"Unfortunately Mr? Information about the skullmaster is probably outside of your price range. However," the barkeep's voice lowers at this point. "There may be other services that one could provide for said information."
"I think it is just us two now. Would you like me to take him down mrs. Greyson, or are we abandoning the plan?" Phedra begins to plan out the shot need in her head just in case.
Instinct screams, "yes". But the boys will whine about it... With less brains, they tnd to over-think things. I'm willing to regret this later.
Thank you, though. For the offer.
Message Reply: "Negative. No confirmation. Surrendering weapons is not advised."
Message reply: "Females approaching building."
Come'on, let's get in there...
Wraxus walks up to the bar, "Jo, what services you be askin' a us? We be gettin' to keep our... tools? An if noot, how big is dis locka, can we be sharin'?"
"If you keep you tools or not is none of my concern, the skullmaster may object. I have some Sythian thick blood being delivered from Uphive, unfortunately such beverages face heavy tariffs to pass through checkpoints such as the one separating the Theta and Eta levels. I need someone to meet the shipment at the edge and escort it here. Interested?"
"It is decided then. Let us enter and find out what we can." Phedra seems almost bored with the whole proceedings. She is more worried about the fine sprinkling of rust she can feel growing on her skills.
Once we enter, Phedra will allow the others to talk to Jo while she inquires about the quarry they seek with the other bar patrons.
The other two patrons don't know of a Titus Qui'Ge, but recognise the family name as that of a fallen noble family.
Having paid for the lockers, though unsure as to whether he would use them, Varis wandered the bar, questioning its patrons about various things related to the local gangs and authorities.
When they're at a table.
Look, it's no secret... We're independent operators, mercs. The nigh all mighty Throne.
Distant Q relation died in some freak accident, triggered a death benefit clause naming Titus.Void Commercia doesn't care about legal status, doesn't even have to come in. We can gather in-person blood samples for ID. Take 20% for courier. 8000 for him, 2000 for us.
Marra looks around.
We're mercs open to other opportunities. But, we've got 42 hours for Titus. Death benefit expires and instead of a payout, an avalanche if paperwork. Let's do this. Help me sell it, people.
Having paid for the lockers, though unsure as to whether he would use them, Varis wandered the bar, questioning its patrons about various things related to the local gangs and authorities.
[dice=Inquiry (Fel) (40)]1d100
The locals seem very tight lipped about local politics talking to you.
Wraxus continues speaking with Joe. "Why dis skullmasta be gettin' allin deez here scared? He be da creecha from da Warp... an Imperi'ul Lord, or jussa ganger chief? His boyz be ghosts in da night, demonz in da dark? An if dis Skullmasta donna be allowin' a man his tools, is he gonna be wantin' his share o dis Sychian blood too?"
Wraxus continues speaking with Joe. "Why dis skullmasta be gettin' allin deez here scared? He be da creecha from da Warp... an Imperi'ul Lord, or jussa ganger chief? His boyz be ghosts in da night, demonz in da dark? An if dis Skullmasta donna be allowin' a man his tools, is he gonna be wantin' his share o dis Sychian blood too?"
"Call him a gang lord if you want but the reality is that for the average citizen, it is safer now with the skullmaster and his protection then they were before. And for once, thank the throne, you don't need "Tools" to protect yourself down here."
At the table conversation."The question becomes how much trouble do we want with this person. Quite honestly, between me and Mr. Thorne here I do believe we can handle most any conflict we could get into over our weapons. The problem with that is we are going to spend more time fighting and less time searching. I like the idea of the death benefits, seems like it could work."
edit:
"Time conspires against us, the only possible answer is, as much as it takes." He changed his focus, addressing Jene specifically. "I am quickly turning to your reasoning. I had intended to learn a little about this place and it's people before deciding how to proceed, but these tight lipped curs seem to have decided for us." Varis snarled as he spoke of the other bar patrons.
There is little technology in this room and what tech there is appears to be well maintained. Though the mass cooling unit behind the bar has seen better days and it's machine spirit too complex for the uninitiated to properly administer to.
"the mass cooling unit's machine spirit is quite temperamental, my friend and may even give one such as yourself trouble. But you may try if you wish."
"Alas, such expensive items are beyond my financial reach reach, assuming I could even find them down here.
Did I hear one of your companions talking about one of the House of Qui'Ge? "
"I do not know a Titus of that house, but his house is famous or perhaps infamous is a better word. They used to be among the wealthiest of the wealthy on this world, then their merchant enterprises became linked to smuggling of all fell sorts, trading with the cursed xenos. Members of the house scattered in an attempt to evade the blessed emperor's authority, perhaps some fled down, while to others fled off-world."
"a debt you say, hm, I may know someone who can help in exchange for a percentage. "
Wraxus smiles at Cortez's words and Joe's response, "An' iffin dis canna be done while we be grabbiin' your Sychian blood, den we all be endin' appy."
He usually takes about 10%, if you are interested be back at the diming."
Phedra watches as the machineman works on the cooling unit. She then listens even more intently as the discussion turns to their quarry.
You spend the next few hours in the tavern quietly scheming amongst yourselves. At the appointed time, you feel a trembling as though everything around you is moving that lasts for about a minute, once it has stopped the lights outside the tavern are greatly dimmed, simulating nighttime. Moments later another patron enters the bar and 3 Finger Joe waves Cortez over.
