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.
Kasumi Goto
19 Jul 2024, 3:39pm
"Ok. Sure."

I plugged that data chip into my wrist computer, deciding the subject - and fate - of the Thargoid-derived bomb was settled. Didn't take long to get the chip's contents unlocked.

"Hm... 'Thor Biometrics'... does not, show any result. Azimuth front, maybe. Nothing, in my database, anyway. But, do have, some shipping info, here."

I made the display be projected above the device as a 'flat screen' of sorts, then held my arm out in such a way that she could read it properly.
Haraldsen
19 Jul 2024, 8:27pm
I tossed a curious glance at the projected info, and read:

Ship: Pride of Taurus
Former ID: 908342867
New ID: 654237625
52 65 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 64 20 61 74 20 48 75 6e 7a 69 6b 65 72 20 54 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 6c 2c 20 4c 48 53 20 31 31 36 33 20 46 6f 72 20 53 61 67 61 6e 20 52 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 43 65 6e 74 72 65 20 32 37 30 34 2e 39 36 38 37 35 20 2d 32 33 2e 32 35 20 2d 32 34 37 30 2e 37 38 31 32


“Ah, nothing like a bit of proper bureaucracy to spice up the day. That’s definitely the name of the Azimuth ship we learned from the Imperial agent’s ship computer…”

I pondered the content for a moment.

“Reassigning a different ID number probably means the cargo’s been repacked. The rest, unfortunately, seems to be encrypted.”
Kasumi Goto
19 Jul 2024, 8:52pm
"That, is not difficult. Allow me ..."

While I was starting to learn the different types of encryption myself, at least how to identify them, I still let a program do that part for me, and then the decrypting. Which took less than a minute, excluding copying and pasting the text. What we were left with was the full message.

"Voilà."

I held my arm back out, so the other woman didn't have to stare at how the chest armor curved over that round part of my upper body, too much. There were coordinates, probably for the galaxy map, and a - I presumed - station, this stuff had been destined to.

Decryption results
Repackaged at Hunziker Terminal, LHS 1163 For Sagan Research Centre 2704.96875 -23.25 -2470.7812

Pride of Taurus as a ship name also sounded familiar, but likely only because, as I recalled, Azimuth used to have a 'Heart of Taurus' megaship. Which was thoroughly wrecked in HIP 22460 when the Proteus Wave failed and backfired. So it probably wasn't the same one.

"So, do we go, there, after... we stop, the nonsense at Palin's... I- guess, lab? Not sure, if it is, that, engineer, base... or, both."
Haraldsen
19 Jul 2024, 9:32pm
"Well, well, look at that. Now we should just find out where these coordinates lead us and whether they might take us to Arque – though I doubt it. Otherwise, I also think we should take care of Professor Palin's base first... I’ll go fetch my ship so we can handle the Helix and all that other stuff… maybe you can have a look at the coordinates in the meantime?"

I slowly turned and trudged to the nearest landing bay, from where I wanted to start my walk into space. Once in space, I wanted to see if I could perhaps call the ship to me before I started the long journey on foot to where I left it.
Kasumi Goto
19 Jul 2024, 9:47pm
"Ok. Sure... will look. Does not, look, like planetary coordinates, anyway."

I pulled up the galaxy map and ran a search for those coordinates in it. Sure enough, the set pointed out to a system near a nebula - Thor's Helmet Sector FB-X c1-5 - with an asteroid-based station named the 'Carl Sagan Research Centre' in it, and apparently controlled by some nobody faction called 'Thor Biometrics'. Certainly had never heard of them. And I was still annoyed at the pointless and weird placement of the r before the e. Why was it even like that, when humans spread from Earth united under the banner of what used to be the United States of America?

A question that was probably never going to be answered. I sent the system name through to my companion, who was about to run off into space, via a text snippet.

Thor's Helmet Sector FB-X c1-5, asteroid station Carl Sagan Research Centre(/er), leading faction 'Thor Biometrics'... and some worthless anarchy guys, probably pirate idiots (here I thought of some joke about how they are trying to copy a Titan's "fingerprint" to try fooling the Thargoids)
Haraldsen
19 Jul 2024, 10:20pm
“Mhm… no clue what kind of loot those pirates could be after in a spot like that, but Biometrics sounds like a company dealing with security and authentication. The system seems a bit out of the way, remote enough to be tinkering with something they don’t want anyone to know about. Unlike Arque, this place looks more like a spot for a covert operation.”

