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Post by erisred on Jul 9, 2020 16:32:48 GMT -5
OOC: I'll be NPCing Gilroy for this thread...and Cyril if Oscar doesn't show up. Tak, Tol, Charlie, Peng, and Cyril leave the ship waving goodbye to those who stayed aboard and walked over to the Starport's Terminal Building. After passing through the terminal you reach the local Custom's station where a bored looking work, seeing no visible automatic weapons or illegal items waves you all through. Outside the Starport now you see another building across the street fronting a small bay. Going into this building you pick up tickets that Peng and Gil have already purchased and are directed to Dock 2 where a hovercraft ferry is already taking on passengers. Boarding and finding your seats takes only a few minutes and the hovercraft is already underway by the time you seated. The trip should take no more than 30 minutes. Looking around you find you are seated on the second deck with about 20 other passengers (the lower deck has vehicles on it). About 2/3's of the passengers are wearing face masks. The seats are padded and comfortable and the air is conditioned and filtered so those wearing masks are removing them, but leaving them hanging around their necks ready to replace them at a moment's notice. The large passenger compartment is directly behind the bridge, separated by a bulkhead with glass windows and door. To port and starboard there are large glass windows looking out onto the bay the ship is gliding over. You can see the island where the Starport is located shrinking and the mainland beginning to appear as a dark smudge on the eastern horizon. Gil says, "I, well, Peng and I, need to make a little delivery once we get to the mainland, but then I'm open to anything you folks have in mind."
"You booked us rooms for the night at a local hotel didn't you?" Cyril asks Peng.
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Post by joertexas on Jul 9, 2020 16:39:52 GMT -5
The large passenger compartment is directly behind the bridge, separated by a bulkhead with glass windows and door. To port and starboard there are large glass windows looking out onto the bay the ship is gliding over. You can see the island where the Starport is located shrinking and the mainland beginning to appear as a dark smudge on the eastern horizon. Takheal takes his mask down and lets it hand around his neck as the local people do. He stands and walks to the starboard windows, looking out over the water as the craft moves in a fashion that he's not before experienced.
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Post by erisred on Jul 9, 2020 17:29:14 GMT -5
The large passenger compartment is directly behind the bridge, separated by a bulkhead with glass windows and door. To port and starboard there are large glass windows looking out onto the bay the ship is gliding over. You can see the island where the Starport is located shrinking and the mainland beginning to appear as a dark smudge on the eastern horizon. Takheal takes his mask down and lets it hand around his neck as the local people do. He stands and walks to the starboard windows, looking out over the water as the craft moves in a fashion that he's not before experienced. There is a loud hum from outside the craft and a slight vibration under his feet. Takheal watches as spray flies up to the widows as the boat literally flies across the top of the water. There is a slight bit of rocking and rolling as it hops over the crests of waves in the open water, but hardly as much as any ship he has been aboard before. The hovercraft is literally flying in short bursts as it flies over the troughs in the waves! This craft is moving at a much higher speed than normal ships, not as fast as an aircraft or a grav vehicle, but still pretty fast...maybe 80 to 100 kph! Gilroy comes over to join Tak after watching for a few moments says, "This is amazing, seeing as there is no grav technology involved here at all."
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Post by Terry Mixon on Jul 9, 2020 18:16:23 GMT -5
The large passenger compartment is directly behind the bridge, separated by a bulkhead with glass windows and door. To port and starboard there are large glass windows looking out onto the bay the ship is gliding over. You can see the island where the Starport is located shrinking and the mainland beginning to appear as a dark smudge on the eastern horizon. Takheal takes his mask down and lets it hand around his neck as the local people do. He stands and walks to the starboard windows, looking out over the water as the craft moves in a fashion that he's not before experienced. Charlie does the same.
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Post by joertexas on Jul 9, 2020 18:33:23 GMT -5
Gilroy comes over to join Tak after watching for a few moments says, "This is amazing, seeing as there is no grav technology involved here at all.""I've heard of such craft, but I have never been aboard one," Takheal replies.
