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"Hello Sinjin!" Akh floats over and bows to the Lord in the exact manner he was programmed to back during his time working for the Golden League. "I think the family has mostly lost interest in me. I suppose I wasn't as important to them as I expected..." He sinks to the ground "Maybe those same flaws are what didn't let me find a solution that preserved all your precious cargo. Sorry about those goods. I know the others did their best."
Sinjin's knowledge about the crew doesn't even register as unusual for Akh. Sinjin was always capable, but even more than that, he was careful.
He nods along with Melissa's explanation of the potential benefits of arming the rebels. Makes sense, more or less, maybe?
Jaraduk's eyes narrow at the drow as he starts to drop random facts about himself and the other crew.
So... you wasted some dime on private investigation over us? I'm guessing you were bored by what you found.
Not wanting to show any weakness, Jaraduk attempts to steer directly to the next line of business. What's done is done. So then did you need us for a cleanup job?
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"Sinjin doesn't pay me enough to know things. All I know is, by the end of this meeting you'll either be fabulously wealthy or very very dead."
Guess? replies to Deminda, "Oh you think so? How about a little wager before we see Sinjin? By the end of the meeting, we'll be neither fabulously wealthy nor dead. But rather, we'll be forced into doing something for Sinjin that will promise wealth without guaranteeing it while simultaneously bearing a high probability of the task leading to our death. Whaddaya say? Ten credits? A hundred?"
Guess? turns to his crew and not-so-subtlely winks while silently mouthing 'cha-CHING!'
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“Enough with the pleasantries. You failed to deliver my weapon shipment on Vohxa as ordered,” he says, “And you gave it to the Resistance, too! Not that I care about their little civil war, but it leaves loose ends that I had to clean up. And I hate cleaning. I don’t suppose you’d care to explain yourselves?”
"How did you know that we... I mean the GA themselves didn't... Wow, you really are well-informed!" stammers Guess?, obviously caught off-guard by Sinjin.
" Hey. Maybe armed rebels aren't the worst thing for your business. You don't need fancy rifles and explosives to take out miners with picks and clunky mining lasers. But if w..erm the miners have basic weapons, then you're going to have to buy more lasers. better lasers. Delux lasers. And you know how these things get reported out of hand. You see one freedoerm rebel firing away at night he tells his buddies it was a squad and his commanders blame their failures on a platoon. A little bit goes a long way. As long as it doesn't get back to you, and thats GOT to be easier when you DIDN'T do it than if you did.. unless you DID do it..."
Hearing Melissa's statement, Guess?'s confidence quickly recovers and he chimes in, "My ysoki colleague isn't wrong. While money was lost on this transaction (and partially offset as Strek pointed out), the altered balance of power will force the GA into placing an even bigger order from you since they're now short on arms while the rebels are now armed. I'm sure a drow of your negotiating prowess can ensure that second order will cover the loss of the first and then some!!"
Guess? is quick to add, "And by the way, if you need someone to negotiate that second shipment on your behalf..." Guess? raises his hand, "We're available for hire at reasonable prices. In fact we've got a variety of rate plans available to suit whatever your negotiation goal and needs are! We've even developed a good relationship with the GA and have a strong line in with their quartermaster Siib! She adores me!"
"And hey, did I mention that I love your name? Did your mother select that for you or is this a moniker you later developed? It rings of strength and authority!"
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Guess? whispers back to Melissa, "If Sinjin wants us dead, we're dead - it won't matter. But if Sinjin wants us alive, none of these soldiers will dare kill us prematurely, amirite?"
Del's smile drops for a moment when she gets called out as a Kalistocrat. "Miss my siblings? Of course. Miss the Kalistocracy? I'm sure you know the answer's no. I've found there are countless things more important than credits in life. ...The plight of the enslaved citizens of Voxha, for one..."
Despite her words, Del remains a little shaken. She'd never gone out of her way to hide her past—hadn't even changed her name—but such an invasion of privacy was... was... RUDE. He reminded her of her parents.
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" And if Si..Lord sinjin asks her to make an example out of one of...you know what keep up the betting. "
Makes sure not to stand near or in the line of fire of Guesse?
Guess? ponders Melissa's response for a moment then follows behind Akh as the party walks into the room to meet Sinjin.
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Deminda eyes Guess? with greed in her eyes. "Ten it is. I wonder what goblin tastes like..."
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Jaraduk, Melissa, and Strek are surprised to find they can't read Sinjin at all. This Drow certainly has a poker face. He does get a twinkle in his eyes when Jaraduk mentions the investigation. "I like to get to know those I'm dealing with. Helps prevent... misunderstandings." He sympathetically pats the oversized chairs that Akh and Del are sitting in as he passes, accepting their words.
