Court on Lunion

Apparently the system is a red zone due to the radiation hazard caused by the black hole. So another down side.  627-301 world info Plus there is a research station there which is probably doing top secret research stuff. So maybe the navy would challenge us and start asking awkward questions? The prices, small or large seem to not be worth paying when we've got confirmation (both in and out of character) that we could gain the same result simply by jettisoning it while in Jumpspace.  I say this with sadness though. I would LOVE to have gone to visit that black hole. 

1. What will I wear to Court? Normally i would be in Arimus Mess dress, I.e. Vacc suit and shot gun. But if i have notice ill buy a suit/  2. Will I allow myself Officer's melee weapon and disarm all other weapons? ill keep my rapier, and possibly my 2 new mono blade. 3. If interviewed or interrogated before Court, how cooperative will I be? i know nothing so ill tell them everything 4. Will I allow myself to be separated from my shipmates as they too might be separated? Only if i have no choice 5. Will I claim a status, e.g. Darrian Confederation Envoy? Adept Izek Mazel 6. What is my general, outward attutude and demeanor when I walk into Court, it's Nobles, military Officers, private sector and corporate reps, etc.? They are Imps, i'm not impressed by them, but if the give me cash ill fakes it. 7. How good is my B.S. meter today? Its all BS, so im good from the get go 8. What are my reactions to the Nobility of the Third Imperium? CBF'd about these Imps 9. Will I lie for Artemis Group? Omit details? Be totally honest and forthright? Fall on my belly and grovel and placate? With the pay i'm getting, i wont say shit against my bosses. 10. Be social with those who want to speak with me before, during and after formalities? 11. Do I know or know of: Duke of Lunion, Duchess of Mora, the Viscounts of Lanth, the LSP Rep, the local Naval Admiral, the Imperial Naval Intelligence Officer, the IISS subsector Commodore, etc.? dont think i know any of them 12. What is my attitude to the late Col. Robertson? sounded like a kool boss, but i never knew him. 13. What is my loyalty to Isis? She's one of the crew as far as i know, And she has never done wrong by me, so i will stand by her for what its worth.

Well, obviously, we tell them we’re there for ordinance disposal, find out what the protocol is, and follow it. I’m sure there’s been plenty of that over the recent years, what with the war and all. The only real confirmation we have is that, if we jettison it into Jump Space, “it won’t be our problem anymore”. Whether it then becomes someone else’s problem has not been made clear; and nor should it , because Jump Space is so poorly understood. To Charoux, this isn’t a solution; it’s rolling the dice on whether to pass the buck. Pay or not, he wants the job done right , if only so he can rest well at night afterwards; pullers are the last thing you want to have nightmares about... So, anyone who wants to come with, fine. Anyone who doesn’t, well, can babysit construction of the new ship for a while. Or whatever. Of course, Charoux will need some backup with him when we turn away from the Black Hole to do the Recon mission...

Strictly speaking, just now, Isis is not part of the Crew; she’s technically our employer , and has volunteered to take up some of her old duties in the meantime. How she’ll feel about coming back as Crew in such a Zhodani & Psionic hostile environment remains to be seen.

When the board votes on sending a party off to the black hole, Jacob will vote against it for all the reasons we've already outlined here. If he's outvoted, he'd still raise a number of questions and concerns about how this would work out. For example: What are we going to do with the ark (and/or Dr. Simone) while we are at Court at Lunion? What's the price tag for this excursion going to be like? Is it really wise to take the ark off with a smaller crew in a smaller and less well armed vessel?

Read the Warrant again, TT.  Isis is named in it.  She, Sebastein, Gevaudan and any declared crew are summoned.  They don't get a choice other than to become wanted subpoena dodgers in contempt of Court.  Everyone listed on the Warrant reports transmitted to the Nobles by Sebastien is known to be aboard the Ares .   We just need Dr. SIMOne to agree to play dead, fallen since Sebastien's most recent report.  And we need Sebastien to stop reporting for a little space, window enough to let Charoux abscond with the Ark Rimward. The rest of us need to help Artemis keep all eyes on them, Maarg, Isis, the Ares , Zenobia and Bobvh to act as Charoux’s smoke screen so he has at least headstart enough to make it to the black hole. This is starting to sound like Lord of The Rings .

