Zhirrzh snarled softly as a slightly intoxicated Vrusk and Dralasite shuffled by, bumping his arm and nearly causing his own drink to fall. A passing apology was offered and the drunken pair disappeared into the streets of Pale. Zhirrzh watched until the door to the cold streets closed.
   "At least they keep their bars warm," Brenon mused as he led the way to one of the tables near the corner of the Stargaze, the lounge at the Hotel they would be staying the next few days. "The quicker we get off of this ice block, the better." He checked his chronocom. An hour and a half until the meeting. Time enough for one drink.
    "It will be good to get away, will it not?" Zhirrzh spoke after a moment. "Think of it, an entire planet at our fingers to discover. A virgin planet, and it will be ours." He grinned. "And Streel, they pay brave adventurers like us well. I think they grow too accustomed to their big desks. Good that they appreciate our hard, laborous work, though."     Brenon raised his own glass containing a green, local concoction. "The things we do for the almighy Cred." The two toasted and took their drinks. Brenon glanced around the lounge and noticed a female human sitting alone at the bar. She sat confident, finishing off a drink of her own. She casually scanned the room as well and briefly caught his eye. She paused on him, returning the glance placidly. After a moment, she turned back to the bar and closed her tab. Lyrium then stood and walked out of the lounge.
    "You know, Brenon," Zhirrzh interrupted, his attention on his now half-finished drink. Brenon turned back to the Yazirian. "I do think we will have fun on this one."

