"Thank you, eating in of course, this is a family place is it not? Wouldn't think to get takeout and run, family talks."
The matronly halfling eyes both the women with a slow nod;
"Yes it is. I have been servin' Level 21 for thrice decade now childe..."
She muses a second on her words, then gestures toward the big Vesk;
"Talk you sayin'? Big one there don' look the talkin' type... Tell 'im, if he break anythin' he pays for it. Savvystand?"
The eponymous Mama then brings up a small holo-display;
"I can presume you all have a reservation? How many of you dinin' tonight? Tri or du?"
Kris smiles at the older woman and nods, looking at Retsiji;
"No worries, he wont break anything that doesn't need breaking. But it's troubling times within the spike. One must be careful."
turning back to the conversation at hand.
"Reservation for 2300, du for now, perhaps tri to-go if the fare lives up to the flash, Shifter laid on. Will you be joining us?"
Retsiji nods wordlessly at Kris' reassurance and crosses his arms, keeping well away from breakables.
Noah 2.0 stands at the entrance looking around very nervously and conspicuously while waiting to be waved in.
Paeon takes one last look around the streets before ducking inside the building. He allows the conversation to continue while waiting his turn in line to be seated.
Koro smiles at the little woman, "Rest easy, Mama, we're just here to talk..."
The vesk breaks his silence. "And eat."
Overhearing Restiji, Ed ambles in to take a seat at the bar.
Kris simply smiles as both the Vesk and Shirren, step in and up to eat. "Was beginning to think you were staying outside Ed"
As others enter the establishment Noah 2.0 wanders in wide eyed and gawking.
Ed's antennae flick from Restiji to Kris to the small proprietor. Did someone say something about eating?
The matronly halfling continues to eye your assembled company with a critical stare;
"Ah reservation by Shifta. One of you will be 7 yes?"
She eyes the holo-display with interest;
"You are early. The other diners have yet to arrive."
Mama gestures toward a behind where she stands;
"Private dining through there. Go through and wait... not clutter up my shoppe okey?"
With a tilted nod and smile "Yes, that would be me. What's on the menu tonight?" waiting a second for the answer, Kris then enters the private dining room.
Looking around as she goes through the door "C'mon boys, let's not scare the customers."
Retsiji follows the android into the private dining room, taking care not to bump into anything on the way.
Mama beckons the group to move along, as she answers Kris' query;
"Parley Gumbo on the menu childe. Will let the other diner's know you are here... Jabaxa will most likely join you presently..."
Inside the "dining room" there is a large table and chairs set up.
The door you entered through is also the only exit...
Ed's antennae droop a little as he catches enough of the cant to wonder if they're actually going to eat.
Kris says thank you and sits at the far end of the table, on the side where she can see the entrance door.
Koro give the little matron a slight bow, then joins Kris near the hed of the table, looking as comfortable here as she did back in the apartment.
Not long after Mama returns to the room with a steaming bowl of Strange Noodles for Ed;
"You look sad bug when no food... Mama give you WuKi Noodles... Haus special."
She nods to the rest of you then places a metal flask and a number of small chrome tumblers upon the table.
"Homemade. Kamasake... Warm the belly an' loosen the tongue. Enjoy... Jabaxa is here."
The matronly halfling nods to you all then exits.
Shortly afterward a grizzled Ysoki enters the room, he flashes a gold inscisored smile as he holds his hands free from his gun-belt.
"So Shifta say y'all want a sit-down with De Level21 Crew? This true-told? What biz you have wit us?"
You spy the shadows of at least two Level 21 gangers lurking in the small corridor outside of the doors.
Retsiji is content to stand quietly and wait, occasionally glancing around the room.
We sends a closed channel message to Restiji. You aren't the only bodyguard here. Jabaxa brought a couple friends.
Hm. Guessed he was smart that way.
Kris sips on her Kamasake taking note of the shadows on the wall still in the hallway.
"Yes, that is true told as it were, please, invite your companions in t'would be a shame for them to go hungry as we all eat." nodding towards the hallway and indicating the plate before Ed. "Mama lays out a bountiful spread it appears."
