As some of my readers may know I have been a long time role playing game geek. I’ve also been a life long sci-fi geek. One of my earliest memories as a child was in the summer of 1977 going to see Star Wars at the drive in with my family. To be honest I was very young so I don’t recall much of that first screening except the beginning scene where Darth Vader boards Princess Leia’s ship and attempts to get information from one of the rebel soldiers. Vader lifts the guard off the ground by the neck finally snapping his neck and tossing him a side. That scene burned its self into my brain like few films ever have.
Through out the years that followed others caught my eye. Buck Rodgers, Battlestar Galatica, Flash Gordan, and several crews in the Star Trek universe but few grabbed my attention and held on like the sort lived series Firefly.
The story behind why Firefly is a tale unto its self, and there are too many sources on the internet to named here, but if you really don’t know then short answer the FOX network dropped the ball and the long answer can be found with a quick search for Firefly on the web. Although Firefly didn’t last long as a television series it has since spawned a movie, Serenity, several comics, a devoted fan base like no other, and even a role playing game.
A couple of years back I was so crazy in love with Firefly and the movie Serenity that I could not get enough content and unfortunately there just wasn’t anything new being produced so I decided the only thing left was to create some myself.
The following is the game I ran for my wife and two (sometimes three) friends. The campaign lasted a little over a year and created a great bond between friends. I decided to run the campaign as if it was a television season, and each story was an episode. In game play terms an episode could last for several weeks of real time game play for example episode one took over a month to complete and episode four only took a couple of weeks to play out.
The following is an over view I wrote and hoped to get the other players to collaborate on that followed the story arc we played. Episode zero was back story I created to tie the characters together. I wanted to keep that TV show feel so most of my stories picked up right before the story really starts and not worrying too much about playing through the pieces that connect the stories together.
Episode one is where the game truly begins. When we started playing there was one story you could buy and run, commonly referred to as a module or adventure, called Out in the Black. For the maiden voyage of Belle’s Pride I used that store bought adventure and later I returned to some of the characters and locations introduced in Out in the Black.
Episode 0
As Mariah and Von started their new lives on the Rim alone, it wasn’t long before there paths crossed. Mariah had come aboard a Sandpiper Class passenger ship called Beasts Beauty, and took on a minor roll as background dancer in the evenings entertainment for the patrons.
Von’s wandering brought her to the ship also. There she worked as an assistant mechanic helping out Old Man Kim who ran the engine room like a hillbilly runs his still, no one really knew his secrets but boy did she purr. Being as how secretive Kim was Von mostly just enjoyed her time exploring the ship but did manage to pick up a few tricks on a engine.
Mariah on the other hand stayed busy with practice and two shows a night. Although she did manage to catch the eye of one William Harris known to most as “Big Willie” which isn’t a form of irony in his name. Big Willie was just that a fairly short round man who would often brag about his piloting skills. The ship being mostly a pleasure cruiser didn’t require too fancy-a flyin’ so those skills where never really tested. Mariah found Willie cute, in the he reminds me of a brother, my 13 year old brother sorta way, but would spend some of her little free time hangin’ with him. During some of this down time Mariah managed to talk Willie into teaching her some of the basics of piloting.
One morning while wandering the ship Von ran across Mariah just before a show and was captivated by her outfit, lots of feathers and glitter. Mariah invited her to the show to see the performance, which is normally not open to most of the crew. Von stood to the side just off the stage and really enjoyed herself for the first time is ages.
The two became came close friends. Both tired of having someone ordering them around all the time, especially Mariah who sometimes would have to politely remind passengers the entertainers are not some Rim World Saloon dancing girl to be fondled, formed a plan to start there own business together. They used the monies earned from their pay to buy a used Firefly Class ship they named Belles Pride as an homage to the ship the met on.
Once the ship was acquired and their special touches done to it, the gal pal co-captains decided to take on a few crew. The choice for a pilot was an easy one to make and with a list of applicants of one, Willie Harris. Although it was a pay cut for him the chance to actually fly the ship and not babysit the auto pilot coupled with a small crush that he knows wouldn’t go nowhere made it an easy choice for him.
Almost ready to take on work they figured it might be of some interest to add some muscle to the crew so they picked up a hired hand that goes by Puck. He is a small man by stature, but between a large burn scar which is partly cover by an even larger tribal style tattoo and knowledge with weapons makes people a bit uneasy to try anything.
