Kloh mused over the plan and nodded in silent agreement and then voiced it.
We are what we are. We wont even be bluffing for the most part. Fresh off a job, cocky with the spoils and looking for more work and partners in crime. Recruiting for own crew will have to be done in the shadows. A big outfit wont like the idea of us skinning from their school but there is sure to be plenty of disgruntled employees looking for a more lucrative gig. We gotta be tight lipped about Nym. He' sure to be to ground and trying to stay that. One whiff someone's on the look for him and he'll be ghost quick.
"So what are we in the market for? What do we need the most in a new recruit?"
"Maybe a fringer or a scout?"
"We need intel and muscle, probably intel more. Then we need contacts and support as well. A second crew for my ship would be nice as well, eventually."
You can dock at one of the public ports and dig up info from the cantinas there. No better place I can think of.
"Bar is as good a place as any to make a show of success and get some feelers out for local talent."
"I think anyone trying to get in should have to buy in with either talent, targets, technology or an existing team."
Kloh plotted a course for one of the many public ports as the others planned and added on.
Muscle, intel, scouts...any of those would be helpful but we cant be too aggressive with recruitment or we'll likely get some very unwanted attention from any local bosses. Plus we don't want to be outnumbered in our own crew...
The Nautolan paused to verify the landing clearance and destination.
Still, having a second ship crewed out will be wizard. Lets just be selective and keep our heads clear in our dealings.
His webbed fingers worked the controls and guided the Slave of Sojourn in.
"I'm sure we'll not be the only 'gang' lookin' for more bodies, we won't attract too much notice. " Sleen says from behind Kloh, watching the approach through the window.
"And now I get to take another cantina trip." Jaira sounds less than thrilled with the prospect.
"We will keep an out for potential recruits, which will be vetted by me, it's my ship they will be crewing, and listen for any rumors of Nym. If you suspect something that needs to be moved on quickly, just mention Gerik over the com. That way if someone overhears or taps our com, they won't be tipped off. Then we can meet up. Mention Gerik being angry if we need to pull, or have been made, okay. Let's be about it."
Good ideas. And if Gerik is broke and wants to borrow creds then we meet up back at the Slave of Sojourn. Shall we split into two groups? I can leave the girls here to watch over the ship.
Venkru shrugs for a second, fine with leaving his girl and her cub back on the ship.
"Don't need them to talk up how the job paid well but the spoils were even better."
Looks over the crew....
"We could split up and comm-link in..." Points to his helmet.
"Comm-link range is not great, but the ship is set to receive, record and relay all transmissions from all of our comm-links, giving us better range. When you go somewhere just let us know which hole your crawling into, and whoever spots some blaster-bait first can let the others know to come on and have a look."
"Course if we appear to be trying too hard it makes it look like we are on a mission. Everyone check in every hour via comm-link."
Okay lets get this thing started.
You all dock at the Wayson (Made up name by me) The port is one where much of the folks walking around are from all across the galaxy. Genosians are about but not in the number you would expect to see.
Upon exiting the main hanger, you see a very lively cantina.
Care to go in and start asking questions?
"I bet this place is over-priced!"
Venkru heads into the cantina looking for a bouncer near the door and any indications of trouble in the past....
Takes in the full scene of the bar including any shady looking characters.....
Turns back to the others...
"Time for some R&R!"
The bouncer looks green. He is a Weequay and his face is prettier than most you've seen in the fields and his arms and legs are a big too scrany. His firearm is nice though. A deluxe DH17 Blaster Carbine modified too. He also has a vibroknuckler too. If he landed a hit with that thing it could easily shatter someone's jaw.
As far as the cantina goes, it is a lively place where local and galactic sporting events can be seen and bet on.
You do see a good number of shady folks though. Anything in particular you are looking for?
Kloh couldn't help but smile at both the sight of the cantina and Venkru's outlook on their expedition... only a Mandelorian would think of walking into a cesspool like this undercover as R&R...let the fun begin...