As you explain what happened with the rebels, and how it will help Sinjin out in the long run, he just leans back in his chair and sips his wine. When you finish, there is a long and pregnant pause. “I have every reason to be furious,” Sinjin says at last. “And when I get furious with someone, they usually end up breathing vacuum. But the stars have aligned in your favor." He clasps his hands together and laughs. "You're right, I did just receive a second order from the Authority. Bigger than before, and with rush shipping. Their only stipulation was that it was sent through non-EJcorp channels." He smiles gently, motioning to Deminda for a refill of his glass. "That alone may have protected you from my ire, as profits tend to do. But more than that..." He looks around the table slowly, making eye contact with each of you individually. "I need a crew for a very special job, and you... well… you’ve alienated both me and your corporate paymasters. If you hear me out, perhaps we can both come out of this ahead." He nods to Jaraduk, acknowledging his prescient statement. Meanwhile, Deminda quietly slips Guess? a small credstick, not making eye contact.
“You’re all Evgeniya-Jaimisson employees, but how much do you really know about the Company, hm? Well, I’ve spent enough credits to learn quite a bit about it, and I’ve discovered that they’ve made a breakthrough in hybrid null- space technology. Null-space chambers aren’t new, but no one’s been able to figure out how to make them bigger than a few feet across. Your friends at EJ Corp, however, led by a woman named Eline Reisora, have cracked the code. They’ve discovered how to make a null-space chamber large enough that it makes a space bigger on the inside than it is on the outside—large enough to double the size of a starship’s cargo hold.” As intergalactic traders yourselves, you know the value of a larger cargo hold. Drift engines can only take so much volume with them, severely limiting cargo space on even the largest vessels.
The drow doesn't stop there, pressing on. This 'Lord' obviously isn't used to being interrupted. “Imagine if every emergency vessel carrying supplies to victims of the Swarm could carry twice the medicinals, if every starship bringing settlers to a distant uninhabited world could carry twice the spare parts and supplies, or if a place like this station could give everyone holed up in Downside twice as much room! I know the galaxy seems like a pretty big place, but I assure you, when you’re paying for air, food, and water, it’s really much smaller than you think. If the Pact Worlds had access to this technology, it would suddenly become twice as big. That’s more elbow room for everyone. Who doesn’t want that?” With a press of a remote, Sinjin summons up a holographic representation of a transport starship, its image slowly rotating over the table. “The answer to that question, of course, is your employer. EJ Corp wants to keep this technology for itself and use it to crush the competition. They’ve built a prototype starship for it, called the Oliphaunt. It’s housed on the Horse Eye Orbital Plate, near Aballon.” Sinjin thumbs his remote again, and the image of the starship is replaced by a three-dimensional holographic model of a large starship construction facility in space. “No outsiders are allowed on the orbital plate, with one exception: many corporations have starship construction projects there, and shareholders for those corporations are allowed to dock and move around freely."
He pauses, waiting for you to come to the same objection. “You aren’t shareholders in EJ Corp. At least, not yet. But you do all have stock options as part of your severance pay bonus structure. If you were to leave the Company — before you’re all fired — you could redeem those options for a not-inconsiderable amount of EJ Corp stock. You could then walk onto the Horse Eye Orbital Plate and steal the Oliphaunt for me. And then, my friends, I could make you all rich beyond your wildest dreams... and you could do whatever you want for the rest of your lives.”
As Sinjin speaks, Guess? quietly accepts the 10CR stick from Deminda, not making eye contact.
Once Sinjin is done speaking, Guess? immediately responds in one rapid breath, "HmmmmLemmeSeeWhat'sTheWordI'mLookingForOhRightItIsYES!!!YES!!!YES!!!"
Guess? quickly turns around to face the rest of the crew saying, "amirite?!?!"
Del's jaw drops. "You want me to steal my sister's starship? For money?" Her jaw moves up and down a few times, unable to find the right words. She doesn't find them, but she speaks anyway. "I thought you said you were good at this snooping thing! This is the exact opposite of something I would do!"
She crosses her arms and leans back in her chair, thoroughly miffed and too upset to even finish her dessert.
If that gets us out of this room alive...
"Ayup."
Confused, Guess?'s head swivels to face Del, then swivels to Sinjin, then swivels again back to Del. Oblivious to the mention of Eline, Guess? asks Del...
"Your sister is EJ corp?"