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Matt
Prospector
Posts: 62
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Post by Matt on Jul 9, 2020 20:52:04 GMT -5
Tokheletoi acknowledged the disposition of cargo and passengers before they left and then gathered her gear. She pushed aside her mask as well once the atmosphere in the passenger cabin stabilized. Watching as well she commented. "It is a very efficient use of the available technology for sure. It's not as smooth as a grav craft but it's quite fast and the motion isn't unpleasant." She turned to Gil as the others gathered near her and Takheal. "How long will you need to make your delivery Gil?"
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Post by joertexas on Jul 9, 2020 21:04:17 GMT -5
Tokheletoi acknowledged the disposition of cargo and passengers before they left and then gathered her gear. She pushed aside her mask as well once the atmosphere in the passenger cabin stabilized. Watching as well she commented. "It is a very efficient use of the available technology for sure. It's not as smooth as a grav craft but it's quite fast and the motion isn't unpleasant." She turned to Gil as the others gathered near her and Takheal. "How long will you need to make your delivery Gil?" While the Administrator speaks to their shipmates, Takheal casually looks around the ship, taking note of who was there. Her security was his primary responsibility, the Aslan warrior reminds himself. Don't get caught up in the sights and other things, he thinks.
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Post by raikenclw on Jul 12, 2020 13:27:21 GMT -5
Peng straps in and tries not to get seasick.
[Internal Thought]This place needs to import some airrafts. This half-flyin' is somethin' weird fish do, not people.[/Internal Thought]
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Post by erisred on Jul 14, 2020 16:52:17 GMT -5
Tokheletoi acknowledged the disposition of cargo and passengers before they left and then gathered her gear. She pushed aside her mask as well once the atmosphere in the passenger cabin stabilized. Watching as well she commented. "It is a very efficient use of the available technology for sure. It's not as smooth as a grav craft but it's quite fast and the motion isn't unpleasant." She turned to Gil as the others gathered near her and Takheal. "How long will you need to make your delivery Gil?" While the Administrator speaks to their shipmates, Takheal casually looks around the ship, taking note of who was there. Her security was his primary responsibility, the Aslan warrior reminds himself. Don't get caught up in the sights and other things, he thinks. It looks like mostly locals, a mix and human males and females, and about a dozen total. Four men are dressed in the uniform of a ship, Tokkeletoi has no idea which ship they are from...could be the one that contacted the ship about a missing animal, though. They are all wearing shoulder holsters with what look like automatic pistols in them. Interestingly, all four are continuing to wear filter masks even though the air is purified inside this cabin. There is one odd looking non-human seated in the back corner by itself. It looks a lot like a thin skinned lizard about 1.5 meters tall with a long tail hanging from under the robe it is wearing. The tail is flicking back and forth...nervously in Tok's opinion, and he has to resist a minor urge to pounce on that flicking tail. This sophent isn't obviously armed and isn't wearing a filter mask, doesn't have one anywhere visible, although anything could be in the large briefcase on the deck next to it's bare feet. Those feet have what look like large digging claws on each of the four toes. As the sophent looks around Tok sees a thin forked tongue flick out, tasting the air, before disappearing into it's long thin snout.
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Post by erisred on Jul 14, 2020 17:17:38 GMT -5
Peng straps in and tries not to get seasick. [Internal Thought]This place needs to import some airrafts. This half-flyin' is somethin' weird fish do, not people.[/Internal Thought] With every slight lurch the craft makes Peng feels a twing in his gut and the constant vibration under his feet and seat aren't making him feel any more comfortable either. Peng, at least, is happy when the craft slows as it approaches the mainland's shore. The hovercraft stops to what would be walking speed as it glides out of the water onto a wide ramp of concrete and continues over it toward a large building with what looks like a control tower next to it. To the right of the control tower is a large car park with a scattering of ground vehicles parked, a few people can be seen walking to and from cars in the lot. A small group of people are gathered on the concrete next to the Terminal Building waiting to board the hovercraft after you disembark. You can see an airplane coming in for a landing from the north (your left) on a landing strip beyond the building and control tower. Beyond the landing field you catch glimpses of low buildings of 1 to 3 stories stretching off into the distance. There is a loud "BING!" followed by a a voice over an intercom saying, "Thirty seconds to depressurizing. Those that need them, prepare your masks. The ground steward will assist in your exit. Await his opening the hatch and follow his directions."
