The Voyage of the Joyous Venture

Part 2

Isn't our ship fast; don't point that particle beam weapon at me; my auntie is a lizard

Following Days

The first jump to Quinyan is eventless (apart from Miho's space sickness). Quinyan is empty and Komiko orders an in-system jump to the gravity well.

October 11th

Komiko is noticeably nervous during the jump to Van Maanen's star where Kurita vessels can be expected. The Joyous Venture arrives in the afternoon.

Antonio immediately spots the vapour trails of two ships. Komiko orders that the plasma drive rather than the in system jump be used to travel to the gravity well. The ships are both Kurita merchant ships - the first leaves the system almost immediately, the second is about 2 days ahead of the Joyous Venture in the refuelling cycle.

Hydrogen is also replenished at the local Kurita station. Credit has been arranged - the crew note that this must have taken place in advance of the adultery which is supposed to be the reason for Komiko's trip.

October 18th

The Joyous Venture jumps to the DM+4 123 system. Komiko is very tense and insists on a place on the bridge. Beyond suggesting she intends to suggest that Trilon will trade with the Bheekhu she appears to have no specific plans or contingencies for contacting them - or at least none she is prepared to share with the crew.

On arrival the crew observe a nest of ships in orbit around the Bheekhu homeworld and a couple around the Hau homeworld.

2 hours in to the system they are challenged by the Kurita Mustafa Krantz, a standard commercial vessel fitted with plasma cannon and used as a police cutter. A ship leaves Bheekhu and sets out on an intercept course. Its speed is consistent with an intention to engage in missile combat but not to fly alongside. Komiko orders an in system jump to arrive close to the Bheekhu homeworld. She gives no hint as to her plans for when they arrive there.

There are about a dozen ships around the Bheekhu homeworld. A couple are flying inefficiently and are presumed to be Bheekhu.

The Joyous Venture is hailed by the Kurita Harriet Upjohn and ordered to 'heave to and surrender'. When the Joyous Venture fails to respond she is probed and sensor locked. The sensor lock is traced to the Kurita Shinzu, a purpose build warship. Antonio engages in range gate velocity pull off (removing the sensor lock) - he will not be able to keep this up for long.

Andi Moran tries to contact the Bheekhu homeworld but radio signals are being jammed. She manages to patch through a laser contact instead. Robert contacts the Bheekhu and identifies the Joyous Venture as a Trilon ship seeking trade. They are given permission to dock at the orbital station and the Bheekhu ships fly interference between the Joyous Venture and the Kurita ships, although it is clear that this would be pretty ineffectual if the Kurita ships really wanted to get rid of the Joyous Venture. After 15 minutes the sensor lock goes.

Robert's contact is Arg'kre Ing'shrr (the first name is a personal name and the second indicates rank - in this case a member of the government responsible for trade). It is she who will meet them. It is agreed that all the crew will wear the standard armoured overalls (without the armour plates) to increase their anonymity in front of the Bheekhu and emphasize Komiko's status as matriarch. Sangiv and Antonio are armed with large visible weaponry. Andi takes a pistol. It is agreed that they will travel with Komiko in the centre, Sangiv and Antonio in front, Andi and Robert either side of her and Miho behind her.

They are met by Bheekhu guards wearing plastic armour. When they meet Arg'kre Ing'shrr, her personal guards are in metal armour with halberds. 3 humans - a woman in executive clothing and 2 Kurita security men are also present. This is Kurita envoy Maria Telstar. Arg'kre Ing'shrr is angry with her about the Kurita intervention.

Robert discusses Komiko's desire to see the Holy site with Arg'kre Ing'shrr. The Bheekhu want warp drive and in return might be prepared to try and organise a visit. Robert recalls that the Holy site is considered to be a former residence of the gods and there is a Bheekhu legend which tells how a vaguely Promethean Bheekhu hero stole a fiery drink (Ambrosia) from the vacant residence and this gave the Bheekhu something equivalent in their minds to a soul. Arg'kre Ing'shrr has been planning a visit/pilgrimage to Va'atchi'iktuon for a while and agrees to take the crew of the Joyous Venture with her. In the meantime they are supplied with various Bheekhu holy books and they discuss ways they might make copies of these without offending/being discovered by the Bheekhu.

Arg'kre Ing'shrr devises a plan to take Komiko to Va'atchi'iktuon as a subservient female. This will give her the right to proffer one of her harem in gladiatorial combat which, even if he loses, will give her status within Bheekhu society.

Antonio and Sangiv are the obvious choices. Antonio is better at learning the ritual aspects of the combat and he proves better at second guessing his opponent than Sangiv. Antonio shaves his head to look less prey-like and decides to oil up in preparation.

Perusal of the holy books reveals that the Bheekhu believe the gods came from Heaven/Mount Olympus/Va'atchi'iktuon but the gods have gone from there. In times of crisis heroes can nick things from it: compassion, love, regard, awareness, honour are all attributed to Ambrosia. A travel guide to Va'atchi'iktuon is laid out as a description of a pilgrimage complete with pictures.