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.
02 Jul 2024, 11:01pm
"Hm. So, this... Helix, thing, has been going... a few years, already?"

Why am I not surprised...

"This, message, is confusing. Show, the next one. Maybe. It might, make more sense, then."

Because this one was definitely doing my head in a little. I'd thought Azimuth and the Club were in the same bunch, even working together. And what was that nonsense about the Empire?

Darkwater sounded familiar, too, though I wasn't quite sure where from. Part of me just had it related to some kind of incident with the Empire... maybe it was that time the Emperor had been kidnapped and impersonated by a hologram for a long time, until the people behind it were found out. Wasn't quite sure, though, so I kept it to myself for now.
02 Jul 2024, 11:18pm
“Mhm. The whole thing is indeed a bit of a head-scratcher, but Helix and Azimuth got my attention. It looks like we might not be on the wrong track after all, concerning the tip from this… thing. Let’s take a gander at the message that’s been sent out.”

I flicked on the second message on the holo-display.


Agent ID: XTU63061
Date: December 23, 3307
Location: HIP 106288 - Abandoned Janus Corp. Medical Research Centre
To: Imperial Intelligence Command

I have confirmed the presence of the lost Azimuth Biotech cargo. Six hundred and twenty tons of Helix are covertly stored here within the abandoned medical installation, which is all the cargo that went missing just over a month ago. The station is derelict but secure. The way it is secured literally screams Darkwater.

Intel suggests that a high profile NMLA terrorist, a former associate of John Tyburn, is en route to the station to procure the Helix. I have set up an ambush and will apprehend the target upon arrival. This is a high-value opportunity to disrupt their operations and stop the suspected campaign to avenge Tyburn's death before it gains momentum.

The Helix must not fall into NMLA hands. If I fail to report by 0400 hours, dispatch backup.

XTU63061, signing off.
02 Jul 2024, 11:49pm
"Hm. So, maybe, not Azimuth, who continued using, this. Do you think, this agent, succeeded, in their mission?"

Whatever had happened, it'd left the ship sitting here for a few years, unused. Maybe that Helix cache was even still here, untouched, but that was hard to say. I placed my helmet back on my head... after ensuring no further itches demanded the attention of my hands.

"I think, it is time, we go look, inside. Were there, any access codes, in the data?"
03 Jul 2024, 12:13am
"Sounds like the old whispers about the Empire having its spies everywhere might actually hold a sliver of truth, huh? The Federation and the Alliance have long suspected that the Imperials are covertly active in all the key organizations within their territories. But whether that agent managed to complete her mission, who knows?“

The story was old, but at least we seemed to be on the right track regarding Helix - there were even a few details about the facility where all the data should converge as a backup - this could well be the site in an earlier phase of its history, which recently served as offsite storage for Lab 23.

"Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any access code for the station. Nor for the place name in the first message; it’s been encrypted again, on top of the message, making it useless to us for now. But if that agent got in there, we’ll manage it too. Shall we go check if the Helix stuff is still here?"
03 Jul 2024, 12:30am
"Yes. Do not see, what else, we will find here, in this ship. Need to go, look inside."

I put the hacking device back into the pouch it came from, picked up the weapon I'd attached to a wall, and started walking back toward the airlock. Once we were both back out, I'd probably just shut the Courier's systems back down, whatever that'd end up being good for. It wasn't as if I would end up using the ship, in the future. Or the other person mad enough to be doing this with me.
03 Jul 2024, 11:13am
“Alright, let’s get this show on the road,” I said while strapping my weapons back onto my suit. They had been resting on the pilot’s seat while I squeezed through the maintenance shaft to get to the computer. With my gear secured, I followed Kasumi, who was already making her way back to the airlock, ready to ditch this tin can.

As we moved, I couldn’t help but wonder if we’d find the Helix inside the facility. The ship had been here for quite some time, and with no clue why it was abandoned, it was anyone’s guess if the Helix was still aboard the facility. For all I knew, it could’ve been carted off ages ago.

“So there’s Azimuth, cooking up something to wipe out Thargoids, which in this genocidal way is bad enough,” I mused aloud, my voice dripping with disdain. “But humans stealing it to possibly fight other humans? What does that say about our species? I remember the NMLA all too well. Those were dark times, their starport bombings blasted across every newsfeed. Hundreds of thousands dead…” My voice trailed off as I shook my head, the memory still vivid in my mind.
03 Jul 2024, 1:13pm
"I, do not view humans, highly.", I replied, looking over my shoulder, with an occasional gaze forward to ensure my direction.

"They, are responsible, for most, of my... mess. Always, fight each other. And, everything else. Always... violence. And we think, we can rule, the galaxy. But nobody wants, to see us rule. Because, we are idiots. Big, idiots."

That was as much as I had to say on the subject, also not completely unaware that the end of my statement could be viewed as funny, in a... certain way. But at least I was the good kind of idiot.
03 Jul 2024, 3:27pm
"Guess there’s some truth to that. Of course, there are big and small idiots alike,” I quipped with a chuckle.

Every now and then, I caught myself wondering if we’d bitten off more than we could chew. So far, we hadn’t run into any real trouble, but that could change in a heartbeat. Azimuth was already a heavyweight with Black Flight doing their dirty work. Throw in terrorists and the Imperial Intelligence, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for a deadly mess.

“The only silver lining in this whole saga is that Darkwater’s gone. They used to be one of the largest private military forces in the Core Systems until they got taken down. Maybe that’s why no one’s shown up, even though we’ve crossed the minefield.”