Ordering some drinks, the Nautolan looked around for an open table to start with... and anyone looking bugeyed at us...
You find an open table. A few folks look at you curiously but lose interest rather quickly.
Sleen saunters in to the cantina with the others, taking a seat where he can eye-ball the comings and goings of the local riff-raff.
He leans back and slowly scans the scum occupying the other tables, trying to get a feel for any that are actually capable, not just posers
Perception
Sense Motive
Venkru checks the scene not looking for those bowed up and stiff like the bouncer, but someone paying attention, responding subtly to his groups arrival yet remaining like a coiled snake......
He raises his hand for the waitress.....
"A round and keep them coming!"
He pulls out a chair
"Great work! Great pay and benefits!"
You got that right pal.
Kloh settled in and prepared himself mentally for a night of excess and the the task of staying on point despite the inebriation.
Spot any prospects Jaira?
Jaira sits down and starts reveiwing something on a minicomp while subtly looking around.
In response to kloh, "Honestly, I only ever needed legit people before. Finding those is quite different. I'll probably go check the merc units after a drink and the inventory, I know their kind. I'll leave you guys to deal with finding those in your line of work."
Venkru gives the whole place the once over.....
"Judging by the bouncer, not much hope of a big fish in this pond."
Finishes both rounds....
"Maybe time to move on..."
Kloh shrugged and cast another glance around the cantina.
Its still possible to find legit crew amongst the dregs that these places tend to harbor. We can always try out any recruits with some smaller jobs or set up a ruse to test their loyalty and such.
The nautolan got sidetracked by the blitzball match on the large vid screen...nice goal there...I should've gotten in on that action...
Don't be in such a rush Venkru. We get ancy and so will everyone else. Plus I wanna see if the Shattered Stars can come back to win. They've been undefeated so far.
Venkru checks the area again looking over the staff and the bartender again, trying to see who maybe skimming a little take home off the top.
"Not the least in a rush, we left a bunch of cages empty in that jailbreak and even with a bunch of information on each one we elected not to include any of them. So recruits have got to be better than what we have passed over before."
looks at the game....
"Maybe that guy on the shattered stars, he appears agile and athletic."
Having had the time to look over the cantina's patrons, it is pretty clear the "bouncer" could handle any of these miscreants if a brawl broke out. The scenery here is too tame and way too quiet for the kind of pub you'd hoped it would have been. Mostly tradesmen and other honest sorts.
Kloh stretched out and laced his webbed fingers behind his head.
Man this joint is lame. We arent gonna find any thugs or hustlers here. You might find some legit personnel though Jaira but will they have the stomach for our line of work? If you want some real crack shots or space jockeys we're gonna have to hit the streets for a seedier establishment.
"Maybe we should ask about accomadations. Khol looks like he could use a salt-water bath and kelp wrap, and find out about areas to avoid while we are in port."
Venkru smiles...
"And then go there anyway."
Yeah, these here are a bunch of bantha fodder. Though that bouncer looks like he can handle himself, maybe we recruit him?" Sleen says with a smile, finishing his drink.
"Bantha Fodder is right, if we ever need quantity over quality this is the place."
You all get some stink eyes aimed by some of those who can hear you. But for the most part they look too weak to even fire their fancy blasters straight.
Discussions aside, what is the next course of action for your little band?
"Either the owner is well connected in the industrial-millitary complex or is paying a hefty sum to the riff raff to keep out the riff-raff. Someone want to see who or what the bouncer uses as a panic button? If legit authorities respond or if local business-men make an appearance?"
"I am not suggesting we make trouble, just thinking of asking."
Smiles at Kloh....
Jaira eyes the others, "Not every legit person is a weakling you know. It isn't exactly common for me to get into the not so legitimate side of things and you can't call me a weakling. Well you might if you wanted to die, but that's beside the point. Venkru, I'm headed to hit some merc hangouts, let me be well clear before you go ruffling feathers, that way I can bail you out if I need to. Though you better not need me to bail you out."
