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[Iris]

The discovery of steam power in the mid 18th century drastically revolutionized the world. Now, in the year 1873, great ships of brass sail the aether between the planets and ride the currents from star to star. Mankind has settled many other planets, from the jungles of Venus to the endless mountains of Bistrorix, but there remains much to be explored. There are plenty of opportunities among the stars.


You look out of the observation windows of the aetherport, watching the ships go by and drift along in a stately manner. There is a wide variety of them, from polished and gleaming transports to battered freighters that look like they were last cleaned years ago. Soon one of them will be yours.

The terms of the loan are still fresh in your memory - $500,000 repaid over a year at 144% monthly. You pay nearly $500,000 more in interest. You almost had a heart attack when you saw the numbers but these were the best terms you could secure. How you are going to pay remains a mystery.

There are three ships you can afford with your new money.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Kipper is an entry-level interceptor from Bellatrix Shipyards and Manufacturing. It is little more than an upscaled fighter, with two light cannons and basic thrusters that expel steam directly to generate movement. It is not very advisable to operate one anywhere near a combat zone if it is avoidable. For those who need weapons and cannot afford anything better, however, it enjoys mixed popularity.

The Nile is the smallest freighter developed by the Interplanetary Company Yards for their trade fleet, which they have graciously made available for general purchase. It is slow for a ship of its size but has a decent cargo capacity to compensate. They are often a target for pirates due to their light armament.

The Apollo is a general-purpose vessel constructed by Flint Heavy Manufacturing, equally good at carrying passengers and a fair bit of cargo. They are quite fast and agile, but not very capable in a fight.

If you like, you may also determine your gender and appearance.

[ZBridges]

I like The Apollo because it is versatile in how it can be used to make money, and also because it has a good bit of agility to escape hostile ships.

[flabort]

Go for the Apollo.

You are a butch lady, gruff around the edges and buff. Your overalls are grease stained, and your hands are wrapped in bandages from getting nicks on machinery. There is at least one wrench sticking out of your pockets at all times, and you have a steam powered brace on your right leg to assist your movement, since you shattered your kneecap in a boiler explosion incident during your schooling; this ship probably isn't a wise investment considering you still have student loans as well, but at least you are an accomplished mechanic, and the confidence you have in your skill shows by your swagger and no-nonsense attitude; also, in the little hand made doohickeys you adorn your clothes with, just little steam curiosities that do nothing, but you like to display them.

[Maximum Spin]

Counterpoint: escorting freighters is a more skilled profession than hauling, so one would expect it to pay more. Kipper.

I would prefer literally anything but the backstory flabort just said. How about let's be a steam-based automaton or a 12-year-old anime protagonist or something. 12-year-old steam-cyborg anime protagonist. Yeah, that's it.

[Funk]

Go for the Apollo.

You are a butch lady, gruff around the edges and buff. Your overalls are grease stained, and your hands are wrapped in bandages from getting nicks on machinery. There is at least one wrench sticking out of your pockets at all times, and you have a steam powered brace on your right leg to assist your movement, since you shattered your kneecap in a boiler explosion incident during your schooling; this ship probably isn't a wise investment considering you still have student loans as well, but at least you are an accomplished mechanic, and the confidence you have in your skill shows by your swagger and no-nonsense attitude; also, in the little hand made doohickeys you adorn your clothes with, just little steam curiosities that do nothing, but you like to display them.

+1

[Secretdorf]

Counterpoint: escorting freighters is a more skilled profession than hauling, so one would expect it to pay more. Kipper.

I would prefer literally anything but the backstory flabort just said. How about let's be a steam-based automaton or a 12-year-old anime protagonist or something. 12-year-old steam-cyborg anime protagonist. Yeah, that's it.

+1

[Glass]

Can we split the difference and have the cyborg anime protagonist in the Apollo?

[Secretdorf]

Can we split the difference and have the cyborg anime protagonist in the Apollo?

Yes I think that would be better.

[Screech9791]

Counterpoint: escorting freighters is a more skilled profession than hauling, so one would expect it to pay more. Kipper.

I would prefer literally anything but the backstory flabort just said. How about let's be a steam-based automaton or a 12-year-old anime protagonist or something. 12-year-old steam-cyborg anime protagonist. Yeah, that's it.

+1

[Funk]

Can we split the difference and have the cyborg anime protagonist in the Apollo?

Yes I think that would be better.

+1 cyborg power!

[Gwolfski]

How about an Eastern European man with a shaved head and facial scars, with an unknown background to not make the GM go mad

I'd also go for the Apollo

[Enemy post]

How about an Eastern European man with a shaved head and facial scars, with an unknown background to not make the GM go mad

I'd also go for the Apollo

+1

[A_Curious_Cat]

Can we split the difference and have the cyborg anime protagonist in the Apollo?

Yes I think that would be better.

+1 cyborg power!

+1

[Prophet]

How about an Eastern European man with a shaved head and facial scars, with an unknown background to not make the GM go mad

I'd also go for the Apollo

+1

+1

[Iris]

Okay, the most popular suggestion seems to be '12-year-old steam-cyborg anime protagonist' with the Apollo. For sanity's sake, I've taken the liberty to edit this while keeping to the 'spirit' of the suggestion.


You're a young woman - twenty years old, to be exact. You have a slight frame, and you look much younger than your years. You used to play with your steam-arm and pretend you were a cyborg when you were younger. You lost the old one in an accident in the factory you worked in, while you were little, earning extra money for the household.

You have decided to purchase the Apollo. After the money has changed hands, you are left with $80,000.

You also take a pass at the aetherport's publicly posted job board. Looking for the ones you can fill with your ship gives you a few choices. Of course, there may be other ways to pay the bills...

Spoiler: Job List (click to show/hide)

• Carry 2 passengers to Doveport (3 systems away)
• Carry 8 lots of steam components to Hoilia (2 systems away)
• Carry 3 lots of opium to Xiani (2 systems away) (NOTE: dubious legality)
• Carry 5 passengers to Sarilla (4 systems away)
• Carry 6 lots of munitions to Hoilia (2 systems away) (NOTE: explosive)

Spoiler: Ship Status (click to show/hide)

Name: ?
Type: Apollo (Transport)
Cargo Capacity: 0/20
Passenger and Crew Capacity: 1/6

Fittings:
Power Plant: Small Steam Boiler, Small 2-Piston Engine
Weapons: None
Propulsion: Small Aether-Propeller (x2), Small Steering Fin
Systems: Deployable Aether-Sail

Propulsion Mountings: 3/3
Weapon Mountings: 0/1
Turret Mountings: 0/0