What happened before departure from Earth.

With the command to mothball the shipyards on Phobos & Deimos above Mars while the Boadicea Merchant Company relocates assets to the Spinward Marches, came the proposal of marriage from Baroness Farin Julia Saxon-Tesla. Baron Jetson immediately accepts and outfits the Baroness with another Courier/Escort, the HMS Eightfold Way.

Only enough crewmen are hired to operate the vessel at a basic level since the vessel will synchronize Jump Drives and computers with the MS Ataraxis II.
Extensive use of droids will be pioneered with this mission.
A recruitment incentive is offered (unofficially) of chip implants for the human component of the crew to allow for greater control of automated equipment.

QueeQueg, Gunner PA Barbette B (Turret #3), HMS Eightfold Way

Image below is an approximation since it is against Queequeg's religion to be photographed, scanned, or in any way be graphically reproduced:



Queequeg grew up around the Pacific Rim of Earth (Terra/Sol) and eventually signed up as a harpooner on an American whaling vessel in the 19th century (AD)[c.-2670 Third Imperial Reckoning]. After being washed overboard from the Pequod, he was "time-transported" into the 22nd century on Earth. During this chaotic period of Earth's history, he is rescued by the "Raft" where he encounters Raven of Amchitka and learns even more deadly skill with the harpoon. When the "Raft" breaks up, he flees in a catamaran and sails around the world subsisting on sea life and trading skins on the black market. When he reaches the Atlantic ocean, he is lost in the Bermuda Triangle and reappears on Imperial Earth in the 57th century.

Taken as just another primitive war-refugee survivor of the conquering of Earth, he is granted alien work status and he immediately signs on with free traders heading away from Earth. He is seeking enlightenment through his religion and is very open minded about high technology (viewing it as magic). He will be interested in any leads about time-travel research; he has a vague idea about returning to his time on Earth. If he finds as beautiful planet as Earth, he may settle down, especially if the planet in question is not overly settled and has edible sea-life.

Queequeg is reasonably intelligent and has had no problem learning how to be an excellent starship gunner. Infiltration is his specialty.




Queequeg

ACA942 Age: 28 (44)

Barbarian-4t (starting at age 12)
Merchant-4t

12,345CrImp
Ancient Artifact

Skills:
Gunnery-2
Gun Cbt-1
Harpoon/Spear-3
Knife-2
Unarmed Cbt.-2
Stealth-2
Survival-0
Riding-0
Carouse-0

Chip Implant [TL16 Wafer Jack Computer/7]
Intelligent Interface-1
Intellect-3
and space for Level Three Skill (either of 4 options):
Beam Weapons-3
Gunnery (Beam)-3
Shields-3
Operations Package (Vacc. Suit-1/Zero-G-1/Mechanic-1/Electronics-1/Sensors-1/Intellect-1)
]

Neural Comm. (TL15; Multidata & Comp/2 running Agent-2)
]

Peshwe Karsca, Gunner PA Barbette A (Turret #2), HMS Eightfold Way

6C6AA8 Age: 30

Merchant Gunner-3t

1,468CrImp.
Ship Share.

Skills:
Gunnery-3
Vacc Suit-0
Steward-1
Mechanic-1
Drive-0
Streetwise-0

Salary: 2500cr/mo.

]

Miss Jane Morrison-Thetford, Ship's Steward & Assistant Purser

Jane Danielle Morrison-Thetford, 795AA7, Age: 30 (42)
Worker-3t
Merchant-3t

Skills:
Steward-2
Admin.-2
Persuade-1
Carouse-1
Computers-1
Jack of all Trades-1
Drive-1
Hydroponics-1
Cloth Arts-1

Chip Implant [TL16 Wafer Jack Computer/7]
Intelligent Interface-1
Intellect-3
and space for Level Three Skill (either of 4 options):
Culinary Arts-3, Carouse-3, Steward-3
Operations Package (Vacc. Suit-1/Zero-G-1/Mechanic-1/Electronics-1/Sensors-1/Intellect-1)



Neural Comm. (TL15; Multidata & Comp/2 running Agent-2)

