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The two men holding the ladies are battered and beaten into releasing their prey. The two who were unsure of joining in, suddenly also raise their hands in surrender, and back away with the others.
Wiping blood from his nose, the goon that had recently held Charlotte growls.
"That's gonna cost ya!"
He starts to move forward, when all of you can hear the sound of a round being chambered into a shotgun. With eyes going wide, the two thugs reluctantly raise their hands. Behind you, the bartender comes around the end of the bar, shotgun held steady at the sailors.
"Not in my place you don't! Move on or else the SP will have to call the medicos to clean up what is left of you. Now Get!"
The unharmed sailors quickly retreat, while the two who fought leave in a much slower fashion, throwing baleful glances at the group, like they are trying to memorize their faces. With a final spit of bloody phlegm, they are gone.
"Sorry to have you folks evening ruined. Have a round on me...and free wings to boot!"
"Thank you," Charlotte manages to her rescuers and the bartender. "Might I join you?" she asks the others. "I am awaiting a friend here, but it seems that he may be delayed."
Solomon motions back toward the table, "Of course miss. Please join us! I'm Solomon." he quickly introduces everyone else at the table. "Never a dull moment eh?"
"Charlotte. Charlotte Kimoto. And it is my pleasure. I'm waiting for a gentleman by the name of Thadeus Mora. Have any of you heard of him?"
As the sailors leave, they almost run over an older man, but his scowl and assumed air of superiority seem to cow the enough that they make way for him , then flee.
One of the more belligerant sailors notice the Navy tatoos on his forearm and nods with respect "Chief..." he mutters before chasing the others out the bar.
The man's scowl followed them, then turned to the bar, eyebrows raising when he sees the bartender's shotgun.
His scowl disappears as he sees his friend Charlotte "Ah Charlotte, there you are. Seems I missed something interesting!"
"Chief Mora! Good to see you again!" Charlotte offers a hearty handshake to the newcomer. As she does so, her own tattoo is revealed. In many ways, it matches his, but has a more feminine air to it.
Myrian tucks her pistol back out of sight, and smiles as she greets Thaddeus & Charlotte
"Chief Thaddeus, I presume - and you must be Ms Kimoto. Please sit down, I believe we have business to discuss."
Marissa retrieves her gun and checks it carefully before holstering it and returning to the group.
"Did anyone catch what ship they fly on?" she asks, curiously. "Not that it matters, I suppose. We have more important things to discuss, hm?"
Ben watches as the sailors leave the establishment. "Half tempted to put in a formal complaint. A man should know where his hands should be." Ben smiles at Myrian and demonstrates by reaching out for her hand. "See, she has given my hands permission to be where they are. If she decides they didn't belong there, well then they wouldn't. You know all about that don't you Sol."
"So, the Chief has told me a little about your group. I guess that I should tell you a little about myself. My name is Charlotte Kimoto and I'm ex-Navy. I'm a competent pilot and a fair mechanic. I can handle a gun or a blade with equal proficiency."
"Yes, lets get introductions out of the way, I'm Myrian I'd like to call myself a skilled doctor, though I've been out of practice for a while, I'm a skilled comms operator and I know my way around the law. I can handle my laser-pistol, though I'm no combat vet."
Myrian's voice maintains an even tone as she speaks.
"Solomon Drake. Ex-Navy huh? Years ago I had dreams of being a fighter jock. Unexpected...political entanglements ended my career though. Been flying, fixing, fighting and looking for new markets since." turning to look at Myrian again, "So we've got a crew, what's the cargo?"
"I served for 14 years, until the Battle of Ebony Eyes. The ship I was on took a severe hit and was drawn into the gravity well of Ebony Alpha. We almost didn't make it," Charlotte's face darkens. "If it hadn't been for Captain Addams, I wouldn't be here to tell you the story. He rerouted power to the helm even as he was mortally wounded. My own wounds were pretty bad; I couldn't move my left arm or my legs and I broke seven ribs. They tell me that I snapped my spine. Lucky for me, the navy took it upon themselves to get me back up and running. Four surgeries and ten months of therapy and here I am."
She brightens again. "Anyway, so yes, what's on the docket?"
After giving the other's the once over, Mora sits and listens to the introductions.
After Charlotte's story, he says "Ah yes, the Navy life can be exciting " smiling, he takes a drink then continues "Been with the Navy most of my life, toiling in Engineering, keeping those finicky j-drives purring. Navy was good to me, but when you get to be Master Chief and as old and rickety as me, there's no where to go but out. So here I am, good with a wrench and pretty much nothin' else. ".
Mora sits back and waits to hear what the voyage will entail.
Picking through one of the baskets of chicken, grabbing something covered in sauce, Solomon offers "I've got a line on a ship for sale...it's in pretty good shape, and sounds like we've got plenty of pilots and wrench monkeys in any case. An old buddy of mine over at at Spinward Salvage has got a little something over on Efate he'd be willing to let go for a fair price. You prospective investors interested in taking a sight seeing trip?"
Broker: (Int)
"I'm game," Charlotte replies.
