Pevans
The Cold Equations
This is the fourth postal (PBM/PBeM) game of Star Trader GMed by Mike Dommett and published by Pevans in my postal games 'zine, To Win Just Once. This is the web version of the turn. Follow the link for an introduction to Star Trader.
Turn 4
Previous reports: Turn 3 Turn 2 Turn 1 Start-up
Sections: Report, Corporations Table, Press, GM Notes, Star map (separate page) PDF map (21k)
“So, is this the spot?”
“Yes, Mr McRadie, Sir.”
“Detectors?”
“It looks like it masses correctly – but it’s well hidden in the asteroid cleft.”
“Break out the shuttles, we’re going in. This Dagger could really make us respected.”
Somehow word of the plague outbreak had got round and only GATES LEARJET tried to jump their poorly crewed Monarch Hull, which naturally failed. Angry passengers descended on the flight desks looking for their refunds. It was clear why ARCHANGEL had not taken bookings last Quarter, but it was making up for it this quarter with plenty of Passengers booked for Epsilon Eridani and Tau Ceti. The presumed threat of MCRADIE was addressed by the addition of many Light Weapons Pods to the liners.
ARCHANGEL increased their Business Connections and their Reputation was boosted by a cheap flight policy. The act of laying down another Phoenix Hull at Beta Hydri Shipyards also helped; the Jophiel should launch next quarter, with A class crew and Augmented Jump pods. All of this took money and ARCHANGEL repaid its loan to the Federal Bank and took out a new loan of 456 HTs over 4 Quarters.
MCRADIE was apparently On Planet at Tau Ceti, ignoring all warnings, and took delivery of a Dagger Hull and Arsenal Pod, swapping this for the Heavy Weapons Pod on the Spear Hull. This makes a formidable force to intercept ordinary business men. MCRADIE has already been seen to be making approaches to Corporations to pay him protection money. No one would comment when we approached the more legal Businesses.
MONOGRAM INDUSTRIES had to sell 4 Monopole Factories to repay their loan. They, too, took out a larger loan, for 480 HTs over 4 Quarters. This was used to buy Warehouses at Beta Hydri and Epsilon Eridani, and 5 Monopole Factories at Mu Herculis. Theirs was the only trading this Quarter, when they sold 5 Monopoles on Contract at Mu Herculis
EON FLASHCORP continues to have a cash flow problem. There is little sympathy for them.
Corporations Table
| Corporation letter & name | Conn'n Levels Bus/Crim/Pol |
Init Bid |
Turn Order |
Cash | Rep'n | Player | |||
| A | Archangel Lines | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3rd | 59 | 34 | Jerry Elsmore |
| B | Eon Flashcorp | 4 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2nd | 10 | 27 | Paul Evans |
| D | Gates-Learjet | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 5th | 124 | 27 | Dominic Howlett |
| E | McRadie’s Crew | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4th | 95 | 0 | Martin Jennings |
| F | Monogram Industries | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0+4 | 1st | 156 | 37 | Michael Martinkat |
| G | Houston Fearless | 10 | 0 | 4 | N | 6th | 438 | 31 | Player wanted |
| H | GamLepCo | 4 | 0 | 3 | N | 6th | 98 | 23 | Gina Teh |
| 'N' under Initiative Bid indicates No Move Received; ‘F’ indicates the Corp was floated | |||||||||
GM Notes
Mark Robinson (Houston Fearless) has had to withdraw from the game (his job is taking him abroad a lot), so we have a position for someone else to take over. The game is only just getting going, so there’s plenty to play for. Let Mike or Pevans know if you’re interested.
Gina (GamLepCo) is without a computer or e-mail at the moment. Hopefully she’ll be back with us before long.
There are three new News chits –shown in bold:
Turn 5 C8
Turn 6 B6
Turn 7 B5, P4, C2
Turn 8 P1
B5 means that there is a chit that needs Business Connections of Level 5 to read. You can therefore work out who else can see the chit.