h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*The Officer's Mess is the private dining area for the Officer cadre. It is currently empty, and food is not being served due to the Pirate attack. It also serves as an emergency rally point should an assault force be needed to repel boarders.*

*The captain seats himself in the chair nearest the door, and decides to risk the salmon dish.*

#Gregg comes in, sits down and giving the captin at surly greeting and tucks in#

[Nibel] I've been given a very interesting report by a Patrol group ahead of us... mentions a Starship Graveyard, millenia old, apparantly. They've dropped Signal Markers. Class II. That's pretty high priority... What bothers me is we haven't had any further contact with them. Three Sword class Frigates don't just disappear...

[Gregg]What types of ship are there?

[Nibel] Mostly Cruiser class, some bigger, some smaller.

[Gregg]Mainly bigger than we are then...

Sound like the pirates have there base hidden around the graveyard. Oldest trick in the book. They hide in the hulls of larger ships and ambush anyone heading in there.

[Nibel] I'd appreciate imput from my Officers. There are great risks, yes, but perhaps great gains as well. Is it worth the risk?

[Gregg]It we can get any to run or tow any back it is

Do we have any long range probes? If not we should send in some fighters on a recon mission. When we know what were dealing with we should go in there.

Nerd42 explains his opinion, after saying he's always ready to do whatever the Captain orders, but given his way:

"As an adventurous kind of person, about the pirate thing, I'd have to say "CHARGE!"

But as Chief Engineer, well, I have slightly different priorities. I want two other things first:

1. Improvements in Engineering. I didn't like how slowly our engines preformed during the pirate attack. I think this problem needs to be solved before we go try anything else. When the Engineers get back from salvaging, I want them to have a little time to work in there.
2. Pizza. It is the Best Food In The Universe, and You Oughtta Be Able To Get It Here Same As At Olive Garden.

The first one is seriously important, but the second is only because I'm

After all that's said, would we be likely to find any new technologies there that I could take advantage of?"

Nerd42, after saying all this, scarfs down that trout thing.

Nerd42

"By the way, this is the Officers PRIVATE Mess? Like, we couldn't invite any strange alien leader guests we might meet in here to dine with us? Or should I not be here.... maybe I'm being rude. I'm terribly bad at personal relationships."
Nerd42

[Nibel] Yes, you're allowed to be here Nerd42. As for your plan, Bob, I like it. Take a Fury squadron and investigate.

[Nerd42] Yay!
Nerd42

Hey wargamer, I dunno if this is the place, but I see you're online. I'm ready to play at this for four hours, then I'm signing off for the weekend, I'm going camping. I'll be back monday.

How do you handle things if your officers aren't online for, like, a month? Does the whole simulation speed (how fast stuff like the pirate attack happens) slow down? Or is the ship vulnerable?

Also, if we still have people wanting to play when all the officer slots are filled, a "Ship's Cook" position for somebody who doesn't wanna have much responsability occurs to me.

Nerd42

When I'm not here, the Officer of the Watch is in charge. When he's not here, the next highest rank (eg: you) takes charge, then any Lt. Commander, then a Lieutenant.

Ah, have you seen what I said in Engineering?

Also, could we get moving onto that ship graveyard?
Nerd42

Well if you got the engines working maybe we could...

OK! here I go!
Nerd42