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The Efate system is a jump-3 from Pixie and on a X-boat route. You will need to pay passage to the planet (Low=1400cr, Middle=10,000cr, High=20,000cr)
In your background you have a ships' boat. You will pick it up at the Naval station at Efate, as that is where a large number of decommissioned naval vessels end up.
"Sounds like a sound plan of action, the sooner we check this derelict out, the better. Works out even better for me as I have a little going away present from the Navy in the docks at Efate. " Chief Mora says with a small smile.
Thanks DM ;)
Just realized I forgot to gear up the Chief. I asked in an earlier post what the TL max was for buying gear, didn't see if you answered.
Also, I can use my TAS membership for passage to Efate as well, I think.
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What kind of vessel are you hoping to get?? You can choose from a yacht, Free Trader or Scout Courier. Out of the 3, the Yacht will need the most work, and the Scout is in the best shape (or so you were told, and the holo-pics hopefully do not lie! The Free Trader will need some work, but not nearly as much as the Yacht.
"Than what are we waiting for?" Ben smiles at Myrian. "I will make arrangements for the two of us my dear. If it pleases you."
Going to attempt to haggle for a discount as Myrian and I will be sharing a stateroom. You want trade or admin from me?
Solomon says "I'll be traveling on my TAS ticket, but Myrian I'd be happy to help sort out your accommodations."
Myrian is not used to people falling over each other to help her out. "Thank you both for your assistance, I'll be happy to share with you Benjamin."
[Dice=diplomacy2d6+2[/dice] My diplomacy is pretty decent if anyone helps.
Oops.
Marissa pays for a middle berth for the trip, and wisely avoids the negotiations.
Subtracted.
Tempted to load out on some reading material for my wafer-jack, but I'll save my money for an unexpected expenses for now.
Ben exits the x-boat and stretches, conversing with his friends as he goes. "I for one can not wait to get into real gravity, and eat something that wasn't packaged weeks ago. Don't get me wrong, the amenities on the ship were not bad and all. Just wish they would have a little more fresh fruit."
Charlotte also stretches, her joints popping. "Meh. Give me real food over pre-packaged meals anytime."
"Let's get down to the surface then." Myrian doesn't really mind the confines of ship or station board life, she adjusted long ago.
Solomon smiles, "Yes, let us go visit my friend Rone over at the Spinward Salvage yards."
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The shuttle ride is complementary and soon you are at the Franklin Downport. The place is crowded as it is also one of the major transportation hubs for planet-wide transportation. This includes sub-orbital aircraft, orbital craft and a bullet train station beneath.
You can easily catch a cab to the location of Spinward Salvage, and within an hour you are outside the gates of a large facility containing 4 landing pad for upward 200dt ships, of which there are 2 in use. There are also a main building, what looks like fuel silos and a large space in the back with what looks like the parts to hundreds of small and large spacecraft. Guards and robots patrol the gates, and the whole compound is surrounded with electrified razor wire fencing with auto turrets every 20 meters or so.
One of the uniformed guards is already on his way towards your group, while 2 of his fellows and a combat drone watch.
"Good afternoon! I must inform you that if you are not here to speak with one of our representatives, or have an appointment, I will have to ask you to leave."
While polite, he nonetheless keeps his weapon leveled at your group and does not move too close.
"I forget how tedious spaceflight can be when there's nothing to do," Marissa says, trailing behind the others as they make their way to the salvage yard.
"Maybe I should ask around, and see if there are any friendly faces here," she says, not eager to tangle with robot guards.
"No one ever has nothing to do, maybe only nothing they want to do." Myrian contemplates picking up some study material before they leave the spaceport, maybe she should study one of the nonhuman languages, could be handy? Deciding she knows little enough about buying ships and relying on Drake to setup the purchasing she waits for him to answer the guard.
Solomon smiles warmly, "Afternoon to you. We are here to see Rone Miry about a ship."
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"One moment sir."
The guard start to speak into a built-in mic on his helmet.
"Mr. Miry will see you in the conference room. Please follow me."
The guard leads you to a small tram, which you all climb aboard and he heads towards what you expect to be the office building.
Once at the front door a secretary greets you.
"Welcome to Spinward Salvage! Please follow me. Mr. Miry is in another meeting, but has asked that you wait in our boardroom. Drinks and snacks will be coming shortly."
He leads you into a small, but well appointed chamber with a large table and several leather chairs. He leaves, only to return a few moments later with a trolley loaded with food and various forms of beverage.
You relax and in about 20 minutes the door is again opened. In comes a man in a wheelchair..an actual, honest to the stars wheelchair!! He is otherwise well dressed.
"Drake! What are you doing here?"
Solomon walks over to the wheelchair all smiles, shaking hands with Rone. "Still know how to make an entrance I see. This is a pretty swanky setup you've had laid out for us. After a week on a shuttle, it's much appreciated. Got some old friends, and some new friends together. Thought we'd take one of these junkers off your hands. We always managed to find something mutually beneficial in the past..."
Solomon does introductions and sits in a chair closest to where Rone brings himself to rest.