Odessa StepsThis is a postal (or PBM) game of Star Trader run by Mike Dommett and published in my postal games 'zine, To Win Just Once. Below is the turn 9 report, as published in TWJO 41 (February 2004). Follow the link for an introduction to Star Trader. Sections: Report, Corporations Table, Press, News, GM Notes, Star map (separate page) Previous reports: Turn 8 Turn 7 Turn 6 Turn 5 Turn 4 Turn 3 Turn 2 Turn 1 Start-up Turn 9
"You find yourselves before us again, accused of repeated acts of violence against others. How do you plead?"
They had expected worse and, after a brief discussion, indicated that they would not be appealing the decision. The political fallout would be the biggest problem, as supporters would distance themselves and that influence would cost a lot to recreate. Trading at Gamma Leporis didn't happen. INTERSTELLAR METALS bid 2 but the price didn't drop that far, and TRANS SOLAR TRADING INC's intervention levels weren't reached. Epsilon Eridani saw IM selling 11 Isotopes for 4 HTs each and gaining a Dealership. Another Dealership came their way selling 10 Spice for 14, shutting out THE UNIVERSAL and SWISS MERCENARY's bids of 15. A welcome rise in the price of Isotopes at Delta Toucanis benefited KATKORP, selling 5 on contracts, and IM, selling 6 with the aid of Percent. IM bought 5 Petroleum on Contract as THE UNIVERSAL sold 2 at 5 HTs apiece. THE UNIVERSAL was trying to buy Spice on Contract, but decided that the price hadn't dropped enough and stood back. THE CULTURE sold 6 Alloys for 7 HTs each at Tau Ceti, and TSTI sold 5 more at the same price. The KATKORP bought Isotopes - 8 at a price of 10 HTs and the Market Managership - but INTERSTELLAR METALS sold all of their stocks at 5 HTs and BLAND & BRASS sold 4 more at the same price. TAU CETI XPRESS sold 5 on contracts at the closing price of 5, the price at which KATKORP sold a proportion of its factories. THE CULTURE and THE UNIVERSAL failed to sell Isotopes at Mu Herculis with the price falling below bids of 3 and 4 respectively. TOTAL TRANSIT 2070 sold 5 Liquor on Contracts. SWISS MERCENARY FLEET sold 8 Monopoles for a price of 10 HTs and gained a Contractorship. THE CULTURE sold 2 Petroleum for 11 HTs each - IM sold 3 more on Contract. THE CULTURE was busy at Sigma Draconis, buying 4 Petroleum for 10 HTs apiece and 3 Isotopes for 2 HTs each. INTERSTELLAR METALS bought 5 on Contract. BLAND & BRASS sold 2 Monopoles for 18 HTs apiece, then bought 10 Spice at a price of 12 HTs and gained a Dealership. SWISS MERCENARY sold 6 Spice for 7 HTs each and THE CULTURE bought 3 at 11 HTs, leaving the price higher than at the start of the quarter. THE CULTURE failed to sell Monopoles at Alpha Centauri as their ship mis-jumped. THE UNIVERSAL failed to sell Liquors as they didn't have any at the Spaceport, but KATKORP sold 10 Alloys for 8 HTs each, became a Contractor and froze out bids to sell by TSTI, IM and TT2070 of 8, 9, and 10 respectively. Lastly, at Beta Hydri, KATKORP sold 2 Isotopes for 6 HTs each and 8 Petroleum at a price of 16 HTs. The effect of the virus has downgraded all Corporations crews in the Quadrant. Those who relied on low level crews find themselves with ships unable to jump until new crews are hired. THE CULTURE decided to reduce their fleet, selling Fire and Vibrant Life at Mu Herculis for 130% of list price, and Shylocks and the three former TCX ships at Tau Ceti for a little less than list. They increased Reputation, sold an empty warehouse and repaid their loan. However, the effect of their two sabotage attacks against INTERSTELLAR METALS and KAT CORP reduced their Reputation to zero once again and the Inquiry was not so lenient this time. A fine of 100 HTs was levied, admittedly easily paid, but the effect of the guilty verdict has reduced Political and Business standings a fair bit. KATKORP's Isotopes suffered at Tau Ceti again. Alexis was bought in to expose THE CULTURE's failings and their Reputation suffered only slightly. However more is promised. Agents Fox and Two Gun were acquired from NEKEKAMI. 7 of the Isotope factories at Tau Ceti were sold. An attempt to pay off the loan failed as there were insufficient funds, and expansion was put on ice. TAU CETI XPRESS laid down three new ships: a Phoenix hull and two Corco Iota hulls, all at Tau Ceti Shipyard. Perhaps they didn't contact THE CULTURE, who were selling similar, but used, ships. INTERSTELLAR METALS paid off their loan and immediately took out a 340 HT loan for 4 quarters at 15 HTs a quarter interest. NEKEKAMI sold their remaining asset, their agents, but failed to repay their loan and the Corporation was declared bankrupt. TOTAL TRANSIT 2070 bought a new Monopole Factory at Mu Herculis and replaced their ships crews with A grade crews, apparently the only Corporation to have studied the reports of the virus when it was in its early stages and drawn the pertinent conclusions. BLAND & BRASS sold a warehouse at Tau Ceti. THE UNIVERSAL bought a Warehouse at Alpha Centauri. TRANS SOLAR TRADING bought Cargo and Augmented Jump pods for their new ship, the Hansom, which was rolled out at Alpha Centauri, with an A class crew. And finally, SWISS MERCENARY FLEET bought 2 more Monopole Factories at Mu Herculis. Corporations Table
PressBroadcast to all passengers: Due to continuing extreme circum-stances surrounding Delta Toucanis and Tau Ceti systems, all passengers must take out extra insurance or expect delays in their travel plans. Investors are advised to avoid investing in The Culture as the rapid recent growth is likely to provoke a violent reaction in the market and it is widely rumoured that the Company is heading for a fall. Wow - Culture could have been three ships richer… I was indeed lucky. (8 lives left?) Agent Poum is now available for hire. I thought mindless violence was the whole point of the game!
Financial analysts Rob Burrs and Crookes Inc reacted predictably to the news that Passenger Trade to Tau Ceti had been disrupted days after warning notices had been downgraded.
NewsThere were 4 new News chits this turn.
Current News Chits (new ones in bold):
GM NotesEV 27 reduced everybody's crew levels this turn. Ships without crews cannot Hyperjump the ship this turn. Players must buy new crews. Nekekami Corporation is defunct. Page created 1st March 2004. Last updated 7th June 2004. This website produced by Paul Evans. © Copyright Paul Evans 2004. All trademarks acknowledged. Problems, comments and feedback to the Webmaster. |
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