Title: RP - Can you hear me now?
Type of RP: Conflict (cross-faction)

Story:

The Chairman stood at the window looking out over Junction as the mentat reviewed the facts and figures.

He remained motionless all the way through the last sentence of the summation.

“...Therefore, as requested, in re-routing the freed up heighliners as I have specified, we should negate any impact on the overall imperial economy.”

"Very well," he said, turning from the window, his expression troubled, though it would take another guilder to recognize it. "Pull up sticks and shut them down."

"Yes sir," said the mentat, rising to his feet and starting towards the door.

"Hold a moment," he said.

"Sir?" asked the mentat.

"Allow CHOAM deliveries," he said softly, regretting his mercy even as he gave in to it.

"Inadvisable, sir," began the mentat. "It will only prolong the suffering of those affected before their masters come to their senses."

"Just for now," clarified the Chairman. “Besides, it will be nearly impossible to assess what is required on their worlds from Kaitain - and besides, CHOAM will no doubt run out of food again anyway."

"Very well, sir, we will adjust the routes to ensure that each planet may be touched for CHOAM delivery once a month," said the mentat, and he took his leave.

The Chairman of the Spacing Guild turned back to the window.

“Here we go,” he murmured.

---

There is no formal announcement, but with the beginning of the New Year, with the exception of picking up or delivering CHOAM goods (only if applicable and at most, once a month) the Spacing Guild terminates service to worlds administered by the following imperial factions due to lack of payment for the service that the Spacing Guild provides.

The following houses and the worlds they administer are therefore at least partially cut off from the Imperium.

Great House Teranos
- The Planet Sikun
- The Planet Ser al Sadif
- The Planet Teranos
- The Planet Canidar III
Great House Ziyaira
- The Planet Wallach IV
- The Planet Wallach VI
- The Planet Laoujin Prime
- The Planet Laoujin Sigma
- The Planet Ilsonti
Minor House Ginaz
- The Planet Niushe II
Minor House Moritani
- The Planet Grumman
Minor House Ophelion
- The Planet Dendros
The Bene Geserit
- The Planet Wallach IX

Summary: Spacing Guild service is terminated to the above list of factions and their associated planets for lack of a shipping contract.

• Heighliner routes have been adjusted to limit any damage to the Imperial economy as much as possible.
• CHOAM products will still be picked up and delivered and factions with contracts may deliver to the affected worlds (as long as the contract is negotiated elsewhere), but shipments and communiqués from the worlds associated with the Houses and School named are not accepted, and the Spacing Guild will take a very dim view of those attempting to circumvent the termination of service by attempting to move products and personnel for the named house. Note that this action will likely limit what the empire knows of what’s going on the affected worlds since the Guild is not carrying any ‘news’ of what’s going on there. In fact, the named Great Houses won’t be able to communicate internally with its own worlds.
• All Spacing Guild personnel, their personal effects and Guild property that could be shifted have been evacuated from all affected worlds. This may affect the efficiency of CHOAM operations, but we have no intention of leaving guild personnel in harm’s way.

TENEV SPACESPORT
PLANET TERANOS

As he wandered around the Teranos Customs Office on the edge of the Tenev Spaceport, Commander Ronarkov began to contemplate how good his life was. Forty two, and managing all Teranos affairs with the Guild. Not a difficult job, just make sure the Guild get what they need. And make a visible effort to clamp down on smuggling. The kickbacks had ensured it was not a bad life at all.

To ruin things however, his daydreaming was interrupted by his second in command, who was running towards him

“Sir, sir, we have a serious problem” panted the lieutenant. Ronarkov replied “And what have you for me this time Marshev, rodent infiltration of the food supplies or ..”.

“No sir” cut off Marshev, “It’s the Guild sir, they, well they seem to be leaving! I have sent a message to the palace as well”

That got the commanders attention. “What, WHAT!” “Sir we had the Masters special delivery for the Ophelion already to go, when one of those Spacing Guild auditor types came down and said all transport with Teranos has been cancelled”

Ronarkov look astounded “They are cutting off our planet?”
“No sir, well yes sir. Not just this world sir. All of them. They have started packing up and everything”

At this Ronarkov began to move quickly towards the Customs office, looking for the Guild liaison officer, but to no avail. “He’s gone sir. They all are.”

Running to his office, the commander looked out over the spaceport. It was apparent that the Guild would be ready to leave within the hour, and if they did his life was over. What to do what to do.

“Sir, well maybe we should think about paying them” said Marshev
Turing and grabbing his second in command he barked “What was that – what do you mean?”.

“Well sir, the auditor wouldn’t say anything, but I was able to get word from one of the loading crew – its because we haven’t paid our fees” said the Lieutenant, pushing himself away from the Commander.

“But we have it – the Guild was meant to ask! They always ask if we are late” screamed Ronarkov. “We can pay them now”

===================
It was 2 hours later – Ronarkov and Marshev, had managed to get the fee to the Spacing Guild, but the Guild continued preparations for leaving. The officials had then retreated to the Customs office, to be immediately placed into custody by Teranos State Security, along with the other 8 staff in the office.