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Post by Terry Mixon on Jul 14, 2020 17:21:01 GMT -5
Peng straps in and tries not to get seasick. [Internal Thought]This place needs to import some airrafts. This half-flyin' is somethin' weird fish do, not people.[/Internal Thought] With every slight lurch the craft makes Peng feels a twing in his gut and the constant vibration under his feet and seat aren't making him feel any more comfortable either. Peng, at least, is happy when the craft slows as it approaches the mainland's shore. The hovercraft stops to what would be walking speed as it glides out of the water onto a wide ramp of concrete and continues over it toward a large building with what looks like a control tower next to it. To the right of the control tower is a large car park with a scattering of ground vehicles parked, a few people can be seen walking to and from cars in the lot. A small group of people are gathered on the concrete next to the Terminal Building waiting to board the hovercraft after you disembark. You can see an airplane coming in for a landing from the north (your left) on a landing strip beyond the building and control tower. Beyond the landing field you catch glimpses of low buildings of 1 to 3 stories stretching off into the distance. There is a loud "BING!" followed by a a voice over an intercom saying, "Thirty seconds to depressurizing. Those that need them, prepare your masks. The ground steward will assist in your exit. Await his opening the hatch and follow his directions." Charlie puts his mask on and waits his turn to exit. Charlie
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Post by joertexas on Jul 14, 2020 17:41:47 GMT -5
There is a loud "BING!" followed by a a voice over an intercom saying, "Thirty seconds to depressurizing. Those that need them, prepare your masks. The ground steward will assist in your exit. Await his opening the hatch and follow his directions." Takheal moves close to Tokheletoi and takes his place beside her. He adjusts his facemask, and checks it for a proper seal against his face. He'd had to clip the hair around his nose more closely than he really liked to accommodate the mask, but it beat breathing the noxious chemicals in the atmosphere.
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Post by raikenclw on Jul 15, 2020 17:21:43 GMT -5
Peng puts on his mask, but doesn't rise from his seat immediately. He's learned that - in situations like this - what's the point of standing when you're just going to end up waiting anyway? Much better to conserve his energy and stay seated until the cabin clears out a mite.
However, when Peng notices the others in his party beginning to gather in a standing clump, he reluctantly unbelts and rises to join them.
[Internal Thought]Gonna have to educate these folk about how to wait.[/Internal Thought]
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Post by erisred on Jul 16, 2020 17:30:43 GMT -5
As the hovercraft comes to a stop you can feel it lowering. Unfortunately, it doesn't lower all that smoothly, nor level, so those standing...none local...get to practice keeping their balance. Luckily, no one falls over although it is a near thing for Gil and Cyril.
The hatch makes a pop sound and opens with bright sunlight shining in. A man, silhouetted by the sunlight walks in, "Form a line and proceed slowly to Custom and Inspection. Follow the green line on the concrete." he adds for the non-locals.
You walk down six steps, noting the bulging black rubbery curtain that surrounds the ship. The green line heads straight for the Terminal Building. As you follow the green line you see another group of people walking along a red line that extends from just outside the Terminal Building to the hovercraft. A man in a uniform, the same as the Steward who spoke to you, is leading this group.
It is hot and bright on the concrete and you are happy to walk into the Terminal where is it much more pleasant. You see straight ahead several manned stations with the words "Custom and Inspection" printed on a sign over them. You are scanned and questioned as to your "Business on ShiraLea, estimated length of stay, and then passed along into the terminal with no comment.