So is the idea for Charoux to take off before we go to Court? If so, what are the rest of us going to say to the Nobles? To Sebastien?  And how would that work in terms of getting a ship? Gev's ship wouldn't be done by the time we get to Lunion, would it? And even if it was, Sebastien is the one who put the orders in, so he knows about the vessel. Again, unless I misunderstand, this plan would also require at least Gev, and potentially additional members of the crew, to join Charoux as fugitives by failing to present themselves at Court. If I'm understanding this plan correctly, it's going to betray Sebastien's trust and get him in hot water with his Liege, almost certainly turning him into an enemy. Please tell me I'm wrong in what I'm saying here.

It means Charoux becomes a Passenger, a Gentleman Traveller, by himself to the black hole.  It means he takes up his alias identity as Tad Wellington and sly and sleaze his way alone as the rest of us go to Court.  It means he charters passage Rimward.  Gev is going to Court and not jeopardizing our Tickets.

Well, that's not qutie as self-injurious as I thought. Even more risky than I thought, though.

We can simply say that one of us is off toward the black hole to destroy the thing. Let them know that we made a decision about it on behalf of every sentient being who would rather not be turned into a brain dead zombie. I'm sure they'll understand.  Personally though, I thought it would have been better to send someone more expendable. Charoux's skills would be extreamly helpful locating Maarg while we wait for the ship to get sorted out. 

Post-Tenaphi:  Any Artemis character with Psychology or Sophontology skill can now read Gevaudan's body language and demeanor.  He wants  to attend Court.  There is a good chance he will speak out of turn, say the wrong thing at the worst time or generally bite the hand that greets him.

Anybody else see those storm clouds gathering?

Well, I'd say it's about crunch time, boys and girls. We're two jumps out from Lunion. I think we're all agreed on getting rid of the ark before we go to Court, so we're going to have to choose: Either drop the thing into jump space within the next two jumps, or send somebody off on a fool's errand to the asshole of the Marches to insert the thing as a wholly non-above-the-counter suppository.  I'm all for tossing the damned thing out the airlock in our next jump. I've done the science, and I guarantee that it will be safe for us and it will be permanent for the ark. Science has also determined that psionic effects in jump space cannot effect real spacetime. For obvious reasons, nobody has tested to see if psionics can reach out from inside a black hole. I know that our CEO has voiced some concerns, so you'll have to decide whose opinion on jump space and space science you trust, your Chief Engineer's and space scientist or Charoux's. He can tell you his academic credentials. If we decide to toss the crystal out into jump space, we move on to Lunion, turn the psi-corps officers over to either the nobles or the Naval Intelligence rep. Either way, we get to actually tell everybody the truth in preparation for or visit to Court. If we really think that there's something else we can get from the psi-cops, we can interrogate them before we hand them over. If they're not freezer-burned vegetables already. Preferably, I'd just as soon as hand them over still frozen and let somebody else deal with defrosting them and debriefing them. I'm not going to make the case for the black hole gambit. I think it's a waste of time and resources with a significantly smaller chance of success. Should I get out-voted, however, we're going to have to consider how we want to handle a few of additional issues. It's a long way to 627-301. Is it safe to send one person off with something so dangerous/valuable? Best solution to that would be to send more of us or to hire merc's/bodyguards. Of course, that may complicate stealth and can have its own risks. However many people we send, those of us who don't go will have to explain the absence(s) to first Sebastien, who is likely to less than pleased, and then by the officials at Court. Obviously, we can try to talk our way out of that, although we will have alienated our current face man at that point, so it would probably have to be Hane and me pleading our case. Not sure if the Dame would help or hurt our case. No offense, Gev. Assuming we manage to avoid any major repercussions for our companion(s) who take it on the lamb, we have to go off to Wypoc down some number of hands. Best solution to that would be (again) to send more of us or to hire merc's/bodyguards. Of course, that may complicate stealth and can have its own risks. After both of these missions, of course, we need to get back together. I guess back at Lunion would make the most sense, as we'll need to head back there to get our new ship once it's ready. Unfortunately, whoever skipped out on Court in the first place might have to either go in and try to get squared away legally, or they might become fugitives on and around Lunion at the very least. Hmmm. On the other hand, if there were a bounty on the black hole team...

