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 11

Previous reports: Turn 10 Turn 9 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)

  “Ok, the plan is we both send our ships into System Space to try and catch the pirates.”
  “Ok, but why do I have to jump first?”
  “Because your ship has the best chance of blowing him away.”
  “And if he captures me…”
  “It gets a little bit more difficult.”

After a great deal of discussion, HOUSTON FEARLESS flew their Corco Iota Hull into Gamma Leporis System Space, where MACRADIE’s crew were taken unawares as the first volley of missile fire blew the Spear Hull into fragments. There’s a difference between a fat merchantmen and the armed escorts that HOUSTON and ARCHANGEL both maintain as part of their fleets.

It didn’t stop MACRADIE from a wave of sabotage at Mu Herculis. EON FLASHCORP very nearly lost the Flashman and the Flashbulb, though no link could be proved. However MONOGRAM’s already damaged Big Change chose the wrong moment to dock at Mu Herculis, exploding shortly after arrival. HOUSTON’s Ur-Tin lost all its Cargo pods. MONOGRAM will be grateful that alert security guards at their production facility foiled attacks on the Monopole works. MACRADIE was linked to all four of these attacks.

ARCHANGEL bought warehouses at Sigma Draconis, Mu Herculis and Tau Ceti and attempted to improve its Reputation. It may be that some people are suspicious of their actions last Quarter as their Reputation stalled.

HOUSTON FEARLESS replaced all their damaged and missing Cargo pods, took OP 9 at Gamma Leporis, bought a second Warehouse at Gamma Leporis, re-crewed the Ur-Boron with an A class crew and laid down a new Phoenix Hull at Tau Ceti Shipyards.

MONOGRAM INDUSTRIES added Cargo Pods to its fleet to replace those missing on the single ship it now has left.

EON FLASHCORP shifted the Battle Comm pod to the Flashman, bought new cargo pods, took delivery of their new ship, Flashcard, and reassigned their agents between their ships.

Trading was slack. At Epsilon Eridani HOUSTON FEARLESS tried to sell Isotopes at a price of 8 HTs, but only got rid of one as MONOGRAM sold 8 for 7 HTs each. MONOGRAM gained the Market Managership in Monopoles after selling 6 for 16 HTs apiece. However, MONOGRAM only sold 2 Spice at 17 HTs because HOUSTON got in first, sold 12 and gained a Dealership.

ARCHANGEL broadened their appeal, buying 4 Isotopes for 3 HTs each at Tau Ceti and loading them into the solitary cargo pod each liner carries.

HOUSTON FEARLESS sold 9 Isotopes for 11 HTs apiece at Mu Herculis and then bought 10 Monopoles at 11 HTs, the second deal gaining them a Contractorship. EON FLASHCORP bought 5 more Monopoles on Contract.

Beta Hydri saw the only other trading this Quarter, with HOUSTON selling 4 Isotopes for 1 HT each and ARCHANGEL buying 4 for 4 HTs apiece. Perhaps these two Corporations should cooperate still further…

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	20	2nd	260	32	Jerry Elsmore
B	Eon Flashcorp	7	9	9	0	6th	346	40	Paul Evans
D	Gates-Learjet	9	6	5	0	5th	89	29	Dominic Howlett
E	McRadie’s Crew	5	10	0	0	4th	39	0	Martin Jennings
F	Monogram Industries	10	0	7	5+5	3rd	311	40	Michael Martinkat
G	Houston Fearless	10	0	5	40	1st	508	40	Przemyslaw Orwat
H	GamLepCo	5	0	4	N	7th	129	26	Player wanted
'N' under Initiative Bid indicates No Move Received; ‘F’ indicates the Corp was floated

Press

For Hire: Tender—stop those pesky sabotage attempts—contact McRadie’s for terms.

Nice ships, warehouses, factories and goods you have. As you can see, accidents happen. Want to make sure they are well protected? Contact McRadie’s for your insurance policy.

Your rivals outstripping you in economy? They have better ships? You need an upper hand on them? As others have already done, contact McRadie’s and see what we can do about that.

GM Notes

A replacement player is invited for GamLepCo.

Houston Fearless took OP 9 from Turn 12.

There were no new News chits this turn (in bold):
Turn 12 C8
Turn 13 B2