The four took to the black in search of their first client. After what can best be called a good lesson learned about how the best payin’ jobs aren’t always the safest, mixed with a dash of a little too costly doctors bill to fix up some bullet wounds, the crew decided they needed help. Mysteriously somehow the medical charges where covered and paid in full appears on the credit record due to a “filing mistake.”
So the next crew member added was a medical professional. Now mind you, a well respected Core World doctor ain’t gonna be cheap nor is he likely to find himself floaten’ around the black luggin’ who knows what from world to world, but after the troubles with the first job they where lucky to find Doctor San Chan, but folks mostly call him “Marley”. Marley is a lanky man of Asian descent whose background is a mix of modern medicine, ancient Chinese healing and some Rim world herbal remedies. One of his personal favorite remedies is an herb which is taken by inhaling through a pipe and he can often be found puffin’ away on is long thin Chinese style pipe.
Episode 1
With the new crew member in set they needed a job. Over hearing a conversation about a pick up and delivery job that another captain had to turn down due to his ship being down. A quick run to an ice comet to pick some cargo turned into a stand off between two ships. Mariah talked the other crew down and a gun fight was averted. Sam Hawkens ran the ice mining operation and helped load the crew up with ice, dinner and some fresh viddles. The other ship turned out was sent by a woman named Bridget to pick up Sam and transporter him back to the planet Regina. Sam claimed not to know anyone named Bridget and rejected their offer for the trip.
The crew was off to deliver the ice, but not being a deep freeze ship they devised a plan to leave the cargo hold open, allowing the cold of space to keep the ice solid.
Upon approach to their destination they discovered comet ice was at the top of an embargo to this planet and three Alliance cruisers where parked in space to keep freight away. Mariah contacted the commanding officer informing him she had a client to meet on Regina and asked for a pass to land. He granted the landing. The crew closed up the cargo bay and landed with much fan fair. The whole town had turned out even had a band playing. They quickly discovered the turn out was a misunderstanding. The mining town thought the mine owner, JW McClarrin was arriving and they where there to greet him. Upon realizing the crew was not JW the town-folk returned to their normal business.
The crew needed to find their buyer and before the ice melt. Willie and Marley stayed aboard to keep an eye on the ship while Von, Puck and Mariah set out to do the business.
Went to bank to exchange plat to credits? Yes and explored the town.
Needing to wet their whistles the trio headed to Lawrence’s Bar. A nice bar with a large mirror along one wall, and a few Faraoh tables. Von stood back keeping an eye on the workings of the bar while Mariah and Puck picked separate tables to learn the game. Von starting talking to Tom Lawrence, the bar owner. He told the story of the mirror, how the mirror was put in to class up the bar and the original mirror was broken in a bar fight. The town folk and miners chipped in an bought a replacement. Now the locals all feel the mirror is a town landmark owned by the town. This was great news to hear when Mariah had a spell and accidentally started a bar fight. Puck stepped up to help toss out some of the rowdy patrons while Von helped calm Mariah down. After all the punches where done and the dust settled Tom thanked the crew for helping break up the scuffle and kept the mirror safe. He also mentioned that Madame Electra was unable to perform and asked if Von or Mariah would be interested in doing the show in her place. Mariah agreed for payment of 40 credits for a half an hour show plus tips.
Mariah and gang returned to the ship to rest a bit before the Madame Electra show. After a nice nap, Mariah, Von, and Puck returned to Tom’s Oyster Bar to prepare for the show. Madame Electra explained how the show worked and Von and Puck offered to keep the crowd under control during the show. Mariah was a hit and made a nice amount of money for the party.
Night fell and it was time to meet with Bridget to unload this gorram ice. Bridget showed with a crew to unload but had bad news. She informed the captains the payment is having problems transferring and she won’t have payment until the next day. She is having problems due to the embargo forces her to keep this shipment off the mines books. Although without payment in hand the co-captains decided it was best to unload the ice before it melted.
Morning comes and the group heads to the bank to check to see if their credits have made it in yet. Mr. Blake informed them the funds are tied up with red tape. He also noted that he has a job he’d like to hire the crew for. Normally when the miners payroll comes in Balley Sackett is there to pick it up and courier it to the bank. Unfortunately, Mr Blake explained, he has take ill and can’t make it today. He asked the crew to pick up the payroll and bring it back to the bank. He also informed them since the job is actually Balley’s, he would talk payment with them.
