Jockram shakes his head, "Not really.  I was hoping you had a plan.  I was intending to tag along, and maybe surprise them."

The miner sips his coffee, "That's good.  Must remember to mention it to my boys, as often as possible when I get back aboard."

Then he is all seriousness again, "My suggestion would be to head for one of the giants.  Even if they aren't attacking much near them, they need a place to hide out between raids.  The Navy likes to hide ships in the clouds of gas giants, maybe these pirates, or whatever, do to.  It provides cover, and a few chance targets might drop by to skim for fuel."

"Course, them giants have magnetic fields that'll play havoc with your sensors, so you'll need to be specially careful if you do go out there.  That's where an extra pair of eyes might come in handy.  The Hound doesn't look much, but I spent a fortune upgrading her sensors, cause, well, I don't make money if I can't find anything."

As Yasmin returns, Jago raises an eyebrow in query.

“ Had intended to head out there to scoop some fuel,” Jago says conversationally, “but now I don’t want to go anywhere with empty tanks. It’s going to take, what, about twelve hours or so to process this stuff, lets take it that we both head out there, and split any bounty or whatever fifty-fifty, but leave any details until nearer the time.”

"Yasmine.  Or Yas.  Don't make me make you," Yas threatens with a laugh as she parts with Sushi, laughing also at the joke the doctor made.

Then she is back with Jago and Jockram and winks at the former as he shows the lifted eyebrow.

"Sorry about that boys, just some girl talk!  Now, where were we?  Fuel and bounty?  Sounds explosive," she says with a casual tone, even though she knows it will be a matter of life and death - but that has been her trade for many a years and she has learnt long ago to push aside any undo alarm and to turn any fear and anticipation into something positive.  The only way to survive doign what she has done.

Suspicions laid aside for the nonce (as well as any possible decision to actually refer to Ms. Crow as 'Yas'), Shui re-enters the lounge after the security chief slash gunner.  She considers moving to speak with Corlan - Tylen and Saskia being busy at the moment - but decides to hold her ground.

Eventually a decision will be made, or an opportunity will present itself.  For now, she will watch, listen, and learn.

"That sounds like a good plan.  The Hound's already fueled.  First thing I done when I got here.  We can move out just as soon as you want." Jockram says, nodding.  "If we keep close together, depending on how good their eyes are, we might show as a single blip on their screens.  Specially close to the giant."

”That’s settled for now then,” Jago agrees.

Not wanting to rush his guest, he settles back for a little small talk, “so how long have you boys been on this rock?”

"Sounds like a plan!  Like two spacers in a lifepod!" Yas agrees and slaps her hands together to demonstrate how close close flying is.  She had done it in the Marines, or rather, been on ships doing it.

"It'll be great fun," she chuckles and then settles down to listen to what Jockram has to say about the boys and the rock and all.

Tylen sat quietly in his turret and watched the crewman tinkering with his ship. He didn't relax his vigilance, nor did her power down the Laser.

Jockram thinks for a moment, then, "lessee now... I'd say it's 'bout sixteen, seventeen days.  Local days have thrown my time sense off, but that'd be roughly it.  Stopped off on the way to Garda Vilis to refuel, then had to wait for a power rectifier to be shipped in from Frenzie.  The old one was looking a bit dodgy, so I figured it was worth the wait to make sure we made the next Jump okay."

"The new one arrived day before yesterday, and we spent most of yesterday replacing the J Drive's guts.  That's what we were celebrating in that bar - finishing the bloody job."

“Seventeen days,” Jago whistles, “not a lot of fun on a place like this, most planets have something unique and interesting, but there’s nothing here.”

OOC
Jago is actually fishing for ideas for an export cargo.

"As long as you don't make us scrub the deck with toothbrushes again, captain, my captain," Yas says with a sweet smile, feeling the need to lighten the dreary idea of seventeen days in limbo.

She pretends to duck when Jago turns to look her way, holding her hands up defensively.

"So, we're going to do this then?  Do the lovebird routine and hug close and all that," she asks, throwing a glance towards where she last saw Sushi.

"You've seen the place... I know you've seen it.  It's not exactly the nust-visit tourist centre of the Imperium, is it?" Jockram chuckles.

"We only hung about because we had to, and if we'd had any trouble ordering the replacement, I reckon I'd have risked the Jump rather than stay here too long."

"Banster says that there's a community of artists, just on the edge of the nearest town.  He said we should call over and see it... but Hegerich and me, well we're not what you'd call art connoisseurs.  I wouldn't know a masterpiece if I dropped it on my foot."

A shake of his head, "Maybe we should have gone, but I'd have been lost, looking at that sort of stuff, and Hegerich... well he knows less than me, and he'll admit to it."

Shui merely waits patiently through the discussion, turning a carefully constructed bland look in Yas' direction at the innuendo.  But something occurs to her, and with a frown and a motion of her hand, she steps back onto the bridge.

From her dataglove, she opens a direct line to Corlan's quarters.  + Mr. DeSant?  I hop I am not disturbing. +

"Tylen, I think that's just a cheap cooling system, like I said.  I've been monitoring it, and there's no radiation from it.  The system just dumps a load of hot vapor every so often, and tops itself up with cold from a reserve tank."

Saskia's voice is filled with unrestrained contempt, as she adds, "I wouldn't use the frelling thing, but some people aren't fussy the way I am."

"No, not at all, Miss Tiesi.  I was just doing some reading.  What can I do for you?"

