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====== The Captain's View Hotel ======
Picture a bustling spaceport, as close to the commercial hub of the
galaxy as seems convenient. It is, of course, filled with the most
startling array of beings from all corners of the galaxy, on there
way to who-or-what-knows-where, doing who-or-what-knows-what
business. This spaceport, bearing the rather unglamorous designation
Delta-5, should be, and indeed is, spoken of in tales on every world,
told by every race. To the Hedonist Cults of Frequala, it is known
for its rather tame but serviceable pleasure domes. To the Darmoks
of Darmok, it is the favoured place to wheel, deal and, where
politeness permits, assassinate. To the Terran High Command, it is a
hive of filth and traitors, and to the New Byzantine Republic, it is
a recruiting ground for daring, dashing and fairly cheap
mercenaries. The Chouserian see it as a way-station on their
pilgrimage to Canterbury VII, whereas the BEMs of BEMspace regard it
with awed fear. The Meaderites regard it as a commercially important
spaceport, as, in fact, do the Darmoks, the Terran High Command, the
New Byzantine Republic, and most other powers in this sector.

In all the tales that are told of Spaceport Delta-5, few mention the
Captain's View Hotel, which is a shame, because to certain ways of
thinking this Hotel is one of the more remarkable aspects of the
station. Not for the view, which is certainly, to certain tastes,
remarkable, as the Hotel is situated on the upper decks, along the
outer rim, so that every room has an enviable view of the majesty of
deep space, with just enough nearby planetary bodies to keep it
interesting. And not for the clientele, which is no more diverse,
though generally more affluent, than can be seen on the rest of the
station.

No, The Captain's View is remarkable for a peculiar custom – a game,
in fact.

The game has fairly elaborate rules, though they do not concern us
here. Any sentient may initiate the game, by announcing that it, she
or he wishes to play. It is popular among humans, though they do not
always, or indeed often, win. To win the game, a tale must be told
that is considered most entertaining by a vote of all participants,
weighted according to their own storytelling skills. Side bets are
taken by the hotel's patrons as to the eventual winner, or to the
likelihood of fisticuffs (or psuedopodicuffs, if a being should be so
designed) or such things, and votes are often taken on the most
amusing digression, the most comely being, and the most unbelievable
tale.

The game has been called tonight by a strange-looking human in
synthepace, a veteran of the Byzantine Secession Wars, now a free
trader and occasional mercenary. He now stares casually into the
abyss of space, awaiting challengers.
===== Games =====
  - [[Stardate 000001]]