Traveller: Sinharaja Sector (in-character thread)

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"I was hoping for a less formal way...and talking with people who wouldn't offer me a contract for working on the planet. Which I suspect your HR might do", Volodimir frowned.
"Under-the-table arrangements are discouraged simply because there are so few protections from exploitation or being duped, but they're not illegal. Don Saavedra hates to see his guests be cheated," she replies with a smile. "But if you want to take the risk, I'm sure you can find someone to dicker with in one of the lower-level lounges. That's where most of the ship captains and crews tend to socialize. Don't say I didn't warn you!"
 
Nils tries to respond neutrally.

"Not in that line of work. Former marine. I'll work for anybody who wants a hired gun, corporate espionage, hijacking, you name it. Any VIP clients interested in anything like that around here?"
 
"Under-the-table arrangements are discouraged simply because there are so few protections from exploitation or being duped, but they're not illegal. Don Saavedra hates to see his guests be cheated," she replies with a smile. "But if you want to take the risk, I'm sure you can find someone to dicker with in one of the lower-level lounges. That's where most of the ship captains and crews tend to socialize. Don't say I didn't warn you!"
"Thank you, Miss Tieu. Whatever happens, I'm never going to say you didn't warn me about ship captains. You have my word...by the way, my name is Volodimir, formerly of the Marine corps", Volodimir smiled.
Then he turned towards Bai, and pulled her to the side.
"Hey...you can remain here, or come with me. Just try not to run into Trip, if you go alone... He's sure you'd try to rip us off, and he's being...you know exactly how he's been last few days. And OK, I can't blame you even if you did plan that, but then you can't blame us that we still don't want that to happen, right? If you're worried about him, stay near me. I'm not going to allow him to hurt you, you have my word. Yes, I know what that sounds like, but I've never went back on it."
He shrugged.
"Anyway, you know the place better than me. What would you do to find gainful employment for a group like ours? Go to the HR, or to the captains' lounge?"
 
Nils tries to respond neutrally.

"Not in that line of work. Former marine. I'll work for anybody who wants a hired gun, corporate espionage, hijacking, you name it. Any VIP clients interested in anything like that around here?"
"I'm sure they wouldn't make it public knowledge if they were interested in something so unseemly. You'd probably have better luck on the lower levels among the déclassé. Or you could mingle and see what happens."
"Thank you, Miss Tieu. Whatever happens, I'm never going to say you didn't warn me about ship captains. You have my word...by the way, my name is Volodimir, formerly of the Marine corps", Volodimir smiled.

Then he turned towards Bai, and pulled her to the side.

"Hey...you can remain here, or come with me. Just try not to run into Trip, if you go alone... He's sure you'd try to rip us off, and he's being...you know exactly how he's been last few days. And OK, I can't blame you even if you did plan that, but then you can't blame us that we still don't want that to happen, right? If you're worried about him, stay near me. I'm not going to allow him to hurt you, you have my word. Yes, I know what that sounds like, but I've never went back on it."

He shrugged.

"Anyway, you know the place better than me. What would you do to find gainful employment for a group like ours? Go to the HR, or to the captains' lounge?"
"If I make an introduction, will you give me some credits?" asks Bai. "I'll take my chances at the tables."
 
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"I'm afraid that's outside my purview, but if you visit Administration or the Port Authority at the top level I'm certain they can assist you."
Trip says
"Thanks. I'll head that way after I check on something back in the ship. You know which lounge the working class prefers here?". He waits for an answer before heading back to customs. Once there he'll see what other ships are around and who if any look to have just arrived or are preparing to leave.
 
Trip says
"Thanks. I'll head that way after I check on something back in the ship. You know which lounge the working class prefers here?". He waits for an answer before heading back to customs. Once there he'll see what other ships are around and who if any look to have just arrived or are preparing to leave.
"I shouldn't tell you anything but you look like you've been on a long losing streak, so you might ask around the Eternal Midnight Lounge for Captain Gershon of the La Concorde. That ship always seems shorthanded. But I didn't tell you that; if you say anything I'll deny it."

Back at customs you see on the officials' side a screen with a display for arrivals and departures. The only recent arrival is the Vera Caspary, and there is another ship called the Fortuna III scheduled for departure at 20:00 hours, or about four hours from now. One of the customs officials gives you the stinkeye, apparently suspicious of your loitering in the area.
 