Good.  + Mr. DeSant, I was wondering if we might speak for a moment. +  She quickly slips from the bridge, past the lounge, and out toward Corlan's quarters.  + A situation has come up that may cause some concern for you...I thought you should be appraised of it. +

Shui moves across to the passenger side of the ship.  As she enters the passenger lounge, Dhakhingzuel turns to regard her.

The canine alien is using the ship's library, studying a colourful holographic display of a solar system, possibly Arkadia itself.  Vargr script flows through the air around her, while pointers connect blocks of text to various items.

Corlan opens the door of his cabin, and admits Profit Margin's Medic/Steward.

Grinning at Sushi reaction, or lack thereof, Yas turns her attention to Jockram again.

"Ha, those masterpieces are only called that because no one can figure them out!  They aren't pretty or clever, just weird!  Give me a nice gun and hot cocoa, now there's some masterpieces I can appreciate!"

She laughs briefly and leans back in her seat, enjoy what is left of her cocoa.

Corlan offers the doctor a seat, then, So what was it you needed to see me about, Miss Tiesi?"

In the Turret Tylen is growing bored. He wishes he could get out and find out what is going on but Jago wanted him here and, as they taught him on his first day in the service, "Orders is orders."

He pulls out his datapad and hooks it into his headset. He pulls up a series of menus and selects: "History", "Earth", "Late 20th Century", "Culture and Art", "Popular Music", "New York Punk/New Wave Scene". He scrolls through pages of song titles and finally selects the one he wants. Faintly, in the corridor outside the turret door a distorted voice can be heard...

"One, two, three, four! Hey ho! Let's go! Hey ho! Let's go! They're forming in a straight line, They're going through a tight wind ..."

"Thank you, Mr. DeSant," Shui says quietly, taking the proffered seat.  She settles herself carefully, not plopping down into the chair like a sack of grain.  "My apologies for disturbing you like this, but as the Steward, I felt I should keep you appraised of the current situation aboard the Profit Margin."

She frowns - how to begin?  Best to simply make a short version, and let Corlan decide if he wants more details from the Captain.  "The Profit Margin is preparing to embark on a rather dangerous mission, Mr. DeSant.  From what I gather, we have agreed to hunt down pirates operating at the edge of this territory.  Captain Lanza knows the details, but I thought it best you should be warned, so that if you wish to disembark for the duration you may."

Disappointed, but not surprised, Jago says, “I don’t have the eye for art work, and I doubt there’s much market for it on Frenzie, you ever been there Jockram?”

"Well, when we're done with this, maybe Jockram's friends can help us.  The sums some people pay for the right piece of cr... er, creative art is simpyl amazing.  Worth looking into, I think," Yas says and then makes a face where she widens her eyes and sucks in air to show how crazy the artnuts can be in terms of money.

"Rich, spoiled people with nothing else to do but sit around with their thumbs up their ar... er, nose all day, they are everywhere, and they think art is a way to brag!  Heck, I even had a artnut for a major once," she chuckles and shakes her head.

"Ah... I suspected the Captain might be thinking along those lines.  He did seem interested in the Vargr's proposition in the bar, and I noticed that she was aboard." Corlan answers Shui's warning, with a smile, "But I booked passage on this ship to put some excitement and adventure into my life, so I have no objection to a spot of combat."

He gestures towards a printed image on the wall, a garishly coloured spacecraft, captured in the instant of being struck by a missile.  "I was aboard Profit Margin for that incident, and I have every confidence in her crew, Miss Tiesi."


Jockram thinks for a moment, then, "Frenzie?  Yes I was there a couple of years ago.  No atmosphere, not many people, and everybody stuck in underground cities.  'Bout the only real difference between here and there is that you can raise groats easier here.  And you can survive without a vaccsuit."

"Well, that and the Navy base there, so there's no pirates about.  I did well at Frenzie... they're always on the look out for ores and minerals.  Trying to build themselves up into an industrial power I reckon, but they just don't have the resources or the equipment.  I was lucky... they have a nice little belt over there, but no way to exploit it yet, so I went and did some mining there."

Pausing for a moment, he continues, "Just between us, Captain, if your looking for cargo to take there, I'd suggest atmosphere processors, or mining equipment.  None of which you're likely to get here.  Maybe processed groat will sell there, I don't know for sure."

"Advance warning," Shui notes quietly, with a short bow, "is still part of the service."  She gives Corlan a quick smile upon raising her eyes, before glancing at the picture of the ship.  "Very good, Mr. DeSant.  So long as you are advised and satisfied with the current situation?  I fear I must return to my duties - we have another guest, and negotiations may require a certain amount of refreshments."

With that, she bows out of the room, giving whatever pleasantries necessary to extricate herself politely...and without haste.  Upon reaching the hallway, though, Shui pauses, her shoulder against the wall, and closes her eyes.

"But I booked passage on this ship to put some excitement and adventure into my life..."

She feels ill.  The memory of the picture turns her stomach, and the doctor wonders why in the world anyone would keep such a...memento.  Perhaps, she considers, to remind themselves of the awful truth of 'combat' - that people die.  They die instantly, seared by beams of energy, riddled by bullets, or blown apart by the white-hot, forged lance of a shaped charge.  They die slowly, cut open by a blade, ripped by shrapnel, or struggling to breath vacuum.  But they die.

"...so I have no objection to a spot of combat."

She suspects Corlan does not keep the picture as a reminder of the butcher's bill.  The doctor also suspects it is human nature, by and large.

Shui pushes herself from the wall and slowly walks down the hallway toward the lounge.  She needs to check the refreshments, ensure that all are comfortable.  When the meeting is concluded, when there is no more need for her services, she can return to her quarters and consider this murky conundrum.

She surmises that there will be no easy answer.

OOC - Heading back to the Lounge