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asks Del incredulously "You MISS your siblings...? " then looks back at .. well the lip of the desk in front of her. "If th. we quit then how are we getting there? Do we put our two weeks notice in a torpedo and shoot it at the ot Tarika and then hightail it through the portal? We'd need to quit to get the stock options but if we quit we don't have a ship to get there with. Unless we can dock there put in our notice, and collect the stock from them? I suppose you could order a big shipment of something sent out that way.. it would help us not get fired and give us a reason to be there besides sight stealing. I mean.. I SUPPOSE Del visiting would be reason enough to swing by...Ohhhhh"
"Come on Del. We need you in on this. Really. really need y o u " earflit whisker twitch
Jaraduk continues to probe. Once you get the ship, what will you do? Keep the tech to yourself or publish it?
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Guess? then poses a couple questions to Sinjin.
Thumbing his newly earned 10CR credstick, Guess? asks, "I suppose you'll be bankrolling these stock purchases? I mean, I've got about..." Guess? continues to avoid eye contact with Deminda, "...about ten credits to my name. Not nearly enough to fund any stock purchases.
"Also, aside from the stock purchases, bankrolling this endeavor will also need to cover the cost of some additional gear. I mean sure thing, we can totally pull off this heist. Let's face it - we're a cargo hauling crew working on a cargo hauling crew's salary. Needless to say an exceptionally talented crew - we've got the right people and we've got the right skills. But we'll need some gear upgrades that our current salary doesn't cover. I believe about... ten thousand credits a head should just about do it?
"And you say we'll be rich beyond our wildest dreams. Like how exactly do you propose to break down the profit-sharing plan once the ship is acquired? Say twenty-five percent of all future revenue generated by ships built with this technology?
"Whaddaya say?" finishes Guess?, his eyes sparkling.
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Akh sways worriedly as the job begins to take shape. He nudges his nearest teammate and whispers "Wait, are we thieves now?" before settling back to listen to the rest of Sinjin's spiel. When Guess? takes over to request an incredibly generous compensation package for the job he almost chokes on his own oil. You hear him coughing in the back as the goblin wraps up.
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Sinjin looks at Del with confusion, then gestures towards Melissa. "I'm with her on this one. I betrayed my siblings as soon as I could. Without the full inheritance from my parents' untimely deaths in the mansion fire, how would I have become the businessman I am today?" He smiles and waves the issue away. "As for your... concerns, I have thought this through. You'll need to resign immediately, I would hate for The Company to fire you before you have the opportunity to leave." His eyebrows raise with intent. "After all, you would lose your severance package if you were fired for cause."
When you hired on with the company the posters had seemed so inviting. TAKE IT TO THE EDGE! SEE THE GALAXY! BE YOUR OWN BOSS! MAKE YOUR OWN HOURS! BONUSES AND GUARANTEED BASE PAY AVAILABLE ON EVERY JOB! STOCK OPTIONS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES! You'd signed the thick contract so quickly, desperate for work. Some of you have considered quitting the company multiple times and have returned to look that contract over. But every time you returned to the contract you found more clauses that existed only to increase profitability at the expense of employees. Few people ever quit EJ Corp since cargo running was a way of life and crews could rarely save up enough credits to purchase a spaceship of their own. But that resignation pay was always a bright light at the end of the tunnel for you. One day, when you left the company, you would receive guaranteed stock options and a number of credits and spaceship parts according to your employment history.
The company had lost a court battle a few years back where they had attempted to deny an employee those stock options. People so rarely have enough credits to exercise the options, but this enterprising employee had saved up enough credits over a lifetime of work that he stood to make hundreds of thousands of credits through purchasing the options. The court ruled that the company had to honor all stock options because it was so prominently featured on EJ Corp hiring posters. In this case the intent of the job offer overruled the obtuse legal language included in the contract.
Unfortunately, the same did not stand for the credits and spaceship parts. According to rumors, most quitting employees had to fight tooth and nail through a maze of HR representatives to get whatever scraps of credits and spaceship dock vouchers they could get.
Lord Sinjin drains his glass of wine, smiling at the taste. "It should be easy to book tickets on a passenger liner heading to the Horse Eye Orbital Plate. They'll be quite affordable after you're flush with creds from your payoffs." The drow turns to Jaraduk. "Ah, a curious one. I'm a businessman. I left Apostae a century ago to seek better fortunes elsewhere, now I and my family are members of the Golden League. So... I'll sell it, of course! For a fantastic sum of money. I’m sure AbadarCorp will be interested in doubling their cargo capacity, and I can rely on their sense of fair play to ensure the technology is disseminated throughout the Pact Worlds.” He waves a finger at you knowingly. "And don't think you'll be able to sell it yourselves! It took me years to build up these contacts. The Corp would catch you before you'd find a buyer." Deminda whispers behind you, "If we didn't find you first." Jaraduk senses no duplicity in that answer, but the nuar hasn't quite been able to get a read on the drow so far.
