[Ship Maintenance Hangar to Juno Terminal 'June': Derelict Light Transport 'Washington' logs heavily damaged due to age and neglect. Partial recovery follows]
[----Heavily damaged section missing----]
[Light Transport 'Washington' to Hotaf Royal Family Palace:
This is Captain Dyer of the 'Washington'. We will be taking over outer rim materials retrieval tasks after the decommissioning of the 'Puddle Jumper'. Please let us know your requirements at your earliest convenience]
[Hotaf Royal Family Palace to Light Transport 'Washington':
This is Chief-of-staff Fuller. I will be your liaison to the palace.
{Requirements are:
* High-demand elements:
- Osmium
- Ruthenium
- Rhodium
* Medium-demand elements:
- Nickel
- Iridium
- Palladium
- Platinum
- Gold
- Magnesium
It may be more efficient to take a refiner with you, but if you are not equipped for one, refining stations are available in Hotaf orbit for a fee}]
[Light Transport 'Washington' to Hotaf Royal Family Palace:
Acknowledged, Fuller. 'Washington' heading to the outer rim]
[----Small damaged section missing----]
[Hotaf Royal Family Palace to Light Transport 'Washington':
This is Chief-of-staff Fuller. Thank you for your prompt delivery and courteous service. We were sorry to hear about the 'Puddle Jumper' leaving active service, but it appears that you will be an adequate replacement]
[Light Transport 'Washington' to Hotaf Royal Family Palace:
Acknowledged, Fuller. It was a genuine pleasure to meet you in person. I look forward to working with you in the future. 'Washington' heading to the outer rim]
[----Small damaged section missing----]
[Hotaf Royal Family Palace to Light Transport 'Washington':
This is Chief-of-staff Fuller. Thank you for your delivery. It is regretful that your visits to Hotaf are so brief]
[Light Transport 'Washington' to Hotaf Royal Family Palace:
Agreed, Fuller. Maybe I should endeavor to get ahead of my delivery schedule? If I had a reason to spend some time on Hotaf, that is]
[Hotaf Royal Family Palace to Light Transport 'Washington':
I've heard of a nice little spice shop in the capital. I always intended to try their afternoon menu, but haven't had anyone to accompany me there yet]
[Light Transport 'Washington' to Hotaf Royal Family Palace:
It's a date. I'm looking forward to it. 'Washington' heading to the outer rim]
[----Small damaged section missing----]
[Sub-light message from Hotaf to Light Transport 'Washington':
- Sender: Ameli Fuller
- Recipient: Captain Noran Dyer
- Contents:
Hello, Noran. Hate these one-way communiqués when you're out on the edges of the system. Priority message from the palace. Deliveries from homeworld are behind schedule, so your retrieval requirements have changed:
{Requirements are:
* 10% _Minimum_ of each payload must be H2O Ice
* High-demand elements:
- Osmium
- Ruthenium
- Rhodium
* 70% _Maximum_ of each payload may be medium-demand elements:
- Iridium
- Palladium
- Platinum
- Gold
- Magnesium
You may need a refiner to process materials in place. Transferring raw materials to Hotaf for processing will cause delays}
Stay safe up there. Keep an eye out for Dread Pirate Bright and her evil minions, haha. -Ameli]
[----Small damaged section missing----]
[Sub-light message from Hotaf to Light Transport 'Washington':
- Sender: Ameli Fuller
- Recipient: Captain Noran Dyer
- Contents:
My dearest Noran,
I'm beginning to _loathe_ working at the palace. The Helper-bots lord their Imperial authority over us servants. They're even acting as the sole staff members that can enter the inner palace. I haven't even _seen_ a member of the Family in weeks. What am I even working here for? I should have taken your advice and gone to piloting school. There's always work in the outer rim. It wouldn't be so lonely if we were both out there, together. Far less lonely than me being stuck here without you.
