The party opts for the hasty retreat, not wanting to deal with the red tape of the law. It takes about 90 minutes to get to orbit after a long day of loading the ship. EJ didn't see fit to give you a ship that allows for you to simply back the cargo in. Typical.
You plug in for Akiton. Nav computer says it'll be .
In the aftermath of the gobbo ambush, Kaz helps load the almost stolen crates back on the trailer. He gives everyone a nod and a clenched fist. Overall he was pleased with everyone’s performance in the fight.
He takes a moment to check out the motorbikes. In his last terraforming gig, they used small offroad bikes to patrol and get around. Kaz grew to enjoy the two wheeled offroaders, it was a challenge to ride well. But the quality of these bikes are lacking. I dont think these are worth taking…
"Team, I am very impressed with how well you all handled yourself with the goblins. However, I fear we may run into more trouble before we are done. Considering that we do not know each other well, I've decided that we need to spend some time coordinating. If we practice exercises, combat maneuvers, and build a rapport, I think we will be able to anticipate each other's actions better. This way, when we get into trouble we will be much better prepared. If we do these exercises well, we can take a break on our last day before landing and I may entertain you all with some stories."
"Yeah sure. I want some time to work on these systems but for now we should probably learn how to avoid getting ourselves killed."
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Once Alfonse actually looks at the bikes, he realizes that they are absolute crap. However, he has now decided he needs a good chopper.
From orbit, Akiton is an uninspiring image of red rock and desert sands; it’s easy to wonder if there’s any life there at all. Appearances can be deceiving, however; despite the scorched surface of this dying planet, life indeed thrives below. As soon as you emerge from the Drift, the ship’s comm unit lights up with a waiting transmission from the Company dispatcher, Tarika
A brenneri with sleek brown fur appears on-screen, wearing an olive-green flight suit emblazoned with the EJ Corp logo and fidgeting with a worn wrench. You recognize her immediately as Tarika, your Company dispatcher and, for some of you, an old friend. She’s based on Absalom Station, so this transmission must have been sent days ago.
Tarika looks anxious, and her image is barely visible before she blurts out,
“Howdy team! I’m just checkin’ in on y’all. If you’re receivin’ this, you must have arrived at Akiton. Your drop-off site is in Hivemarket. Now, you can’t miss that place—just look for the biggest damn mountain on the entire planet. That’ll be Ka, the Pillar of the Sky, and Hivemarket is around its bottom. There’s a business there called Ka Imports, and Siski, the manager, is your contact. You can collect payment from her."
“Be careful on that dust bowl of a world, though; there’s no real law on Akiton, and the desert is no place to go explorin’. I’m lookin’ for your next job, and I’ll send a transmission when I have somethin’ for ya. If you haven’t heard from me by the time you’re done on Akiton, come on in to Absalom Station.”
"Even though the recording is not live, there is still something comforting about having Tarika giving us the info. Do you all know her? We go back a long ways."
"Chip, can you reply to Tarika on the interplanetary comm with the following message? EJ ship BO514 arrived on Akiton. Proceeding to Hive Market. ".
After the message is sent, Aldo goes on the ship's infosphere and finds out everything he can about the hive market.
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"Message sent. Advise caution, Captain. I will accompany Angel to make sure everyone stays safe, and makes the right.... choices. Not that anyone listens to me."
Aldo pulls up the wiki:
Akiton is a desert world with thin atmosphere and low gravity. Its economy was based on thasteron, a fuel used in sub-light space travel; when the Drift was discovered, Akiton's economy crashed. Akiton is home to red skinned humans known as Hylki, ysokis, four-armed shobhads, lizard-like ikeshtis, and many other species.
Aldo digs a little deeper. Hivemarket is located at the base of Ka, Pillar of the Sky, but it also extends through subterranean lava tubes into the mountain itself. When dust storms strike or raiders attack the city, the market's merchants take cover in these tunnels. Khulans, the spectral beings who patrol Hivemarket, appear to be ghosts but are in fact a rare kind of fey; they do not interfere in legitimate business dealings in the bazaar but protect the market and enact justice on those who break the rules.