"I'm sure they wouldn't make it public knowledge if they were interested in something so unseemly. You'd probably have better luck on the lower levels among the déclassé. Or you could mingle and see what happens."
"If I make an introduction, will you give me some credits?" asks Bai. "I'll take my chances at the tables."
"OK, I give you a choice: 500 credits for a potentially useful introduction that hasa job offer, another 500 if we take a job for someone you introduced us to...or 10% of the net payment. Of course, the latter would require you to stay 'till we get said payment...so you might make it 10% of the net payment, and your own share. Again, your choice."
 
Nils thanks Wan and heads off to mingle among the crowd, keeping an ear out for anybody discussing something that'd need a hired gun. Even basic guard duty.
 
"OK, I give you a choice: 500 credits for a potentially useful introduction that hasa job offer, another 500 if we take a job for someone you introduced us to...or 10% of the net payment. Of course, the latter would require you to stay 'till we get said payment...so you might make it 10% of the net payment, and your own share. Again, your choice."
"I know someone who's always hiring, but you make not like the job he has in mind. It's dangerous. More dangerous than your terrorist-hijacker shenanigans, anyway."
Nils thanks Wan and heads off to mingle among the crowd, keeping an ear out for anybody discussing something that'd need a hired gun. Even basic guard duty.
If Eloise isn't going with Nils, let me know and disregard the rest.

Passing near a bar with a brass rail, you overhear a tough-looking spacer in a leather get-up regaling a group of similar-looking men, you think maybe belters or some other kind of hardened laborers, laughing, "...and then I told that twisted old fruitcake he's crazy as a soup sandwich and can shove his job offer right up his ass, danger pay or no danger pay!"
20190808_190257.jpg
The men break out into raucous laughter and the tale-spinner waits for it to die down before adding, "Far as I know he's still up there in his suite if any of you fucks're as loony-tunes as him and wanna to take him up on his offer!"
 
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"I shouldn't tell you anything but you look like you've been on a long losing streak, so you might ask around the Eternal Midnight Lounge for Captain Gershon of the La Concorde. That ship always seems shorthanded. But I didn't tell you that; if you say anything I'll deny it."

Back at customs you see on the officials' side a screen with a display for arrivals and departures. The only recent arrival is the Vera Caspary, and there is another ship called the Fortuna III scheduled for departure at 20:00 hours, or about four hours from now. One of the customs officials gives you the stinkeye, apparently suspicious of your loitering in the area.
Assuming he sees nothing noteworthy, Trip will head to The Eternal Midnight Lounge to look for the captain.
 
For GM & Nils
'Whadda say Nils, worth checking out?'
 
"I know someone who's always hiring, but you make not like the job he has in mind. It's dangerous. More dangerous than your terrorist-hijacker shenanigans, anyway."
If Eloise isn't going with Nils, let me know and disregard the rest.

Passing near a bar with a brass rail, you overhear a tough-looking spacer in a leather get-up regaling a group of similar-looking men, you think maybe belters or some other kind of hardened laborers, laughing, "...and then I told that twisted old fruitcake he's crazy as a soup sandwich and can shove his job offer right up his ass, danger pay or no danger pay!"
The men break out into raucous laughter and the tale-spinner waits for it to die down before adding, "Far as I know he's still up there in his suite if any of you fuck're as loony-tunes as him and wanna to take him up on his offer!"
"Well, I can at least listen to the man, and it would net you a 500...so why not? We can always decline if it seems above our capabilities...right?"
 
"Yeah sounds interesting...."

Nils tries to get the spacer's attention and asks:

"Sorry man just heard the end of that and I gotta know, what nutty job was this guy offering?"
 
'Whadda say Nils, worth checking out?'
"Yeah sounds interesting...."

Nils tries to get the spacer's attention and asks:

"Sorry man just heard the end of that and I gotta know, what nutty job was this guy offering?"
The leather-garbed spacer rubs his stubbly face and replies, "No harm in tellin' you, I guess. That old rich guy's looking for a crew to salvage a derelict starship. Claims there's a fortune aboard. I say if that's true someone would've got it a long time ago. He says no, because the location is only known to a few and the other who know don't got the resources to go after it. You ask me, he's wound up tighter than a cock's hatband." He shifts his attention to Eloise and then back to you and asks, "This your woman?"
"Well, I can at least listen to the man, and it would net you a 500...so why not? We can always decline if it seems above our capabilities...right?"
"Then we should go to the Eternal Midnight Lounge and talk to Captain Gershon of the La Concorde. That's on Level 2."
Assuming he sees nothing noteworthy, Trip will head to The Eternal Midnight Lounge to look for the captain.
"It's on Level 2," she tells you. "Look for a flamboyant spacer smoking an old-fashioned pipe."