After leaving the bank the crew headed to Balley’s to talk over the payment. They found him in the back of his shop lying in a bunk. He offered them store credit for the job to which the crew agreed and left to find Bridget.
They made their way to the school house. School was in session for a few more hours and the Belle’s Pride shore party figured it was best to do their talkin’ after school was out.
The gravy-train showed up on time and the crew was ready for the pick up. With payroll in hand the crew made their way day the street toward the bank. Four gunmen where waiting for them. Steppin’ out from behind a few of the building to surround Puck, Mariah and Von. Mariah tried to talk the robbers into going away but they where focused on taking the miners hard earned credits. The shot out was quick and although none of the robbers remained the crew mostly just needed a few patches for their armor. Puck took the force of the attack but continued to the bank, pay roll in tow. After making the drop off Puck returned to the ship for some of Marley’s care while the women where informed Balley would like to see them again.
The captains decided to get Willie to search the stuff at Balley’s to see what gear would be best to replace the store credit they earned while they checked in to see what Balley needed. Balley in his fevered condition was trying to prepare his wagon for the arrival of JW. The horse he was prepping took advantage to the situation and landed a kick right to his most sensitive area. He’d wanted the crew to pick up JW at the landing site and take him to Lawrence’s bar. The problem being the ladies throwing the nights entertainment expect him to be going to the town hall above Blake’s bank. JW is a man of the people and would much prefer a drink with the miners than a fancy dance, Balley ensured the crew. While Balley was explaining what he needed Willie discovered a small well used hover mule that he thought would be a great addition to the ships gear and informed Von of the find. They women agreed to the job and asked for the mule for payment of this and the previous job. Balley agreed and informed them he’d clean up and get the mule runnin’ in the morning.
The crew headed to the barn where the cart was kept. Realizing they didn’t know anything about horses the girls called for Marley to come lend a hand. Marley hooked up the cart and they told they would be informed on JW’s arrival.
The band was playing and the whole town where out to greet JW. Mariah sat in the drivers bench ready to bolt with JW to get a drink, but the band blocked her route. Flashing her eyes and talking sweet to the miner band, she rearranged the band making a path for her to go through. Once JW was in place and ready to go the cart was off, but the horses had a different plan. The cart zipped off with the town chasing behind. Down a road and around a bend was all it took for the cart to flip over to its side. JW and the others where tossed out. Puck quickly grabbed the horses and after flipping the cart back to its polished wheels he lead the horse and cart back to the barn. The girls ran with JW the rest of the way to the bar where he enjoyed a drink until the women’s club showed up to yell at the crew for disrupting the nights events. JW calmed the ladies down and invited the crew to the party at the town hall.
All dressed up the group attended the evenings dance to welcome JW back to Fresco. Good food and drink was all part of the relaxing evening. The crew met many of the towns more prominent folk. The people in general were thankful for the crews help around town over the past few days and invited them to the town hall meeting in the morning. As the evening started to whined down the crew fixed some plates for Marley and Willie and returned to the ship for the evening.
Morning came and after some leftovers for breakfast the gang went to take a look at the cart they turned over the previous night. It appeared as if Balley had been up early to clean it and put a fresh coat of paint on it. They then met with Balley who told them the mule was prepped and ready to go. The crew thanked him and took the mule back to the ship. After storing the mule in the second cargo hold they made their way to the town hall for the meeting.
The meeting was to discuss the towns need for a new sheriff. As the town members discussed the problem a few options were talked about. The crew was offered the job but they couldn’t settle down in one spot, so the town folk asked the crew to go to Beylix to pick up Luke Person a deputy in Newhouse that Bridget knows. The town community also needed the miners guild vote ratified in Beylix and asked if Belles Pride would transport CC Fiddler, Chad Sloat, Mr. Blake, and his son Jimmy to Beylix to take care of town business. The co-captains discussed the option and asked for payment they wanted the ships fuel tanks filled once they returned from the round trip. The town folks agreed and they arranged a departure time for later that day.
