Yellowstone

[maclypse]

"Uh... Doctor? Is it normal for the Sigma-19 alien organisms to eat through the glass specimen jars?"

Sigma-13, Yanagi Depot
Conversation over long-range narrow band transmission, based on RP event, names changed

-"Research vessel Yellowstone to any Rheinland official, do you read me, over?"
-"Guten Tag Yellowstone. This is officer Karl Bauer. What can I do for you?"
-"This is Doctor Marcus Boon, research vessel Yellowstone. I'd like to request a transport clearance through New Berlin and Hamburg, into Bering. We are currently moored at Yanagi depot, in Sigma-13."
-"Pleased to hear from you, doctor. Clearance? What exactly are you transporting that needs clearance?"
-"We are carrying mostly alien organisms for terraforming research at California minor. But uh... we found about 300 very interesting artifacts in the deep Omicrons that we absolutely have to get to Manhattan university."
-"Artifacts? Alien artifacts? To Manhattan? What is your affiliation?"
-"Well, we are neutral, which I guess means everyone is more or less against us..."
-"Herr doctor, I'm sure I need not remind you that the relations between Liberty and Rheinland is... somewhat strained these days, ja?"
-"Uh... right. My forgiveness, officer. I'm a scientist, and I tend to forget details like intergalactic politics. Perhaps in retrospect I should have tried to approach through Bretonian space..."
-"Herr doctor, the sheer amount of paperwork and red tape we need to handle to clear something like this is almost beyond nightmares."
-"I do apologise for this. The last thing I want is to burden you with extra paperwork. No one deserves paperwork, no matter how vile a..."
-"Stand by please, herr doctor."
-"...person we are discussing. I do apologise for wasting your time in this... oh, what? Yes. Standing by. Sorry officer."
-"We are short-staffed today herr doctor. We cannot spare a ship to deal with the clearance and escort I fear."
-"Oh... right... I guess I'll just..."
-"One ship is dealing with an incident at Planet New Berlin, the other is on border patrol down by the Omega border. I myself have to deal with a personal emergency in Stuttgart... if you get my drift, herr doctor?"
-"I see. I'll... oh. Oh! Yes, thank you. We'll proceed around Rheinland space and enter through Bretonia. Sorry again for wasting your time officer. Guten Tag und vielen dank!"
*Marcus closes the channel*

"Helm - set course for the New Berlin jump hole - and be quick about it! We have to be through Rheinland quicker than you can say anaerobic bacterial infection. Got it? Oh, and coms? Dip into the research grants - and send one hundred thousand credits to officer Karl Bauer's personal account, just in case he needs some money to deal with his personal emergency, mm? We all clear? Good! Move it!"