{ Kah'liss and Telgar } 15:30 Day Phase 1, Streel Corporation

Christina Rook walked down the hall with the two, carrying a file computer at her side and dressed in a stylish yet uncomfortable looking business suit. "Most of the team has arrived already and are waiting in the lobby outside the meeting room."
    "Who are you still waiting on?" Telgar asked. He didn't know most of the group, but there were a few old business acquaintances that he recognized when he read some of the job files. It would be good to see them again.
    "Brenon Moroue and Zhirrzh," she answered.
    Telgar smiled. "Oh, they'll make it on time. Just enough to make a grand entrance, I imagine. Probably off warming their bones before showing up."
    Kah'liss looked to Telgar. "Pale is a cold planet, but the civil engineering here is a great work," he began. "The network of monorail and covered walkways make it possible to traverse the entire city without stepping outside, should you desire. I read of it in the Space Port when we arrived. Most fascinating indeed."
    Christina nodded as she turned right into another corridor. At the end of the hall, a large open door led into a lobby area where a few people were seated. "It's not so bad now; you've probably seen many people out in the streets. But the winter's here can be a bit to handle." The three entered the lobby, a large, plush room with plants, a handful of couches and chairs, and a large holoscreen against the wall. Two humans, a male and female, and a Dralasite stood to greet Christina.
    Christina made the introductions. "Kah'liss, Telgar, this is Azid, Lyrium, and Spuroke. You all will be working together for the next three months." Everyone greeted each other as another Streel employee entered the room, Brenon and Zhirrzh following behind. Christina made the next round of introductions. Telgar, Brenon and Kah'liss greeted each other with a quick "good to see you again" before being interrupted by yet another entrance.
    A Vrusk in a Streel uniform walked through a door at the far end of the room. He spoke to the party in a clerical overtone. "Is everyone here? Good. Good. Director Ryseak will see you all now, if you are ready." The Vrusk led the way through the door and down another corridor, stopping at a large double door. He punched a keycode and the doors slid open. He gestured for the party to enter. Everyone proceeded into a very large conference room. A single table, made from a very dark wood, lay in the middle of the chamber. Ten chairs lined each side, the ends wide enough to seat three. On each wall were paintings of prominent beings in the Streel Corporation. The far side of the room held the Truane's Star and the Streel Corporation flags, resting lazily in staff holders. Seated at the far end of the table was a male Yazirian surrounded by a female Human and a Dralasite. The three rose as the party entered.
    "Good First evening," the Yazirian spoke. "I've spoken with you all over holo-vid, but it is good to finally meet you. I suppose some of you are meeting for the first time yourselves. I am Yusar Ryseak, Director of Streel Operations here on Pale. These are my assistants, Sheila Fujurs and Styonik. Please, be seated." Ryseak gestured to another table against the wall, full of drinks, fruit, and other snacks. "Please, help yourself to any refreshments throughout the briefing." Ryseak and his aides then sat. Christina sat at the far end of the table, nearest the Dralasite. Everyone else took seats nearby.
    "The crew of the Serena Dawn will be here shortly," Ryseak apologized. "I've been told they just finished meeting with our Inter-Stellar Engineering Fleet Department. They will be your transportation through the Zebulon Star Route and to Volturnus. You are familiar with the basics of your job, but I'll let Ms. Rook give you the history."
    Christina placed her file computer on the table in front of her and began speaking. She pressed a button at a console in front of her and a holographic image of a Star System projected itself a foot over the center of the table. She began speaking. "Twenty One years ago Seccitte Zebulon, an inter-stellar merchant, while en route to Pale had problems with his navigational equipment and misjumped Truane's Star. He ended up in an uncharted star system. Upon his return to Pale, Zebulon sold the astrological information he and his crew acquired while charting their way back. Zebulon is now retired and living on an island on New Pale. If we could all be so lucky, eh?"
    There were a few chuckles and comments across the table. "I'm sure the paycheck for that Paled in comparison to his late shipment," Spuroke chimed. The two Dralasites laughed. Someone muttered something about Dralasite humor.
    The holograph changed to a view of a Cruiser orbiting Pale. A quick flash from one of its ports and a large probe, its own engines glowing, rocketed into the black void of space. Christina continued, "A deep space probe was launched to confirm the safety of the star route and to do a preliminary analysis of the system. Data collected revealed one promising planet as having potentially high mineral deposits. This planet has since been named Volturnus. Being a heavily based mining planet, Truane's Star began immediately taking bids from mining companys. Everyone wanted first dibs on Volturnus. A company called MINER was awarded the initial charter and plans were made to develop and settle the planet in the year 47."
    The holograph then changed to an image of utter devastation. Fires, debris, emergency crews working frantically to get to unknown victims under twisted buildings. "Then came the Pale quake of 49. Complete devastation, causing billions of credits of damage. MINER's largest drilling site was totally destroyed. As the slow recovery began, plans for Volturnus were put on hold. The following year began the disputes with New Pale, which continued to escalate into full declaration of War in 58. The next 4 long years, whatever you choose to call it, the 'Pale Food Wars', 'War of the Pales', 'War for New Pale Independence', definitely helped the initial dreams of the Zebulon system become forgotten. To top that off, in the second year of the war, the head of MINER, H'rrik Sen'tkl, was kidnapped. Times were very strained on Pale in those days; depression gripped our planet and there was a large exodus of population due to the food shortage. Those that chose to stick it out often resorted to drastic means. Sen'tkl's ransom was not paid and society was shocked when the footage of him being ejected into space reached the public. His kidnappers were never identified but were assumed to be from a rival mining company. Sen'tkl's will called for the liquidation of MINER, his moneys deposited into a private bank account.
    "The Streel Corporation began merging with other mining companies to help alleviate the depression. After many mergers, buyouts, and expanding in other areas of industry and finance, the Steel Corporation soon controlled all mining operations on Pale. They poured millions into the War effort, realizing it was in everyone's best interest to end the conflict."
    Ryseak spoke up as the hologram flashed images of a land conflict on New Pale. "We went on a limb during the War. Streel took a lot of risk and borrowed a lot of money off-world to build the Mega-Corp we are today. We saved many dying businesses by taking them under our wing. They were indeed hard times; the only ones who definitely made a cred were the local Mendruse ranchers. No one thought too much about eating them before the war, but since then they've become quite a normal plate. We determined that ending the war and doing our bit of funding for Truane's Star was in everyone's best interests."
    "With the War's end in 63, things began to settle to a bit of normalcy, something we had not seen in a long time. The population returned and people were ready to earn a living again on Pale," Christina concluded. She sat back and pressed another button in front of her. The hologram vanished. "Now that I've caught you up to speed, you may be asking 'What's this got to do with me?'".
    Ryseak spoke again. "Streel had been aware of the Zebulon find and were anxious to get started. The government of Truane's Star granted us the new charter and 9 months ago we sent an initial expedition team to Volturnus. It consisted of 4 members. Their mission was to establish a location for settlement and report back. The team members' profiles have been given to you in the Zebulon System summary already. That was 9 months ago. They were to report back in four. You, my friends, are their rescue team. Perhaps they crash landed, perhaps their subspace broken beyond repair, we are left with nothing but conjecture. We hope that you can answer that question for us, and that they are all alive and well. We must consider all alternatives, of course, so while you are there, you are charged with mapping the planet and scoping out suitable colonization areas, as well as areas high in mineral content. Volturnus is a prime planet for potential animal and plant life. The government is especially interested in any intelligent life that may exist on the planet; in the event you encounter any, you are to make friendly contact and learn as much as possible from them."
    A soft chime interrupted the conversation. The Dralasite at Ryseak’s right looked down and motioned to the Yazirian. "Ah," Ryseak responded. "The crew of the Serena Dawn are here. Let them in."
    The double doors slid open. Two Humans and two Yazirians entered the room and took seats around the table. "Everyone, the crew of the Serena Dawn…Captain Balou Joetes, Navigator Stu Kirkwood, Communications and Navigation Naydash, and Engineer Grynh. They will transport you and your equipment to Volturnus, drop you off, and return in three months." Everyone gave their greetings. "The Serena Dawn is a FTL freighter under Streel’s fleet. Your trip to the Zebulon system should take seven days…You will obviously need enough equipment for this massive task before you; check the consoles in front of you for a list of everything we will loan to your party."
    Looking down at the table before you, you see the following list:

Transit to Zebulon System: Serena Dawn, FTL Freighter
Orbital Shuttle to Volturnus
Vehicle: Explorer    Parabattery:  (3) Type 3 

EQUIPMENT
=========
168 Survival Rations (3 months/7 people)
8 Allweather Blankets         5 Compass
10 Everflames                 8 Flashlights
10 Holoflares                 7 Lifejackets
7 Magnigoggles                7 Machetes
3 Parawings                   2 Poly-Vox
4 Radiophones                 4 Ropes (25m)
7 Sungoggles                  50 water packs (1 month) - 200kg
2 Grappling Guns              2 Food Purifier
2 Water Distiller             Explorer Boots, Vests
7 Plasti-Ponchos              3 Crete Sprayers
8 Infla-Tents

3 Medkits, double hypos/kit   2 Envirokits
30 hypos Sporekill            30 hypos Dehy-Tab
30 hypos Fungi-Tab            
3 Techkits                    1 Duo-CAS: Flora and Chemical
Medic-CAS                     Mechanical-CAS

WEAPONS/DEFENSE
===============
7 Military Skeinsuits           7 Wartech KE-2000 Laser Rifles
7 Wartech KE-1500 Laser Pistol  2 Wartech Gyrojet Rifle
4 Wartech Gyrojet Sidearm       3 Triax Auto-Rifle
2 Standard Needler II           10 Doze Grenade
10 Smoke Grenade                5 Tangler Grenade
7 Standard Auto-Pistol 5.56

AMMO/ENERGY
===========
4 Power Econopack            15 Power Backpack
15 Power Beltpack            30 Powerclip
50 G-jet Pistol Jetclip      50 G-jet Rifle Jetclip
50 Pistol Bulletclip         50 Rifle Bulletclip
20 Needleclip

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REFEREE’S NOTE:
Look over the equipment and see if there is anything else you may want. Streel and the government may provide if you can prove that you’ll really need it. This is your chance to ask any questions about anything you want. Any WHY, WHEN, HOW, or anything that the briefing has left out, or about anything in general. As you dialogue over email, use the old MUD and MUSH conventions when in and out of character (OOC)for OUT OF CHARACTER if you want to make some comments you do not want reflected in the game.
The briefing is official but does seem a bit laid back. You shouldn’t be afraid to ask anything…But I wouldn’t start calling Streel a brown-noser to the government or anything. ;-)
We will continue the next few "official" turns in a Q&A session. You ask IC (In Character) and I’ll answer IC. When we are finished with the dialogue, I will continue with the next turn. Because of this interaction, giving a deadline will be a bit hard to manage, because I don’t know how long you will have questions. So, I will continue the dialogue until everyone says they are done. If there are a few days where most of you have said you’re done but a few others have been quiet, I’ll go ahead and end the briefing and get the next turn out.
Remember, include all players in your dialogue so everyone sees what’s going on. You’re all playing together.

Jeff
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