Here it IS! The long-awaited return of the MT PBEM.
Turn 10.1
(I'm calling this season 10, I guess just to be binary.)
====================================
Nishu Neriika, navigator and second in command of the Transport team,
raises his head from the smooth surface of his console and looks
around at the mess that the jumpspace-entry party has left of the
Alcyon's bridge. He seems to be alone - at least, no one else is
stirring yet.
Groaning, he stands. One foot crushes the few Cheezies left in the
crumpled bag lying on the deck. The undulating gray of jumpspace,
visible through the forward windows, does unpleasant things to his
stomach until he turns away.
"Yo! Anyone else on watch here?"
There are a few moments of dead silence.
The Alcyon's ship-wide intercom blares to life (and way too loud for many
of the party-goers) with a really horrible trumpet fanfare, followed by
this announcement:
"Bishop to crew. For those of you that missed to party last night,
and for those of you that attended but don't remember any of it, I'm
done splicing and dubbing. We'll be showing 'The Imperium's Funniest
Home Videos' in the crew lounge at 1400 hours. Be there to defend your
honor. And for those of you that don't believe it, 'Vouf really can
play that thing. I have proof on tape. That is all."
The noxious blarings of Bishop's trumpet fanfare slowly drift into silence.
After a decent pause (out of respect for the party casualties), the shipwide
communicator is again activated, but now at a more tolerable volume level.
"Doctor Van Der Merwe speaking. SynthaholFlush (tm) tablets are now available
at the Alcyon medic station and the main medical facilities aboard the Aurora.
TAKE ONLY ONE with plenty of fluid. Physical and mental disabilities will be
cured within 15 minutes. Any additional mental problems are caused by reality
and are thus your problems.
Suggestions for Mr. Bishop's next physical examination will be accepted from
the party casualties on a volunteer basis. The person with the most creative
entry wins a stylish "INS SUCKS" button in several galactic languages. That
is all."
The various personal commdots and transmitters that the persons in the
engineering department are(?) wearing suddenly (and loudly, those who were at
The party probably think) beeps and comes alive:
"Ehhh, good morning. Johann here. I assume that everyone is awake and
at least slightly mentally present. If you arn't, call me.... Eh no, those who
*are* present, call me <slight pause with the sound of something running>
keep away from my anti-hangover pills, bit! NO! put it down now! come back
here you bloody rat!.... <the transmission ends>"
<click!>
Awwwwwright! (damn that hurts!) Just becuase we had a great time
last night don't mean we gotta skimp on the physical fitness! PT
happens on the 'Talisman's cargo deck in 5 minutes!
<click>
Seemingly, only half the crew have managed to awaken. Those who made
it through morning PT, with the help of one of the engineering robots,
put all the rest in their cabins. The doctor places medical sensors
on each in turn, and the doors are locked. (now, if you wake up you
have to call the GM, the doctor, and the CO before you can go on duty.)
A final announcement before duties/play resume:
<click> (why do they still click after all these centuries?)
You all, of course, still remember the lilting harmony of your
beloved Captain's Darrian accent:
"All hands not actually on duty muster in the recreation area
at 14:00 hours. All hands to muster at 14:00 hours. Department
heads perform equipment and personnel checks and report to
me on the Bridge by 12:00 hours. That is all."
(and somebody fix that click - Richard :-)
<click>
At 1400 hours, Doc Werner wanders the corridors seemingly lost. No,
make that LOST. At 1410 he still hasn't found the crew quarters and
is about to give it up and head back to his 4 dimensional communications
relay compensation simulation. At 1420, unable to find his quarters,
Doc Werner walks into the darkened crew lounge unaware that he's standing
right in the middle of the holo projection. He is at once happy to have
found his fellow crewman and baffled about their apparent irritation with
him...
[end of turn 10.1]
- --
Richard