Jaira will go find some mercs, bodyguards, mechanics, techies, and others of the sort she normally deals with. She will see about finding some connections preferably ones that she knows.
"So what we have here is a failure to maturate and find a suitable recruit."
Orders more drinks with a wave of his hand....
A typical gurgled chuckle turned into a deep resonating laugh as Kloh took full advantage of Venkru's humor. Plus the fact that the carbonization from his drinks had the Nautolan just this side of drunk... brain bubbled and bottled boats...gonna be a short night at this rate...
Did we really expect to find top quality on our first venture out? We might as well post an add on ChewysList on the HyperNet and see what crawls forth.
"Maybe find another Mandelorian I heard they are up for a fight and it is easy enough to have them list their exploits, likely to be grunt though, but at least a durable one!"
Sleen watches Jaira, turning to the others "That'a a frosty one, eh? " taking a drink from his Corellian ale. "I've half a mind to start a fight, just to see if there's any good fighters in here."
Jaira discovers an old contact of hers is here so she will go find him.
Jaira shows up at a hotel and heads for lobby cafe, and looking around, she sees who she is looking for exactly where she expected to see him. "Well what do we have here? Certainly not just a dusty old carpet salesman." Whe he turns around, "Hot Rod! What brings the great Rodney out here?"
Okay, Jaira has separated herself from the group, in this game party splitting is not as bad as it is in Pathfinder.
So, Jaira is doing her thing, what will the rest of you do? How are you going to go about and quiz people? OR will you seek out another establishment. Jaira is not necessarily the group leader, she just has her own ideas. Loners are fine and you guys can do things too.
So, what is your next steps? Do what you will.
Rodney looks over at you. A bright appears on his face. "Jaira! Wow it's good to see you again. How's my favorite Ice Queen? Genosha has a lot of opportunity for a fellow of my skills How about you? What have you been doing these days?"
"Actually I got pounced by some idiots and now I've taken up with another group while my ship gets repaired back up to specs. I'm almost finished paying for it, too. So I came to you to see if you wanted to invest in an operation I have planned, or at least hook me up with some people to run it. I need a new crew at least. The crew I am working with now have their own ship and with mine about ready to fly again, we thought we might double up on our ops since we are going for a fresh start in this area. We can of course run a few trips for you if needed, and you know, investors get special pricing." she smiles as she lays out what she needs, and her incentives.
Venkru stands up and looks at Sleen and Kloh..
"If we are going to accomplish anything other than staggering drunkedness we will have to look elsewhere."
Venkru approachees the bouncer
"Where would we find trouble?"
The bouncer scowls at Venkru. "Your looking for trouble? I had a feeling you lot was up to no good. You better head to Iezwall's. Plenty of trouble to be had there. Just don't come back here again."
Rodney nods. "Well I do know some people. There is a Duros engineer named Feid in the lower quarter. He's down on his luck but a skilled fellow. There are some folks I know looking for some workers. If you have a ship and don't mind shipjacking that is."
Kloh squeezed his gills shut and exhaled sharply to clear some of the pressure from the intoxicating bubble from his system. He didn't want to walk the streets too far out of touch with his surroundings.
Well fellas, it looks like have once again shown our prowess at diplomacy. Iezwalls it is then.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Sleen pops up from the table, blows his gills in an Nautolan expression of disrespect to the bouncer and says "Yeah, lets get going"
Venkru stares into the bouncers eyes....
"Fair warning for you, I don't kill unless I get paid or you draw first, but you run your mouth like that to the wrong Mandalian and your stupidity will shorten your life....though odds are good that is what will do you in."
Okay, are you guys staying or going. If you are going, where are you going?
Kloh could barely hold in check his surprise that Venkru wouldnt shoot first.
Come on, lets go. This place is as lame as a bald bantha.
"Well, it isn't the worst type of work I've done. And I'll meet this engineer, see if he'll fit the crew... So, no investment? Stretched thin right now? I'd be happy to help out if I can. You know me, I always take care of my friends."