Divine Wind Ep 4: The Wind Breaks

[DM Tojoyama]

The cargo is delivered on Santo, the 20K credits spent and 4 large packets of fine white powder now on board.

Hugo finds some building materiels, and a market for them on Verbene. Not much profit, but it fills the cargo hold.
================================================== ===
Arrival on Verbene. Hugo and Ming take the drugs for delivery.

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Bart on the bridge.

Popeye on the cargo deck, unloading the building materiels, then to get ready to receive Krieg's cargo.

Anastasia, on the catwalk, sitting on Popeye's patio furniture that overlooks the cargo. Popeye is delighted. they talk as he works, or rather he talks as he works, ".. twas a crocodile er alliagator I guess, whatever, four meters Anna, they tossed a pig off dah boat, huge umph, jaws, it was like a dinosaur or somethin'. "

Looks up at her, not so bloody numbskull "not like violent oh anythin' just something about this great beast... "

--------------------------

It's an alley connecting two busy streets, no door, no windows. A few people cut through it. good place for a meeting, kind of private, kind of safe.

Hugo and Ming got the drugs.
Two men got a small leather case.

http://guajirodreams.com/blogs/images/felixthecat.jpghttp://www.druglord.com/images/Pablo_li.JPG



===========================================

Manny Paz, "so the carbonizing process not only stops the electrostatic effects but reduction in sound is most amazing." He's looking at Heidi's chest.
Lu-Chang, ". . sound reduction? There is one thing that comes to mind that would be worth, 'carbonizing'."
Manny Pax, "Hah, I get I get, you got a funny sense of humor top knot, top knot, get it, cause of your hair do? So what line of work you fellas in?"

Lu Chang, a pause, "Obsolete equipment disposal."

They wait for the quiet Jixx to answer. Heidi moves a bit closer to Jixx, she's a little drunk from the Sake.

[Krieg]

It was the little movements that were so important.

Colonel Ruegg?s finger hovered over the answer button. To press it would mean letting the man on the screen into her compound. But, just as easily, she could shift her finger half an inch to the left and press the alarm button. Then shining silver drone guns, laser coils and gas vents would all leap to life, and annihilate the figure outside the gates of Verdure Depot. Just one little movement.

Not the grand gestures. They were the hokum, the wave of the magician?s hand. Everybody watched the fireworks and listened to the epics and felt the thunder, and all the while the world did its real work, going by moment by moment, in motions fine as clockwork.

The man outside Ruegg?s gate was smiling. A little smile. The knowing kind.

And she could do as that smile expected, and let him in. Change her life, as he?d changed it before. Or she could end that lovely smile and the awful power it had over her. Abolish the notion that only a smile could crack the foundation of what she had built up here on Verbena. It was a decision, like all the most significant decisions, to be performed in the smallest of measures.

Inches. Seconds. A tiny electric spark as she pressed the button.

Ruegg sighed and let her finger drop.

?Tell him he can come in, Corporal. Escort him here.? Already she was rummaging in her desk for some Nasine nose spray.

?And better cancel my later appointments.?


Krieg sat across from Ruegg with his hands knit. He stared at the colossal stag?s head on her wall. The stag, which was missing one of its sixteen points, stared back with little glass eyes. Both seemed to be waiting for the other do something.

Eventually Krieg sighed. Touching his upright thumbs together, he looked back at Ruegg, who had come back from shredding any and all paperwork detailing his arrival at Verdure Depot. He resumed his pitch.

?It?s not just the money, though.?

?Of course not.? Ruegg said blandly, leaving all the color in her to rise to her face. She fished about in her desk drawer for the Nasine and took a squirt.

Krieg smiled and pointed to the squeeze bottle. ?I got you hooked on that, didn?t I??

?Actually I think it was the smell of the corpses.? Ruegg tossed the bottle and picked up her cup of espresso. ?Go on.?

?Right ? Not just the money.?

?It?s a lot of money, though.? She sipped.

?It?s that when you do your next inventory, you and your supply officer will look at your inventory list.? Krieg glanced at an invisible list between his thumbs. ?Oh. And look at that. Only 1,000 assault rifles for our 3rd Battalion.? He glanced up, serious as a starched collar. ?We better order 9,000 more. And, just like that, they?ll send it.?

?Just like that.? Ruegg wanted to dump her espresso in his lap. It sucked. He sucked. All of it sucked. Most of all because she knew where he was going with this. And where he was going with it was more of a thrill than any damn cup of coffee could hope to overshadow.

?Right, because right now the Core planets are experiencing an economic boom the likes of which they could have hardly dreamt of. And why? War.? Krieg spread his hands to either side of him. Whether it was for dramatic effect or to indicate her base, she couldn?t tell. For some reason though, it mattered to her. She listened with a finger touched to her frowning lips.

Krieg went on. ?The war economy has exploded Core business and that means Border business too. The Border worlds are literally expanding; all the industry the Core needs to put somewhere is flowing here. Especially in places where the cost effectiveness and industry is most critical to maintaining profit.?

Ruegg leaned back, nodding. ?And Verbena has plenty of factories, just waiting to be converted from making Independent products to making Alliance.?

?Exactly.? Krieg said. ?And if you keep requesting more and more arms, they?ll want to save on shipping. Iskellian or Sanjuno or Krieg or any of the big arms firms will move a factory out here because some peanut-counter will look over their accounting and realize they could save millions and probably make millions more if they open a factory near you, rather than having to ship from the Core.?