Your uncle owed because of a death benefit. Paperwork, time runs out in 36 hours. Positive ID, blood sample.
Good work, go sell it.. Marra indicates Cortez' date is here.
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Cortez brings up the data on his slate so it is on top so to speak as he heads over the person he knows as Someone. Cortez sets the data slate on the table in-front of Someone.
"Someone. I am told you can help this unit find one Titus,House of Qui'Ge. This unit's uncle owed a debt from a death payment. This unit was told that you charge 10%, This unit is willing to pay you 25% because this unit is now aware of the challenge and other issues you may have finding my uncles debter."
"This unit appreciates you assistance, so that I may return to scriptorium and scribe in peace."
Cortez realizes he is still standing so he sits down.
"you may call me Orestes, mechanicus. I will bring young Titus here at the illuminating, please have the money available then. May the blessed emperor smile upon you this night."
The man departs, pulling up a hood around his features as he leaves the building.
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Nodding at the man as he departs I walk right up to 3 Finger Joe.
"You told me that unit was known as Someone, its name is Orestes. If you are to be his business associate you should know its real name.
Cortez walks over to where the others are sitting and brings them up to speed with what he found out. Thanking the genie for her quick thinking with the paperwork. Cortez then scans his systems making sure they are all fully at the ready.. Finally realizing he has been holding a sheathed las gun this whole time he shrugs and clips it back to his belt.
Leaning in close to the others, Wraxus' expression draws grim. "We be lookin' at action in da mornin'. How we gonna be passin' dis here dimmin'? An' where we be grabbin' Tituhs? Dis Cog be small an' blind, buttin' da street we can be seein' 'im comin', an be ready to be movin' afta. Ploos, we can get a spotta up high an be seein' iff he be comin' wit othas... He be a Screamin' Skuhl, meanin' he probly be ona da Skuhlmasta's boys. Doubtin' he bein' alone."
He said "young"? And 25% was a bit much.
Scouting the immediate area would be prudent. Perches, cover, escape routes. I guess a vehicle is too much to ask for.
Marra is pleased, but cautious.
"Perches are best from alcove points and overhangs but will be very difficult to sustain fire from due to the nature of building cover. Escape routes are any vent or view port large enough. Do not try the waste ports, you will not make it. You do not want a vehicle in down grade, to easy to predict where you will go due to limited run space and egress. Lights on will mean traffic, many people on foot. The crowd will not be your friend, it will move and panic. Stampedes and trampling as well as providing cover for their escape should things go coreward."
Varis looked from one to the other, not sure what exactly they were discussing, but wondering if they were planning as well as they thought. "And when we get him then what? We don't know where we are headed." He looked at Jene as though she had missed a lesson from a sermon. "The Emperor protects his own, but he will not save the foolish. Scouting the immediate area is far less important than knowing several routes off of this level, and ideally out of the skull masters' territory. We have to assume that we will not be allowed to leave without a fight, and to run blindly is to tempt fate."
Wraxus grins, almost maliciously, "I be gettin' a fixin', gimme a flame's blink."
Standing up, he heads over to Joe at the bar and drops a throne on the counter. "Somting to drink an a bite? ...So dis Sychian blood, it be da good stuff? Worth my neck? I be gettin' it for ja if you be gettin' me in wit da skuhlmasta."
Taking a large drink of whatever swill Joe has provided, Wrax continues, "Buttin' I no know deez castle-cities... you be callin' hive? Iffin' you be avin' a map dat show me weerin' Eda is, I cana plan a root or two to be gettin' your Sychian blood. It Eda nort, sout, eest, o' west? An' it be of dis level, up, o' down? Wit sum time an a map, I be good at gettin' arun good."
Joe hands Wraxus a drink "unfortunately maps are not made of this level very often, I can have my assistant hand draw one but it will take some time. Perhaps by morning it will be ready."
"Very well. Justa wantin' ta be gettin' your Sychian bluhd for ya. Maybe I be gettin' a taste too?"
Returning to the table, he looks about the company. "Eh, we may be havin' a map by da mornin'. We shall see."
You return to the Broken Cog before the cycle reverts back to "day". In your time wandering around you think that you have a route to your destination. Unfortunately, it appears that you have to reach the roof of a rather large factory in Theta 2 to get to the dancing monkey if you want to avoid the main street after capturing Titus Qui'Ge, at no point in your wanderings did you see any evidence of imperial security presence, arbiters or planetary.
You estimate that you have 5 minutes until Orestes returns.
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Scanning his data-slate to recommit for the 3005th time the details to his organic data banks Cortez slips it beneath his robe. Hoping the others are in position to do whatever they are going to do. they told him but Cortez is too distracted at his first acting "job" to have paid any attention, he plans to follow the "pack".
Wraxus reaches into his rucksack and checks his guns, stowed within. He leaves the zipper partially open and the butt of the shotgun just inside, ready for an easy pull.
Turning to Varis, he whispers, "Ye might be awantin' ya belongins' from da locka."
Wraxus looks to the others, "So, we be doin' dis in da Cog, or in da street? Gotta make a call quick."
"Outside," Varis announced. "We needn't trouble these wretches more than necessary. Besides, getting caught indoors is the last thing we want."
As he spoke, Varis followed Wraxus's advice, retrieving his weapons from the locker and heading outside to wait for the exchange.