This opens a novella, which is also the opening for a play test module for the RPG. right now it looks like we have two novellas in the works for the Spacefold Cowboys universe, as well as the game itself. Happy reading, and thanks for all your support....Jesse
P.S. - Glossary term: STO is short for surface to orbit, which could be anything from a combat drop-ship to a civilian heavy weight cargo shuttle. Since most ships can't, or at least shouldn't land, this is how most folks get from planet to ship, and vice versa.
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The Tramp Hauler Glory Days was pulling into orbit. It had been a long ride but her captain, Richard Higgins, hoped it would be a profitable run.
Parzifal was a new colony, set to receive it’s fifth colony train any month now. Most of the people down there were volunteers, a lot of them from Proxima or Sol. Hopefuls who wanted a new life on the frontier, romantics who believed in a brave new world, and the down trodden who were trying their luck on what many viewed as life last chance.
Richard thought of them as customers. He’d be flying the Glory Days since he bought her back in 2370. He bought the ship to exploit a UN subsidy that provided captains that flew to un-serviced or under serviced colonies with capital to purchase saleable cargo. The subsidy also guaranteed a certain buy-back of trade goods he took home in lieu of cash. A lot of colonists were cash poor, but would have substantial crops of food, tobacco, and possibly some raw gold or silver ore.
There were only about 100,000 people down there right now, but no trade or naval vessel had been out here in over a year. Richard has bought the data load from the last colony ship, which had returned with reports of nasty problems with the local wild life.
Parzifal was not a terraformed world; it had not needed it. While still low on water, the planet had a livable temperature, breathable air, and plenty of sunshine. Parzifal also had advanced life. The 20 year study had not found anything smarter than a dog, however, so the green light for colonization had gone up. The oxygen levels were high, and the gravity was about earth normal, .9 g. It was safe to eat the local beasties and plants, though they were rather different in form than most Earth life.
Richard had a good haul to sell, his vessel set up like a traveling shopping mall. Richard had everything a growing colony might need. His main cargo was skin suits, the all purpose undergarment that were comfortable at any temperature between 0 and 45 degrees centigrade. He also had moisture collectors, the big ones farmers use to collect atmospheric water for their crops. Throw in a smattering of vehicles, solar panels,V-engines, water and geothermal turbines to round it off.
Data updates from Earth and Proxima he brought for free. Richard always tried to cultivate good will at new colonies, and shared news with anyone who asked. Sure, he brought a few messages that folks had paid him to bring to family members and the like. He took pride in charging very little for those messages.
With the wildlife troubles, he hoped to sell his entire stock of guns and body armor at a premium. Most colonies had a few folks who could make their own, but Richard had some pretty high-end toys, and reloading gear as well. He knew that fear was a powerful sales tool, and he hoped to make out well on this haul.
Jenny, his first mate, looked up from her station. The pilot console was in the center of the bridge, occluded by displays on all sides, creating a virtual environment. The pilot was able to quickly see anything the ships sensors could. As she "looked up" from her work, the screens around her became translucent, signaling Richard that she had finished her work.
“Rich, we have a good orbit laid in. We’ll be in real-time hailing distance in an hour.” She looked smug. She was better than most and jump calculations, and had saved a days flight time landing their jump as close to the planets gravity threshold as possible.
“Nice work Jen, why don’t we check on the boys? I want the STO packed and ready to go as soon as possible. I hear they have natural hot springs down there, and a little R&R will do us all some good….” Richard smiled. His crew had not seen dirt on their boots in nearly a year, and were going a little stir-crazy in the limited confines of the ship.
“Never fear Cap’n” she smiled back, “I think Trace has been texting my com about every ten minutes, asking when he can launch.” Jen shook her head. Trace, their STO pilot, was descended from Greyhound parents. They little bastard had run out of his calming meds two weeks ago, and was getting on every ones nerves. Being of Greyhound stock he was filled with energy, so much that two hours a day of wind sprints in the cargo hold did little to keep him calm.
“Let’s hope the locals can handle him” Richard said as he and Jen left the bridge, “He might want to end the wildlife problems himself.” They both had a friendly laugh as they headed to the ships commons.
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