The crew returned to the ship to prep for the trip. After awhile Bridget showed up and told the crew that the ice they brought was of much use and she thanked them again. She then asked they pick up another shipment for the town. With the embargo it is difficult to get ice like before and if they don’t get another shipment in two week the mines will have to shut down and might force JW to turn over the mine to the big mining dicks trying to take over. The captains where hesitant but Bridget offered to pay ¢1,500 credits right then and additional ¢500 once they return but the ice had to be here in 14 days. Between the ¢400 bonus and feeling for the town which had been good to the crew they took the other ice pick up. Bridget also mentioned that Jimmy Blake needed to run some errands on Beylix and was willing to pay more than their normal rates. Finally Bridget got Mariah alone and asked once on the ice comet could she ask Sam Hawkens to come back to Regina with them. Miriah told her she could ask but it was completely up to Sam if he wanted to come, she would not bring him by force. Brigit assured Mariah that she wasn’t asking her to force him to come.
They took the extra passenger and the ¢1,500 Bridget had and finished prepping. One by one the passengers showed up with their supplies. Willie plotted the trip and discovered it would be a tight trip. Three days to Beylix, a day there, three days back. If they land in Regina it would eat up another day or more depending on how long it would take to get by the Alliance. Then another 6 to 7 days round trip to the comet and back. If anything went wrong they could miss their deadline with the ice cargo. The co-captains took in his information and ordered to lift off asap. Once the ship was loaded and ready it took off on its way to Beylix.
The passengers settled in and spent the first evening eating and hanging out in the galley. Marley spent the trip mostly in the infirmary to keep the passengers out of the little bit of supplies he had although on occasion hung out in the galley and entertained with his guitar. Late on the first evening Marley brought the crew together to tell a story he remembered when he overheard the co-captains mention returning to the ice and Sam Hawkens. Marley went on about how he’d once saw a shoot out and an older black man was mortally shot in the gun fight. Marley went over to the man to try and help. The man knew his time was near and needed to get something off his conscious. He told of “look in the book for details”
During the trip Puck spent most of the trip recovering from the attempted bank robbery. On the morning of the second day Von was working in the engine room and Jimmy stumbled on her while exploring the ship. Von tried to talk to him about how to be a better him and he got very annoyed and they finally agreed to disagree and the two went to galley together. Von and Jimmy decided to play some dragon dice, a game similar to 5 card draw poker but uses dice and often referred to as D2. A few others joined in and in the end Jimmy cleaned out CC and had both Puck and Von drop out before him and Mariah did a one off hand. Mariah won the last hand but Jimmy still doubled his money. The rest of the flight was uneventful and after 3 days they landed on Beylix.
While in Beylix the passengers took off to do there errands and the crew found things to do also. While in dock the sewage and water was replaced while Willie took the mule to get some food supplies and other gear the ship needed. Von and Mariah tracked down a med computer in need of repair and found some parts to fix it. Puke rested and watched over the ship. Willie returned to the ship and Marley and him put away the new gear and supplies. As Von and Mariah returned to the ship the saw a commotion on the green at the center of town. They watched as one of their passengers, Chad Sloat, ran from one direction another man came from another and shot him. Chad dropped, and two other passengers, John Blake and CC, walked up to shooter with two other men. The shooter and the two passengers left the other two other men to tend to Chad’s body and headed toward the ship.
Mariah and Von sped up to meet with Blake, CC and the shooter before they board the ship. Once at the ship Von quested Blake about the shooting. Blake explained Chad was running from the Miners Guild Hall being chased. The person chasing him was apparently the head of the guild and was yelling for him to stop. The shooter was just hired as the sheriff for Frisco and was a deputy for Newhouse, named Luke Pearson. Pearson heard the guild leader yelling for assistance and stepped out of the sheriffs office and stopped Chad in the way he does best, the shot him to death. Puck asked Person to turn over his weapons for the totality of the trip back to Frisco. Pearson agreed and board the ship and was lead to his bunk. Blake and CC also went to their quarters. Von took the used med computer to the infirmary and Willie showed them the new key pad lock he had installed on the infirmary door.
There was still some time before they where scheduled to lift off so Von and Mariah decided to track down Chad’s body to return it to his family in Frisco. Their first stop was the sheriffs office. Once entering they noticed two men sitting playing cards. The two men didn’t even look up as they held a conversation with the captains. Von asked what happened to Chad’s corpse and the sheriff explained he was taking to the towns morgue. So Von and Mariah headed to the morgue. They asked the mortician to turn the corpse over to them and he told them the body would not be ready to until later the next day, but he could speed up the procedure if he had incentive. The women forked over ¢50 to help expedite the new cargo. The two returned to the ship to see how things were going and waited for the corpse to be delivered.
