To start off, here is the Merchant ship Bonaventure, and its crew. I created these years ago with the idea of using them as the cast of short stories, but the stories never materialized. Maybe they'll show up in my monthly game as NPCs. Maybe they'll show up in your game as NPCs! If they do, please leave me a comment and tell us about it.
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| "Parking orbit, please Mr. Hammilton." "Aye, Sir." |
The US
Merchant Marine ship Bonaventure is registered in New Maryland.
Owner/Navigator
Jason Hammilton 7A5D98 Age 42 Merchant 3rd Officer
Navigation-4,
Leader-2, Vaccsuit-1, Electronics-1, Mechanical-1, Gun Combat-0,
Broker-2, Trader-2, Administration-2
Captain
Hammilton has dreamed of running his own starship since he was a
child. He was level-headed enough to see that more than dreaming was
required. He took every opportunity he could to learn about merchant
operations and taught himself how to be successful. Once he felt he
was ready, he left his job and bought his own ship. He is very aware
of the debt burden he’s put himself under but it keeps him focused
on succeeding.
Quote:
“You have two choices. One, realize that I’m in command here and
get in line. Two, get your sorry ass off my ship. You have one minute
to decide.”
Pilot
Derek T Hammilton 7998A8 Age 38 Navy Commander
Pilot-4,
Leader-1, Pistol-2, Computer-2, Ship Tactics-2, Vaccsuit-1
Derek
has been piloting since he was 18. He has piloted everything from
yard tugs to heavy cruisers. Bonaventure is an easy assignment
for him. Mostly he took the job to work with his cousin Jason. He is
orderly, efficient and confident. He reads a lot and always is
looking for new ship types & classes to add to the catalog he is
writing.
Quote:
“This crate is easy. You should have seen the panel on this one
destroyer I was on. Talk about inefficient.”
Chief
Engineer Alexander (Al) Saratoga 8C8988 Age 42 Navy Lt. Commander
Engineering-5,
Vaccsuit-2, Mechanical-1, Blade-1, Gun Combat-1, Grav Vehicle-1
Saratoga
was not at the top of his class in the Academy, but once actually
aboard ship, his natural talent took off. He is now one of the top
American engineers. He designs & re-designs ship systems for fun.
This makes him a bit hard to work with, as he tears systems apart
without much regard for who else might need it. Also he has trouble
explaining what he is doing in simple terms for the non-engineers.
Quote:
“Just trust me. When I get done with this, you won't believe how
much better it works.”
Drive
hand Phan Qwan 676867 Age 26 Navy Petty Officer
Engineering-1,
Electronics-1, Handgun-2, Vaccsuit-0
Phan
is not the most talented assistant engineer. His grasp of theory is
sketchy and his talent is average. Given decent instructions, Phan
will follow them exactly, and stick to his work until it gets done.
He is a model of quiet, steady efficiency even if he has no idea why
he is doing what he is doing. He relaxes by consuming histories and
biographies.
Quote:
“OK, Al. I’ll get right on that as soon as I finish this chapter.
What is it again?”
Deck
Hand Shane Pfister B6A884 Age 34 Merchant 4th Officer
Mechanical-1
Gun Cbt-2, Gunnery-1 Brawling-2, Vaccsuit-0
Shane
is big, and appears very surly and harsh. This is because for the
most part he is surly and harsh. He has clashed with every captain he
ever served under, which is why he’s still a ‘deck hand’. His
assignments are maintenance and monitoring routine operation. He
reports to Al first and then to Stepney, who often needs the
captain’s backing to get Shane to cooperate. Shane respects Capt
Hammilton, but only a little.
Quote:
“Do you know what bulkhead tastes like? Wanna find out?”
Weapon of choice: combat shotgun
Ship’s
Surgeon Dr. Herbert Trask Gabriel 7B8CA8 Age 38 Medical Doctor
Medical-3,
Administration-2, Computer-1, Mechanical-1, Vaccsuit-0
Dr.
Gabriel works with cat-like, lithe movements. He has a philosophical
bent, and is a student of planetary cultures. He seems to be in
search of truly civilized people. A surprising side hobby of his is
building and repairing internal combustion engines. His goal is to
build them with greater mechanical efficiency.
Quote:
“If we can get a complex machine like this to run at 80%
efficiency, why not people?”
Ship’s
Steward Stepney McCulloch 977799 Age 34 Merchant 3rd Officer
Steward-3,
Trader-3, Streetwise-2, Carousing-2, Brawling-1 Vaccsuit-0
Stepney
is a ‘live-wire’. In his own words he has a ‘preference for
action.’ He is a good team player, motivating by personal example.
