Elite roleplay: Off station

OFF STATION

Your ship, deep space, anything that is not happening inside the Citi Gateway or Ingaba...

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.
03 May 2024, 10:03pm
"I reckon interrogating her and then locking her up 'til the situation allows for her release sounds pretty decent. A rather pacifist solution. In my world, it'd be... resolved... differently."

I cocked my head towards an airlock. "With a little stroll into the void… Just, without a spacesuit."

"And I'm thinking, maybe it's a good idea not to tangle with any of the big powers in this mess. I thought we were trying to avoid a wildfire, weren't we?"

I mulled over our options. Infiltration probably wasn't the best solution, at least not when faced with the challenges that Kasumi's physique brought to the table. Still, her tech skills would significantly boost our chances of success. Somehow we needed to get her close to the enemy‘s computer systems.

"I might have a trick up my sleeve. Let's just say I've got... professional experience... in spying on megaships without setting off alarms. You gotta get close, and you gotta go a while without shields. Silent running, ever heard of it?"

I figured our chances weren't too bad, because Kusami was a damn fine hacker and I was a good pilot.

"We could give it a shot with the Musashi. The catch is, I usually did this with a Mamba. But if we're gonna masquerade as Azimuth Transport, we ought to look the part of a transport ship. Got a speedy transport vessel that's nimble too?"


Last edit: 03 May 2024, 10:09pm
03 May 2024, 10:40pm
"Uh ..."

I scratched my head, trying to think if I had anything that fit the bill.

"I don't know. Let me look ..."

I quickly looked through my ship collection on my wrist computer, making sure only I could see it.

"I do have some Pythons. One for mining, the other for evacuations, or cargo moving. But... I do not think they have an adjusted - big, seat, for me. And a Cutter... that is not subtle. Big, sluggish, only quick in straight line. My Phantom would not work, would it? It could match a Mamba in speed... or, at least, almost."

Part of me wanted to figure out and get over that part with the Azimuth captive first, but I said nothing about it, for now. My facial expression likely gave some of my feelings away, however.
04 May 2024, 10:52am
“Mhm. A Cutter? Too flashy and clunky for my taste. Better to blend in with the usual Azimuth traffic, don’t you think? I gotta mull this over… Maybe I’ve got something else up my sleeve that’s more fitting for the job.”

That’s when it hit me – none of my ships had a seat that would accommodate Kasumi’s unique frame.

“Though, prepping a ship for you is gonna take some time, got to install a… suitable… throne for your royal backside,” I added to my earlier musings.

“How about you entertain yourself with our guest in the meantime? Everything that needed saying about this has been said, and I’ve got a hunch you’re itching to start that interrogation.”
04 May 2024, 11:13am
"Oh. Uh... sure. If your crew does not give you too many strange looks for it ..."

I glanced over at the displays again.

"What about that... stuff, from the AI chip? I'm not sure what it is useful for. And I don't think an Azimuth soldier would know about that part."

Another thought occurred to me.

"And... whatever plan you are making in your head, maybe I would like to know what it is. Before we take off."
04 May 2024, 11:46am
“The material analysis showed that the chip is ancient. I don’t reckon it was made by any company we know… More likely, these chips were bought on the sly or nicked from someone. What it can do is still a mystery; and for safety’s sake, we haven’t juiced it up, so our poking around is limited. But…”

I paused for a beat, letting the results of the analysis simmer in my mind, “…the terms accessible in the code hint at some kind of manufacturing gig. There were whispers that WREAKEN used something similar in their autonomous construction arks, which - given enough raw materials - could pop up shipyards out of thin air. But that’s all hearsay for now.”

Then I gave Kasumi a look that could only read as ‘really, now?’.

“Thought I laid out my plan clear as crystal? We masquerade as Azimuth Transport to get cozy with the Musashi, then we slice into their systems from the outside, quiet-like. Only makes sense if we’re betting there’s something worth finding there, of course. And that’s where your little chit-chat with the captive comes into play….”
04 May 2024, 1:04pm
"Oh, maybe I was... not listening properly. Or too tired. Did you mention it now, or... yesterday? Because I was not sure, if you were going to go inside, or... not."

I breathed out and 'leaned' on the console with my back, even though everything was weightless.

"What...ever. Maybe we should just, do it. You know it anyway. I just need to know, what I will do over there. After I go ask our 'friend' some questions."
04 May 2024, 1:34pm
“Mhm… you’re good? Or are you a bit knackered? I’ve got this nagging thought that you’re not quite with it,” I said.

I couldn’t help but worry about her actual state. Maybe that last mission had taken more out of her than she was willing to admit.

“We can always take a breather if you need it,” I added, watching her leaning on the console.

“Anyway, the plan was for you to slice into the megaship’s systems while I keep our own ship steady. You’ve been proving already how tech-savvy you are. Plus, you mentioned the Musashi used to be with Aegis. Maybe that’ll give us an edge somehow?”
04 May 2024, 2:21pm
"I am... did not, sleep too well.", I answered, not really hiding it on my face. "That is all. But I will live."

I made sort of a, light throwaway gesture.

"It is not that bad, once I have a thing to focus on. But I don't know if the ship once being Aegis, will really help. Azimuth are stupid... but not that stupid. They, probably, have written out old access codes. Or I would, at least, think. And... I don't know those codes, anyway. I have only worked with Aegis... since they were reformed. Yet, maybe, our 'friend' could... lose one. Maybe. Not that I would expect... for a soldier to really have much system access."

I looked in a random direction.

"Actually... I forgot to check it, but we may find some kind of code in whatever you took from the scientist. Or, I could... try to hack something. But that could take longer, to avoid detecting it."