]

Jim Thetford, Chief Gunner, Turret #1 (Laser batt.-3)

Jim Thetford, 876CC7, Age: 62 (86)
Army-1.5t
Prisoner-0.5t
Drifter/Wanderer-0.5t
Worker-8.5t
Scholar-3t
Merchant-3t

Chip Implant (400KcrImp value, see below)
16KcrImp per year income
WikiGalaxy Encyclopeadic Database
2,175CrImp in cash

Skills:
Gunnery-1
Sensors-2
Computers-2
Comm.-1
Mechanic-2
Engineering-1
Space Constr.-2
Steward-1
Gun Cbt.-1
Recon-2
Streetwise-1
Deception-1
Endurance-0
Co-ordination-0
Survival-0
Drive-0
Unarmed Cbt.-0
Rocket Lchr.-0
Philosophy-0
Carouse-1
Languages-2
Literature-2
Writing-1
Research-1

Chip Implant [TL16 Wafer Jack Computer/7]
Intelligent Interface-1
Intellect-3
and space for Level Three Skill (either of 4 options):
Beam Weapons-3
Gunnery (Beam)-3
Shields-3
Operations Package (Vacc. Suit-1/Zero-G-1/Mechanic-1/Electronics-1/Sensors-1/Intellect-1)

Neural Comm. (TL15; Multidata & Comp/2 running Agent-2)

]

Asst. Engineer for HMS Eightfold Way: Hans Urlichtmann

Name: Hans Urlichtmann
Race: Human

Appearance: Male, 5’10”ht., 150lbs.wt., average appearance, blond hair blue eyes.

897AC7 Age: 38 (42)
Navy-5terms (Engineering Enlisted-Master Chief, Retired)
Merchant-1term
18,500CrImp, Air/Raft, Vacc Suit.

Skills:
Engineer-3 (Power-1, M-Drive-2)
Mechanic-3
Sensors-1
Gunner-1
Vacc Suit-1
Gun Cbt.-1
Drive (Grav Veh.)-1
Zero-G-0
Computers-0
Robotics-0
Trade (Hydroponics)-0
Seafarer-0

Chip Implant [TL16 Wafer Jack Computer/7]
Intelligent Interface-1
Intellect-3
and space for Level Three Skill (either of 3 options):
Engineering-3 {Jump-2, Gravitics-1},{Electronics-2, Sensors-1}, {Power Plant-2, Mechanic-1}

Neural Comm. (TL15; Multidata & Comp/2 running Agent-2)


Hans is from a Water world and spent his formative years entirely indoors in a seabed colony. When he enlisted in the Imperial Navy, he found that life aboard ship is not much different than life in a submarine or undersea colony. He is mildly agoraphobic and while capable of EVA, would prefer not to leave the ship. Even when the ship is in port or landed on a habitable planet, he prefers to stay aboard the ship and work on the engines or tinker with his own gravity car that Captain North has graciously (with Lady Farin's permission of course) allowed to berth in the cargo hold. Allison is glad to have him as an assistant and recognizes that Hans is a much better mechanic; she usually has him in attendance upon the engines while she is doing EVA.
]

Co-Pilot and Astrogator for HMS Eightfold Way

George Hakei



George Wing Hakei
Rank 1 (Astrogator's License)
6A7BA8 Age: 34
Tokyo University-1t, COACC (Pilot)-2t, Merchant-1t (current)
46,200CrImp in paper
Custom Tailored Vacc Suit

Skills:
Pilot-1
Astrogator-3
Comms-1
Sensors-2
Admin-1
Vacc Suit-1
Zero-G-0
Computers-0
Drive (wheeled veh.)-1
Gun Cbt.-1
Mechanic-1
Blade Cbt.-0

Chip Implant [TL16 Wafer Jack Computer/7]
Intelligent Interface-1
Intellect-3
and space for Level Three Skill (either of 3 options):
Pilot-3, Eng. (Electronics-2, Robotics-1)-3, Sword (Katana)-3)

Neural Comm. (TL15; Multidata & Comp/2 running Agent-2)

]

New Pilot for HMS Eightfold Way

Schuyler Andrew North, Col. Imperial Air Force of Earth (Terra/Sol), Retired.