It made sense to Ruegg. That alarmed her. Her mouth got tighter, and she hoped there was bite in her reply. ?And when they find out that I?m just happening to expend insane amounts of materiel, they?ll put a stop to it.?

Krieg?s grin was wild, lupine thing. She couldn?t help but grin back at it. ?Who?ll stop it? The Corporations? They?ll be making bank. Your superiors? The brass at the top will want to keep the Corporations happy and keep their budget up in Parliament? You think the brass wants to tighten its belt? It wants to be given excuses not to.?

Krieg leaned back, and ran his eyes over the wall behind Ruegg like he was stargazing. ?Look at those photos on the wall. All those men and women in neat, fancy clothes you?re shaking hands with. See how they?re smiling? Do you think they?re smiling because they?re cutting their budgets? Or because war?s a terrible thing??

Krieg straightened up, with just a tilt to his shoulders ? just a hint of tower fall. It made his expression all the brighter. ?Meagan, they?re smiling because business is going great. And they?re thrilled ? rutting thrilled ? to have you on board. Playing the game. Adding on the zeroes.?

His confidence was insane. She felt humid. He needed throwing out the window in her opinion. She thought back on the times she?d felt this way around him.

The time when he suggested they play Russian Roulette with an automatic pistol. ?It could jam?, he?d insisted. The time he?d taken that rebel saboteur into an interrogation room with just pliers, wire, a cooking pit and some margarine ? for three days. They?d never found a trace of that girl but there was no other way out but the front door ? the room had reeked of smoke and pork for weeks. Then there was the time when she?d been surrounded, and he stayed atop the highrise above her position, calling in fire missions until the Independents backed off three days later. Calling in fire missions while under fire was one thing. At one point, Krieg had done it while on fire. She?d helped salve the scars herself. And she wasn?t surprised he?d done it. Shocked, but not surprised.

Just like she wasn?t surprised that he?d probably pull this off.

?Someone above me will tell.? Ruegg said. It was her last gesture of resistance, thrown down like a bad hand of cards.

?If they do, we?ll give them a taste.? Krieg grinned. ?They won?t talk with their mouths full.?

Ruegg chuckled.

?Colonel, factories here on Verbena means industry. Industry means expanding your base to protect and enable that industry. Expanding your base means a higher rank, a larger command. This starts with a few tons of worthless metal rusting in your stores, but it can end in platinum stars on your shoulders.?

?And all I have to do is say ?yes?. Right??

?And turn a key.?


Krieg stood with Ruegg outside the open door of the weapons dump.

She scowled at the ranks of the soldiers as they hustled past, running sloppily-stuffed crates of assault rifles, grenades, bullets, wetware and numerous other surplus out to the waiting trucks. Krieg didn?t join her in the scowl. Not long ago, they would have cut the same severe figure; both had a gift at displaying a spine-crushing contempt for others. Now he just beamed absently like a kid trying to look love-struck. She wondered if he was getting soft.

?I look forward to using some of this on the elderly.? He said sincerely.

Ruegg felt better about things. He was still a truly sick man. The world had gone back to making sense.

?That would be illegal.?

?Unlike this.? He said.

?We?re not permitted to sell our surplus. Nor are we permitted to destroy it without orders.? Ruegg slumped down in her surcoat, hoping that the high collars would catch more of the brutal Verbena wind. Winter took its time leaving at places like this. ?And there are no rules as to dumping.?

?You?re kind of dumping.? Krieg grinned as the last load of assault rifles, all just tossed together in a big pile, was shoved into his truck convoy. ?You?re certainly not selling it.?

?Not for the Alliance Army.? Ruegg counted with a sniff. She turned to face his smile. She was surprised how warm it made her to see it ? instantly, palpably warm. Maybe the power it had wasn?t all bad after all. She stuck her hand out to shake his.

?They?ll make out fine when I start taking new stuff.? Krieg slipped his hand into hers. ?Empty stocks to requisitions to factories to bases to brass. And to us.?

Now there?s an ?us?, she thought. She didn?t feel the key he?d slipped into her hand until they began to shake. Now she couldn?t help but share the grin. She thought she?d notice him ?accidentally? leave his briefcase in her office.

?To us."

The key moved from his hand to hers. Such a little movement.

[ecritter]

Hugo and Ming drive along in the mule to the drop spot.

"Keep alert, no telling what's coming." Hugo says over the hum of the engine. "It's not that I don't trust those fellers .... I just don't trust anyone."

[Ming Thomas]

Ming grins back at Hugo, "So ya don't trust me, yeah? Why should ya? I did what I set out to do and helped take down those gorram jack holes that messed up Willie, I got no need to keep on here.....but....but i got this feeling that I should. Sides who else you gonna get to fly your ship that ain't gonna rat you out for the attack on the Howler's place?"

He chuckles a bit as they drive on, casting an eye to the sky.

(OOC: is it day or night? what's the weather like?)

[DM Tojoyama]

---- Divine Wind Galley -------------

Popeye drinks cold tea that Anna has prepared for him. His mood has returned to its glorious good nature, thanks mostly to Anna doting on him just a bit.

Krieg leans to the vid wave news. Bulletin from Ariel.