Well .... to minimize the potential for disaster we need to reduce unknown factors. As far as the Jump space option goes the science seems to be in. And if something does go horribly wrong then it goes wrong in jump space - separate from the rest of the universe. Plus if something does go wrong it's all Crow's fault. ☺ It looks like there are more unknowns in the Black Hole plan. Plenty could happen during the three month trip toward the black hole. The entire Spinward Marches is still an "amber zone". Every jump is an additional moving part that On top of that 627-301 is interdicted, so the chance of being intercepted is pretty high. 

Pakkrat, how do we know , for certain , with the abomination out in Jump-Space, no one’s Jump Course would ever intersect it? Or are we merely talking low probability here? How do we know , for certain , that it won’t merely exit Jump Space in some other unknowable time or place? Charoux’s not willing to let this sort of thing be anyone else’s fault but his; he’s assumed this sort of risk before, and he’ll do it again if he has to. If Crow wants to own screwing up ground ops, that’s fine by Charoux, since Charoux can barely wave a laser pistol around. But dealing with rogue tech is what Charoux does, and he already knows how it feels to screw that up, and he wouldn’t wish it on anyone else. I’m also not seeing how this problem could be solved Psionically; it’s not going to be enough to merely deactivate or drain the thing, it has to be destroyed, and I don’t imagine the Psi Corps using non-atomic matter as their targets for attack training...

well do do know black holes evaporate and with the time dilatation effects it could come out the other side as  pristine as it goes in, also If Hawkings radiation leeks out of a black hole, why would we be sure the psionic effect of GLT would be held. Also we know little of black holes and where everything goes, remember there are still theories that say that they are a worm hole to white holes( possible evidence of a white hole was discovered last year). The fact is we cant be sure of any thing, Has any one tried to Nuke it? or used C4 tdx on it? and well if anti matter doesn't kill it, nothing will. Leaving it in hyperspace at least keeps it out of our universe. If we do leave it in hyperspace yer it might be found and then it also might be used to start all that trouble the Zodani are having with that wave of Psi energy ripping their empire apart. Or it  could ripple back in time and stop life from ever  existing. Going into a war zone with an ancient artifact is suicide, you will be scanned boarded and searched, If found with that object you will never be seen from again, If our Psionc foe finds you with it he gets the best to of his life. The Imps will use it to fuck themselves up or try touse it on the Zodani. The Sword welder's would use it on the Imps or Darians, The Darians  would use it on the Sword worlds and the Zodani and Marrg would use it on every one. Having it in our possession is Just NUTS, it leaves us a massive target and if we get court there will be no Ares , Atrimus corp  and we will all be imprisoned or shot(character re-roll time). If we could hire a lab with all the right gear and test the shit out of it to find a weakness that would fine but i doubt that would be available. so pros V cons, in my opinion its hyperspace. 

Just my 2 cents worth while we're waiting for Pakkrat to chime in regarding Jump space. Jump travel is the only known means by which a vessel may travel faster than the speed of light. To Jump, a ship creates a bubble of hyperspace by means of injecting high-energy exotic particles into an artificial singularity. The singularity is driven out of our universe, creating a tiny parallel universe which is then blown up like a balloon by injecting hydrogen into it. The Jump bubble is folded around the ship, carrying it into the little pocket universe. This new universe is short-lived, and will eventually collapse, precipitating the ship back into normal space several light-years from its original position So pretending that space is only 2 dimensional for a moment, Jumpdrives seem to do something that looks like this: So while you're in Jumpspace you're in your own "tiny parallel universe" as per the description in the rules. This little universe "eventually collapse" and dump the ship back out into the real universe.   So based on the solid cannon description of how jump works, the little area of space that you create when you go into Jump - "Jump Space" - eventually ceases to exist. It's a temporary bit of space that is surrounded by absolute nothingness. So you've pinched off a piece of the universe that existis outside the rest of the universe. The little bubble universe that you live in while jumping that lasts about a week. After that it's gone - back as a part of the actual universe along with the ship I guess?  So jumping out the airlock while in jump space and floating out beyond the border between your little bubble of jump space and nothingness doesn't mean you start floating around in "Jump Space". You're leaving space and entering into non-existence. Past the border of that jump bubble is absolute nothingness (correct me if this doesn't fit Pakkrat). No laws of physics. No such thing as "space" or "time" or "matter" or "energy". Going past the threshold doesn't mean entering into a new area. It means leaving existence. From what I understand of Traveller canon it means utter destruction. Matter passing outside the jump bubble no longer exists in space or time.  

