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!"

[maclypse]

Oh, yes! This ship is equipped with everything! We have a genetics lab and even a small nomad power cell for experimenting on artifacts. We have a scanner array to map systems that would make a battleship captain green with envy! This ship is state of the art! Just one question... what system is this, sir?

Magellan, Leeds Jumphole
Local transmissions, based on RP event, names changed

-"Yellowstone, exiting jumphole. All systems... Crap!"
-"Cut your engines!"
-"All right, all right! Engines to zero! We'll comply! We are a peaceful civilian research vessel; do not fire!"
-Artifacts? Smuggling, are we?
-"Well, I never...! That's offensive, sir! I'm doctor Boon of research vessel Yellowstone! I'm a scientist, not some common criminal! ...no offense."
-"None taken, though you have a point. I'm a Libery Rogue, and I have a family to feed. How about you drop those artifacts?"
-"Oh no. No. No way! Do you have any idea what I had to go through to aquire these!? These artifacts are going to Manhattan University! If it's money you want, I'm sure something can be arranged, but I'm keeping the artifacts!"
-"Manhattan, huh? You know, telling me that you are loyal to Liberty and that those artifacts are going to be used in Liberty research -and possibly turned on me and mine- doesn't exactly make me friendlier towards you."
-"Liberty, Kusari, whatever. It's all politics. I don't care about politics! I'm a scientist! My loyalty lies only with the search for truth and knowledge."
-"Sure it does. I suppose you'd be willing to share the research data with us then?"
-"I don't care either way; I just want to research these things. However, I'm sure you understand I don't have the authority to just hand over classified data. I couldn't possibly spirit such things away from... huh... hm."
-"What?"
-"I suppose I could... let you know when the research data is being transmitted to Cambridge, and through which lanes? You could call your friends maybe, and eavesdrop on it? The hackers can do that, right?"
-"Interesting suggestion... but how do I know I can trust you?"
-"I suppose you can't - but you can imagine how difficult my research expeditions will become if I double-cross every pirate faction in Sirius, right?"
-"Good point, but not good enough. I want 250,000 credits as security. If you come through on your promise - I'll send the double back."
-"Done. I'll be in touch. The transfer is underway. Can we go now?"
-Sure... have a nice day doc.
-"You too, sir."

A few days later:
-"Hey it's ... me. Magellan lane, 09:23 standard time - that's in 3 hours. The preliminary findings will be sent to Cambridge. Crap! I got to go!"
*transmission ends*