Notorious Crime figure Grizveld of the Iakovlev crime family was killed today in a shoot out with an assasin know only as Jixx. Jixx has been identified as a member of an isolated cult of nomads living in shace colonies. The assasin Jixx, was killed in the shootout.

Details remain sketchy.

Popeye, "I reckon I'll just go check on our boys eh?"

==================================================




Ming grins back at Hugo, "So ya don't trust me, yeah? Why should ya? I did what I set out to do and helped take down those gorram jack holes that messed up Willie, I got no need to keep on here.....but....but i got this feeling that I should. Sides who else you gonna get to fly your ship that ain't gonna rat you out for the attack on the Howler's place?"

He chuckles a bit as they drive on, casting an eye to the sky.

(OOC: is it day or night? what's the weather like?)

Dusk, weather is clear, cool.

They make it to the meet, head down their side of the appointed alley and meet up with the contacts.

Ugly and Uglier show them the money. Hugo verifies it's good cash, 40,000, bonifide Alliance script according to his lil machine (found in Garibaldi's Cabin).

They do a similar check on the drugs, checking a couple samples at random.

"Now for the bad news. My supplier and I got a new agreement, I'll send him the money later." A shell casing clangs along the alley pavement. A look up shows two men, one on each side of the alley, hanging over the roof. They have rifles pointed down.

There is not much in the alley. A pedestrian or two moving through most of the time.

Ugly and Ulgier are about 3 feet away from Ming, on the left, Hugo on the right.

[Krieg]

Popeye, "I reckon I'll just go check on our boys eh?"


"Sounds like a plan, Popeye. Be safe."

And there's nothing quite like a plan that goes well.

Chicken Cacciatore with truffles and a wine older than most Rim worlds. The first morning waking up in a fox hole after spending three months in the Black. Artillery bombardment, on either end. Heroin in the eyeball. All are shiniest of the sublime, but none quite has the refinement or sustain of a good plan. They're just aspects of the world, works in a gallery, whereas executing a plan successfully is like being up to your elbows in the colors of your masterpiece. Not just to see art, or to think on it, but to feel it - feel it hold you - smell it, taste it for hours, until at last it's done and drying and alive forever, an echo for the ages, known to the world but known best, only truly, by you. Perhaps that's why only the delight of the anna compares.

Favorably, I might add. Particularly in this case.

Let me grab my smokes here. I'll have one down in the Cargo Bay; take some air. From a point where most lines of fire are covered, of course. That one building - the squat yellow one; one that looks like an old prairie biscuit - especially concerns me. But if I set myself so that the pylon of the Cargo Bay doors is at a 35 degree angle to my front, I should be able to repel any and all fire from that sector. Well, small arms fire at least. Anything heavier I could just go supine if it came in. Then that opens my left side to the treeline at such an angle that they'd be taking profile shots. Unless they came in straight. Straight would mean up the road, meaning little concealment. They'd see me about when -- Damn. I'm running low on these. I wonder where they'd sell "Menschenschreks" around here?

Mmmm. Smell so good. One of these, and then I'll go rejoin anna in the cabin. I'll bring these bon bons too. Whose are these? Julian's? Hope they're not Hugo's.

There we go. All set. Snick.

Ahhh. Feels like a silk glove against my heart, tucking it in for the night. And what a night. I forgot how colorful Verbena got in the spring; like every shade of blue shaken from Buddha's eyes, just wept right onto the world, washed and glittering. The blues and the greens; those dusky bronze greens that flake into browns and blacks in the shadows. Just like a painting. A masterpiece.

To think I used to tear this place apart, acre by air.

Life is good.

And proud as I am of this last movement, I know it's only just that. Not the symphony. Not even a portion of the whole plan. Just a little adagio movement, something to braise a pas de deux after the thunder of the overture and make it glisten delectably in the smoky blue of the night. And I and Iakovlev, and Krieg and the future, and Siegried and anna, all do their two-steps to the trombone of the spaceport, the kettle drum rumble of 300 tons of arms, and the lonely oboe of our love - of everyone's love. And listen - hear those pizzicato violins? There is the dread of Ming and Hugo, somewhere in these gray-blue streets, trying to find their way back through the frost. And the audience wonders, 'do the other instruments know? Do they hear it coming, on cat-claw tip?' But the band, as it is, plays on.

As if it were all part of the plan.

Smoke in. Mmmm. Smoke out.

I used to burn this place by the acre. Now watch my smoke rise into the Black, taking the stars, one by one.

Nothing quite like a plan.

[ecritter]

Ugly and Uglier show them the money. Hugo verifies it's good cash, 40,000, bonifide Alliance script according to his lil machine (found in Garibaldi's Cabin).

They do a similar check on the drugs, checking a couple samples at random.

"Now for the bad news. My supplier and I got a new agreement, I'll send him the money later." A shell casing clangs along the alley pavement. A look up shows two men, one on each side of the alley, hanging over the roof. They have rifles pointed down.

There is not much in the alley. A pedestrian or two moving through most of the time.

Ugly and Ulgier are about 3 feet away from Ming, on the left, Hugo on the right.

"Hey now, no need for violence here. We came to do a deal nothing more." Hugo will tackle the ugly on the right, pushing him towards the wall giving cover from at least one rifleman.

Hugo will pummel the man, using him for protection from the rifleman above.