Wolfen said: Made me spit my coffee. Some came out my nose. 

VIC e. said: well do do know black holes evaporate and with the time dilatation effects it could come out the other side as  pristine as it goes in, also If Hawkings radiation leeks out of a black hole, why would we be sure the psionic effect of GLT would be held. Again, Hawking Radiation doesn’t leak out of the Black Hole. It’s created outside of it. According to accepted theories, anyway. Also, only the tiny Black Holes evaporate. The larger ones grow . Alby said: Matter passing outside the jump bubble no longer exists in space or time. Yeah, that’s the thing... Matter ceases to exist... the kind we know about ... atomic matter. We know this thing has mass, so we know it will get stuck in a Black Hole... We don’t know what a Jump Field will do to it. I’d rather leverage an actual physical property we know it has.

So we take it to a black hole and have a huge chance of the IMP's taking it. not to mention we are suppose to go to Lunion. i think we have little choice as we are low on time, and we cant risk a solo player being intercepted.

While in a fantasy genre game, the characters who use divine magic can sometimes ask the gods for advice, direction or intervention - directly, by avatar or by a proxy; this is not so easy in a science-fiction genre where yes, science can and frequently breaks down due to our current understanding and technological capability.  Math can fail too. Cry out "Not Fair!" all you like.  In a science-fiction universe, you don't get answers from the powers that be.  You do the same thing that neanderthals and all who came afterwards have done:  trial and error.   You can call up, OOCly, any "Real World" references you want.  This is Traveller .  Suck it up. Cuz there ain't no changes coming up in 1110.  If this shared, imaginitive group-field we call storytelling or gaming is too esoteric for 'travellers', there is the airlock door. If Marvel can have adamantium,  James Cameron can have unobtanium , Star Trek can have dilithium, then  Travellers can have zuchai crystals and psionics.  It's a game.  Reality is out that airlock door.  We're here to have fun.

hahaha yep agreed

Pakkrat said:  We're here to have fun Agreed. Although sometimes the pseudo-intellectual masturbatory rantings are a part of the fun too. I've noticed on the "Citizens of the Imperium" forum things get humorous when nerdy folk start flexing their brain muscles for each other. What makes it funny is the silliness of arguing scientifically over things that current science barely has a grasp on. Even sillier when they're talking about things that are pure fantasy like jump drives and grav vehicles.  Some things are solid in game canon and science, but some things we have to do a bit of hand waving with. Learning to live with that and have fun is an important part of this game I feel.  So whatever way we go with this, we're going to be crystal-less when we get to court.  Maybe we need to start talking about being android-less? It came up in the meta that we could declare Simone legally dead so that she'd not have to come to court. Having been shot up at Tenalphi provides a great opportunity for that. Switch her off, and have the replacement medical officer check her pulse. No pulse? Sign that death certificate. Then we can switch her on again. 

The problem is I'm unsure that Dr. Simone would be willing to play dead, that whole plan requires Simone to be willing to listen. But the HUGE plus sign in that plan is that if Simone is "dead" then she can take the crystal with her till we've left Lunion. Or, we know that Simone is highly skilled, she could take it to the black hole, and I'd feel with much more comfortable with Simone taking to the black hole rather than Charoux, Charoux is one of the most important persons to Artemis, when it comes to the public image. If Charoux wasn't there it'd be much worse in court than if Simone was gone. Edit: Fixed a typo

Alby said: Wolfen said: Made me spit my coffee. Some came out my nose.  Then my work here is done.

Next Meta Project:  List the cast, PCs and NPCs in descending order from high society to lower classes.  So I can know on what order to have each character escorted into Court and announced.  Don't rely too heavily on Social Standing.  Try merits, medals, past accomplishments and other public or research data on a character to generate the guest list.