I had reached the landing bay and the airlock, which, luckily, was operational - thanks to the generally good condition of this section. A few minutes later, I had left the station and found myself on its outer hull, where I had quite a nice view.

“I see… lots… of stars,” I joked over comms.

Then I set about connecting with my ship’s autopilot.

“See if you can take control of the landing bay… if you can activate the auto-docking, I might not have to walk all the way back to the ship.”
Kasumi Goto
19 Jul 2024, 10:31pm
"Well, at least, I am, not in the way, to block it.", I joked in return, regarding the comment about the stars. "One moment. Will, look into, it."

I wandered over to the control station, which still had access permissions because it'd already been hacked, anyway.

"Hm... seems, like, computers work. At, least, well enough, for automatic docking. If, you would like, to be lazy. Since, for once, your ship... requires more space, than me."

It was probably not too surprising that systems relating to flight control were among the ones still functional, given that the command center on outposts and stations like these was generally one of the sturdiest, most reinforced sections. Now we just had to hope everything else proceeded as smoothly as the previous parts of this mission - or, at least, this particular part of it - had gone.
Haraldsen
20 Jul 2024, 12:14am
“Well, ain’t that some good news. Walking would’ve taken ages. Let’s see if this goes down the way I picture it.”

By now, I’d hooked up my personal computer to my ship’s system and told it to fire up the landed ship – standard procedure when you’re exploring planets. I also had it set for an automatic landing.

The ship obediently rose from the landing bay where it was parked and took off, putting some distance between itself and the station. Then, searching for the landing beacon, it received the signal from the cargo bay. The ship zeroed in on the advertised landing bay, and after a bit, I could spot it with my own eyes, slowly closing in. I started heading back inside, my magnetic boots echoing on the metal floor.

The landing was smooth as silk, just like at other stations, and the ship finally stood there, safe and sound in the landing bay.

"Well, that went more smoothly than expected. Let's load the stuff and then get rid of it for good, one flight at a time," I said to my companion and a satisfied grin spread across my face.
Kasumi Goto
20 Jul 2024, 12:49am
"Well, will not waste time, then."

I set up an isolated connection between cargo loading systems and the Clipper, marking the Helix cargo to be moved into it first. Maybe the security wasn't necessary, but it didn't hurt to be careful, especially when dealing with a place that had a history as shady as this one. No way to know what kind of nasty malware was in those computers, ready to be sprung into action if someone who'd handled cargo for this kind of thing needed to be "disposed of", like by a 'system failure' conveniently bricking the ship as it approached a gas giant. Cargo handling machinery began moving after that, though I'd moved the faulty one aside, not trusting it to stop working halfway through.

"There. I, guess, get cozy, in your ship. And I, will play, crane operator."

Although my task was, mostly, already done, I just kept an eye on the ones moving around for any sign of problems with their machinery. Out of precaution, in case any company showed up last minute, I also had my ship come over to one of the loading bays, even if I didn't intend to have any put on it. With only 32 tons of cargo space, it wouldn't noticeably speed up the operation, anyway, but having it right here if a quick exit was needed, seemed very preferable.

This task also allowed me to laze around a bit, even if me relaxing my muscles was absolutely not obvious because, in zero G, I wouldn't be meeting the ground when I didn't support the body mass. The only thing that really stopped me from moving anywhere was the magnetic contact surface on the boots. That, and I had my hands on the console, ready to shut off or change directives based on need. If required I could just order the system to dump the Helix - and both boxes of one of the last of the NMLA - into space, where they could be reduced to rubble.
Haraldsen
20 Jul 2024, 1:36pm
As I swaggered into the Clipper, a sense of determination washed over me. The mission was crystal clear: load up the ship multiple times to ditch several hundred tonnes of Helix and the two NMLA boxes, each time flying to the nearby star to dispose of them. Not the most thrilling gig, but someone’s gotta do it.