(OOC: Hugo will punch for a vital organ, using 6 PP for an extra d12 on the hit. Should make the hit 2d12+d8+d2, he'll dodge if shot at d8+d12. +4 step damage if he hits plus possible stun.)

Hit Roll 13 http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=399106

[DM Tojoyama]

Hugo's punches Uglier, his fist sinks into his soft belly, the air rushes from his lungs, and his lunch from his stomach. Hugo dodges vomit and two shots from above, one seems to hit Mr. Uglier.

Ming has a pistol out and is shooting and Ugly, dodging to the right, then the left. A ricochet glances off the pavement and across the side of his calf as he crashes into Ugly. They both go to the ground.

Hugo is under Mr. Uglier, whining and wheezing.

Ming is rolling around on the alley pavement struggling to get his gun aimed at Ugly, Ugly has a knife out.

Pedestrians have scattered. The men above fired a couple shots each, but now seem to hesitate about targets.

"Kill em all." a voice at the end of the alley shouts.

[Ming Thomas]

Ming Forces his gun up and take a shot at Ugly (+2 plot points).

If he doesn't shoot Ugly he'll keep at it.

He yells to Hugo, "Need a hand?"

If he does shoot Ugly he'll go for the money and leave the drugs, forcing the deal they had. He won't try to take the drugs as well and he'll urge hugo to leave them if he tries to take the drugs.

If he gets free of Ugly, as he goes to grab the money, he'll look at where the "shoot them all" voice came from and lighten his pistol in that man's direction as well.

He doubts he has any real chance to hit the men on the roof and so trusts his mesh as he runs about the alley floor, occationally firing a round their way just to make the duck.

[ecritter]

The fight seems to be going well enough, Uglier is coughing up blood ... and taking the shots for him. Hugo will punch him in the throat, keeping his body above Hugo's.

"Kill em all." a voice at the end of the alley shouts. Exactly what Hugo had in mind, but thanks for the encouragement.

Ming yells to Hugo, "Need a hand?"

"Under control, just show these bastards the price of a double cross."

With Uglier above him, Hugo will move towards the yell from the street.

[DM Tojoyama]

Ming's shot hits Ugly in the neck, just under his chin, from point blank, ugly is going down. He grabs the small case of money and moves to the voice.

Hugo is out from under Uglier and moving in the same direction. Ugly and Uglier were punks, poor collection men, low rung trash. A body smashes into the pavement, prompting a quick look up.

Popeye is looking down, waving with a smile, before the man on the other side of the alley begins shootin at him. Popeye disappears, can't tell if he's hit or not.

Ming and Hugo leave one vomiting Uglier and two dead bodies in the alley. The voice is gone now. They both walk out into the street as if nothing much has happened a few people look in their direction.

[DM Tojoyama]

http://www.space1999.net/~cosmos1999/01/epilogue/pic00001s.jpg

The Bedrozian Committer for Unification Investigations was dealt a serious blow today when additional requests for information from the Military Archives was declined. "I leave it to the people to decide, hide from the truth, or let us face it." said Bedrozian.

"NO, I have no agenda, I just want to know who did what, and why."

In other news, the murder of Notorious Crime figure Grizveld of the Iakovlev crime family has been revealed to be part of the endless crime wave of the Garibaldi Pirate Gang. The brutal murder of Grizveld, in which his body was cut to pieces by combat swords, is now solved. The man known as John Jixx was killed by police shortly after the killing.

Gino Garibaldi, killed by the Bellerophon Alliance forces in a daring raid yesterday, was positively identified in the remains of his ship, the Zephyr. Suspects in the conspiracy killing of Grizveld, the entire case is now closed.

Others are not so sure.
Famed retired police detective Cooper Mandrake, in an exclusive DOWN TO IT feature said. "There's a killer on the run. Looking to sell some hardware. I'll be waiting."

http://www.born-today.com/Today/pix/ladd_a.jpg

[Krieg]

Something just plain terrific about smoking outside at night without a shirt.

Hello, crew.

"Hugo. Ming. Popeye. Evening. Have a nice night out then?"

Maybe they'd like a cigarette. Anyone? Anyone?

Though after this, I hope we're off into the wild black yonder. I'm anxious to meet Niska. We could work something out, I theenk.

And maybe, just maybe, like the Wave-Vee said, The Guy With The Hair is going to be there.

Unless he was talking about Iakovlev. Anyway.

I've always wanted to meet The Guy With The Hair.

[ecritter]

After the botched deal encounter, Hugo and Ming gather up Popeye and head back to the docks where the Divine Wind is.

"Hugo. Ming. Popeye. Evening. Have a nice night out then?"

"Profitable ... profitable."

Once inside the ship, Hugo will go over the monies they made. 40,000 credits, 20,000 of it profit. He'll put 2,000 in envelopes for each of the crew ... 3,000 for Ming and Popeye. Leaving 8,000 credits profit for Hugo and the Divine Wind.

Later in the galley, he'll hand an envelope to Siegfried, Anastasia, Ming, Popeye and Bart.

(OOC: I think that's all the PCs and NPCs if not let me know and I'll adjust.)

Hugo ask Bart to check for high price cargo for the next leg of the trip, profit is the key to staying alive and flying.

[Ming Thomas]

Botched drug sale, people shooting at them, having to kill a man but not out of hatred. Ming doesn't look quite as happy as Hugo.