If Charoux has to leave with the Artifact, he can “show up” via StandIn...

Here's a stab at the order. I specifically didn't include all of our various commendations and accomplishments. I figure we can fill those in, if needed.  Marquis Sebastien Maddox of Lunion, Commissioner of the Lunion Exchequerie Emeritus and Master of Argentill Admiral Galen (Retired) of the Darrian Navy and Honored Envoy of the Darrian Confederation Dame Qithka Cannagrrh, Blooded Fang of Dzen Aeng Kho (the Society of Equals) , Honorary Order of Gvadakoung, Correspondent for Kfan Uzangou ("White Fangs" ) magazine -accompanied by her attaché Uthka Varzeekh, Vargr Unequal of Dzen Aeng Kho (Society of Equals), Senior Scout Gevaudan Cannagrrh, Equal Vargr Dzen Aeng Kho (the Society of Equals), and Captain of the Mercenary Cruiser Ares Captain Jacob Crow of the Imperial Navy, Rhylanor Subsector, Chief Engineer and Gunnery Chief of the Mercenary Cruiser Ares Former Agent Larzamonte Charoux of the Darrian Confederation, CEO of Artemis Group Petty Officer Jeff Scardack of the Imperial Navy, District 268 Subsector, (Retired), Ares Gunner and Remote Ops Officer Force Commander Kayleb Groughtk, Imperial Marines, (Retired), Ares Security Officer and Engineer's Mate Mister Hane Meson, Imperial Citizen and Primary Shareholder in Artemis Group Mister Izek Mazel, citizen of the Darrian Confederation, Small Craft Pilot and Steward aboard the Ares Professor Isis, Zhodani Ex-Patriate and Former Instructor and Mentor at the Wypoc Naval Intelligence Facility Captain Zenobia Manes, Imperial Naval Intelligence Operative I don't know if all of the ranks are completely accurate, and I have no idea of Zenobia's rank. Naturally, the dearly departed Dr. Simone isn't included.

Seems good. I would have thought Hane would be higher, but he's a bit of a mystery man to me. I'n not sure what role he plays on board other than he owns a lot of the ship. I would have thought owning the ship would have put him above a red shirt like Kayleb. 

Jumpspace 020-1110... Much later after the Dame is recovered enough to be moved to her bed in the Observation deck of the Ares, Uthka Varzeekh advises Gevaudan Cannagrrh in the Owner’s Suite. As the Dame Qithka sleeps deeply, recovering from her grievous wounds, Uthka is nervously shuffling her crystal tarot deck, her clawed hands trembling slightly. She seems at first worried for her Dame. When Gevaudan’s placard, the Six of Wands, accidentally falls to the floor and she picks it up ‘inverted’, she shows it to the white-furred Pilot-Astrogator. The middle-aged Vargr female declares, “Six of Wands, do not take your decorations and ego with you to Court on Lunion. No one is going to care.” Has Uthka’s precognition detected that something will happen there?  Gevaudan seems to take heed for a full minute, then returns to his flat-eared and worried vigil over his recovering Sister-Dame. Witness silently captures the warning from its forgotten place on the deck.

Jumpspace 022-1110... Seeking privacy from the rest of the crew in the white noise of the ship’s galley, Gevaudan Cannagrrh and Prof. Isis break the dire news to Zenobia Manes of the cryoberth death of her Psion apprentice, Bobvh Nain.  Bobvh died in his sleep as the power to his emergency cryoberth failed during the Dragvendel Resurgence Front terrorist attack on Tenalphi Sky Harbour.  The umbilical power to the station failed and the power loss killed the sleeping apprentice.  Zenobia survived in the adjacent berth because she instinctively initiated her psionic Talent of awareness: suspend animation which saved her life. In the noisy galley of the Ares, the Captain and Isis speak to Zenobia with words of condolences.  Zenobia is the last of her class of Psi-Corps to be allowed to engage in missions for the Imperial Naval Intelligence and hopefully prove that psionics has a place in the Third Imperium.  Gestures of blame, sorrow and moving forward can be seen in the ship’s security cameras at the Comms board on the Bridge.  Gevaudan looks chastised with his gaze downward and his ears flat.  Isis appears to explain the situation to Zenobia.  Then Isis escorts the sorrowful, sobbing Zenobia to her stateroom in Female Country on Cargo Deck 1.