Taking the lift up to the second level of the station, you find it opens onto a corridor with several portals on either side. The Eternal Midnight Lounge is designated by a bright neon sign. Some sort of vapor, smoke, or fog wafts out from the lounge and drifts along the ceiling until it dissipates in the corridor. Inside, you see turbaned men smoking hookah pipes and blowing their smoke up to the slow-moving ceiling fans. They appear to be engaged in negotiations, card games, and general carousing. At a booth in a darkened alcove near the back of the lounge, you a likely prospect smoking his pipe and vehemently discussing something of import with two men who appear to be technicians or engineers. When the pipe-smoker abruptly grimaces, his teeth show yellow and tobacco-stained.
Gershon.jpg
 
I’m no one’s ‘woman’ space junk,’ I say but with enough humour to take the edge off.
 
The leather-garbed spacer rubs his stubbly face and replies, "No harm in tellin' you, I guess. That old rich guy's looking for a crew to salvage a derelict starship. Claims there's a fortune aboard. I say if that's true someone would've got it a long time ago. He says no, because the location is only known to a few and the other who know don't got the resources to go after it. You ask me, he's wound up tighter than a cock's hatband." He shifts his attention to Eloise and then back to you and asks, "This your woman?"
"Then we should go to the Eternal Midnight Lounge and talk to Captain Gershon of the La Concorde. That's on Level 2."
"It's on Level 2," she tells you. "Look for a flamboyant spacer smoking an old-fashioned pipe."

Taking the lift up to the second level of the station, you find it opens onto a corridor with several portals on either side. The Eternal Midnight Lounge is designated by a bright neon sign. Some sort of vapor, smoke, or fog wafts out from the lounge and drifts along the ceiling until it dissipates in the corridor. Inside, you see turbaned men smoking hookah pipes and blowing their smoke up to the slow-moving ceiling fans. They appear to be engaged in negotiations, card games, and general carousing. At a booth in a darkened alcove near the back of the lounge, you a likely prospect smoking his pipe and vehemently discussing something of import with two men who appear to be technicians or engineers. When the pipe-smoker abruptly grimaces, his teeth show yellow and tobacco-stained.
"Let's go, then!"
 
Nils smiles a bit at Eloise's response.

"As you heard, not my woman. Much more important to me than that, she's the only person I know who's a pilot"

He turns to Eloise.

"Have to say sounds exciting. Volodimir and I used to board ships like that back in the good old days, but this sounds like there might be treasure and nobody will be shooting at us. I say we at least hear this old nutter out"

He turns to the spacer again.

"Where is the old fella?"
 
The leather-garbed spacer rubs his stubbly face and replies, "No harm in tellin' you, I guess. That old rich guy's looking for a crew to salvage a derelict starship. Claims there's a fortune aboard. I say if that's true someone would've got it a long time ago. He says no, because the location is only known to a few and the other who know don't got the resources to go after it. You ask me, he's wound up tighter than a cock's hatband." He shifts his attention to Eloise and then back to you and asks, "This your woman?"
"Then we should go to the Eternal Midnight Lounge and talk to Captain Gershon of the La Concorde. That's on Level 2."
"It's on Level 2," she tells you. "Look for a flamboyant spacer smoking an old-fashioned pipe."

Taking the lift up to the second level of the station, you find it opens onto a corridor with several portals on either side. The Eternal Midnight Lounge is designated by a bright neon sign. Some sort of vapor, smoke, or fog wafts out from the lounge and drifts along the ceiling until it dissipates in the corridor. Inside, you see turbaned men smoking hookah pipes and blowing their smoke up to the slow-moving ceiling fans. They appear to be engaged in negotiations, card games, and general carousing. At a booth in a darkened alcove near the back of the lounge, you a likely prospect smoking his pipe and vehemently discussing something of import with two men who appear to be technicians or engineers. When the pipe-smoker abruptly grimaces, his teeth show yellow and tobacco-stained.
Trip flags a server to get a drink and sits near the captain trying to hear what the conversation is about. He looks about the lounge to see who's about.
 
I’m no one’s ‘woman’ space junk,’ I say but with enough humour to take the edge off.
The men laugh and the spacer responds, "She has spunk! Maybe I can trade one of my men for her! These cacklers aren't worth an ounce of ore!"
Nils smiles a bit at Eloise's response.

"As you heard, not my woman. Much more important to me than that, she's the only person I know who's a pilot"

He turns to Eloise.

"Have to say sounds exciting. Volodimir and I used to board ships like that back in the good old days, but this sounds like there might be treasure and nobody will be shooting at us. I say we at least hear this old nutter out"

He turns to the spacer again.