The Terminal is fairly busy with what look like several "gates" there air and boat traffic is handled. People are milling about heading to and from gates and baggage handling.
The only security you see are several pairs of guards in uniforms carrying sub-machine guns either standing around or strolling about. The locals all ignore the guards. Watching them a bit more closely, you feel like they are going out of their way to not make eye contact or come too close to any of the guards, but doing their best to make it look unintentional.
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Post by joertexas on Jul 16, 2020 20:42:44 GMT -5
The only security you see are several pairs of guards in uniforms carrying sub-machine guns either standing around or strolling about. The locals all ignore the guards. Watching them a bit more closely, you feel like they are going out of their way to not make eye contact or come too close to any of the guards, but doing their best to make it look unintentional. Takheal follows the humans in their group, but he makes sure to stay between Tokheletoi and any guards they pass near. As much as possible, he steers them both away from the guards.
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Post by raikenclw on Jul 17, 2020 22:23:44 GMT -5
Peng notes the lack of eye contact between the locals and the guards . . .
[Internal Thought]Folk not too comfy wi' security, eh? Might better follow that example.[/Internal Thought]
. . . and decides to keep his own eyes lowered as he follows the general flow.
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Matt
Prospector
Posts: 62
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Post by Matt on Jul 23, 2020 20:49:49 GMT -5
Tokheletoi whiles away the trip on the hovercraft by studying the latest trade figures for the planet as a whole as well as the portion of the planet to which they were head. She nods to Takheal as he moves next to her and stows her hand comp and dons a mask. Frowning a bit at the bumpy landing or docking as you might call it she heads off the hovercraft again staying close to Takheal both for the obvious safety and in acknowledgement of his efforts to provide protection.
"Very interesting but effective technology," she observes while watching the actual aircraft landing. "One would think that even with the added cost and maintenance of the higher tech that grav units would be more cost effective for transportation than the existing infrastructure." Tokheletoi frowns a bit and then shrugs as the point is largely academic. She too notes the interactions with the security guards and while the efficiency and brevity of the customs arrangements is welcome the tense nature of the security is not. Tokheletoi remains close to her escort and speaks softly in Trokh; "Not a happy arrangement with the security, your escort is appreciate Warrior."
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Post by joertexas on Jul 23, 2020 21:00:47 GMT -5
"Very interesting but effective technology," she observes while watching the actual aircraft landing. "One would think that even with the added cost and maintenance of the higher tech that grav units would be more cost effective for transportation than the existing infrastructure." Tokheletoi frowns a bit and then shrugs as the point is largely academic. "Perhaps it is a local preference; they simply trust this technology more," Takheal replies. She too notes the interactions with the security guards and while the efficiency and brevity of the customs arrangements is welcome the tense nature of the security is not. Tokheletoi remains close to her escort and speaks softly in Trokh; "Not a happy arrangement with the security, your escort is appreciate Warrior." Takheal rumbles in acknowledgement and replies in the same language. "Let us hope that they are not belligerent to offworlders. Any action or omission can provoke carrion eaters." The term was little better than a profane curse, but warriors who preyed on their own deserved such in his eyes.
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Matt
Prospector
Posts: 62
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Post by Matt on Jul 25, 2020 0:59:14 GMT -5
Tokheletoi shrugged and lashed her tail at the mention of technology. It was clear that she had little patience for lack of efficiency caused by sentimentality or arbitrary preference. She snapped her ears forward in agreement with Takheal at the mention of carrion. "There is little more dishonor than preying on those you are sworn to protect or embezzling the funds of one's own clan or enterprise." She moved briskly toward the exit.
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Post by joertexas on Jul 25, 2020 10:35:41 GMT -5
Tokheletoi shrugged and lashed her tail at the mention of technology. It was clear that she had little patience for lack of efficiency caused by sentimentality or arbitrary preference. She snapped her ears forward in agreement with Takheal at the mention of carrion. "There is little more dishonor than preying on those you are sworn to protect or embezzling the funds of one's own clan or enterprise." She moved briskly toward the exit. Takheal follows her lead, keeping himself between her and what he perceives to be the most belligerent of the guards.