Sinjin smiles and pushes a button on his datapad. "Excellent question, Guess?. I've just sent you an account number, use it when you fill out your resignation paperwork. It's authorized to purchase the stocks in your name. Just a little gift from me." He nods his head to the side, a slight admission of omission. "Of course, you won't be able to sell those stocks for five years. But you already knew that, EJ fine print and all. A delayed gift nonetheless." He smiles at the audacity of Guess?'s price, then takes a credstick out of his pocket. "For 60,000 credits I think I would have hired a crew with a touch more military experience." He makes eye contact with Deminda and laughs. "Though I suppose your conflict on the mountain with the Authority does count for something. That credstick holds 2400 credits. It's a down payment for your services and just a touch of the wealth you'll see after the job." He puts both palms flat on the table. "As for payment, you'll receive ten percent of the sale price after the Abadarcorp deal goes through. The exact terms aren't worked out yet, but I expect you'll each be seeing around a dozen million credits." He leans back into the chair with a smug smile. "Hopefully that will suffice."
The drow looks around the table, eyes pausing on Akh and Del who seem to be the most hesitant. "Don't think of it as stealing. More, distributing critical technology across the Pact Worlds instead of leaving it in the hands of some religious zealots." He stands and begins walking to the door. "It's a big decision, I'll give you a few moments to discuss among yourselves. And you're welcome to say no. It's a free Armada. I was hoping to hire EJ corp employees for the job, less conspicuous than merc's. But if its not you, I’ll hire someone else." He pauses at the door. "Look, I’m going to pay someone for this job. Wouldn’t you rather it was you?” He steps out and closes the door behind him and his drow guards, leaving the six of you in the room alone.
I do like the idea of disseminating the tech...
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Guess? clues everyone in on a previous court case that EJ had lost.
'A dozen million credits? The good that can do for my family... No, my TRIBE!!' thinks Guess? - which is probably the first time he has ever thought about the welfare of a group of peoples outside of his small, immediate team.
Guess? turns to the rest of the crew and says with a big smile, "Guys... I think this one is a no-brainer. Quit EJ? Check! Get a whole bunch of company stock that we can liquidate in five years? Retirement fund check! A dozen cha-ching-ing million credits?!?!? Check!! AND MATE!!
"I say we do it. EJ's about to fire us anyways.
"And besides, he told us all about this grand plan and that he's eventually gunna pay someone to do it. Do any of us really think he's going to let us out of here alive to tip off EJ about the upcoming starship hijacking? I, for one, don't think so. I think if we turn this job down, there's a real possibility we might have to shoot our way outta here and that Deminda lady... she looks like a tough one.
"So... steal a ship 'n make a ton of creds or probably die here and now. I vote for the former. Whaddaya say?"
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"All this sounds great but aside from these 2400 creds, what assurances do we have that you'll hold up your end of the bargain WHEN (not if) we are successful?" says Guess?, sounding confident of the team's future success.
"So... Akh. I think it's time to spill the beans. How do you know Sinjin? And what is the Golden League? I thought he was just a drow house arms dealer but it seems there's more to Sinjin than just arms dealing, amirite?"
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Jaraduk listens closely. Sinjin is telling the truth.
Guess? can tell that Sinjin is a smooth operator, even better than the goblin himself (though he would never admit it). But... Guess? can sense no treachery in his words. Perhaps there is honor among thieves after all. To his question, Sinjin gestures to the multitude of guards who just left the room. "I've made you an offer in full view of my employees, to whom I have made many individual promises. In my business, a man's word is only as good as his previous dealings." He pauses, making intense eye contact with Guess?. "My word is the only reason I have my current empire. Without it, I have nothing and my people would slit my throat the same way I did to our old employer."
Guess? has heard rumors of the Golden League within the lower levels of the Station. The Golden League is an ancient syndicate of criminal families from pre-Gap Golarion, and has a presence on most major settlements in the Pact Worlds system. It seeks to enrich its members through all sorts of commercial exploitation. As a whole, the Golden League's leadership is decentralised, making it impossible for law enforcement or rivals to destroy it by eliminating one or more families, although the League is currently run by a few powerful families within Akiton's criminal underworld. Each family employs a coterie of tattooed and augmented assassins called Xun, who are greatly feared in their territory. Although there are more Golden League families on Apostae than any other planet, the inter-house subterfuge combined with League family maneuvering has prevented them from taking control of the Golden League.
