Five Alive

Present:

• Buzz "Cut". Solomani Soldier from Seven – Shane
• Dr Detlef Knodel. Sword-Worlder Scientist from Seven – Darryl
• Stella Cauthon. Solomani Rogue from Seven - Richard
• Anton Tositova. Solomani Gunner from Entrope - Ian
• Sang "Spanner" Hoang. Sword-Worlder Mechanic from Winston – Jeff
• MARMALADING Hoff Ende. Sword-Worlder Scientist from Winston - Kevin
• MARMALADING Heidi Vasovagal. Solomani Scientist from Seven - Steven
• Itzy Ende. Sword-Worlder Soldier from Winston - Chris
• Jon "Crash" Straker. Solomani Pilot from Seven – Jamie
• NPC: Scurry. Drone Gunner from Winston

Itzy Ende recovering

Itzy, Sang and Anton slowly wake up in the Cauthon Institute's "hospital" feeling somewhat worse for wear and with the harsh realization dawning upon them that Riley (their pilot), Gnostic (their navigator), Belle (their medic), Stasi (their best soldier) and Pi (well he was new) were gone.

Tears fell down their cheeks but were quickly replaced by the reality that they quickly needed a new crew. (Pragmatism always outlasted emotion in this group).

All three were also acutely aware of an uneasy feeling in their very being. Anton, in his groin, as his small and inadequate member was being replaced by a large mushroom growth that leaked acid. Sang had tingling feelings that came and went while Itzy could hear every minute noise. These were unnatural occurrences and were causing them all unease.

Hoff meanwhile mumbled into his marmalade.

Dr Knodel

Dr Gilbert seemed to oversee the hospital, and he had alongside him a small greying man with a goatee and an annoying accent.

"I am Dr Knodel" Dr Gilbert's companion advised. " I vill be experimenting … ahhh taking care of you and I vill twavel wiff you – I am a scientist"

[New party member 1 introduced – Darryl's Dr Detlef Knodel]

"We need a pilot: croaked Itzy "and someone who can navigate."

"We have just the team" advised Dr Gilbert and soon after, ushers in a stunning young woman who they soon learn has the name Stella Cauthon. 

Stella Cauthon

She claimed to be the niece of the founder of the Cauthon Institute and has inherited substantial wealth. She is a diplomat and a trader and quickly advised a drooling Itzy and Anton that she will be travelling with them.

[New party member 2 introduced – Richard's Stella Cauthon.]

"But we still need a navigator and pilot," said Itzy again.

"I can navigate darling," Sella states gently. Itzy nods, drooling. [Stella has an appearance of 17] "And I have a pilot and bodyguard too – let me introduce them"

Jon "Crash" Straker

Two men come into the room and introduce themselves as Buzz "Cut" the soldier and Crash, the pilot. 

[New party members 3 & 4 introduced – Jamie's Crash and Shane's Buzz.]

"Why are you called Crash?" askes Anton hesitantly.

"Best not ask" Stella interjected "He has a habit of … well … you know … flying recklessly".

"So, what is your destination?" Dr Gilbert asked.

Buzz Cut

"We are employees of the X-boat Corporation out of Entrope working for Sydney Walsh, and need to deliver X-boat mochilas to first Arcadia and then Garda Villis and finally return to Entropy" 

"You are a long vay from home," remarked Dr Knodel.

"Indeed – thanks to a navigational mishap from our dearly deceased friend Gnostic" replied Anton.

After a week, the three injured survivors were fit to travel. 

Heidi Vasovagal

During that time, Dr Gilbert found another scientist to assist Dr Knodel's genetic work. She was Heidi Vasovagal, a recent graduate. [Steven's new party member]

We also had a new ship which had been a part of the negotiations with the Cauthon Institute. It was a 450 tonne Imperium Pathfinder class Corvette. It had a Jump-3 drive, 6G grav-drive with inertial dampeners, eight state rooms, one mess, kitchen, sick bay, laboratory, four hard points for weapons, and a 40-tonne hold. 

In addition to that Stella had her own personal two-man shuttle – The Pickle. The Lost Crown would be sent back to Entropy whilst the 20-tonne Pickle could fit in to the new ship's hold together with our air raft and other gear.

"You need to name your ship," said Dr Gilbert.

Various names were proposed but we landed on The Cauthon by majority vote. The ship came with a crew of three, all Cauthon Institute fellows: Wayne Belly – a Michelin star chef, Rudy Brobel technician, and Danny Broomhold – an appearance of 17 and Stella's "bit on the side without the need for emotional connection" and valet.

The Cauthon has eight state rooms and they are assigned to :

1. Dr Knodel also doubling as his lab and aid station.
2. Stella
3. Buzz and Crash
4. Sang and Heidi
5. Hoff and Itzy
6. Anton
7. Danny
8. Wayne & Rudy

We now successfully jump to Imperium system Arcadia and then to Garda Villis. At each location we deliver the mochilas and stay in luxury 5-star hotels funded and insisted upon by Stella.

Neither location was particularly interesting however the week-long jumps were event filled.

It becomes very clear that Anton, Sang and Itzy have different genetic and cellular make up. 

Different from each other and different from us "normal folks".

Dr Knodel 

As noted earlier, Anton's groin has a large mushroom growth that leaks formic acid. Sang had tingling feelings that come and go while Itzy could hear every minute noise.

Dr Knodel is very interested and takes samples spending days with his microscope glued to his eye. 

However, he is most interested in Sang. From time to time her arm and indeed her whole body disappears – a phenomenon known as transparency. This state is disrupted when touched by a 3rd party and visibility is reestablished.

This was very frustrating for Knodel as every time he tried to take a blood sample or investigate the invisible state, Sang would reappear.

Despite Knodel's frustration and Sang's bewilderment we leave Garda Villis for Entropy. This would necessitate a jump to Margesi and then a jump to Entropy. The alternative was a jump to Zeta 2 and then to Entropy. Zeta 2 was a restricted military planet however had a Cauthon Institute and so was the preferred route. 

We arrive at Zeta 2 after a further week of Knodel experimentation (may I say to no avail). This system had a bunch of military ships in orbit around the major space port: several destroyers, a heavy cruiser, and a five corvettes.

"Now do as we are told," warns Stella.

We dock and are quickly boarded by soldiers who command us to lie on the deck. Stella talks to them (she is very persuasive and attractive) and the party are taken to the surface of the planet to the "Cauthon Institute" which was a large unused warehouse with several bunks and kitchen facilities – a military facility.

"This is unoccupied – what has happened to the Institute?" politely asks Stella. 

"Stay here miss" one of the soldiers says while ogling her and goes and gets his superior Major Morgan.

Morgan seems a very reasonable man and advises the Institute was closed due to illegal activity. He was not prepared to elaborate but after much discussion was prepared to allow the Institute to restart and for one member of the team to be left.

"I have just the person" said Stella glancing across at Knodel.

We asked for the Cauthon records however the Major was unwilling to provide the documented copies but was prepared to send them electronically albeit that would take a week or so.

We agreed he would send them to our ship.

Time to go to Entropy we all agreed deciding to leave Rudy (not Knodel) as the Cauthon representative.

"What a nice helpful man Major Morgan was" mused Stella as they started their navigational processes and readied for the jump.