Once in the ship Ming reloads his pistols and goes about getting cleaned up.

When they all meet up and Hugo passes out the envelops Ming nods and says, "You hiring me onto the ship? When I can aboard it was to get back at the Howlers. But now there gone....." he trails off to see what Hugo will offer up.

[ecritter]

"You hiring me onto the ship? When I can aboard it was to get back at the Howlers. But now there gone....." he trails off to see what Hugo will offer up.

"It seems I am. You're a valued asset ... so on an so on, ah gorramit it to hell, you fit in here ... do you want the job or not?

[DM Tojoyama]

Overlapping a couple conversations, just so everyone gets things worked out.


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Popeye is loading the shipment Krieg has arranged.

He's stopped twice, reweighed and rebalanced. Not real fast, but sure and steady.

An Alliance Police Inspector arrives, alone.

http://www.gmp-recruitment.co.uk/images/police_inspector.gif

"I'd like to speak to the Captain." He looks over the boxes.





================================================== ====
Ship has been serviced, loaded, fueled.


Later, in the Galley:
Entire crew is present: Hugo, Krieg, Anna, Bart, Popeye, Ming.

Bart, "we can make several pick ups, taking the core or the border worlds around to Georgia System. About 100 creds profit per stop, plus fuel to be paid for."

Popeye, "Don't know about you folks, but I don't know what's next? I appreciate the Payday Hugo, but what am I signed on for? Drug deals and big boxes from the Military Depot?"

Popeye seems well informed.





-------
and the flight path from Verbene to Ezra/Georgia System/Niska Skyplex?

[Krieg]

"I'd like to speak to the Captain." He looks over the boxes.
I knew there was a reason I was hanging around the Cargo Bay, and not snuggling. I forgot my bribes.

"Evening. We're about to head out and the Captain's squaring matters away. Could maybe I help you out, officer...?"

I leave the end open for him to provide his name.


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[OOC: Later, about the Flight Plan]

"I think it would be in our best interests to run this as quick and direct as possible, and go right to Georgia system, then to Liann Jiun. But I'm not flying this vessel, not Captaining it. I just paid for a 38 day journey. If Bart thinks there's no rush in delivering to his client, I don't see any problem with you maximizing your profit by stopping at these places...Except..."

"Bear in mind that it might mean more bribe money. Every time we hit dirtside, there's a chance of being checked out by the local authority, which means more bribe money. What gains us 100 credits and paid fuel might lose us an unknown sum in bribing needle-noses like our buddy here on Verbena."

[DM Tojoyama]

Popeye, "Hey ya."
Inspector, "The short guy, he captain?"
Popeye, "yeah, but we don't talk about his, height, or lack there of." Popeye shrugs with a grin.

Popeye's talking out his ass, but the guy actually seems amused.

I knew there was a reason I was hanging around the Cargo Bay, and not snuggling. I forgot my bribes.

"Evening. We're about to head out and the Captain's squaring matters away. Could maybe I help you out, officer...?"

I leave the end open for him to provide his name.

"Detective Inspector actually. Got a complaint about some trouble. Came to make sure an apology got delivered. Any more business you got here, call me." He hands over a card, just a wave number, and his rank, Detective Inspector. "then we can be sure there won't be repetitions in the interruption of civil discourse. just a ten percent docking fee added in today, instead of the usual twenty. and I'll ignore the cargo placement, shame to open it all up after you just got it settled in."

Uniform is crisp and sharp.

Detective Inspector is trying to act a lot smarter than he probably is, but he seems calm and to the point. He's standing so that behind him, far across the open landing area, half a dozen other police are sitting around. Drinking coffee, but watching in their direction of Divine Wind, more or less relaxed.

He takes out a pack of Ariel-Turkish Cigarettes, fine brand. Offers one to Krieg and Popeye. Uses a cheap but workable lighter.

[Krieg]

"Will do, Detective Inspector."

What a pleasant man. This makes waiting to leave so much more enjoyable - chance meetings with friendly folks like this. And look - free cigarette!

Coming here wasn't so bad after all. A little dip in civilization before going ankle-deep in the Rim. Not shabby at all.

[OOC:

Krieg will chat with the guy, trying to make a friend of him, until they leave]

[ecritter]

"we can make several pick ups, taking the core or the border worlds around to Georgia System. About 100 creds profit per stop, plus fuel to be paid for."

Hugo thought for a moment. "Border worlds ... no need to rub the 'liance's nose in our freedom ... not yet least."

Popeye was the next to speak, "Don't know about you folks, but I don't know what's next? I appreciate the Payday Hugo, but what am I signed on for? Drug deals and big boxes from the Military Depot?"

"Survival ... and trying to make a place for ourselves." He quickly replied. "Gorramit, we're not drug dealers ... we'll move what we need to keep ourselves above the board."

[Krieg]

just a ten percent docking fee added in today, instead of the usual twenty.
OOC: Siegfried chats with Inspector Detective Blank for a smoke or two. Then he tells him:

"Let me see if I can't find someone who's on the crew. See if they don't know anything about a docking fee."

OOC: He goes to find Bart. Tells him, in short:

'Bribe this guy. Enough to establish a relationship, but only enough to keep him hungry for more.'

OOC: He makes it clear in his bearing that he's pretty damn sure it was the 'safe' drug deal that brought this go seh to their doorstep, and he not happy about it.