He often dives in before he is ready. He is very social and is fond
of games, particularly ones that call for thinking on one’s feet.
As ship’s steward, Stepney manages the care and feeding of
passengers.
Quote:
“Point me in the direction of the fun!”
Purser
Andrew Sparrow Eisenstein 866867 Age 48 Merchant 2nd Officer
Steward-1,
Bribery-1, Vaccsuit-1, JOT-1, Mechanical-1, Handgun-1
Andrew
worked a typical interstate shipping route in the Americas. He is
unexceptional but for his talent at finding things at discount
prices. His voice is very flat and expressionless, and he avoids all
physical work. He does play games with the other crew, but will do so
in near-complete silence. He is usually addressed as ‘Sparrow’,
but Ian has gotten some of the crew calling him ‘Ace’, a play on
his initials. As purser, Andrew handles the ship’s finances.
Quote:
“I’ll have that for you in an hour, Captain.”
Chief
Gunner Avery "Duck" Montague A7A889 Age 40
Former
Marine Captain
Leader-1,
Tactics-1, Gunnery-2, Vaccsuit-2, Cutlass-1, Revolver-2, Cbt.
Rifleman-1, Brawling-2
Duck
is a hard-headed no-nonsense Marine who appreciates order and hard
work. He will relax when not working, and prefers to linger over food
and drink in good conversation. He works hard and expects the same
from his crew mates. He will not stand for bullying or rudeness, and
has never hesitated to make his point with his fists. Duck is head of
ship’s security, and takes charge of the whole crew in a battle
situation.
Quote:
“Get your sorry carcass moving! A little hard work never hurt
anybody, but I MIGHT!”
Turret
Gunner Seth Connors B78776 Age 34 Marine Lieutenant
Gunnery
(laser)-2, Tactics-1, Brawling-1, ATV-1 Cutlass-1, Electronics-1,
Handgun-1 Gambling-1
Seth
is competent at his job, but does not ‘play well with others’. He
is often inconsiderate and abrasive. He gambles, but not well, and as
a result has sometimes welshed on debts. His behavior resulted in
negative performance reviews in the Navy. This is why he never rose
past lieutenant. Capt Hammilton is aware of this, but sees some
potential in him, at least enough to keep him aboard.
Quote:
“Yeah, but I’ve got the money this time. Wadda ya mean, ‘let me
see it’?”
Turret
Gunner Jeffrey “Jack” Riggs 878778 Age 26 Navy Petty Officer
Gunnery
(lasers)-2, Sensor Ops-2, Electronics-1, Brawling-1, Handgun-1
PSR: 5
Telekinesis-5 (10kg)
Jack
is cooperative, loyal and a team player, except on one subject:
women. Capt Hammilton has to keep a close eye on Riggs whenever they
are in port, as he frequently gets into trouble. He might spend all
his pay to impress women or get into bar fights over them. More than
once he has almost missed takeoff because he waited until the last
minute to tear himself away from his ‘love of the moment’. He has
even gotten between other crew and their dates, with some lingering
bad feelings. When he is not thinking about women, Jack revels in
various forms of vehicular racing.
Quote:
“No, really guys. This girl is special.”
2
Maintenance Robots
2
Stevedore Robots
Farago-class
Frontier Merchant Bonaventure
Using
a 400-ton hull, the Farago-class Frontier Merchant is intended for
trade. It mounts Jump Drive-D, Maneuver Drive-D, and Power Plant-D,
giving performance of Jump-2 and 2Gs of acceleration. A 100-ton fuel
tank provides fuel for the power plant and sufficient fuel for 1
jump-2. Adjacent to the bridge is a TL-15 computer Model/4. There are
22 staterooms and 10 low berths.
The ship has 4 hardpoints and 4 tons
allocated for fire control. Installed on the hardpoints are 1 double
turret, and 3 single turrets with 3 beam lasers and 2 sandcasters.
There
is 1 ship's vehicle, a 20-ton Launch. Cargo capacity is 113 tons. The
hull is streamlined.
The
Frontier Merchant requires a crew of 11: 1 pilot, 1 navigator, 3
engineers, 1 Medic, 2 Stewards and 3 gunners. The ship can carry 10
passengers and 10 low passengers.
The
ship costs MCr262.5 and takes 16 months to build.
Starship image credit: from Pixabay
It looks like a fun crew.
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