“Ronarkov, the Marquis has ordered that we hand those responsible for this mess over to the guild. That would be you” said one of the Security officials.

“But it was his order to delay! The Marquis aghhhhhhhhhh….” Too intent on protesting his innocence, the former commander missed the knife which plunged into his back.

“All of them” said the Security official, as his men moved on Marshev and the other Customs staff.

Once it was finished, he spoke to the first knifeman. “Prepare a message for the Spacing Guild – The officials who where responsible for attempting to defraud the Spacing Guild have ended their own lives before House Teranos could apprehend them. We still have no idea why they did this, but an investigation is ongoing. House Teranos would beg the Spacing Guild to restore shipping rights, and is willing to pay an appropriate reconnection fee” finished State Security man.

Damn Guild, usually willing to take a bribe, but I wonder if the Marquis has overplayed his hand this time he thought.

GUILDSPACE (HIGH ORBIT) OVER PLANET TERANOS

The command deck of the Spacing Guild Heighliner 'Ten Thousand Suns' was alive with activity as the last of the transports from the planet achieved low orbit and were expertly arranged into precise rows inbound towards the massive ship.

A communication ensign looked up from her array.

"Lieutenant," she said. "We've a communication from the planet."

"Essence?"

"They've finally offered to pay their contract, are willing to pay an additional fine and assassinated some of their personnel in hopes of assuaging our hurt feelings."

"Nobles," the lieutenant said with some distaste. "As if we are to believe that some local functionary was responsible for matters declared not once, but twice, in the Landsraad. What's the status of our local rep?"

"Last in line," she said, referring to the rows of inbound freighters. "I could patch him, or should we wake the navigator?" she asked with a glance at the orange tank.

"Not necessary," the lieutenant said. "A mentat has already calculated the best route to inform the other Heighliners to cancel the evac," the lieutenant answered. "Inform House Teranos that full service will be restored on this planet by tomorrow afternoon, Tenev-time, but service to other worlds under House Teranos' demesne will remain absent from anywhere to five days to two weeks while we arrange our peoples' return. House Teranos will have to absorb the impact of the lack of service. The fine is 25,000 solaris (25s) - nothing more than a slap on the wrist, considering - plus our cost of this evacuation, to be determined when all the numbers are in."

"Traffic control," he said, turning from the woman as she began relaying the message. "Turn everyone around then start clearing out those already attached and sending them down the well. Before the last one gets clear, wake the navigator and we'll prep to fold space to Giedi Prime - with any luck we'll intercept the 'Incandescent Nebula' from Canidar III as it's still loading there."

"Yessir," is the ready reply.

Summary: The Spacing Guild tacks on another 25s to the shipping contract for House Teranos with additional penalties to be levied as required later. Full guild support will be in effect on Teranos by the following day, but other worlds under their control may see delays before everything is back up and running (all interstellar communications, including cancelling the guild's evac, must be delivered by heighliner).

SPACING GUILD ENCLAVE ON PLANET KAITAIN

"House Ziyaira is attempting to pay their contract," the Guild Bank clerk informs the Transportation Division clerk.

"What's their explanation?" the second clerk inquires.

"Communication issues," the clerk said. "Apparently there was some sort of authorization they could not achieve until recently."

"Besides routine chatter, we've received no communication of any kind from House Ziyaira since at least July. Do we believe them?"

"Does it matter?"

"I suppose not," the transport clerk observes. "Did they follow House Teranos' lead and offer to pay additional fines or fees to re-establish service as quickly as possible?"

"Not in the communication we received, no," the banking clerk observed.

"A pity," the transport clerk observed. "Still, we are not extortionists," he says with a look of near-inscrutible amusement shared with the banking clerk. "Very well, accept the transfer. We should have everything and everyone back in place in...let's say two months."

"I'll see to it. Will you inform House Z's representatives of the delay?"

"Ohhhh...I don't think that's necessary," the transport clerk says. "I'm sure they'll figure it out soon enough."

Summary: The Spacing Guild, having evacuated House Ziyaira's planets for non-payment of dues, which were subsequently paid, returns full service to House Z's planets at the conclusion of the two-month turn. During the turn, however, available service should be considered limited to those heighliners seeing to the once-a-month CHOAM pickups & deliveries without the benefit and efficiency of Guild personnel on-planet (i.e. House Z. may now use the once-a-month CHOAM-dedicated heighliners for communication and deliveries - but the lack of on-planet Guild personnel and the heighliners' pre-planned and well-established routes may significantly delay delivery).

Jan/Feb 10.191

Title: Can You Hear Me Now?
Type of RP: Consensual (Internal)

GM Ruling:
Approved. This can continue to be written as the player deems necessary.
Highliner services are returned to Ziyairan world's on the Guild's schedule, allowing the Ziyairan's a small moment of breathing easier through the prevention of the total collapse and isolation of their economy.