The goblin is also confident that Abadarcorp would disseminate the technology throughout the Pact Worlds, likely by selling it at a price high enough to recoup their investment and nothing more. With their executive ranks entirely filled by priests to the god of trade and civilization they have often shared their innovations with competitors before. Despite its breadth and influence, AbadarCorp's leadership avoids abusing its resources, understanding that monopoly leads to a choke on growth and trade. Education in finance is provided for free and often inspires new competitors. Loans to business that allow poor people to rise from poverty carry no interest, as AbadarCorp believes that the created prosperity outweighs the credits obtained through usury.
Your gut-feel is that this sale could go for as much as a billion credits. Without knowing the details, your share seems reasonable. Perhaps it could go as high as 16 million credits apiece. Either Lord Sinjin is an excellent negotiator and is low-balling you or he is a less successful negotiator who is giving you an accurate and fair price.
As for smuggling, this would be helpful in certain situations. On the one hand, passing pirates would likely pass up a small cruiser in hopes of catching bigger prey. This would protect small smugglers from the eyes of greedy outlaws and some customs agents who weren't thorough enough to enter the craft. On the other hand, the cargo holds would be obviously larger once you entered them and wouldn't fool a thorough inspector.
Guess? continues saying to the rest of the crew, "For what it's worth, everything he says seems to be on the up and up to me. And the numbers seem broadly about right.
"I've got a good feeling about him and to be honest, he's probably more trustworthy than I am. But you all never heard me say that, okay? Our chances of success... well, I dunno. But if we do succeed, I think he'll stay true to his word.
"The way I see it, there's some serious downside to this offer but the upside is immense!"
Hmm... yeah okay.
Jaraduk snorts. Grasping for more problems for Sinjin to "solve."
It's not that he's wholly against this plan, it's more a nuar doesn't trust a plan that hasn't been put through the ringer of their "bullishness."
He holds up a hand to make another point. What's the stop EJ from back-dating our termination and denying us the shares? Especially given our standing...
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He holds up a hand to make another point. What's the stop EJ from back-dating our termination and denying us the shares? Especially given our standing...
You pull out your datapad and bring up the receipt of submission from Tarika's mission recap. A quick screenshot later and you have proof that you were employed today. EJ Corp Human Resources runs on Absalom Station time, you have until midnight to turn in your resignation without fear of termination.
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Del purses her lips, looking both disgusted with this entire meeting and incredibly uneasy. She wasn't a thief. She placed very little value on material possessions and wealth, and the thought of stealing something was both absurd and repulsive—never mind stealing from her own sister!
But did that matter?
Her last big decision caused Lars to die. Would refusing Sinjin's offer cause the deaths of the rest of her companions? Would their blood be on her hands?
Wasn't stealing from her sister better than gambling with the lives of all her companions?
Once the team has privacy, Del frowns at Guess? "Don't celebrate. This isn't something excusable... It's not borne out of desperation. It's certainly not the right thing to do. It's a clear, premeditated crime. We're talking about purposefully stealing new technology my sister has developed. It's probably taken years of work. I can't... I don't..."
She sighs in exasperation. "It's horrible. This whole thing is horrible. But, you're right. Sinjin might not let us walk away from this. If it was me... I would take that gamble. I wouldn't compromise for him, even if it meant my life. But with all of you... I can't gamble your lives. That's on you. So if you want to do this—work for Sinjin and rob my family—we'll do it. I'll help you. But don't celebrate. Not while my heart is breaking."
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"But this is definitely excusable. Either we do this or we wind up with more holes than Granda whelped us with. Or rather, if he didn't need YOU Del, to pull off this plan he already would have bored the rest of us. or. Well. Rest of YOU. I didn't mess anything up for him. I MIGHT have made it. He seems like the type to like having one person spread the tale...So what if we steal the ship? One kazilionaire businessman gets another kazillion dollars instead of the other Kazillionaire. Who cares? What would your sister rather have, her lifes work or yo..." she pauses to consider how her own siblings would answer that question. "Here have some grape juice.. " and stands on tippy paws with a cup over her head trying to pass it up.
Guess? walks over to Melissa, stands on his tippy toes, and reaches up to help support the cup over his head in an attempt to help pass it up.
Akh waits until there's a lull in Guess?'s back and forth with Sinjin to ask "Honest question, but since you're researched us, do you think we're good enough to actually steal this ship? EJ might cut corners when it comes to us little guys, but it seems like they would pull out all the stops to keep this technology safe and secure. While we're good, we're not on the level of EJ's top corp sec guys. You wouldn't be sending us in just to probe the defenses in a way that doesn't easily trace back to you, would you?"
Akh answers Guess?'s earlier question "I worked for Sinjin before while he was still an assassin for the Golden League. Very good at that job. In comparison to many Xun I met, he was the most good spirited and reliable. He was a good friend as well. Maybe all the success went to his head though...?"