“Let’s get this show on the road.”

The first load consisted entirely of Helix, a dangerous cargo that had to be handled with care. While I secured the first 168 tonnes in the cargo hold, which Kasumi had loaded with the loading crane, I made sure that all precautions had been taken. “Safety first,” I muttered, double-checking everything. When I found it was secure, I slipped into the cockpit and started the engines. They roared to life and soon I was slicing through the void of space.

The journey to the nearby star was uneventful, giving me time to mull over the task at hand. As I approached the star, I deftly maneuvered the ship into position and ejected the Helix. Watching it drift towards the star, I felt a mix of relief and numbness: one load down, but still three to go.

Back at the base, Kasumi had the crane ready for the second load. Another 168 tonnes of Helix. “Round two, here we go,” I said, securing it in the hold and repeating the launch sequence. The Clipper responded like a dream, and soon I was on my way again. The star loomed large as I approached, its intense heat and light a constant reminder of the power I was dealing with. I released the Helix and watched as it was swallowed by the star’s fiery embrace. “Two loads down, two more to go,” I thought, feeling a bit more confident.

The third load consisted of the two NMLA boxes above another load of Helix. They were smaller, but no less important, and contained the ingredients for enzyme bombs as well as the NMLA's last messages and flag. "It's long overdue to end this madness once and for all," I said while I stowed the boxes in the hold. I took a deep breath and started the launch sequence again. The Clipper responded with its usual efficiency, and soon I was on my way.

The star seemed almost welcoming as I approached for the third time. I let go of the boxes and the Helix and watched them disappear into the inferno - a fitting, fiery burial of a legacy that had itself brought fire and cost many lives. “Three loads down, one last to go.” I said over the comms and thought it fitting not to mention the NMLA boxes at all.

The final load was the remaining tonnes of Helix. By now, the routine was second nature. Again Kasumi provided the freight using the cargo crane, and I secured the last of the Helix and launched the Clipper. I started to feel tired - the short journey felt longer, the star more distant. But as I approached, I knew that was it. I released the Helix and watched it drift towards the star. As it was consumed, a sense of completion washed over me.

“Mission accomplished.”

Returning to the cargo bay, I felt a mix of exhaustion and triumph. We had done it. The Helix and the boxes were gone, and with them, the potential threat they posed. As I stepped out of the Clipper, I flashed a tired grin at my companion.

“I start to feel like a cargo trucker. Thankfully, that was it.”
Kasumi Goto
20 Jul 2024, 2:19pm
"And I, decided, to leave... a little, souvenir."

I had chosen to preserve the datapad from destruction, adding a log entry of my own. I presented it to her, with the log selected.

Log entry: Kasumi/Kira Goto
Date: May 1, 3310

If you're reading this entry, you're too late. We got here first. The Helix is gone, as is the enzyme bomb and the message that came with it, turned into plasma in the star. This, is the end of the NMLA's legacy, and you won't find anything here but this message. No more death, no more destruction will be caused by their existence. No more innocent civilians drawn into a fight against something which they had no say in the creation of. If you came here with the intent to use what was here in a crusade against the superpowers, reconsider if you would actually have achieved anything by massacring hundreds of thousands, if not millions of innocents, and driven those same innocents you were hoping to get on your side against you, in the process.

And, if Cassia returns and is reading this - you were fooled, and your attack will have been stopped. Professor Palin's laboratory has nothing to do with Azimuth. He is a researcher, not a murderer of Thargoids, though I strongly disagreed with his use of a poison against their spires around the Titans. Still, your actions would have killed everyone there, for no reason whatsoever, because their aim is to understand the Thargoids and their technology better, not kill them. It is simply a bait, nothing more than a false target while the real lab where Helix is being made, is somewhere else. You said yourself Azimuth is a Hydra with many heads - yet fell for exactly that, by letting them paint a false target on somebody that, if you cared to look into it, was almost killed because he dared to continue his research into the Thargoids, despite clandestine forces attempting to keep their existence hidden.