After awhile the corpse was delivered and put into the cargo hold and with only 30 minutes left before they where scheduled to depart Jimmy returned seeming quite happy with himself. With everyone one aboard the ship blasted off and headed back to Regina.
The flight back to Regina was fairly inactive. Von and Willie worked together to get the med computer repaired. Puck continued to recover from his wounds and everything was pretty quite until a day out from Regina. Willie called the crew to the cockpit to inform them there were five Alliance Cruisers now in orbit. Fearing a slow down in their tight schedule they decided Marley would accompany Mr Blake, Sheriff Pearson, Jimmy Blake, CC and Chad’s corpse in a shuttle to Frisco and would stay with the shuttle until the ship returned with the ice in a week. So the passengers where off and so was Belle’s Pride back to the comet.
Once there they told Sam the story Marley had relaid and also mentioned Bridget had requested the crew bring him back with them. He told them he wouldn’t mind going on a trip, it had been a while since he’d gotta off that ice ball. He also filled in some blanks the crew had. He told them of some time he spent during the war… NEED TO FILL IN THE STORY
Upon their return to Regina they first noticed the Alliance Cruisers had left, although all contact to Frisco was returned with a town quarantined notice. The second thing was the weather. A heavy wet snow covered the town making everything soggy like break up in Alaska on Earth that was. They landed the ship with no fan fair this time. Willie did a sensor reading to check to see what might be causing the quarantine but all sensors looked clean. The landing crew Put on their vacuum suits and exited the ship to take a look. The town was ominous. What was normally a fairly noisy town was bare. It looked almost like a ghost town. They crew found their shuttle empty and wide open. None of the hails to Marley were answered. First order of business was putting the shuttle back aboard the ship. Once it was snug back in its spot the crew went out to see what was going on.
The first building they found open was Tom Oyster Bar. Tom was alone inside. He told the crew there weren’t no medical emergency going on that he knew about. He also told how the new sheriff was crazy. It had gotten to the point where no one went out in fear the sheriff would gun ‘em down. He also gave his condolences, stating last he’d heard of their Asian crewmen he’d had the sheriff after him and if the sheriff was after him then he was more than likely already in a plot up at Boot Hill. Finally Tom told the crew that John Blake wanted to see ‘em if they made it back to town and had asked a few folks to send them his way if anyone saw ‘em. “He should be at the bank,” Tom figured. The crew unhappy with the news thanked Tom and headed toward the bank with a few stops on the way.
Between Tom’s and the bank was the jail. The crew figured it would be a good place to hunt for clues. Upon entering it didn’t seem the new jail had had much use. It still had the smell of new paint in the air. The weapons locker was empty and no clutter on the desk. While searching the office area Von noticed a figure in one of the cells. With a closer look they discovered Marley out cold with a bandage around his head. The cell was locked and no keys to be found, but Puck managed to pick the lock. Mariah used some smell sauce to awaken Marley. He explained the sheriff didn’t agree with his use for herbal medicines and attacked him one evening while he sat in the shuttle. He was a bit upset that his pipe was missing but other than that seemed well although drougy. Puck and Von used a cot to transport him back to the ship.
Back at the ship the group ditched their vac suits then headed back to the jail to finish looking around while Willie kept watch over Marley. The jail was pretty clean although they where able to find a pouch of Marley’s herbs and his pipe in the sheriffs desk. Without much luck, but happier to know Marley was safe, they continued to the bank.
The bank was locked when they got there. John and his son Jimmy where inside. Once Von knocked on the door, John startled then came to the door to let them in. John ushered them him and locked the door behind them. Jimmy looked frazzled, and began to tell how he thinks Bridget was lying to him. She had told him she was an Alliance officer on a mission and she needed for Jimmy to go to Beylix to get a game piece for her. Upon his return with the piece she seemed to change. She wasn’t as nice and spent a lot of time with that madman of a sheriff. John informed the crew how the sheriff was great at first. Crime was dropping and folks where happy, but soon enough the sheriff ran out of “real” criminals and began to kill just about anyone for minor infraction. The town leaders tried to fire the sheriff, even offered to buy his passage off world with a bonus, but his response was he couldn’t leave ’til the job was done. “The job would be done when there was no one left,” Blake figured. He asked to crew to become deputies and take care of that sheriff. They agreed and Blake gave them each a badge. Jimmy mentioned he though he saw Person and Bridget going toward the mine earlier.