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Post by raikenclw on Jul 25, 2020 21:59:18 GMT -5
Out of the corner of his eyes, Peng watches the two Aslan murmur to each other in their own language . . .
[Internal Thought]THAT don't look a'tall suspicious. No, not a'tall . . .[/Internal Thought]
. . . and also tries to keep watch for any adverse reaction to same by the security troopers.
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Post by erisred on Aug 14, 2020 16:09:26 GMT -5
Tokheletoi shrugged and lashed her tail at the mention of technology. It was clear that she had little patience for lack of efficiency caused by sentimentality or arbitrary preference. She snapped her ears forward in agreement with Takheal at the mention of carrion. "There is little more dishonor than preying on those you are sworn to protect or embezzling the funds of one's own clan or enterprise." She moved briskly toward the exit. Takheal follows her lead, keeping himself between her and what he perceives to be the most belligerent of the guards. Takheal notices that several of the guards are keeping a closer eye on Tok and himself than the rest of the group...or the others in the building. They aren't approaching or interfering, but they are watching them closely.
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Post by raikenclw on Aug 14, 2020 16:16:39 GMT -5
Out of the corner of his eyes, Peng watches the two Aslan murmur to each other in their own language . . . [Internal Thought]THAT don't look a'tall suspicious. No, not a'tall . . .[/Internal Thought] . . . and also tries to keep watch for any adverse reaction to same by the security troopers. [OOG: Does Peng perhaps notice the guard's interest in the Aslan?]
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Post by joertexas on Aug 14, 2020 16:22:36 GMT -5
Takheal notices that several of the guards are keeping a closer eye on Tok and himself than the rest of the group...or the others in the building. They aren't approaching or interfering, but they are watching them closely. Takheal keeps moving in company with the others from the ship, always careful to stay close to Tokheletoi. He doesn't change positions in relation to her, since that seems to have drawn some unwanted attention.
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Post by erisred on Aug 14, 2020 16:37:06 GMT -5
Out of the corner of his eyes, Peng watches the two Aslan murmur to each other in their own language . . . [Internal Thought]THAT don't look a'tall suspicious. No, not a'tall . . .[/Internal Thought] . . . and also tries to keep watch for any adverse reaction to same by the security troopers. Peng notes that the guards are watching the Aslan closely. They aren't interfering, but they are watching. He notes that one of the locals is moving a bit suspiciously, and it occurs to him that this woman is staying out of the sight ines of the guards that are watching the Aslan so closely...using them to avoid their attention. Once the group is outside the doors and onto the streets of the town she catches Peng's eye and gives him a wink and grin before turning and jumping into a ground vehicle with the word TAXI on a sign attached to its roof. Gil says to Peng with a grin, "You noticed that, didn't you? I wonder what *she* was up to?" "Oh, everyone!" Gill speaks to the group "The boarding house I booked us into for the night is called Della Rosa's and it is at 345 West Dock Street...and that is just a block down this road and on the left. Once we're checked in there, I want to make a visit to one of the local churches." "Need to see a Priest about a package." he grins, "Y'all are free to join me if you want. It shouldn't take a minute and then I'm free to do some sightseeing, or something." The area outside the Terminal is busy with ground traffic. Small vehicles are mixed with large trucks as well as a few buses. You have to wait at a crosswalk for a light to change and then cross the busy street with a group of locals and start up a broad street called Dock Street. Along the street are a mixture of bars, pawn shops and small businesses. Most of the buildings have a second and some have a third floor, some appear to have offices on the upper floors with access up external stairs. As you walk down the sidewalk you note that Gil was wrong, the numbers go up from 101, so 345 should be on the third block, not the second. Which is confirmed as you cross onto another block...the 200's...with more stores, cafes and small businesses. Della Rosa's has a quite visible sign that you can see almost a block away. It is a 4 story building with broad concrete steps leading to double doors on what would be the second level. The doors are wooden with long rectangles of glass on each. Inside you see on your right a small lobby/sitting room with a scattering of overstuffed chairs and a couple of sofas. There are a few people seated here mostly watching a television hanging on the wall. Beyond the lobby is an large opening with Dinning Hall printed above it. To the left is a short bar with an older woman seated on a stool behind it. This isn't the sort of bar where you would be drinking, rather where you would check in. Gil walks over and makes the arrangements. The older woman seems cheerful as she hands out keys to each of you, "I've put your entire party in Suite C, that's two levels down." she points at a lift with stairs next to it. I figured, being Spacers, you wouldn't mind being down there with no windows and that way you have the entire level."
