DR34-M12 happily followed her crew mates as they assembled data, delighted to have such skilled allies. "Hiring disposable assets for "Off the book" work is a definite possibility, especially with something as valuable as this 'Drift Rock' at stake." DR34-M12 replied to Ford after momentarily processing the new data.
Watching Hi-C and Handsome, the android's circuits flared in humor as she processed a possible tactic. "Hi-C, you could toss Handsome at the enemy to clear space for the rest of us."
"DR34-M12 , are your logic circuits paradox proof? If so there's a concept called "Plausible deniability" you should look into. The funny thing is that it scales more with your power and influence than the actual denial. "
"I hate this station..." grumbles Handsome as he stalks off to another barbershop...
...but he secretly chuckles on the inside at the thought of being flung in the air for a flying goblin dual pistol attack!
Handsome visits various barber shops in the Downside Kings territory, striking up conversations...
After spending some time in and out of various shops, Handsome raises the group on comms with what he's found out...
"The Downside Kings are based out of a club called Fusion Queen and their current leader is a crazy human woman named Ferani Nadaz.
"This gang is into some seriously heavy crime and does not shy away from violence...at all. You name it and they probably do it - including murder-for-hire.
"But here's the interesting thing... It appears Astral Extractions, the company Kreel protested against, hired the Downside Kings to 'persuade' Hardscrabble Collective miners into giving up their claim on the Acreon and the Drift Rock. Needless to say, their means of persuasion are not limited to flowery words.
Sounds like these guys could definitely have been going after Kreel. They certainly wouldn't shy away from it."
Ford excused himself to get settled into a room at the Moons of Sleep, setting about converting the small studio room into a personal abode for editing and getting his work done. He had a web series to keep up, after all! After doing a bit more post-mission recording, Ford set Cam to work rendering the first video in his new series, "StarFord: Adventures with the Starfinders!" While waiting for "WE GOT SHOT AT! ALMOST DIED!!! StarFord (Mission Vlog 1)" to finish rendering and uploading, Ford decided to do some digging and see what he could come up with on Astral Extractions.
Sadly, most of what he could conjure up was things just touted on their sphere sites and reported by other news groups. Annoyed, Ford figured the best way to handle things would be to do some good old fashioned leg work. Heading out, he decided to hit up his old neighborhood, and see if he couldn't get a little info on the Level 21 Gang.
Strangely, Ford had little problem getting folks to talk about them. It could just be that the gang was quietly a supported organization, but it seemed a tad more than that... it was like they were telegraphing their emotions to him, and he could easily jump on that. Whatever it was, he was grateful. Folks were all too eager to talk about them. When Handsome called up, Ford listened before nodding and contributing his own information in conjunction with Justin's info.
"Sounds like the Hardscrabble caught wind of AE's plan and hired their own protection. The Level 21 gang would certainly be up their alley in terms of ideals: they're pretty well known for sticking up for the little guy. Lot of folks in these parts of the station support them under the table. A tough ysoki named Jabaxa is their current leader... I couldn't lead on their whereabouts, though... seems like our best bet is to head to the Fusion Queen and try to get some answers out of the Downside Kings."
So it looks like right now, you are torn between which gang to investigate, sounds like HG and Ford want to head to investigate the DDK’s and Egg pushing for looking into the L21C?
"I'm fine with meeting the Level 21 crew first - they sound like a much more decent sort and less likely to shoot a goblin on sight. But do we have any idea where to find them?"
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"On level 21?"
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"The Downside Kings are based out of a club called Fusion Queen and their current leader is a crazy human woman named Ferani Nadaz."
"Crazy ass b&$!% is more accurate. I used to barback at Fusion. Okay gig. But when she took over she handed out pink slips to anyone who wouldn't spit polish her shoes! Makes sense now. She still owes me my last day's pay!"
"Ha! Righty-O! Let's go!"
"I'd certainly rather talk to L21 before the Kings... only trouble is finding them. Yeah, Level 21 is where they'd be... but it's a big level. Then again, I'm not totally in connection with the underworld. Most of the folks I spoke with were the straight flight suit type. Maybe you guys know of who to ask that would have better answers. I'll meet you all at Miss Marko's Moon Mart off the right of the main lift, we'll figure out something there." Ford nodded, before cutting transmission to meet with the others.
"Level 21 Crew sounds like a good place to start."
The party heads to level 21 of the spike, a run down, crowded neighborhood. Meeting up with Ford at the Moon Mart was easy enough and now that you are one the 21st level you have a chance to look around.
Across the street from the moon mart is a bodega with a flashing sign that reads “Mama Fats”. The building has lots of graffiti on it.
You recognize the graffiti as marking the territory of the Level 21 Crew. Further, these particular marks denote that Mama Fats is something of a message drop or safehouse for the Level 21 Crew.
DR34-M12 munched on some balls of fried dough she'd purchased from a nearby street vendor. Her nutrient processors found little of value, but her gustatory system found them delightfully chewy. "Mmmph should we just ask around? The gang is supposed to be popular here right?" she asked between mouthfuls.
Ford busies himself with something on his arm comm unit as Cam stared intently at a building acoss the street. "No idea. Everyone seems tight lipped. One guy did break down and said he didn't want to cause trouble. I think they're worried we're with Station Security. We might have t-" Ford is interrupted by Cam suddenly giving off a loud set of beeps, before immediately shunting something to his comm unit's screen.