Then, after the bribe is delivered, Krieg appears. He hangs out with Detective Inspector Blank, chats, and sees him off.

Then, hopefully, to Georgia.

Though, apparently, the long way.

[DM Tojoyama]

Bart brings the Inspector Detective 2,000 credits in a nice box that something feminine Anastasia had tucked away.

He puts it under his arm after a sincere sounding thank you.

Krieg and the Detective smoke and joke through the pack of cigarettes, mostly about the alliance and corps: "cigarettes and crap lighters, spare parts but no lubricants; gin but no vodka, damn shame."

"damn shame, you'd think somebody smarter would be in charge by now."

"Hmm, hmm, mmm," as three women dockworkers go by, their dirty overalls pulled down to their waste, undershirts painted on their body with sweat and grease. "You will excuse me then sir, this may be a violation of some health code."

He offers Krieg a fresh pack of the Ariel-Turkish Cigs and walks slowly after the three women.

[DM Tojoyama]

The Divine Wind breaks out of Atmo and begins making it's way to Georgia System, border world hopping, making some contacts along the way.

Carrying frieght, making a little money.

They dock at Niska Skyplex.

All is in order. Some small crates of volatile chemicals are unloads and a 200 credits are posted to Hugo's new Cortex account.

Krieg receives a message to meet a man about a bird, directions provided lead to a leather shop. Not a kinky one, one selling fine coats and wallets, etc.

Hugo receives a message to meet a man about hauling 40 settlers to the far Rim of the Shang Ti Star System. 4,000 credits. At the Docking Office.

The Divine Wind needs a week of maintenance, costing 1,500 credits.


.

[Krieg]

The big moment is about to arrive.

With anna stowed safely away - I hope she didn't figure that kiss as a 'last kiss', though certainly I wanted it to be good enough to be the last, and long enough so that I could savor it, but still, I hope it didn't feel 'last kiss' to her, just impassioned or, or, uhm, lingering or lusty or something...Where was I?

Yes. With anna stowed safely away in the locked cabin, I can think clearly. Go through the steps. First, assemble Captain and crew. And Bart. My loyal consigliere. They say old people have an odor to them. I don't figure it to be true.

I do worry about him poisoning me via my toothpaste, though. Is that wrong?

No, it's healthy. Healthy suspicion against an untrustworthy, fickle and cruel world. And speaking of which, now that the crew's assembled...

"I'm going to meet with Adelai Niska now. He's a short guy - well, 'shortish' - white hair, accent appropriate to his name, dresses nice. Things could go well. Probably will. If they don't, I'm taking this."

Trust they all know what a handy-dandy concealed signal ring looks like.

"And if you hear this or if I give you a call, I'll need you to come get me. Really come get me. People might try to stop you. By people I mean, everybody. So, be ready."

I give them the directions to the leather shop. That should work. Oh, best to mention that I'll probably not be in the leather shop, but somewhere nearby, annexed or led away.

"Alright, thanks, guys. Hang around 'til I get back, and then you can look into those settlers. I shouldn't be long."

Then grab some sparkling water, a once over with the lint brush, and it's off to the leather shop we go.

[DM Tojoyama]

It's nice actually. Lots of nice gifts Anna would like.

No one seems to be around but shoppers and shopkeepers.

Then the salesmen, who seemed completely uninterested, comes up to him and as nice as you please, "Sir, your Party will meet your through here." He indicates a non-desript door, just happened to be next to it.

They're good. Efficient. Effective. If you thought otherwise, you know now, or you're in way over your head.

On the other side of the door are two men in the usual bland behind the shop access cooridor.

One is average size, but aware.

The other is:

http://www.whedonsworld.com/files/pix/firefly/guestcast/crow/crow01.jpg


The little guy searches him, pats him down, real well. Runs a little electric gizmo over him. Stops at the ring, shrugs, pulls the debugger from Krieg's pocket, looks it over, drops it back in.

Little guy nods, "He's clean Crow."
Crow's skowl indicates he does not agree. Follow me, not spoken, but clear enough. Ten feet and in a door, up stairs, down a cooridor.

Tiny cameras, other hidden doors.

A lounge, cheap plastic furniture, half filled ashtray.

Crow turns to him, "what would Niska want you for?"
Crow waits, hard to tell by his sour, 'time to die' expression if he actually expects a response or not. could be he's just waiting too.

[Krieg]

Crow turns to him, "what would Niska want you for?"
Crow waits, hard to tell by his sour, 'time to die' expression if he actually expects a response or not. could be he's just waiting too.
This fellow looks like he had an interesting upbringing.

No matter. Don't just act all business. Be all business.

"I can offer raw power, a road to political legitimacy and a multi-million credit increase in his annual profits. I'm prepared to present specifics and projections about this to him, as well as initiate the process I offer immediately on any affirmative agreement."

[DM Tojoyama]

The second man asks, "What my friend meant to ask sir, is you name?"

Krieg gives it.

"I see, very good, this way." He is led down the hall and they open into Niska's office.

Niska is standing behind his desk, "Good, good Mister Krieg. I am sure you have good deal for Niska, otherwise, reward for me would be much better than any deal you offer, Yes?"



Niska hits a button on his desk and Krieg's voice plays back:
"I can offer raw power, a road to political legitimacy and a multi-million credit increase in his annual profits. I'm prepared to present specifics and projections about this to him, as well as initiate the process I offer immediately on any affirmative agreement."