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Post by joertexas on Aug 14, 2020 19:51:41 GMT -5
Gil walks over and makes the arrangements. The older woman seems cheerful as she hands out keys to each of you, "I've put your entire party in Suite C, that's two levels down." she points at a lift with stairs next to it. I figured, being Spacers, you wouldn't mind being down there with no windows and that way you have the entire level." Takheal accepts his key with a closed-mouth smile and a brief nod. He waits for the others to start toward their rooms, and then he follows.
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Post by Terry Mixon on Aug 14, 2020 20:51:25 GMT -5
Gil walks over and makes the arrangements. The older woman seems cheerful as she hands out keys to each of you, "I've put your entire party in Suite C, that's two levels down." she points at a lift with stairs next to it. I figured, being Spacers, you wouldn't mind being down there with no windows and that way you have the entire level." Takheal accepts his key with a closed-mouth smile and a brief nod. He waits for the others to start toward their rooms, and then he follows. As does Charlie.
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Post by raikenclw on Aug 16, 2020 20:38:01 GMT -5
The older woman seems cheerful as she hands out keys to each of you, "I've put your entire party in Suite C, that's two levels down." she points at a lift with stairs next to it. I figured, being Spacers, you wouldn't mind being down there with no windows and that way you have the entire level." Peng mutters: "Just peachy. A basement. Hope there's a back door."
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Post by erisred on Aug 19, 2020 12:30:00 GMT -5
The older woman seems cheerful as she hands out keys to each of you, "I've put your entire party in Suite C, that's two levels down." she points at a lift with stairs next to it. I figured, being Spacers, you wouldn't mind being down there with no windows and that way you have the entire level." Peng mutters: "Just peachy. A basement. Hope there's a back door." The old woman has better hearing than Peng expects and grins, "Yep, the key is to the room and the fire escape. It is kept locked, but in an emergency you can go out that way." Proceeding down one level in the mechanical elevator the group exits onto a corridor. The lift is at one end of the corridor and there are doors along each side, there is also a door at the end of the corridor labeled Emergency Exit. The rooms are about 2 tons each (3x4x2.5 meters) with a basic layout not dissimilar from a ship cabin. There is a bed, a chair, table, small entertainment center and a small fresher at the rear. On the wall is a control for the rooms HVAC with an intercom that connects to the front desk. The entertainment center's screen is showing the meal times in the Boarding House's dining room as well as scrolling through 3 or 4 "ads" for local "sites of interest."
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Post by joertexas on Aug 19, 2020 12:42:54 GMT -5
The rooms are about 2 tons each (3x4x2.5 meters) with a basic layout not dissimilar from a ship cabin. There is a bed, a chair, table, small entertainment center and a small fresher at the rear. On the wall is a control for the rooms HVAC with an intercom that connects to the front desk. The entertainment center's screen is showing the meal times in the Boarding House's dining room as well as scrolling through 3 or 4 "ads" for local "sites of interest." Takheal sets his gear down and takes a few minutes to use the fresher. Afterwards, he steps out into the hallway to see if anyone else is ready to go do something else.
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