"Where is the old fella?"
"Aye, he's up in his suite up top on Level 3. VIP Suite 22. I hear it's the largest, most expensive residential suite aboard, aside from Don Saavedra's private quarters. Why don't you have a drink with us and tell us what kind of head trauma you suffered to make you seriously consider his offer?"
 
Taking the lift up to the second level of the station, Volodimir finds it opens onto a corridor with several portals on either side. The Eternal Midnight Lounge is designated by a bright neon sign. Some sort of vapor, smoke, or fog wafts out from the lounge and drifts along the ceiling until it dissipates in the corridor. Inside, Volodimir sees turbaned men smoking hookah pipes and blowing their smoke up to the slow-moving ceiling fans. They appear to be engaged in negotiations, card games, and general carousing. At a booth in a darkened alcove near the back of the lounge, Volodimir sees a flamboyantly attired caricature of a starship captain smoking his pipe and vehemently discussing something of import with two men who appear to be technicians or engineers. Volodimir also notices his erstwhile partner-in-crime Trip sitting in the next booth over, from which he flags down a waitress in an extremely tight dress that looks painted on. Trip can't help but notice Volodimir's coincidental entrance into the lounge, and that Volodimir is apparently voluntarily accompanied by Bai Zhiyi, navigator of the Vera Caspary and your former hostage.

The lounge appears populated by well-healed merchants and their underlings, independent starship captains as well as those operating the frontier for corporate speculators, and a handful of aristocratic types, or those feigning to be such, which is easy enough to do if you have sufficient cash. There is a central bar in the shape of a circle, above which is a bank of monitors displaying sporting events apparently broadcast from elsewhere on the station: camel races, gladiatorial matches, mud-wrestling, and a zero-grav handball match. Those at the bar are mostly craning their necks to watch the monitors, likely with money riding on the outcomes. Volomidir and Bai soon see the waitress return to Trip's booth, where she practically shoves her ample cleavage in his face as she bends over far more than necessary to serve him his Ferlinghetti Sling, a bright pink concoction that gives off a light mist of bubbles and has a tiny umbrella-straw sunk into it.
20190811_181616.jpgCocktail waitress
 
Trip admires the waitress briefly but the presence of Bai has raised his defenses and distracted him from what should have been an enjoyable respite. Still his priority is trying to follow the conversation in the booth next to him. He nods for the others to join him.
 
’We’ll see you boys later,’ I say and take Nils by the arm.
 
Nils laughs as Eloise leads him out.

"Didn't seem like a crowd to mingle with alright. What do you say we talk to this old guy now and check in with the others later?"
 
’We’ll see you boys later,’ I say and take Nils by the arm.
"Now that ain't right," the spacer says as you walk away. "What's he got that I ain't?"
Nils laughs as Eloise leads him out.

"Didn't seem like a crowd to mingle with alright. What do you say we talk to this old guy now and check in with the others later?"
"Her," you overhear one of the spacer's friends reply before they break out into laughter.
 
Trip admires the waitress briefly but the presence of Bai has raised his defenses and distracted him from what should have been an enjoyable respite. Still his priority is trying to follow the conversation in the booth next to him. He nods for the others to join him.
Trip overheads snatches of the conversation:
"--done deal, I tell you--"
"--risks outweigh--"
"--smash and grab--"
"--two jumps and scot-free--"
"--never know who--"
"--what do we know about art?"
 
I laugh and wave over my shoulder. ‘Yes,’ I say to Nils. ‘Should be safe enough with both of is watching each other’s back.’
 
Volodimir stops and signals Trip to stay put. THEN he started sending him a text message.
"Looking for work. Cover our backs if necessary. Will report later. V., out."
Then he proceeds with Bai.
"Let me guess: it's the gaudy-dressed one?"
 
Volodimir stops and signals Trip to stay put. THEN he started sending him a text message.
"Looking for work. Cover our backs if necessary. Will report later. V., out."
Then he proceeds with Bai.
"Let me guess: it's the gaudy-dressed one?"
"Yes, that's Captain Gershon. He's rather eccentric but he always seems to have credit and always seems to be on the lookout for new crewmen. You could do worse. I might even hire on and then you can see what I'm like when I'm not being used for a hostage or target practice by criminals."
 
I'm assuming you're heading up to Level 3.
The elevator door opens onto a carpeted hallway with large portholes on either side looking out into space and the yellowish-orange orb that is Saffron, respectively. The hallway seems more spacious and there is a noticeable quiet and lack of traffic. Up ahead where there is a slight curve you see a chambermaid exiting a suite with a silver tray covered in drug paraphernalia. The door, which pneumatically hisses shut as the chambermaid leaves, is numbered 22. There is a quite unnecessary golden knocker in the shape of a gargoyle--unnecessary as well as nonfunctional as the ring through the gargoyle's mouth is unmoveable and permanently affixed to the door; it is a mere façade. To the right of the door, set in the wall, is a slot for a keycard, a keypad for entry of a code, a small grilled speaker, and a button for activation.
 