Below Schuyler is leaving his home in Texas (N. America, Fed. States, Republic of Texas, Terra-Earth) for Mars to mothball the shipyards on Phobos and Deimos, and to take command of the Courier/Escort HMS Eightfold Way: {The weapon below is named Gwendoline, the Captain is partial to this weapon, so anyone in the crew getting too close to his girl will induce anger in the old man.}



Schuyler Andrew North, Colonel IAFE, retired. (Commander in Naval rank)
Rank 2 (Ship Master's License)
898CC8 Age: 42 (46)
Naval College-1t, Pilot Academy-1t, Navy (Spec. Ops, cmdg.-3t; Shuttle-1t)-4t, Merchant-1t (current). SEH-1, MCUF-2, PH-1.
Assets: 20year pension (covers his modest home in the RoT, medical, and country club dues)
Membership in Traveller's Aid Society. Ten high passage tickets redeemable at any Imperial Rated Travel Vendor.
12,400CrImp
Ship's Boat x2

Skills:
Pilot-3 (Sm. Craft)
Gunnery-1
Gun Cbt.-1
Astrogation-1
Zero-G-1
Vacc Suit-1
Comms-1
Sensors-1
Stealth-0
Streetwise-0
Grav. Veh.-0
Battledress-0
Engineer-0
Admin-0

Chip Implant [TL16 Wafer Jack Computer/7]
Intelligent Interface-1
Intellect-3
and space for Level Three Skill (either of 3 options):
Astrogation-3, Gunnery/Gun Cbt.-3, Basic Business Pkg. (Admin.-1, Advocate-1, Broker-1)-3)

Neural Comm. (TL15; Multidata & Comp/2 running Agent-2)

]

New Engineer for HMS Eightfold Way

Allison Faye Kozhinsky


Allison at work on a salvage operation.



Allison Faye Kozhinsky
Rank 1 (Merchant Engineer License)
79CCF6 Age: 34 (66)
Belter 7 terms, Drifter/Scavenger 3 terms, Monk 2 terms, Merchant 1 term (current).
3,194cr in paper.

Astrogation-1
Prospecting-3
Planetology-2
Trade (Space Constr.)-1
Trade (Belter)-1
Small Craft-2
Sensors-1
Comms.-1
Computers-1
Robotics-1
Mechanic-1
Engineer-1
Survival-1
Investigate-1
Medic-0
Zero-G-2
Vacc. Suit-1
Gun Cbt. (Zero-G Wea.)-3
Unarmed Cbt.-3

Salary: Cr.?/month
Expenses (min.): Cr.1200/month (when not living aboard ship)

Chip Implant [TL16 Wafer Jack Computer/7]
Intelligent Interface-1
Intellect-3
and space for Level Three Skill (either of 3 options):
Engineering-3, Medic-3, or Stealth-3

Neural Comm. (TL15; Multidata & Comp/2 running Agent-2)

Armor:
Hostile Environment Vacc Suit (TL 14), Prot. 10, {150,000cr.}, 6kg.
Tailored Vacc. Suit (TL14), Prot. 8, {13,000cr.}, 4kg.
Protec: Tailored Cloth Armor Jump Suit (TL9), Prot. 4, {1000cr.}, 2kg.
Weapons:
Snub Revolver (TL8), Range=Shotgun, Skill=Gun Cbt. (Zero-G Weapons),
Dmg. 2d6–2 (Ball)/3d6–2 AP (HEAP)/2d6+2 ST (HE), Auto=No, Recoil -1, Mass 0.5kg, {150/10cr.}
Snub SMG (TL8) Range=Shotgun, Skill=Gun Cbt. (Zero-G Weapons),
Dmg. 2d6–2 (Ball)/3d6–2 AP HEAP)/2d6+2 ST (HE), Mag. 30, Auto 2, Recoil –2, Mass 2kg,



Allison planet-side when some yakuza tried to take the ship's cargo.