Then, to Del's questioning, Akh says "It is a very dangerous job, yes. But it also sounds like a good one. At the rate we are going with EJ, we will soon be paying them money for the privilege of getting jobs. And who knows how they will extract the money we owe. Better to leave now." Akh nods "Also, retribution against them can be quite satisfying, I expect. Your sister probably will just be moved to the next project, hmm?"
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"I worked for Sinjin before while he was still an assassin for the Golden League. Very good at that job."
"Ayup. If we gotta choose between a company that kills our morale versis an actual killer, then my decision's made."
Then to Del, Strek adds, "Look, D, I know yer family's involved. And I know ya don't want to hurt what she's worked for. But if she could see us stuck in this bind, whatddya think she'd want? Probably somethin' involvin' you makin' it out alive. Let's do this one job, chew on our moral quandaries, get paid and move on. Whaddya say?"
Jaraduk perks up at Akh's mention of Sinjin from the old days.
So, Akh. He was reliable, huh? How does one gain the friendship of such a calculating man? Did you have good reason to trust him back in those times or was it out of necessity, not cross an assassin and so forth?
Del scoffs at Akh's words. Not with malice, but at past absurdities. "Yeah, failure's not really... tolerated. It's not just losing a project, it's losing face, losing her reputation, losing her investment, losing... everything. There was a time she would've preferred to die rather than face failure. Now... I don't know what she'd prefer."
At Strek's words, Del sighs. "She's a devout Kalistrocrat. I'm excommunicated and disowned. Honestly? I think she'd prefer her life's work. But I love her. And she loved me, once. ...I hope she still does."
Del finishes her wine, swipes away a tear, and nods her assent. She can't bring herself to say 'yes.'
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Sinjin smiles at Akh. "Come now. Would I betray you? Sure, I've turned on family before, but friends?" He flashes a warm smile. "Besides, you know how I operate. In and out, before they ever knew I was there. I don't do the wet work myself anymore but habits die hard." He taps away at a datapad. "My little birds tell me the employees are about to go on a few days furlough as reward for an extended bout of overtime. There shouldn't be anyone there but the android security guards." He eyes Akh closely. "You remember how cruel some groups can be to their android security... let's just say they don't have much sentience left." He sets down the pad and picks up the glass, savoring the aroma. "They haven't brought in major security because the Orbital Plate houses other corporations. No sense giving away the existence of something special... it might wander off." He shrugs. "If I sent in a test team, they would only beef up their defenses." The drow looks down his nose at you. "So please, don't fail."
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About five seconds after Del nods her assent, the door opens and Lord Sinjin strides back in. Though he was only gone a few minutes he seems to have... changed clothes? A costume change, really? A cape flows behind him this time and he is in shining silver armor with dark blue accents. "So, I have a good feeling you have good news for me!"
Yepp, this room was definitely bugged. And Sinjin really isn't trying to hide it.
He points to the credstick on the table. "That's 400 credits a piece, buy yourself something pretty. Or pointy. Whatever your style." He claps his hands. "So, go out and quit your jobs. Your furry friend will give you your severance packages and you can get on your way to making us some money!" He grins from ear to ear then digs in his breast pocket for something. Who pays to have their chest plate lined with a silk pocket anyway? He pulls out an identification card and tosses it to Melissa. "Melissa, your brood-mates back on Vohxa will be very jealous of your soon-to-be fortune. I imagine you'll be wanting our departed Lars' stock options. Should be good enough to fool some bottom-rate Employee Resources AI program." He snaps his fingers and Deminda enters the room with 6 bottles of Castrovelian champagne. (From the Champagne region of Castrovel, fancy!) "I wish I could stay, but I have some matters to tend to. Drink, be merry, and decide what you'll spend your first millions on. I recommend a new ship." He turns to walk out the door, calling over his back. "The ladies will escort you to your craft when you're ready. Don't want you getting stabbed by a drunk gang boss on the way there."
When you get back to your ship, a message is waiting for you.
TO: EJ Corp personnel serving aboard Company Transport BD514
FROM: EJ Corp Sapient Resources Department
SUBJECT: Possible Contract Breach and Termination
Dear Employees,
Your recent activity on Vohxa has triggered an objective, AI-led investigation into potential violations of your employee contracts. This investigation may result in your termination. EJ Corp is under no obligation to share the results of this investigation with you. In addition, Company Transport BD514 has failed to meet expected profit goals this month. EJ Corp is conducting an internal review to determine the viability of this revenue stream going forward. In the event your company transport is reassigned, your contracts will be voided, effective immediately.
Thank you for your time.