Ed's antennae perk up at the sight of noodles and he bows low to their low hostess. He does not neglect his duty however, and only intermittently slurps a noodle as he keeps a wary compound eye on the proceedings.
Unusually perceptive Noah 2.0 notes the gang members as well. He does not partake of any food or drink.
The scarred Ysoki nonchalantly hand waves toward the lurking figures:
"Nah. My boys are fine y'kno... They ain't here to sink a few nor parley-vu... I do the chitter-chatter for the L21's.
He then hops onto a seat at the head of the table;
"So... Wan' to pour mi a drink, then maybeez tell Ol' Jabaxa what you wan' wid his Crew?"
You both clock that the 2 gangers are armed.
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Paeon keeps an eye on things, remaining muted in the interractions.
Also noting the shadows he laughs internally to himself,
{Ameteurs...}
Kris makes a dismissive gesture as Jabaxa leaves his guards in the hallway. "As you wish."
She also does not let the drink request phase her any, I did invite him afterall, grabbing one of the tumblers and pouring a measured dose, she slides the tumbler to him.
"We asked for this meet because you had a protection bid on one Duravor Kreel as a member of the Hardscrabble Collective. Duravor is now dead in a turf fight between your own Lvl21 crew and the DSK crew. What say you to this information?" Kris is not being accusatory, her tone could be such as one discussing the weather on a sunny day.
Jabaxa accepts the tumbler and drinks a measure of the strong liquor.
At Kris' comment he grimaces and hacks a wheezing cough;
"Heh. Tasty drop... Feisty eh... like your parley Girl 7... Bravo."
The grizzled Ysoki leans back in his seat with a dry chuckle;
"Seems ye'all know plenty... Jabaxa gotta wonder how dhis is..? I like to know who I's drinkin' wit y'know."
We know a thing or three about networks and have some data sources. Noah 2.0 offers as part of the group answer but does not seem overly confident.
Paeon clears his throat to allow Jabaxa to know where the voice is coming from. He pours a modest shot for himself and slides one towards Jabaxa. His cool voice fills the heads of those in the room.
{Kreel was a mentor to many of us. We are not questioning your crews ability of course, but we have all taken an interest in to the manner of his death. We would see our former employer's death be justified. If perhaps this was just an accident then the Level 21 crew have nothing to worry about. If this was a scheme by the DSK crew, then perhaps you've just made yourself several allies.}
Paeon down the drink and extinguishes the light his Stellar Mote radiates, the room visibly dims.
Paeon addresses Kris individually,
{Not to step on your toes kris, I felt I could persuade him.}
{No worries, well said} Kris replies to Paeon
Kris raises her tumbler to their yoski guest. "See nothing to worry about."
Setting the tumbler down she idly circles the top of it with one finger while studying Jabaxa, choosing for a moment what she would say. Determining her course she continues.
"We all have skills, some with computers, some with engineering, some are pilots and other make things appear and disappear."
Bringing the survival knife out slowly so as not to cause undue worry in the Level 21 guards and to adjust to the sake, Kris flicks her wrist and the knife disappears once more.
picking the tumbler back up, and raising it a bit towards Jabaxa. "Now can you help us understand what the DSK wanted with Duravor? It seems you knew he and they would be there." Kris ask before taking another sip with a smile.
Koro pours herself a sample of the sake, then leans back , sipping the warm beverage, her eyes on Jabaxa.
She let's her friends, old and new, deal with the ganger as she bends her father's teachings towards reading the ganger's facial ticks and body posture...determining if he speaks true.
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The shirren wipes noodle sauce from his mandibles with his left foreclaw and offers the other as he makes a some what alarming noise, "skzzrrred'kl'l". He follows with a telepathic note, That's my proper name, but you can just call me 'ED'. It is nice to meet you, Jabaxa.
Jabaxa takes another shot and toasts you all with a glinting incisored grin.
The ysoki ganger nods in affirmation of your collective skills and motivation.
