Everyone called me Descartes I knew nothing else. When I was about 12, discovered that most people had parents, and I was named after Descartes ring where I lived - and that it was named after a French philosopher. Fascinated by my namesake ever since. Imagined I was French, gave myself a French sounding first name, and set off on my lifetime of discovery. Been travelling and making my own way ever since."

She paused for breath, relaxing, and absentminded started to unzip her 'suit, then stopped. Decided not to mention the harsh introduction to the real world, working as an illegally young 'crew
member' for an unpleasant hauler captain who expected 'extra benefits'- from her.

"I talk too much." she said.


Last edit: 23 Oct 2020, 7:46pm
23 Oct 2020, 8:21pm
Spud_ I did read something a couple of months ago about a new system and oddly enough, it had Dads name on it, so I figure she is fine and will head back this way when her heart wills it."

Clearing my throat; "May I ask discreetly of course, what business exactly are you in JB?"


JB remembered hearing about the attacks. He didn't care. It wasn't malicious, just that he no longer managed to connect with these things properly... and the part of the soul needed for empathy was damaged. But Spud was a nice guy and seeing him upset gave him the same sick feeling in his stomach he got from hearing that Mathias had died.

In his roles within his organisation he had to pretend to befriend and connect with other people... but he was just a good actor. There was a warmth from Spud though. He spent so much time with the bottom of the barrel, it was comforting to be around what seemed like a "good-guy".

"I'm a smuggler," replied JB, honestly for a change. "My organisation was set up by old smugglers looking for a safe way to retire without reprocussions from their old gangs. We got organised, we grew, we took over our home station then we started to spread out. My job is to help the organisation grow."

JB took a swig of his drink. "Sorry to hear about your wife, mate," JB said, again, honestly, "But you've still got people though?"
23 Oct 2020, 10:37pm
He sat back again, deep in thought.

"You could never talk too much" he reassured her, "unless you say something you didn't actually want me to know, and I get the feeling that's not very likely"

He looked her in the eye once more.

"You've made something of your life, this ship didn't come as a free gift in a box of candy. The scars on the outside tell me you've had to defend yourself, and by the sound of things you've done that pretty much most of your life"

His lips gave a slight hint of a smile as he realised they weren't so different after all.

"I learned more about you from what I've seen, than any slip of the tongue could ever reveal"

He decided to change the subject.

"So, what's our next move Ma'am?", he asked with a glint in his eye.
23 Oct 2020, 11:17pm
JB took a swig of his drink. "Sorry to hear about your wife, mate," JB said, again, honestly, "But you've still got people though?"


Again, looking down at the deck plates, then just with a pause, "thank you", and a huge belly laugh to follow, "oh yes I have people, and the kind of folks that make you happy to be around, some shady, some not, some that don't care about life or anything else, but we do our thing, and our thing is what we 'feel' is the thing to do today. Very few orders come from on high, very few at all. For the most part we are left to our own ends unless something major comes up."

Looking at JB, "Smuggler? Ha! Remember when I said, Smuggling is just a word given to people moving goods about that someone else in a position of supposed power does not like?" "Yeah well as to that, I will haul almost anything, anywhere, at any time; as will most of our people, those that dont haul but do 'other' things. If you need it moved, we can move it, 1 ton or 50K tons. We dont care. Its why we hang out where we do, the Empire knows we love them, and so they leave us alone, but truth be told, I have sold more illegal booze to the Imperial Navy then any other "smuggled" good in the black. Business is Business, and I think, perhaps you have found a new avenue..."

"Remember what I said about ethics though, so I wont do certain things, because of my own code, but the fellow that put me in touch with you is a 'dispatcher' so to speak, and if you have certain requirements, if you let him know, you will get the right person for the job."
23 Oct 2020, 11:47pm
JB nodded as he listened to Spud, coquettishly looking over at the brandy hoping that Spud would reintroduce them.

"There's stuff we won't shift... we don't care about other people's politics but we won't shift slaves. As far as narcotics go... as a policy it's not ok but we won't boot people for carrying it... everything else is pretty much fair game."

JB, with a day's worth of booze swimming around in his head, picked out a few bits of info from what Spud had said...

"You said your daughter followed your dad's skills as a pilot? Do you have a pedigree of fighters in your family?"
24 Oct 2020, 3:33am
"You said your daughter followed your dad's skills as a pilot? Do you have a pedigree of fighters in your family?"

