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 9

Previous reports: Turn 8 Turn 7 Turn 6 Turn 5 Turn 4 Turn 3 Turn 2 Turn 1 Start-up

Sections: Report, Corporations Table, Press, GM Notes, Star map (separate page) PDF map (22k)

    “What’s going on?”
Behind the fixed grin, the controller of ARCHANGEL LINES, commonly known as GOD behind his back, was fuming.
    “It’s the ships, sir.”
    “An abnormal amount have failed their Hyperjumps, sir.”
They were aware of his rages, the ‘Wrath of God’.
    “That’s another wipe out of our profits for a Quarter – it’s almost like there was a demon out there.”
His staff politely remained silent, leaving the thought hanging in the air.

The main event this Quarter was the disruption of the ether, with the attendant problems in Hyperjumping that affected many Corporations’ plans.

At Beta Hydri MONOGRAM sold 5 Monopoles on Contract and a further 6 using Agent Crip. HOUSTON FEARLESS sold 4 Isotopes for 7 HTs each.

HOUSTON FEARLESS tried to sell Monopoles at Sigma Draconis, but its ship failed its jump. MONOGRAM did buy one Alloy, but its warehouse was full and there was no ship in the Spaceport, so it was junked.

MONOGRAM brought 20 Monopoles for 14 HTs each at Mu Herculis and was made a Dealer.

Tau Ceti saw HOUSTON FEARLESS selling 3 Alloys for 11 HTs each.

Epsilon Eridani saw GATES-LEARJET selling 2 Alloys for 10 HTs apiece, outbidding MONOGRAM, though MONOGRAM did sell 5 Monopoles on Contract. HOUSTON FEARLESS sold 5 Isotopes on Contract as well.

Finally at Gamma Leporis, MONOGRAM brought 2 Alloys for 1 HT each.

ARCHANGEL LINES took another hammering as some of its fleet failed their Hyperjumps, limping back into port and unable to carry out any other tasks this quarter. It was also time to repay their loan, but HOUSTON FEARLESS lent them 72 HTs to allow them to do this. ARCHANGEL immediately took out a 600 HT loan, repaid HOUSTON FEARLESS and starting buying yet more ships. A new Zadkiel, Phoenix Hull with B crew and 4 Passenger pods, was laid down at Epsilon Eridani. Azazel with 2 Passenger Pods was laid down at Beta Hydri. Asmodai was laid down at Tau Ceti, a bare Phoenix Hull, at which point the money ran out!

EON FLASHCORP took OP 3 at Tau Ceti and increased their Criminal Connections.

HOUSTON FEARLESS bought new warehouses at Epsilon Eridani and Beta Hydri and made the loan previously mentioned to ARCHANGEL LINES.

GATES-LEARJET increased their Criminal Connections to 6.

MONOGRAM INDUSTRIES sold all their Monopole Factories and a Warehouse at Mu Herculis and repaid their loan to the Federal Banks.

McRADIE’S CREW sold the Natasha at Mu Herculis for 110% of list price, tried to take OP 3 and increased their Criminal Connections to 10.

And the violent explosion at Sigma Draconis that wrecked GATES-LEARJET’s Isotope Factory? No explanation. The works will be closed for 3 Quarters.

Corporations Table

Corporation letter & name		Conn'n Levels Bus/Crim/Pol			Init Bid	Turn Order	Cash	Rep'n	Player
A	Archangel Lines	4	0	2	0	6th	105	40	Jerry Elsmore
B	Eon Flashcorp	6	9	9	21	1st	378	37	Paul Evans
D	Gates-Learjet	9	6	4	0	3rd	117	28	Dominic Howlett
E	McRadie’s Crew	5	10	0	0	5th	369	0	Martin Jennings
F	Monogram Industries	10	0	7	1+5	4th	744	40	Michael Martinkat
G	Houston Fearless	10	0	5	20	2nd	501	40	Przemyslaw Orwat
H	GamLepCo	5	0	4	N	7th	139	26	Gina Teh
'N' under Initiative Bid indicates No Move Received; ‘F’ indicates the Corp was floated

Press

Dear McRadie and your Crew,
Congratulations on persuading Houston Fearless to contribute to your protection racket and for the price you achieved for Zadkiel. We do not consider the destruction of Beta Strike to be a fair exchange for the loss of Zadkiel, but it may be sufficient compensation to allow us to reach a solution to our present predicament. An eye for an eye and all that implies. We have a simple Proposal. Leave Archangel Lines alone and Archangel Lines will leave you alone.

GM Notes

Event 1 took place, with a reduction in Hyperjump chances.

Eon Flashcorp took OP 3.

There are no new News chits:
Turn 10 C5, B4
Turn 11 C6