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"I don't see why pretty or pointy should really be an or question... " although if you've seen her alleged gun....
"Do we want to buy some stuff for the job, or maybe chip in and get one of those bags that's bigger on the inside so we can sneak our gear in with us? I mean I can fit some tools snacks and drinks in the cheekpouches but rifles are a bad idea. Lost that bet pretty handily but they let me put the merciful fusion on it after that...I don't WANT to use anything heavier than a magcoupler but thats what I thought about my LAST break in/out. "
Melissa is going to go shopping Credits are only good if you survive the job after all. She is TRYING to not look happy about this in front of Del
and will ask around about.. well everything while shopping but is really only listening for stuff about their destination
OHS! A look of horror on her face. "Wait.. if we're switching ships what happens to chefy? "
Guess? raises a single eyebrow and grins in bemusement. "You were listening in on us while out of the room, weren't you? I really shoulda known. Touché! keke!"
Guess? accepts a glass and sips, trying not to look too happy for Del's sake but not turning down an opportunity to partake in the good stuff. In fact, Guess? will have multiple glasses if made available.
Strek doesn't indulge. They're not rich, yet. Years of being stiffed by people with money means he won't relax until his credit account shows a non-zero number followed by zeroes.
"We should get Tarika a farewell package. She was always good to us."
Akh answers Melissa's question "Yes, I mostly kept a lookout, kept bystanders from stumbling into places they shouldn't, and occasionally served as a decoy. You'd be surprised how little actual getting shot there was! I've been shot way more times in these past few weeks than all those months and years with Sinjin."
He follows Jaraduk's question with "Hmmm... I'm not sure how we became friends. That's quite a mystery, really. In the beginning I wasn't yet self-aware, so I was just following orders. But when I started thinking my own thoughts, he was the only one who really stood up for me and respected me being... well... me!" He nods "I think that speaks very well for him. He could have continued to use me as a slave, but he made me a partner instead."
----
Akh releases a series of echoing booms that approximate laughter at Sinjin's response. "I hope we can get in and out like you would." He sobers up when Sinjin describes the android guards "Hmm. Can we help them rather than killing them? Sentience can be restored, I think." He gets distracted pondering whether that might be possible.
When Sinjin returns from the break, Akh pockets the offered credits and asks a couple of remaining questions. "Do you have a map of the Orbital Plate? And the suspected location of our target? Any other information you can provide that might help things go more smoothly for all of us?"
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Guess? listens intently to Akh's recounting of his history with Sinjin - utterly fascinated by these insights of the underworld crime boss.
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Champaign seems to have had the opposite effect on Melissa's ability to make friends. Despite only downing one glass of "grape juice" She's a little glassy eyed and swaying a bit as she shares from the champaign bottle with the Ijtikri on the bar. "Oh wow that must have been awful. And after you helped build the place they just let you go right before it was finished so they didn't have to give you a bonus? Ugh. Were you working for EJ? We just had this job where..."
As they walk away from Sinjin's office Jaraduk sighs heavily, partly in resign and partly relieved that a decision is made.
Well, I guess we're doing this. Um, I'm going to let the rest of you break it to Tarika. I don't know what to say. She got me this job, really looking out for me. I wonder if I could convince her to quit too...
He follows Jaraduk's question with "Hmmm... I'm not sure how we became friends. That's quite a mystery, really. In the beginning I wasn't yet self-aware, so I was just following orders. But when I started thinking my own thoughts, he was the only one who really stood up for me and respected me being... well... me!" He nods "I think that speaks very well for him. He could have continued to use me as a slave, but he made me a partner instead."
Hmm, I see, I see. he replies thoughtfully, clearly coming around somewhat.
Well, I don't expect he'll make us partners; and I suspect his trustworthiness will be related to our success and usefulness, but you've convinced me of his potential. I suppose he's already treating us better than EJ. I'm no stranger to go with the highest payer, the best situation... his thoughts linger back to the Diaspora briefly.
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Sinjin gives Deminda a questioning look. "What do you think? More androids we can save?" The drow shrugs. "If you make a mess, the Plate security will investigate. Hopefully after you're gone. They see unconscious androids with restraining bolts, those ones will probably be brought out. Maybe EJ gets a fine or two." She trails off, obviously caring more about you making a 'mess' than the potential android slaves. Sinjin nods. "No maps, unfortunately. It's a close system. You could probably hack into their computers to find a map once you're on board." He eyes the datapad again. "I'm told there's a few different restricted EJ facilities on board the Orbital Plate. Try to do some subtle investigation to figure out which one houses the Oliphaunt." The drow gives you a serious look. "You only get one shot at this, don't blow it on the wrong location." You soon head back to BD514. Before you board, Deminda gives you the coordinates for an uninhabited asteroid in the Diaspora. “Once the Oliphaunt is in your possession, rendezvous with me at this location for the handoff. You'll get an advance on your payment there, and the rest after we offload this payday to A-Corp."