"My father was Grand Admiral of the fifth fighter regiment, eventually because of PTSD and well I dont know he was retired a hero of the Empire. There are some crazy numbers, crazy fights, crazy missions, most of which I have heard about and not from him unless he was drunk, but yeah we are related to the Duval family, and once in a while that creeps in."

Without even thinking about it, I refreshed JB's glass and mine.

"I guess if we are going to get personal, I will put it like this; I have spent 30 plus years in the Empire Merchant Marine, now 5 very solid in my faction, Freelancers, and have come to love them, I like the fact that I can decide whether or not I really want that job or not, and I like the fact that if I want to take four months and just head to the black and look about, its all good. What I also like occasionally is a bit of the old razors edge so to speak?, this is why I have networked so much. Maybe I am stupid."
24 Oct 2020, 8:10am
JB gently shook his head at Spud's comment about being stupid.

Most of the new pilots joining his organisation did so for "a bit of the old razor's edge". Nobody gets into the smuggling game for the ker-ching... leave the money chasing to the pebble-pushers.

"I flew as a bounty hunter for a while," started JB, opening up a little about a part of his life he never really thinks about anymore. "...but you move on, you find what you enjoy doing. For me, coming home to our controlled systems... the reaction I get from our citizens when they see me wearing my organisation's jacket.. that welcome I get, that's what makes it all worth while."

JB looked around the cockpit again. "It's nice to have people, Spud, glad you've got some of your own... but you don't strike me as the son of an Imperial Grand Admiral, mate, I see silver hair but no silver spoon?"
24 Oct 2020, 1:45pm

"So, what's our next move Ma'am?"
, asked Raglan.

Descartes was about to answer when she glanced at the news feed:  It was showing an old clip of a Phantom being impounded by security. Under suspicion of involvement with the disappearance of a ship during lockdown several weeks ago. They found nothing on the Phantom, it was released, it's cargo left to rot in an unrefrigerated warehouse until it was finally disposed of in one of the stations digesters. Nothing went to waste out  here, hence the never-ending transportation of tradeable biowaste.

She didn't need to read the subtitles: It was her Phantom, currently in storage a few short jumps away - her idea of 'laying-low'.

Her thoughts turned to the ludicrously high payment she'd received, (far exceeding the cost of the very expensive souvenir she was sitting in), simply for moving her ship from one place to another, loading fish and moving it back again. During the ship-shuffling, the 'Knight of Goodness', a Krait, drifted off its pad and out of the station.

She remembered another pilot in the Galactic bar around the same time. 'J.B', a nice guy, another space wanderer with things to hide. She wondered what had happened to him.,  

She turned to Raglan and smiled. "Next we wait for this lockdown to be lifted. I have a delivery to make."  she thought of the nondescript container listed honestly and legally  as 'rock samples' in the cargo hold. "them I'm all yours, if you still like the idea of a short sightseeing trip."

She was warming to him a little more.


Last edit: 24 Oct 2020, 3:10pm
24 Oct 2020, 4:25pm
I looked down at my cup, "Ha yes I was bit of a disappointment to my dad I suppose, I did not posses the skills he did, and after watching him self destruct I did not want them anyway, so I was determined to do my own thing, make my own way, and so I have. My mother did not approve of me going off to the merchant fleet, and so I have been labeled black sheep. She occasionally will speak to me."
24 Oct 2020, 5:29pm
"Sounds great to me, I could use a bit of relaxation and company"

He suddenly realised he'd not had this much social interaction in at least 3 months, and wondered if it showed.

"Maybe you might even tell me what that french sounding first name is, or do I have to guess?"

Well if he did it would pass some time, he was useless at guessing things.

His thoughts wandered back to the academy and the friends he'd made there. He wondered what they were doing, what paths they had taken.

He'd only run across one of them in the six months since they all graduated and promised to keep in contact.

He returned to the present day.

"If we go sightseeing you have to let me contribute toward costs, I'm no freeloader"
24 Oct 2020, 5:32pm
"Cutting your own path, mate. Nothing new to be found on old roads. I guess that's a trait you've passed on to your daughter."

The whole family unit thing was a foreign concept for JB. Parental expectations, sibling rivalries, family meals... it was the kind of thing he'd read about but had no first hand knowledge of.

"So, I take it Spud isn't the family name then?" said JB jokingly, but was too busy taking a swig of the brandy to remember to smile.

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