Jumpspace 025-1110... Allowed to examine the Ancients artifact, the Psion ladies, Professor Isis, Psi-Corps Operative Zenobia Manes and personal attaché Uthka Varzeekh sit down in the Mess Deck for high tea. No words are spoken as treats, utensils and napkins are set out around the strange crystalline spindle. Silently, the Zhodani, the Imperium Operative and the Extents Vargr consider the strange Ark. No words are spoken as each eats a snack or sips tea. Uthka consults both her crystal tarot cards and the leaves at the bottom of her new I (heart) Tea cup. Without warning, the high tea is concluded, the ladies clean up and having never touched the strange Heart of the Many, conclude their gathering after only thirty minutes. Elsewhere on the Ares, the psi-squealers are silenced after alarming for the past 25 minutes.  

Well, I was going to have them do the their boil, boil, toil and trouble thing in the airlock, just in case, but as long as nothing dire happened, it's all good. So, what's the prognosis?

Alby said: Seems good. I would have thought Hane would be higher, but he's a bit of a mystery man to me. I'n not sure what role he plays on board other than he owns a lot of the ship. I would have thought owning the ship would have put him above a red shirt like Kayleb.  I originally had Hane higher up, but Pakkrat specifically said that this was more about public accolades and reputation. Hane keeps a very low profile, so I dropped down. The exact opposite was the case with Charoux; while he generally also tries to stay on the down low, his public position as CEO of Artemis Group shoves him right center-stage in this particular theatre.  As for Kayleb, and the other decorated veterans of our crew, I over-weighted their military service as a plus, since the Court will be meeting in the Imperium not far from the front lines of not-dead-yet war. That said, if anybody strongly feel that I've goofed up, I'm all ears.

Zenobia is a Field Agent/2 which is Agent-speak for her real rank of Captain/2 of the Psi-Corps.  She is authorized to command small units of Imperial Naval Intelligence into the field.  As we have seen from the Bowman Incident, only she and Bobvh Nain of her unit sent to Alpha moon survived the Puller Syndrome.  If announced at something formal such as Court, she would indeed be 'Officer' as she is not publicly known as a Psi-Corps Psion.  On records, Zenobia is listed as an Imperium Naval Intelligence Officer.  She would provide this information upon NDA.

Wolfen said: So, what's the prognosis? * Kayleb mutters * Does it matter? Weren't we cooking up an elaborate plan to destroy the thing? Why are we playing with it?

Why were Zenobia and Bob not moved to a more suitable cryoberth at the first available opportunity? I suppose that was technically Simone’s (Bob’s) job?

I know there was a solid plan to upgrade their accommodation, but I'm guessing the attack on Telalphi took place before we could sort it out. It's not like we were in a rush to sort it out. We had cool junk to buy!

Whomever is stopped, the female of the Psion trio will report, "Toss it out the airlock and make sure it strikes the jump field bubble.  Oh, and don't look at the bright fireworks immediately after.  Jeff would understand."  At that, the ladies will retire to either Female Country or the Observation Deck and Owner's Suite. Someone has to go EVA by standing in the Air/raft bay, sling the Ark far enough from the hull of the ship so that it strikes the jump field bubble.  Volunteers?  There is room inside the Air/raft bay to observe, along for the ride so to speak.  Cameras and other sensors can be focused on that part of the hull.  Witness will at least want to be recording the event, though the Dame will not be strong enough to leave Observation.  She will whisper to her brother to take her place in commentating the action.

"Well ... as the ship's most expendable crew member ... I guess I'm the volunteer. Let me go get changed into my HEV."

Tenacious Techhunter said: Why were Zenobia and Bob not moved to a more suitable cryoberth at the first available opportunity? I suppose that was technically Simone’s (Bob’s) job? Great question. I agree that it would have been Dr. Simone's responsibility by default, but I don't even know if Bob was actually aware that the psions were frozen. I had intended to deal with their accommodations while we were at Tenalphi, but we didn't get the chance. :(

Alby said: "Well ... as the ship's most expendable crew member ... I guess I'm the volunteer. Let me go get changed into my HEV." Actually, Izek is the new guy... Seriously, though, I wouldn't force anybody to take a risk like this. My idea, my risk. But first, is there any reason I can't just jury-rig a Rube Goldberg device to toss it out the airlock?