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As you're shopping, Melissa makes several new friends. She learns that the Horse Eye Orbital Plate derives its name from Aballon’s ancient nickname, “The Horse.” Although few call the world by that name now, the Horse Eye Orbital Plate was founded before the Gap by a coalition that included species from lost Golarion. Many corporations use the massive starship construction facility simultaneously, generally subcontracting to anacite firms for the actual construction. Only the employees and shareholders of the various corporations that use the plate are allowed entry; fortunately, you are about to be shareholders in EJ Corp. There are passenger liners heading there daily, tickets start at 50 credits. The floating factory is miles-long and much of it is dedicated to manufacturing spacecraft. You'll have to find the Oliphaunt's location once on board. She even finds a coupon for a free tour of the Plate. Seems like there are several tours, each spotlighting different parts of the facility, that have been tailored for two audiences: visiting shareholders checking in on projects conducted by their firms, and potential investors.
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As the day begins to run to a close, you are forced to make the hard call. You phone up Tarika, right after Jaraduk 'conveniently' has to use the bathroom, and tell her the bad news. You appreciate everything she's done for you over the years, but you're resigning. Jaraduk returns to the holo-frame after the hard news has been broken and floats the idea of Tarika quitting too. The brenneri purses her lips, absentmindedly flipping her wrench between her furry hands. "I have been contemplating getting out of the company for a few months now. It's just not fair what they do to y'all. The severance bonus is enough I could try something new." Then, her smile is beaming. "But if y'all can stick it to the man, maybe I can to! I don’t know what I’d do exactly,” she says. “And Shan is still off terraforming some water world in the Vast for these bloodsuckers." She gives Strek a knowing nod. "But at least she’s on her own now, so I have options. I’ve made some contacts in the free trader community — other crews, not unlike yourselves. I could go independent, help folks get jobs that actually pay, I s’pose...” She goes on to encourage you to leave the Company on your own terms. “With your severance packages, you might even get enough for your own ship! I mean, if they give you the max amount, and if they don't ding you for some legalese reason, and if you pooled everything together, and if you have some creds for the stock options, and if any of you are secretly rich, and if the bank gives you a loan. Then you could totally do it! You could go freelance!” You have to give it to Tarika, her positivity really has no end.
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When you give Tarika the go-ahead, she files the paperwork. After all these years (or weeks, for Jaraduk, and seconds, for Melissa) you've left the company. There were days when you thought you'd die moving crates for the Evgeniya-Jaimisson Corporation. But here you are, off on a more exciting, lucrative, and illegal venture.
Your severance package includes both credits and stock options — but the Company works hard to ensure leaving employees get as small a reward as possible, and preferably none at all beyond the laughably negligible stock options it advertises in job listings (and thus, is legally obligated to provide). The severance package is detailed in each employee’s hire contract, which is periodically renewed and updated. These contracts contain a plethora of bureaucratic language that makes them hard to decipher, with exceptions and stipulations that give EJ Corp an endless array of excuses for withholding partial or full severance pay. But you're going to get your pay, by Gorum! The process turns out to be... a little more difficult than you thought. First, you have to scour the EJ infosphere site for the right number to call. Once you find that you spend many hours on your personal comms and the infosphere, negotiating with faceless Company personnel who shuffle you from department to department, converse in monotone using jargon they never explain, contradict each other, and leave you on hold for hours until the call simply ends.
Eventually, after about two days of investigation and comparing notes with each other, you fill out the right forms and get to the right Sentient Resources officer. You start by giving them the account number, containing Lord Sinjin's funds, to pay for the stock options. The SR employee reveals shock. "It's been at least 10 rotations since someone purchased the stock options. Impressive..." Then they turn towards your credit and ship voucher severance, which seems to have many more EJ-created obstacles involved.
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Melissa comes back from a day of asking for help with a lot of dust on her brand new business skirtsuit and what appears to be the imprint from a very expensive loafer on her face. She puts some cold Goop in a bag and puts it over her eye.
"It can be surprisingly hard to get busy business people to notice you from below knee level. "
The polyhedral gods giveth.....
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"Hello Sentient Resources officer. Give us everything we're due, or we'll give you a stern talking to. Which you will not particularly like." Akh speaks confidently, not realizing that a much firmer approach might be appropriate. "Actually, you may like that, I suppose. There is no kink shaming here."
Strek takes cues from the social ysoki.