Now, I did something uncharacteristic and looked my counterpart in the eyes.

"You have to promise me, if we do this... and things go wrong, do not let them take me. Alive, or otherwise."

Those few seconds were enough to make that uncomfortable again so, I returned my gaze to somewhere more 'normal' for me.
04 May 2024, 4:45pm
“Mhm. Well, I‘m not exactly an encyclopedia on Aegis - what with all the reform and stuff. But you’re probably bang on the money. Not even Azimuth could be that stupid; otherwise, they wouldn’t have gotten this big, right? And about that soldier, I think you’re spot on if she’s just a lowly grunt… Oh, but didn’t you mention something about a suit computer yesterday?“

I gazed into the void, a sly grin forming on my lips. “Haven’t really given that doctor’s profile a once-over yet. Might be worth a peek. After all, it did swing open all the doors for me at that outpost during the infiltration.”

I returned the sudden brewing eye contact with a hint of surprise.

“If things go south, they’ll probably blast our spaceship to smithereens. Doubt anyone would walk away from that. But I get you… and you have my word of honor that I’ll do everything in my power to honor your request. But wait - didn’t you say back in the cockpit of your Phantom that you’d be more likely to survive a shootout than me?”
04 May 2024, 6:24pm
"I did, yes." I nodded to accompany that response. "There are... secrets, which I have not yet shared with you. And, unless I have to... will not, until we are done with this. Just so you know, where we stand. But those... are why I would much more likely survive."

As much trust building as this possibly was, there were simply things to not be shared unless, or until, two individuals were close enough. And, here, this was... definitely not the case yet.

"As for the suit computer, which I mentioned, it is of the soldier I brought back. Did not have the energy to analyze it yesterday, then... kind of forgot. But other than mission orders, I am not sure if it has anything useful. Could have comms codes, encryption, or... however you call it again."

I also still felt inexplicably uncomfortable around this woman, but my mind hadn't yet made any real connection to the Guardian tech incident, despite that thought lurking somewhere, far back, within a sort of mist, in my head.

Part of me really didn't like the idea of having to trust the piloting of somebody else, who could just sell me out right when it mattered the most. Which I was very definitely not fond of, either, as a possibility... the discomfort made me move around a little on my leaning spot, using my arms to keep the body there.
04 May 2024, 7:09pm
“Teasing about secrets and then playing coy? You’re quite the flirt,” I chuckled with a mischievous glint in my eye.

“And if you’ve got better odds of surviving than me, maybe I should be the one worrying about my last will and testament,” I mused, wagging a finger like a stern teacher before shrugging it off with a sly grin.

“But I gotta admit, it’s a good sign you’re talking about an ‘after’. So you haven’t completely ditched the idea of us kicking back with cocktails at the end of it all. Or fruit juice, if you’re gonna be stubborn about it. Randomius, I can’t believe I just said that.”

I rolled my eyes dramatically. “Let’s hope your goody-two-shoes vibe doesn’t rub off on me.”

Maybe it was a bit forced, but I wanted to lighten the mood, which was as grim as a tomb. And maybe I just wanted to see her smile for a bit. Who knows.

“As for the suit’s computer - if it doesn’t have any juicy data, does it have a serial number maybe? Something traceable? Anything that could tell us where this gear came from?”

I’ll admit, it might just been a wild hunch, but I knew that sometimes government property could be tracked like that. So, why not? Maybe we could strike gold.
04 May 2024, 9:48pm
I shook my head.

"Not playing coy. Not 'flirt'. Just stating."

The tone left no doubt to that I was being very serious about that, at least.

"And it would be the suit computer of that soldier. I don't know for sure if it would tell us more, but we could perhaps find something to make getting near the megaship easier. I don't know. You can ask for it here, they will give it to you."

The joking attempt hadn't really done much to make me feel less tense.

"To be honest, I am not motivated to look into it, the computer. So you do it."

I noticed a certain feeling on my backside, and realized I was being a little too enthusiastic about 'leaning'. So I eased up on my grip a little, but still held on, so that the soft material getting its shape back didn't make my body, except for the feet, float away from the console.
05 May 2024, 9:25pm
“Alright, listen up… I’m gonna tinker with the suit’s computer, the one you’re not too thrilled about. You want me to get my hands dirty with a bit more hacking, learn something worthwhile for once, eh?” I gave her a wink.

“While I’m at it, why don’t you take care of your guest? With a bit of luck, we might just end up a tad wiser. What do you say?”
05 May 2024, 9:52pm
"Hm... yes. That might be... a good idea."

I began to feel a bit less tense, and it showed in how I leaned on the console, too. Part of me wondered just how 'curious' it had to look to someone else, me in this posture, with that figure I had.

If it was Jana, she'd have her eyes all over the rear half. And pretty much nowhere else., 'Kira' remarked in my head.

Probably, yes. She does like... big curves.

Putting aside the mental conversation, I continued on what I had said to the person physically present in the room.

"I will go down, and 'see' her. While you work. Even if I get nothing useful out of it... maybe, it will be fun to tease this soldier that she got beat by someone who is this 'big'."
05 May 2024, 11:35pm
"I wonder if this counts as torture or fun," I quipped, a smirk starting to dance on my lips as I alluded to her interrogation techniques.

"Either way, I'm itching to find out if we'll… squeeze… anything useful out of her." By now I was grinning from one ear to the other.

I gave an encouraging nod in her direction, then, with a swift motion, I jabbed the button for internal comms.

"Hey, can someone snag me that suit computer? I want to try my luck with it."

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