Nils heads to the grilled speaker and presses down on the button and speaks.

"Hey, I know this is a bit abrupt, but we heard that you're interested in a derelict. We might be interested as well."
 
Trip gets the message and types furiously in response.
Acknowledged.
Heard the following from the booth near me with gaudy captain.
"--done deal, I tell you--"
"--risks outweigh--"
"--smash and grab--"
"--two jumps and scot-free--"
"--never know who--"
"--what do we know about art?"
 
Nils heads to the grilled speaker and presses down on the button and speaks.

"Hey, I know this is a bit abrupt, but we heard that you're interested in a derelict. We might be interested as well."
You hear an aged voice respond through the crackling intercom, "Derelict? I'm no derelict! Mind your own business! I can pay my own way! Derelict, he calls me!"
 
Nils looks at Eloise with a laugh and then speaks as clearly as he can into the intercom.

"The Derelict ship Sir! The one with the fortune on it"
 
Nils looks at Eloise with a laugh and then speaks as clearly as he can into the intercom.

"The Derelict ship Sir! The one with the fortune on it"
The door slides open a crack and you see a very old man with splotchy skin and enormous ears peeking out at you. "Who are you and what do you want?" You feel he could be one of those radiation-spawned mutants you've heard tell of.
old.jpg
 
Trip gets the message and types furiously in response.
Acknowledged.
Heard the following from the booth near me with gaudy captain.
"--done deal, I tell you--"
"--risks outweigh--"
"--smash and grab--"
"--two jumps and scot-free--"
"--never know who--"
"--what do we know about art?"
"Yes, I hope to see that", Volodimir nodded. while typing...

"Sounds like a plan to steal an art object, maybe? Watch out for robbers. If they threaten any of us, take them down."
And he looked at Bai.
"OK, let's go to him".
 
Trip discreetly gets his SMG in a ready state but his first choice will be to attack with a drink to the face.
 
Nils and Ref:
I try to turn on the charm. 'I'm Eloise, you?' I take him by the arm and lead him into the flat if he seems open to it.
 
I try to turn on the charm. 'I'm Eloise, you?' I take him by the arm and lead him into the flat if he seems open to it.
"Ah, do come in," he mumbles, "finally someone who appreciates experience..."

Inside you find a spacious luxury suite appointed with all modern conveniences.

"Are there only two of you?" he asks as the pneumatic door hisses shut behind you. "That won't be enough, but it's a start. My name is Captain Mikhail Krovopuskov. I'm sure that means nothing to you, nor will the name of the ship I captained." He wheezes and coughs a little into a handkerchief and gestures for you to be seated upon a plush sofa with a view of distant stars, before which he stands and straightens himself. "The Akademik Shokalskiy, a research vessel. A derelict now, as you say. Only four men--four survivors, I should say--can locate her, if they all still live. I am one of those four. I intend to salvage her--or at least her cargo."
 
"Yes, I hope to see that", Volodimir nodded. while typing...

"Sounds like a plan to steal an art object, maybe? Watch out for robbers. If they threaten any of us, take them down."
And he looked at Bai.
"OK, let's go to him".
Trip discreetly gets his SMG in a ready state but his first choice will be to attack with a drink to the face.
Captain Gershon and his companions look up at you. The captain gives Trip and Volodimir a once-over and asks, "Do I know you?" To Bai Zhiyi he says, "You seem familiar."

Bai Zhiyi responds, "Bai Zhiyi, ex-navigator of the Vera Caspary, sir, currently seeking gainful employment. We've met before but only in passing. These are two, uh, specialists who may be seeking work as well."
 
Captain Gershon and his companions look up at you. The captain gives Trip and Volodimir a once-over and asks, "Do I know you?" To Bai Zhiyi he says, "You seem familiar."

Bai Zhiyi responds, "Bai Zhiyi, ex-navigator of the Vera Caspary, sir, currently seeking gainful employment. We've met before but only in passing. These are two, uh, specialists who may be seeking work as well."
"Volodimir-Aso Drumev, former Marine Force Commdr", Volodimir nods. "Me and three friends, all former military, are indeed looking for employment. And Bai here was nice enough to tell us that you might be hiring,so I came to ask about any offers you might have. Indeed, we're hoping to attract Bai to our crew...though she hasn't agreed yet."
 
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