Aldo shares what he finds out about the Hive Market with the crew.
After gauging their reactions, he comments, "As always, I don't expect to run into any problems, but if we do and we decide to take care of problems ourselves, we may have to deal with these spectral fey known as the Khulans. This sounds like more trouble than we want to deal with. So, let's work together and remember our coordination drills that we practiced. If all goes well, we will come away safely and with a nice tidy profit. Arm yourselves and let's head out."
Angel downloads Rhonda and gets her gear.
"Aye aye, Captain."
Chip sends the message:
EJ ship BO514 arrived on Akiton. Proceeding to Hive Market, Kemosabe
The closer you get to the massive sandstone walls that mark off Hivemarket proper, the more the sea of sand beneath them becomes littered with visiting starships. Beyond the walls, market stalls of every imaginable color, with all manner of strange symbols, crowd each other along haphazard pedestrian paths and a few narrow roads. Amid all the colorful chaos stand dozens of permanent buildings, most made of the same sandstone as the settlement’s walls. There are no official landing facilities; you just need to claim a piece of desert outside the walls. Once you have landed, they can walk or drive into Hivemarket, or try to follow up on your contract from the ship.
Attempts to contact Ka Imports on a personal or planetary comm unit fail; a recorded message informs the caller that the number is temporarily out of service.
Kaz doesnt like that we cant find a working number for Ka Imports. Can we use the infosphere to try and find a direct number for Siski?
If we have no info. Kas suggests we go in and scout it out first before we start driving our precious cargo around looking for Siski or someone to buy.
”Kaz, I like your suggestion. After that goblin incident, it makes me think these Yaro berries are in high demand. At least they will be secure here on the ship until we figure out what is going on in the market.”
”Rhonda, can you find any contact info on Siski? This is starting to feel like the mission where everything goes wrong.”
A quick search of the Infosphere fails to get a number for Siski, but you do get the address for Ka Imports, and the 'Sphere says they're open right now.
Aldo, considers the matter of the berries, and finally remarks, "Although there is a risk, I think if we wait any longer, the berries won't be worth anything. Ka Imports is open. Let's get them to market. That being said, have your weapons ready in case we need to defend them and the law is not able to do their job."
"Ah, its good to be back home... wait... never mind, I left home. Especially after the accident. Sheesh. Why are we here again? Oh, yeah, the berries and the money. Let's get those berries to market before they rot."
He gets the cargo hauler ready, sitting in the driver's seat. "Say, Kaz, why don't you ride in back, if only to be an obvious guard. Can have Chip sitting next t' ya'. Should have one or two in the middle as well. Let's make it obvious we ain't gonna put up with no crap."
Are you from this rock Vizzini?
Kaz nods and checks his weapon one more time. He prepares to ride on the trailer, he knows his job is to look like The Big Scary Vesk, ready to rip someone’s arms off or empty a whole magazine into their face if they frag with the cargo.
"Ya, we Vizzini's are from Akiton, but we usually try an' get away from her as quickly as we can. Hard to make a quick buck here."
Vizzini wonders if the mechanics could add some firepower to this rig.
The team in place, it's a short trip. Ka Imports is a large, square, three-story building (made of local sandstone) with oval windows. There’s a wide double door up front and a loading door in the rear, away from the main street. The building’s metal parts long ago rusted over, and as you arrive, a handful of Hylki construction workers lower to the ground a neon blue sign that reads “Ka Imports.” A new sign that reads, “Ichihara Imports” leans against the building, ready to take the original’s place.
Curious. I feel this doesn't bode well for our current task.
"What you talkin' about? Worst case, we have a new buyer. We just jack up the price!"
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"Chip, I have to agree with you. This does not bode well at all. Everything we seem to do on this mission is gong amiss."
Aldo tries to recall what he knows about Ichihara Imports.
Alf knows that Ichihara Holdings is a well-known corporation in the Pact Worlds, but Aldo knows Ichihara is based on Akiton and has ties to the Golden League, a prominent crime syndicate...
I'm not sure whether asking after Siski is wise, or unwise...