"Yes, I think so, hope so. For your sake, I think this will be the case then. So what do you bring to Niska?"


..

[Krieg]

"Yes, I think so, hope so. For your sake, I think this will be the case then. So what do you bring to Niska?"

Reward? Reward for what? I have to check that later.

First, to move right up to the desk. Make sure he feels...connected. Like we're in this business together.

Then a smile. Slight. Comfortable.

Then activate the debugger.

Then the spiel.

?I?m here to sell you the future, Mr. Niska.

?Not just arms, but an empire. Anybody can sell you arms. And I?d make the most immediate profit by peddling what I have over the course of years and systems. But we think bigger, you and I. I want to sell you more money and power than Ezra alone can provide you.

?The deal?s simple. I sell you the means to make a war. What I have today is the nucleus for an army, a force that you could use to crush any upstart underling or rival on the planet. I sell you that and walk away, and we?re both rich. You?ve got power enough to hold this place for a lifetime. But anyone can sell you arms. We can do better than that.

?If you buy and then use what you have to start a bush war, I guarantee you that you?ll have the raw strength to keep that war going for some time. During that time, you?ll be able to buy and sell all the spoils of war: drugs, slaves, contraband, and, the best of all, real estate. I?m talking mining concessions and industry and property. Territory and means that?s right now in the hands of corporations.

?If you?re just a local ganglord, and you try to take these things, it requires bribes and fending off management. But if a war ends up rolling through, the corporations will pay you protection. They may have to pay you to use that land. War is extortion on a massive scale, and the sweetest part is that they can?t entirely blame you because, after all, it?s a war ? both sides are to blame.

?While this is going on, I can provide you with more arms if you wish to escalate, or military advisory services if you want to bring things to a cease-fire. During this time, I?ll be using your money to gain clout in the cosmos, and using that clout to get in good with Parliament and the Alliance Military. Using that, I can, at a time optimal to our profits, lobby for an Alliance intervention for the Ezra conflict.

?Intervention helps you. As the local power, you?ll have to be recognized as the administrator, a player in the peace process. This protects you. Alliance intervention also brings in major markets. Soldiers and NGOs bring in drugs, and buy drugs. They sometimes sell goods directly to you, and of course buy goods. And Alliance intervention operations are notorious about overpricing. They shell out unbelievable amounts of money, and you can be the one to collect that money.

?I hope for more than just a swap of cash for metal here, Mr. Niska. I want to establish you as an undisputed ruler here on Ezra, and to make business from giving you the means to be that ruler.

?My price is 2,851,400, which is fair market price, without any fees or black-market mark-up, for the goods you?ll be buying. You can immediately turn that money into making it back by forming a puppet paramilitary group and taking property from those without corporate backing, or knocking over rivals. I would also like protection and full-authorization for salvage on your planet for a month, beginning today with our agreement. We will also be establishing a business relationship by which I will provide military consulting and war-related services to you as they become available or on request. We can, if Alliance finances continue at their current level, establish you making over 50 million credits a year in ten years? time.

?Do you have any questions??

I hope he does. I like talking business. Hate negotiating, but business I love.

[DM Tojoyama]

NIska sits. He does not seem to be impressed.

"From one ship then, you can do this?"

He slides a paper over to Krieg. It's an alliance warrent for official questioning, with 1,000 credit reward, with an addendum presumed dead.


"Presumption incorrect. Krieg looks alive. But Krieg, this man," he taps the paper. "Can offer Niska all this, I don't think so. Krieg is bigger that britches.

I will buy your weapons, and you must sell only to Niska for all of Georgia system. I pay full price for this exclusive contract, minus ten percent for certain skyplex expenses. You sell and buy only from Niska in Georgia. When you have other actual things to sell, Niska will listen, and may buy."

[Krieg]

NIska sits. He does not seem to be impressed.

"From one ship then, you can do this?"

He slides a paper over to Krieg. It's an alliance warrent for official questioning, with 1,000 credit reward, with an addendum presumed dead.


"Presumption incorrect. Krieg looks alive. But Krieg, this man," he taps the paper. "Can offer Niska all this, I don't think so. Krieg is bigger that britches.

I will buy your weapons, and you must sell only to Niska for all of Georgia system. I pay full price for this exclusive contract, minus ten percent for certain skyplex expenses. You sell and buy only from Niska in Georgia. When you have other actual things to sell, Niska will listen, and may buy."

"I can offer this from one ship, yes. What I'm proposing occurs in increments. I offer you, immediately, the means to begin the process I just described. I give you the triggers right now, you pull them, and everything I talked about starts."

Point to the warrant for effect.

"This? This is temporary. This gets to go away. And if men like us didn't get too big for our britches, we'd still be wearing short shorts. Instead, we can hire the best tailors in the 'Verse.

"Your arrangement is an ideal start. You want 10% off? Certainly. All I need in return is ambition. I believe you have that. I will need that month of salvage authorization for Ezra as well."

[DM Tojoyama]

"Good good, salvage rights will be made. And dis warrant, do not worry, old garibaldi business. Crow should not be around you, might get ideas, taking your captain's ship, ha ha. No I think Crow would never think like this."

He walks around his desk, it is clear the meeting is over.