More importantly, what is the basis for their advice? Settling for being told what to do was a trap we were deliberately trying to avoid. What is the justification for this plan being something that will actually work ?

Wolfen said: Tenacious Techhunter said: Why were Zenobia and Bob not moved to a more suitable cryoberth at the first available opportunity? I suppose that was technically Simone’s (Bob’s) job? Great question. I agree that it would have been Dr. Simone's responsibility by default, but I don't even know if Bob was actually aware that the psions were frozen. I had intended to deal with their accommodations while we were at Tenalphi, but we didn't get the chance. :( When would that first opportunity have been?

Wolfen said: Alby said: "Well ... as the ship's most expendable crew member ... I guess I'm the volunteer. Let me go get changed into my HEV." Actually, Izek is the new guy... Seriously, though, I wouldn't force anybody to take a risk like this. My idea, my risk. But first, is there any reason I can't just jury-rig a Rube Goldberg device to toss it out the airlock? Assuming we get some verifiable justification for executing firing it into the Jump Bubble, we can pack it into a sandcaster load and fire it off that way. Initially I was thinking of a missile, but there’s a negligible chance the technology could get hijacked. A sandcaster load has no real technology to manipulate; it’s just a bunch of fancy gunpowder and sand.

Well the best science we have says the Jump bubble is the best way to destroy the thing. Other plans seem to be raging against the best information we have.  ... and if it won't fit into a sandcaster, a robot could simply toss it out.  * get's changed back out of his HEV *

Science would be: “We’ve tagged a sample of this material, thrown it against a jump bubble, and scoured every conceivable when and where it could have precipitated out of Jump-Space, according to the widest possible interpretation of current Jump-Space Theory. No remains of the material tested were found. Additional tests have produced the same result under a reasonably wide variety of conditions. Therefore, we have valid scientific grounds to believe that this material will be destroyed by a Jump Bubble under reasonably similar circumstances.” Here’s what we’re doing (so far, without additional feedback): “Let’s take this mystery doodad that doesn’t behave like atomic matter, and try and destroy it with a technique only known to work with atomic matter . Maybe we’ll get lucky, and it will be destroyed for the sake of our happiness!” See why Charoux doesn’t like this plan? It’s jumping to a conclusion based on a premise we know to be false.

Same could happen in the black hole. And I think the science is actually "beyond the jump bubble is absolute nothingness. Seeing that no object can exist in absolute nothingness, it will cease to exist and be utterly destroyed. In the thousands of years that jump drives have been used in known space, this fact is solidly established." Cpt. Crow, the guy on board who knows jump space better than anyone, has an opinion worth listening to.  That, and the psions think we should toss it through the jump bubble. Kayleb wouldn't really care much for their advice, but it does mean that both science and meta science are saying the same thing - jump ejection is the way to go.  Yeah we may be baffled by our inability to measure it's spectra lines, but that simply means our cave man tools can't examine it. It's still an object with mass that exists in time and space. Sending it outside the universe where those things don't exist would mean that it would also cease to exist.  The black hole, on the other hand, would pull the thing apart before it came close to the event horizon ( spaghettification ). So it would technically be "opened" long before it was destroyed. 

No, the Black Hole operates based on mass; this thing clearly has mass, since it doesn’t float around like a neutrally buoyant balloon, so that’s not a problem. There may be a baked-in assumption there about those “objects” being made of atomic matter. Without an experiment of an equivalent material to back that statement up, it’s just speculation. Also, don’t forget that the damn thing is Psionic, and may have expanded the Psionic ability to teleport to manipulate a Jump Field for a Jump. Yeah, spaghettification is a potential problem. In our favor is how quickly spaghettification takes place, and time dilation, which would slow down the period between “pull” psi-casts. That gives us plenty of time to fire a bomb-pumped laser at the Black Hole to expand it quickly enough to engulf the thing past the Event Horizon, instead of just being stuck on the edge for eternity.