By now, we had approached the entrance area of the station, and the lighting around the airlock flared to life, illuminating our path with lit markers on the floor, like a red carpet rolled out just for us.
03 Jul 2024, 3:41pm
"Well, that could mean... less trouble. Whatever we find, in there. If Azimuth is still active... still, do not expect, a friendly welcome."

I followed the path lit up by the airlock markers, almost feeling tempted to add a bit more sway to the hip movement, just because. Or, maybe, because I had someone behind me who quite appreciated these curves.

Of course, I knew this body would likely not be one to grace any kind of catwalk. Both due to its ridiculous nature, and just the fact that I wouldn't ever want to set foot on one. Instead, I pulled out my rifle, and trained it on the airlock, with appropriate firing posture - wasn't necessarily expecting anybody there, but it didn't hurt to be careful.

"Go, on. Open it."

If it didn't just open up right as someone stepped up to it.
03 Jul 2024, 5:09pm
I shadowed my counterpart, who was tracing the illuminated markers on the floor, until she halted in front of the airlock, rifle at the ready.

Then, I breezed past her and approached the airlock, whose outer door began to slide open at my approach, while the inner one remained sealed tight. Standard procedure, sure, but it still sent a shiver down my spine. Once we were inside that chamber and the outer door clamped shut, we’d be like rats in a trap.

I ran a quick life-sign scan, just to be safe - nothing. Then I slipped into the lock chamber, where I also detected nothing out of the ordinary, and flashed my counterpart a thumbs-up with an outstretched arm.

So far, so good.
03 Jul 2024, 6:36pm
"One at, a time, maybe?"

That thought found its way to my mouth before I had any time to reflect on it, and I quickly decided against it.

"... never mind."

I quickly stepped into the airlock myself, my reasons for thinking of not being crammed into there as two people... not being very good ones, objectively. Because this particular one was clearly a personnel or visitor entrance, not one for cargo, and... already wouldn't have offered much room to dodge with two regularly sized individuals. When I covered enough space for two or even three, I certainly wasn't going to dodge any bullets. Or explosives, for that matter, in this here airlock.

"If, a grenade, flies in, do kick it out, please."

I triggered my shield as precaution, but, not actually really worried - if anyone had been aware of our presence, it seemed somewhat doubtful that we would've even gotten this close, in the first place.

Though I still didn't want to meet any explosives once that inner door was open.
03 Jul 2024, 7:44pm
After my partner joined me in the airlock chamber, it wasn't long before the outer door shut, and a button nearby flashed green. The pictograms next to it hinted that this was the key to the station's inner sanctum.

I pressed the button and the outer door locked with heavy bolts. We watched as they slid into place, a ballet of steel and precision. Then, a weight pressed down on me, a gust of air from above, no doubt cooking up an atmosphere fit for breathing. Moments later, the clank of the inner door's bolts retracting sang the prelude to its opening.

This, I reckoned, was the do-or-die moment. If I were to ambush a foe, I'd lurk beyond that door, guns blazing as soon as it yawned open, catching any poor soul in the airlock unawares and unprotected.

I flicked a glance at Kasumi, signaling to stay sharp, and trained my own gun on the inner door, dropping to one knee. I was tense as a spring, ready to strike the moment the door swung open. I sincerely hoped that we would not make the acquaintance of a grenade...

"Watch out! The door is about to open. Three-two-one..."
03 Jul 2024, 7:56pm
And... nothing. Or nothing obvious, anyway. No turrets, no squad of soldiers all waiting to open fire, just an empty corridor. The only thing missing was a cliché tumbleweed moving sideways across the view. If there were traps... disguised well enough to not be visible by the naked eye.

I relaxed my stance and lowered my rifle, placing my legs back closer together - as close as they wanted to go, at least. And just the moment before, I'd thought to myself that maybe my odd figure would confuse any opponent on the other side, long enough for me to take one or two out before their reflexes kicked in.

"Well, that, was... the most anticlimactic opening.", I remarked in a semi-joking tone. "This, seems... a little, too easy. Do they, just want us, to stumble in?"

Wouldn't turn off the shield just yet, though. Sure, it drained battery like nothing else, but I had a few backup recharges. And, if we were lucky, there'd be a recharge point or two here and there, within the installation itself.
03 Jul 2024, 8:31pm
I hoisted myself back onto my feet and sauntered a few steps into the corridor, my grip on my weapon still tight and ready.

"Depends on how you look at it. I'd rather deal with a bit of boredom than holes in my gut... but hey, look on the bright side, you might snag one of those fancy imperial medal thingies... I think they call 'em the Heart of Achenar... and maybe with very little effort," I quipped with a wide grin.

The corridor was broad and empty. In days gone by, staff might have welcomed visitors here, there were waist-high, rectangular fixtures on the walls, with sad remnants of what used to be plants. I also spotted a seating area close to a wall. Without any hustle and bustle, the deserted corridor, bathed in cold light, seemed oversized and eerie.

A bit further down the way was a crossroads. Signs hanging from the ceiling pointed to various destinations. "Registration", "Administration", "Visitor Area" they read. Right hand, a light must've been on the fritz, its flickering glow spilling into the corridor.

"You coming? Or you planning to just stand in the airlock all day?"
03 Jul 2024, 8:39pm
"No, no. Coming."

I strolled in after her, keeping the rifle in my hands but lowered. Better to have it at the ready like that than not.

"I can, do without that medal, though. Do not need it... do not, want it. Especially not, from Imperials."

Because I had very little interest in any of their dealings. For the most part, I'd only seen trouble caused by them. Or complete nonsense like slavery, of all things, over a millennium after it had been abolished on Earth.

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