The gang was off again this time to JW’s house. Once there Von knocked with a much annoyed rapping. JW answered looking a bit distressed. He told the crew that Bridget had been acting strange. He believed that the new sheriff had done something to her. She was hanging around him more and more and the last JW had seen of Bridget she was unloading weapons and gear from a hidden panel under her desk at the school house. JW asked the crew to save his wonderful Bridget from that horrid Luke Pearson. He also mentioned that the miners where on strike and refused to work with their freedoms being taken away by the oppressive sheriff.
Puck thought a stop into the school might be useful so the crew walked that way. They found the panel that Bridget once had her belongings hidden in. A fairly large storage hole who knows what all could have been in there. After the search at the school house turned up no additional information they gang headed to the one place they had hear Bridget and the sheriff might be the mine.
A short hike to the mine where they located the mine shack. The mine shack was the main hub where the lifts went deep into the mines shafts. The miners where no where to be seen only Matt Something or another who supervises the machinery, controls the lifts and ore cart dumpers. When the crew questioned Matt about the mine he explained he was a bit upset. He had stepped away from the mine shack for awhile and while he was away the lift was used a few times. He told the crew the lift with into the mine, returned to the top, then went back into the mine. Mariah asked Matt if he had a map of the mine. He told her no one was aloud in the mine. It is dangerous in normal condition but now with this snow soaked ground the mine is unstable. Mariah smiled brightly and asked pretty please give us a map and let us down. Matt blushed a bit and hunted down a map for the crew. Matt explained the lifts go down the mine shafts to the stopes. The stopes go deep into the mountain and to the drift where the ore is mined. The lifts can are normally controlled from the computer in the mine shack and Matt is in charge of that duty although he explained that the lift it self can override the shack to allow miners an exit if there is an emergency. Mariah and the gang thanked Matt for the information and climbed into the one of the lifts and asked to be sent to level 3.
Power ran through level 3. The lights dangled from the beams used to hold up the mountain side. Each glowin’ bulb connected together by a wire like a string of Christmas tree lights on Earth that was. The stope went deeply into the mountain side and was the only path to take. The gang headed into the dimly lite passage. They noticed the wooden beams above them where marked with letters. Either E, W, N or S, which they quickly realized represented the direction they faced. The passage opened to the large drift. The wooden pillars formed scaffolding reaching into the darkness the dim light bulbs couldn’t break. They searched the level only finding a few winzes and stopes connecting to the other levels.
One such winze lead the crew to level 2. Power was weaker here. The lights burned but occasionally blinked off then on again. The air was more humid and ground a bit damper. As they began to search level 2 Von noticed movement in the darkness above them. After takin’ a moment to try and focus in the dim light Von could make out two figured that she believed to be Tongs. She alerted the rest of the crew which tired to move quietly into position to engage the Tong. Von and Puck moved quietly but Mariah slipped on the moist earth and alerted the Tong. A short gun fight escalated and the Tongs where killed. Their bodies where searched and each had a short ranged radio. Puck and Von each took one and listened for information. They heard what sounded as if nearly a dozen other Tong where responding to the shots and would be there shortly. The crew decided to decided to back track to the lift and return to the surface and avoid unnecessary conflict.
Once at the lift the used the com to call up to Matt. He brought the lift to them and after a few moments they where brought back to the top. Matt told the party that there was an error with the ore carts that ran a to the ore lifts on level one. He’s wasn’t sure what the issue was but they didn’t seem to be functioning properly. The thanked him for the information then lowered to level one.
Level one was dark and wet. The wooden pillars groaned from the strain of the wet ground above them. The crew could see nothing down the stope ahead of them. Puck turned on his flashlight and a shoot rang out down the tunnel missing the party. Fearing the light was giving away their location Puck turned off the light and the crew crept quietly as they could down the stope. They hugged the wall. Puck lead the slow charge. Strobes of flashes rang out gunshots where fired down the tunnel to them. Each narrowly missing or embedding into Pucks armor. Puck fired back into the darkness, the sound of bullets embedding in the rock wall, wooden beams and ricocheting off an over turned ore cart where his rewards.