If you really want to learn, search for Black Flight, out in the Pleiades. You'll find the signs there, preserved for those willing to see, or who know where to look. Maybe it will even lead you down the trail of their puppet masters, who are even further up the chain than Azimuth - they are who you should be directing your anger against. Only when they are gone can you hope to achieve lasting change in the system. Killing millions of civilians will not achieve it, and only remove support from your cause.

Once your anger at this entirely necessary act has faded, go to the Sagan Research Centre in Thor's Helmet Sector FB-X c1-5, and follow the trail from there. You'll likely find the results of our actions there. The real target you were looking for was always right under your nose, on the back of the Helix crates which you stole from Azimuth. And I say that as someone who has many personal reasons to burn Azimuth to the ground. If you're not convinced, just look at the plaque and the data chip next to this device.

- Kasumi

"So... what, do you think? Should we, add, a picture? Have not, deleted, other two messages, yet. But, can. Seems, there is little security, on this, pad."

Probably was better to remove the other two logs, but then, I kind of wanted to leave them for context. The picture idea, meanwhile, was just a bit silly, but I couldn't help a silly look to appear on my face, hidden behind the helmet as it may have been, at the idea of someone seeing our odd duo, with one thin woman and one with excessively oversized female features, looking back at them.

Last edit: 20 Jul 2024, 4:06pm
Haraldsen
20 Jul 2024, 4:29pm
“I really love that… couldn’t have found better words for it myself. And that bit with the photo, that’s just the icing on the cake,” I chuckled, leaning back with a mischievous grin. “It’s like peeing in someone’s garden to mark your territory… count me in.”

“As for those two logs, I’ll leave that to you. Personally, I don’t care if they get wiped out, but if you think they’re worth keeping, that’s fine by me.”
Kasumi Goto
20 Jul 2024, 5:01pm
"Well, then... let's." I inspected the data pad, looking for a camera lens on it.

"Now, does, this... ah, there. We should, put this, on a crate. At, face level, or at least chest. And, I would like, to keep, the other logs. For, a... little, bit, of context."

I found a suitable crate and set a two minute timer on the device once placed correctly, leaned against another, taller container, so that we had plenty of time to figure out the pose, and correct position. Taking a second shot was always an option, if the first one wasn't good, anyway. But I already had something in mind, so I moved back to where - hopefully - I'd be in the shot fully. I leaned to the side, as if to highlight the outward curve from the waist to the knee there, and placed the right hand on the hip, one leg slightly forward, and the left hand raised, pointer and middle finger out, the rest in the fist position, as if taking a holiday photo. Couldn't help but grin to myself at the sight I would present, even if I looked totally serious on the picture, thanks to my helmet.

"Smile!"
Haraldsen
20 Jul 2024, 6:36pm
As my companion struck yet another over-the-top pose, I could barely keep from bursting into laughter. But since you gotta keep up appearances, I straightened up, trying to look halfway serious, though the smirk tugging at my lips probably gave me away.

Kasumi gave the signal, and I turned to the camera, flashing a grin that hopefully didn't look too idiotic. After all, we were the ones who had interfered here, someone to be reckoned with, and perhaps we should act a bit like it.
Kasumi Goto
20 Jul 2024, 6:49pm
The camera flashed, signifying that the picture had been taken. I dropped the pose, and went over to snatch the pad. The result was... good enough, maybe, and would probably have the intended effect on someone unsuspecting getting faced with that big, curvy figure, and the more 'normal' one next to it.

"I, think, it looks, good. You? And, we, probably, should leave, now. Been here, long enough."

I'd place the pad over on a crate again once the picture viewing was complete, with the worn plaque and the data chip, and a bit of extra charge so it would certainly still have power left by the time someone came by, in the next few years. Of course, the picture would be 'conveniently' attached to the log entry that I created, so it would be almost impossible to miss it.

Both our ships were here, so it'd be a quick walk, and since we didn't have to be too concerned about a response by this point, could just blast our way out through the minefield. If my companion hadn't already during the trips to dispose of the Helix and NMLA crates. My hope was that the terrorist nut would come by and see the message I'd left. But someone random or weaved into her nonsense would also do, because they would find nothing. And, if the latter, hopefully return to her with that pad.

Last edit: 22 Jul 2024, 1:30pm

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