"GEEZ! Cam! Didn't I tell you not to scare people like that!? Sheesh, what is it...?" Ford said, looking at the image Cam sent him of some... graffiti? Saying... "Mama Fats".... but the "a" and "F" had some extra drawing on them... as if draw over the top. It was a little stylized, but it had blue on the red letters saying "21"! "...Mama Fats. It's a Level 21 safe zone. See the graffiti? Probably for messages and the like. Let's check it out. Cam, safe follow." Ford set off the check the place out while his faithful robot stayed a safe distance back, likely to follow his master should anything dangerous turn up.
DR34-M12 hurriedly ate the rest of her food before excitedly following after Ford.
"A bodega?" Handsome shrugs his shoulders and says, "Okay, why not.. If nothing else I can grab a pack of insect-based protein wafers..."
Handsome follows Ford and DR34-M12.
"Yeah they had a bunch of vesk claws left." DR34-M12 called back to Hi-C.
"A bodega?" Handsome shrugs his shoulders and says, "Okay, why not.. If nothing else I can grab a pack of insect-based protein wafers..."
Handsome follows Ford and DR34-M12.
"You know you can just buy the protien put it on a baking sheet and make the wafers yourself for like, a tenth the price right? "
The gang heads in to Mama Fats, the store is crampt but has all the usual selection of processed food and proteins such stores sell. Behind the counter a slim, but well past middle aged female halfling tends the register.
”S’cuse me, ya’ll got a reason for for loitering in mah store?” she says eyeing you all with slight mistrust.
Handsome puts on his biggest smile, which displays a lot of sharp, pointy teeth, "Hiya miss! Are you Miss Fats? I'm Handsome!" Handsome winks at her.
"We're here hoping to meet with someone from the Level 21 crew. We're not here to cause trouble - in fact, we're here hoping they can assist us. Can you help a goblin out?"
The halfling raises an eyebrow and gives Handsome a incredulous look before saying, “Well yes I am you green git, and I suppose you are. Ya know there used to be this thing called ‘subtlety’ in this business.” she says as she rolls her eyes.
She under the counter and comes back with a basic comm unit she offers,with her hands tightly around it, “you look like you need a need a new comm unit friend. This ones comes preprogrammed with all you need,”,she says with a smile and a wink,” all yours for 50 creds.”
Justin is going to try to build up some good will in true abadaran fashion and buy 20 credits worth of groceries. Provided the prices aren't as inflated as the 7 credit com unit for 50 credits.
The rest of the place seems to be priced appropriately, and there are other comm units priced at 7 credits
Ford studied the comm unit carefully as he tried to discern what she was after. Was there... anything special about it?
The best that he could guess, she was waiting for a password, or the comm unit itself had the info they needed, and whatever instructions they needed, they'd have to buy it. As he concentrated, Ford accidentally set off the right nodes in his mind. Although totally unintentional, he transmitted a psychic message directly to Mama Fats.
"I see... Handsome replies to Mama Fats. He looks around the shop and spots bottles of rum. Handsome gathers up four bottles.
"So I'll take these four bottles. My colleague over there..." Handsome head nods over at Justin. "...he's looking to pick up some items as well from your fine establishment.
"Seeing as we're new customers happy to patronize your charming bodega, perhaps you'd see it in you to offer a discount on that new comm unit?"
Justin opens his mouth and reaches for the abadarcorp credstick around his neck, then stops and lets the goblin do his thing.
Eyup
"I can chip in some credits. Wait, or is this that haggling method of shopping?"
She doesn’t seem to be looking for a password or phrase, it seems more likely that this specific comm is needed to contact the L21C.
Mama Fats look around at all you,” alright 4 bottles of fine rum and a comm unit. The comm unit has a 21% discount,” she says with a wink. ” that will come to 79 Creds.”
She holds out a device for you to slide your credstick.
About an hour after you leave the bodega you get a text message to the comm unit. It says:
Tommorow
Mama Fat’s
Noon.
-L21C
I thought so... Ford thought, pulling out his credstick and chipping in to buy the unit. Once they've left the store, Ford held up the unit. "Something tells me this is our key to meeting with the Jabaxa. Justin, you wanna help me look through this thing and see if it has any specific instructions?"
Though, as the message comes through while they're looking at it, Ford paused and blinked, before nodding. "Alright... well then... guess we have our in."
It is about 17:00 on the station at this time. You have a meeting at noon tomorrow. what would you like to do until then?
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"I think we showed this morning that talking works better than shooting with us. We could try to call up the hardscrabble collective. They should know about Kreels death if nothing else. We might want to ask astral extractions about it if you want to sit in a fancy waiting room for a lawyer and a fancy waiting room where said lawyer "has no knowledge of that event" "
Justin actually sounds as if he's looking forward to that
Turning to Hi-C, with a bottle of rum in each hand and a big grin, Handsome asks, "Will this do?"
Replying to Justin, "Sure, I'll come tag along if you head over to either of those companies!"
The group makes its way to the Moons of Sleep and are Able to set up lodging. as Chiskisk said, it is a modest establishment. the rates are 16 credits per week for an efficiency or 50 for a small 2 bedroom suite.
Contacting the Hardscabble Collective is not an easy thing as they have no office on station and there speresite says they are not currently accepting any jobs. you make several attempts to contact any Hardscrabble ships that are currently in the Armada but all respond the same: “Pending arbitration and on the advice of our attorneys, we are not responding to any public inquiries.”
Investigating Astral Extractions proves a little more fruitful. You are easily able to locate their corporate office on the station, located in the Bluerise Tower in the ring.
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"Really? I was expecting that response from the other guys"
Justin pulls out a drawer in the living room , lines it with a blanket and pillow, and flops down.
"Want to go hear the same thing in a fancier office? We should make sure that someone knows we're going there, and that they know that someone knows we're going there so they don't electrocute the entire room and dump us in the body disposal "
He looks at Ford
"Or better yet a LOT of someones"