Puck hoped to confuse the marksman by tossing rocks into the darkness then firing at the area the where shots where fired at toward him. This seemed of little use. Then two beams of light danced in the darkness. Shots rang out again this time not directed at the crew. One of the lights dropped. The first gun man seemed to have moved further away from the party. After a minute the shots ended and what seemed like like two flashlight laid on the ground. Von moved around toward one of the lights while Puck moved behind the ore cart. Von moved one of the lights toward the area she thought the gun man was located. Puck spotted the gunman and they crew recognized sheriff Pearson. Each of the party member shot at the sheriff killing him. He dropped from his perch in the scaffolding. The crew search around the area with the flash lights. They discovered two tong bodies apparently killed by the sheriff, so gear the sheriff has stashed and the rifle he used to shot at them now with a broke scope Puck recognized as a newtech night enhancement scope now damaged and not working.
Carefully moving deeper into the mine they where able to make out the sounds of a female voice muttering and cursing to herself. They moved into the oldest part of the mine and found the original shaft. The bottom of the shaft sunk nearly 8 feet below the rest of the mine and appeared to open into a small room. In the shaft room was Bridget ankle deep in water and mud, holding a small emblem and weaving curses like a Mozart opera.
Mariah told Bridget to come up, to which Bridget replied she was so happy to see the crew. The crazy sheriff and forced her in here to look for some treasure but now that the crew was here they could help find it and split it. Von told her just to come up now and hand over the emblem. Bridget looked puzzled and again mentioned the treasure was rumored to be larger enough to buy your own moon and wanted to share it with the crew. Mariah and Von both informed Bridget to get out of the shaft they would turn the emblem over to the townsfolk. Bridget looked a bit upset but climbed up to the crew. Puck took a hold of Bridget’s arm and the four started to make there way back to the lift.
The sounds of creaking grew louder and the crew heard the sounds of timbers cracking and picked up there pace running into three more Tongs. The Tong ordered the crew to turn over the emblem and Bridget. The crew refused telling them the tunnel was going to collapse. The Tongs open fired hitting Bridget who dropped to the ground. Puck was also hit hard. The crew returned fire. After a fury of lead one of the Tong was down. Mariah ran toward the lift ordering the rest to follow. Von took off in following Mariah. Puck, a bit overconfident, stayed to fight. Another hail of bullets and another Tong down and a bit more lead made its way pas Pucks armor. Mariah’s credo pulled her to a stop waiting for Puck to catch up. Von also halted her escape she could see another group of Tongs coming out of one of the winze coming up from level two. As Puck finished off the third Tong and began to catch up the rest of the crew.
Ten Tongs surrounded Von ordering the crew to hand over the emblem and leave Bridget to them. The crew tired to advise the Tong about the weakening pillars, but the Tongs only reiterated their commands. Frustrated, Von through the emblem down the tunnel. Two Tong went to look for it. The remaining Tong let the crew pass.
Mariah, Von and Puck raced for the lift. Once to the lift they used the on board controls to raise the lift to the surface. The fresh air felt good on their faces but the frustration of not being able to hand over Bridget to the townsfolk stung. Soon after they reached the top the tunnel below them caved in. They hoped that Bridget remains would be among the piles of rock and broken timbers but somehow they knew she had another way out and they’d cross paths again.
The crew returned to John Blake and filled him in. Word quickly spread about the death of sheriff Pearson and the townsfolk came out of hiding. JW sent expedition crew do to the mine which returned with the news that only level one had collapsed and that mine had been tapped out for awhile. In a week or two, after added support to level two and three, the mine could reopen. The town was at piece again although they still needed a sheriff. They offered the crew the sheriff position to which they turned down.
That evening the town collected a large reward to pay the crew for all the help they had done. The ship was restocked and refueled and ready to go. The whole crew Von, Mariah, Puck, Willie and Marley came to a shindig in their honor. Morning came too quickly and the crew was ready to return to the black. Sam Hawkens stayed on Regina to get in a bit of a vacation and planed to return to the ice on a return flight from the next shipment.
Mariah and Von got a good taste at just how a simple job can turn out to be a bit more complicated then expected, but all in all the crew worked well together. The job got done and they where able to keep flyin’, but maybe they needed another gun aboard. Just in case Puck continued to forget orders and there seems to always be more trouble than they want.
I hope you enjoyed the first adventure of Belle’s Pride and her crew and I hope to bring you more episodes in the future.