He pauses pouring another short one for himself, raising his glass in a toast;
"To allies..."
He knocks it back then continues;
"Y'all need to undastand dis - we knew the Downsiders were makin' a play... Jes' didn't know on what..."
Jabaxa grimaces before continuing;
D'Hardscrabble ask us to giv 'em pro-tection. Big Corps got 'em in their sights... For us its trouble we don' need... but credz is credz. So... we keep eyes, an' ears open. Look out for them when needed. DSK we're movin' on Dock94. Sent some of my boys to keep an' eye... Shuttles come an' go, and any of D'Hardscrabble wear the HC patch or symbol..."
The ysoki chitters in frustration;
"When D'Kings start to shootin' my boys give it back. Not a 21C shot that kill'd your frien... We ain't murderous fraks like them. Not us. Not De 21 Crew."
Nothing from the Jabaxa suggests he's lying, but the grizzled ratter is difficult yo read.
Likely believing their new friend Noah 2.0 asks eagerly So, how does one go about a little pay back on "D'Kings" for their callous disregard for life?
"To allies"
Kris replies, knocking back her own tumbler this time.
Cocking her head to the side "What's the Big corps want with a bunch of miners"
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Knowing the role he's playing, Retsiji stands behind the others, saying nothing but looking around the room occasionally.
Jabaxa once again flashes a grin at Noah's comment;
"Heh. Had yah pegged as one o' de more civilised in yah group... Looks can be d'ceiving... Next you tell me de Vesk is a hacka, an Ed there is de stonecol' killa!!"
The gang-leader chuckles, then pauses;
"D'Kings are bad business... Dey turnova members plenty. You die you leave. You stay you betta keep on de right side o' Ferandi... Wrong side o' her is Hatchbuster: Big, nasty basterd o' a vesk... Not like yah quiet hacka here..."
Jabaxa takes another nip, gesturing for those among you drinking to do the same.
"As fah what de Big Corps wan wid D'Hardscrabble... Dey want d'ship and d'space rock... Wurd is dat Astral Extractions bought D'Kings to target HC memba. Scare an pressure 'em into handin' o'er D' Acreon an' Drift Rock. No dispute = No complaint = No problem..."
Noah 2.0 nods, trying to follow. So if we could interfere with Astral Extractions claim to that rock it would be at least a little payback...
Jabaxa emits a chittering laugh at Noah's rebellious logic;
"Yah got stones I'll give yah that! Hardscrabble tol' us not to antagonise the Corp... for good reason eh? Kingz is one thing.... nasty basterds one an' all, but cross a Corp like AE... You find yahself suckin' vacuum quik-quik..."
Koro nods, "Them corps want whatever they don't have...especially if it could incovenience Hardscrabble. Vicious bastards! We'll have to tread lightly... she says, acknowledging the wisdom of Jabaxa's comment.
She leans back again, thinking over what she knows about Astral Extractions...
Astral Extractions is a powerful mining conglomerate with business ties throughout the Pact Worlds. Most of the company’s operations are centered in the Diaspora and the rocky moons of the outer planets, but it has also begun sending scout vessels into the Vast in search of new claims. The company recently hired one of the Hardscrabble Collective’s ships, the Acreon, for one of these exploratory missions.
You are reminded that while the public face of Astral Extractions is that of an ethical and respectable corporation, but outside of the public eye, some say the company uses hired muscle—corporate mercenaries, strikebreakers, and even criminal elements—as proxies to intimidate and threaten those who stand in its way.
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"The big corps are much like a boulder after a spring rain. Nice and shiny on the topside, covered with mud and vermin on the underside and apt to kill you when it rolls over you. However we still need access to the Acreon, AE has an enormous interest in it."
pausing to take another drink, Kris focuses on Jabaxa
"The DSK knows your gang fairly well and I expect you know theirs just as well, we're new players in the game and therefore an unknown. If you wanted to strike at the DSK how would you go about it?"
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The vesk grins widely at Jabaxa's comment about his profession, then turns stonefaced and nods in agreement, the only sign of his amusement a slight tremor in his throat sac.