Niska walks to door, but stays a good two meters away. "and this iakovlev business, that man of yours on Ariel, do not play with them, that is free advice for you. silly chess game, not business. little fish in the core should stay in their pond yes?"

As the door closes "out here the water is deep, different kind of fish."

The little man makes arrangements with Krieg about the money, "once we look through the cargo of course."

Crow says nothing, he seems pissed.

[Krieg]

"Good good, salvage rights will be made. And dis warrant, do not worry, old garibaldi business. Crow should not be around you, might get ideas, taking your captain's ship, ha ha. No I think Crow would never think like this."
To think like that, one would have to be capable of thinking. Crow's a nice weapon, but I doubt it can even clean its own cage.

"Crow is very loyal, I'm sure."

Look proud now. Kind of proud. Fine, just look sagacious. And not too pleased. Well, then again, Niska looks too pleased. Constantly. Not to steal his gimmick or anything, but perhaps a big ol' grin wouldn't be too out of place after all. Shiny, then. Let's let the sun shine in!


He walks around his desk, it is clear the meeting is over.
Feels gorram fine to shake this man's hand. I look forward to making him the biggest monster on the block. Not to mention my stepping stone to some actual legitimacy and decent corporate contracts. Yes, this is indeed going to be a prosperous relationship for us.

I wonder what he'll name his first puppet paramilitary group. Patriotic Ezra Front? United Ezra for Democracy? Something to distract from the fact that they're hacksaw-wielding maniacs. Democratic United Ezra - that's got a nice acronym.

I do hope he looks over the datadisk I'll give him later, keeps in touch. Military, political and financial services are available to him. Not that he needs much help on the financial angle.

Yes. Quite a prosperous relationship.


Niska walks to door, but stays a good two meters away. "and this iakovlev business, that man of yours on Ariel, do not play with them, that is free advice for you. silly chess game, not business. little fish in the core should stay in their pond yes?"

"Yes. Not business. It's good doing business with someone who recognizes that."


As the door closes "out here the water is deep, different kind of fish."
Wow. He's like my kindly old great-uncle. If, of course, grandfather hadn't killed him by dropping him in acid before I was born.

Anyway, he may try to screw me, but I doubt it. What's to gain, after all? Whereas working together will be very lucrative indeed.


The little man makes arrangements with Krieg about the money, "once we look through the cargo of course."

"Of course."

I'll lead you back to the Zephyr just as soon as I get this pale, precious little purse for Anastasia.


Crow says nothing, he seems pissed.
I like this guy too. And why?

It comes back to my enjoyment of Niska. Consistency. I can depend on him. He keeps his word. I can keep mind. And he's business minded.

One mood. One objective - profit. One honor - trust those you can deal with, and deal with those you trust. Just getting in that door meant something had started.

And I'm not going to be the one to betray it.

Better be careful to vet all my future sales. For now, focus on this one though. Get all those boxes moving through Crow. And give him the datadisk with the offers of consultation on it.

My offers to sell fuel in a year, mechanics in nine months, avionics consultation within six months. The expanding backbone of this business. And to remind him - I don't sell arms. I sell war.

"Here."

The arms crates go marching by. It sounds like the biggest clock in the 'Verse. Telling my time.

And its about time to present the precious anna with her 120 credit purse.

This day is all about giving.


[OOC: Try a Perception Roll to see if Niska feels positive about Krieg too. Trusts him. Etc.]

[Ming Thomas]

"You hiring me onto the ship? When I can aboard it was to get back at the Howlers. But now there gone....." he trails off to see what Hugo will offer up.

"It seems I am. You're a valued asset ... so on an so on, ah gorramit it to hell, you fit in here ... do you want the job or not?


"I don't see any reason to go home just yet." Ming says as he flips through the stack of credit bills. He smiles over to Hugo, "Matter of fact, as long as we start getting some batter jobs, I could stay on quite a while."

-----------------
Skyplex

Ming sits at the controls of the Zephyr....er....... Divine Wind and waits for Krieg to take care of his transaction. He's heard alot about that man and has no desire to leave the ship and go onto his skyplex.

Ming slaps the comm and calls on Hugo, "Hugo, you done shafting Dawn? Where we headed to after this stop? You got anyother jobs lined up?"

[Anastasia]

Anna's blue phase has passed, and in support of Krieg's business meeting, she redecorated their cabin all in Chinese Red. Silk curtains of deep, bright red enclose their bed; a red silk banner with a gold-embroidered dragon hangs on the wall. And Anna herself has donned a fantastically rich kimono of red, gold, white and black.

All part of the occasion, for this afternoon's entertainment is translating the ancient poetry of Russian poet Anna Ahkmatova into modern Chinese. Not that it hasn't been done, but it's also a chance to practice her caligraphy; give a personal touch to some of her favorites.

She sits at the little desk in their cabin with calligraphy brush, ink, parchment, a data book of the poetry and another loaded with a Russian-Chinese dictionary, to help her consider some of the nuances.

She presses her lips (needless to say, done in high gloss laquered red) together contemplatively, and with infinite care, at last, brushes the strokes of an ideogram on the fine paper. And another, and another. Then the brush is set carefully aside, the 'book perused again, the lines meditated upon, read aloud in Russian, translated, their translation spoken aloud, considered and checked, and the brush is picked up again.

[DM Tojoyama]

bump