Kaz thinks we (meaning The Captain), should go talk to the new owners. They might honor the contract of their predecessor. Either way, we have a lucrative cargo to sell. I dont see why they wouldnt buy it.
”We are now going to be dealing with an organized crime syndicate. This is certainly not the mission that we signed up for, but a lot of people, including Prat, are depending on this shipment. Let’s see what I can do. Keep an eye on those berries while I go and talk to the new boss. Kaz, come with me.”
Aldo enters into Inchihara.
With the front door closed for construction, the workers point the party around back. The rear of the darkened Ka Imports warehouse is filled with crates and boxes stacked over ten feet high. A pair of Shobhad enforcers stop you though, "Who you here to see?"
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"Yeah yeah Rhonda, I know. Bad news but hey, organized crime has to be better than the disorganized crime I got up to in the past, right?"
Angel guards the shipment.
Chip and the drone are also guarding the shipment.
Keep an eye on those berries while I go and talk to the new boss. Kaz, come with me.”
Aldo enters into Inchihara.
The vesk nods and falls into position with Aldo.
Amost without thought Kaz pulls the slide back just a tiny bit to see brass in the chamber. He then rests his trigger finger on the safety. He holds the gun low in a non threatening manner. His job is to look tough. Done right, no killing will be needed…
"Who you here to see?"
Aldo replies with politeness and utmost confidence with no hint of anxiety at all.
"We're here to see your boss. We've got a deal that I know he will want to hear about. Kindly direct us through."
Wordlessly the guard nods and beckons you to come with him. He leads you to an office.
“Miss Ainsley,” says the first shobhad, “These people are asking about you.”
Inside the office, a crimson-skinned human woman reclines in a chair with her boots perched on the edge of a large desk cluttered with stacks of paper, unopened mail, and some empty coffee mugs. She looks up from a printed spreadsheet and exhales an exaggerated sigh of relief. “Thank you, Grandmother! I am bored out of my mind and could use a distraction. What is it?”
“Thank you, Grandmother!” as an invocation of Lao Shu Po, goddess of assassins, rats, spies, and thieves, known also as Grandmother Rat.
Aldo keeps the knowledge of the rat goddess to himself for the moment, but greets the new contact pleasantly.
"Well met, Miss Ainsley. I am Aldo Cygnaurius at your service and I am here with my team from the EJ. We were here to deliver a shipment of Yaro berries to Siski, but it looks like there is a new owner in town. It is my pleasure to welcome you."
[dice=Culture]1d20+7
There is a lot going on. He is distracted.
She eyes Aldo for a bit, "All of Ka Import’s outstanding contracts were canceled when the change of ownership occurred. I could say I’m sorry, but honestly, I really just don’t care.”
"All of Ka Import’s outstanding contracts were canceled when the change of ownership occurred. I could say I’m sorry, but honestly, I really just don’t care.”
"If this was just an ordinary order, I wouldn't care either. However, when it comes to making profit, that is when I do care. And you, Miss Ainsley, are about to let a huge chunk of profit slip through your fingers. For today, we have one of the last shipments of Prat berries in the system. These berries are in such outrageous demand especially since old man Prat is about to retire and this is his last shipment out of Absalom. In truth, I'm not even sure I know why I am here. There are far more wealthy people in town that are interested in making profit. That's where I need to be going. So with that said, I won't bother you any longer . . ." Aldo leaves the window open a crack for her to question whether she is making a big mistake.
"By my estimate those berries have a short shelf life. I'll tell you what. I'll honor that there was a deal, but I'm only paying 50% of what Ka promised."
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"Fifty percent?!" Aldo turns around incredulously! "These are Prat's Yaro berries! Not only do these robust berries deliver a remarkable burst of flavor they have a far longer shelf life than most of the competition! Considering that I don't know you well, I will give you Ka's price for 150%"
"You're f@%&ing lucky I'll give you anything at all. Fifty percent is my final offer, and I suggest you take it." The shobhad fidgets a bit.
"Well, this is disappointing." Aldo remarks to Kaz loud enough that Ainsley can hear. "Alf's connection with Grandmother Rat must have been wrong about coming here. We need to find somebody else worthy of our berries."
Aldo lingers to try and hook the fish.