Miss you lots. Stay safe. -Ameli]
[----Small damaged section missing----]
[Sub-light message from Hotaf to Light Transport 'Washington':
- Sender: Ameli Fuller
- Recipient: Captain Noran Dyer
- Contents:
Darling! Good news! Well, bad news and good news. Bad news first: Retrieval requirements have changed, again! According to the schedule, you should be over half-way done with this trip, but I'm afraid you're probably going to have to dump some of your cargo.
{Requirements are:
* 50% _Minimum_ of each payload must be H2O Ice
* High-demand elements:
- Osmium
- Ruthenium
- Rhodium
* 20% _Maximum_ of each payload may be medium-demand elements:
- Palladium
- Platinum
- Gold
- Magnesium
You may need a refiner to process materials in place. Transferring raw materials to Hotaf for processing will cause delays}
That's the bad news. The GOOD news is that the palace is letting some of us visit the GARDEN for Saint Erma's Day! And I can bring a guest! AND THAT GUEST WILL BE YOU!
So get your butt into gear and fulfill the new requirements so you can be back here in time!
Stay safe. Love you lots. -Ameli]
[----Small damaged section missing----]
[Hotaf Royal Family Palace to Light Transport 'Washington':
I wanted to speak with you before you left, but you are already heading to the outer rim. Why did you have to be so efficient _today?_]
[Light Transport 'Washington' to Hotaf Royal Family Palace:
The sooner I head out, the sooner I'll be back! What's so important?]
[Hotaf Royal Family Palace to Light Transport 'Washington':
I went to Medical this morning, as I was feeling under the weather. The results are in: I'm pregnant. It's a girl. You're going to be a father!]
[Light Transport 'Washington' to Hotaf Royal Family Palace:
I'm turning around right now!]
[Hotaf Royal Family Palace to Light Transport 'Washington':
[Don't! The palace is being unusually strict on materials deliveries! I'll see you when you get back. We'll celebrate then! I love you. Be safe]
[Light Transport 'Washington' to Hotaf Royal Family Palace:
I love you too. This is going to be the fastest materials retrieval yet. I'm going to set all the records! 'Washington' heading to the outer rim]
[Sub-light message from Hotaf to Light Transport 'Washington':
- Sender: Ameli Fuller
- Recipient: Captain Noran Dyer
- Contents:
I have sad news.
I have miscarried.
Medical is citing my age as a possible reason. Maybe I am too old to have another child? I don't know what to do. I know you dreamed of starting a family together.
Don't rush back. Be careful. Come back safe. I don't want to lose you.
I wish you were here, but I'll see you when you return. I love you. -Ameli]
[Light Transport 'Washington' to Hotaf Royal Family Palace:
We're back. Half processed load, half raw. I will get chewed out by the company, but I don't care. I'm on my way to you now. I love you. This was not your fault. And we did start a family: You and Ashley are my family. See you soon]
[----Small damaged section missing----]
[Sub-light message from Hotaf to Light Transport 'Washington':
- Sender: Ameli Fuller
- Recipient: Captain Noran Dyer
- Contents:
Hello my love. Distressing news from home. Deliveries from homeworld have not resumed. No word on what's happened, if anyone even knows. Have they forgotten about us? Requirements have changed again.
{Requirements are:
* 80% _Minimum_ of each payload must be H2O Ice. This is priority one
* 20% _Maximum_ of each payload may be high-demand elements:
- Osmium
- Ruthenium
- Rhodium
* Discard all other elements
You will need a refiner to process materials in place. *Do not* transfer raw materials to Hotaf for processing. *Do not* let anyone know what you are transporting}
Should I start to worry? Because I _am_ worried, I just want to make sure that's what I'm supposed to be doing. :-P
There is a lot of unrest in the capital. I'm starting to feel a little unsafe working at the palace. But I'd probably feel even less safe without my well-paying job. We do have our daughter to think of. Still wish I was out there with you though.
Love you so much. Counting the days until you return. <3 Stay safe. -Ameli]