Farewells are said, good wishes exchanged, and a few minutes later the airraft soars skyward.  Conrad circles the outpost once, then swings away towards the port and its attendant startown, where Jago is awaiting their return.

Once again, the 'raft stays low as it travels, avoiding the debilitating effects of high altitude flight in the CO₂ rich atmosphere.  They pass the camp site, scene of their earlier battle, without incident.  Indeed, the attackers, and their vehicles, are gone.  Doubtless they too have returned to town.  Or, with any luck, to a different town.

Eventually they reach the town, and a quick comm call to Jago reveals that the work crew are already aboard Profit Margin, so he has retired to the best hotel in town, a modern, twelve storey structure just beyond the port's security perimeter.

The Hotel Halcyon, as it is named, certainly looks impressive from the outside.  There is extensive parking, and even a rooftop lot for airrafts.

Inside, it is just as impressive.  The lobby is large and airy, and moderately crowded.  The receptionist, an immaculately dressed man wearing what appear to be genuine antique spectacles, looks up as the crew approach the front desk.  He smiles politely.  "Good day, ladies and gentlemen.  How may the Halcyon serve you today?"

Tylen turned to the assembled crew,

"Well, I don't know about you folks, but I could do with a steak and a beer. It's been a long incident packed day and I'm famished."

The long ride back had proven a relaxing counterpoint to the harrowing day.  Shui feels considerably rejuvenated.  Tylen's suggestion of food, however, certainly piques her interest - it has been considerable time since they last ate, and between that and the stress, she finds herself ravenous.

"Good day, sir," she replies to the receptionist.  A nod toward Tylen follows.  "As my companion intimates, we wish to enjoy your restaurant for the moment."  It's possible some of them will be taking rooms here - Shui has little doubt that Saskia will be sleeping aboard the ship, and she, herself, would like to return for an hour at least, in order to check upon her roommates.

"Also, we're looking for our friend." Saskia adds, looking quickly around the room to see if she can spot Jago, "He said he'd meet us here.  His name is Jago Lanza."

"I believe Mister Lanza left a message for you.  Just a moment... " the receptionist stares into space for a moment, and there is a faint flickering across the lenses of his spectacles, "Ah, here we are... I am to tell you that he has been called back to Profit Margin on urgent business, and will meet you here for dinner shortly.  On the other hand, if he owes you money, then I am to tell you that he has caught a fast ship to the Arcturus system."

He smiles, before adding, "You do, however, fit the description of the friends he asked me to look out for.  Mister Lanza has taken the liberty of booking rooms for each of you, should you wish to freshen up, or you are free to use the restaurant, which is just through there."

"Before you do the former, though, I will need you register."

There is a display screen and keyboard set into the top of the desk, with a small camera-like device alongside.  "Please enter your name, while the lens performs a retinal scan."

Tylen grinned at Jago's message, he doubted that there was anyone in the system that would be pursuing Jago for cash, but the old rogue could not resist leaving a message that would suggest he was notorious.

"OK, we'll book in."

He typed in his name and presented his eye to the scanner.

"We'll be lucky if Jago hasn't booked us into the parking garage to save cash!"

He chuckled to his friends.

"Thank you, sir."  Shui bows to the receptionist, listening to his message.  A small smile appears for a moment at Jago's witticism, and she nods with appreciation for the booking of the rooms.

She pauses, though, as he profers the computer and retinal scanner.

Fortunately, Tylen steps forward, a wry comment tumbling from his lips, and gives the steward a needed moment to compose herself.  So many worlds.  Communication restrictions.  Com-lag.  Keeping the smile pasted in place, she steps up to sign in, allowing the machine to read the map of her retina and typing in her name, then steps aside for the others.

"I think I'm going to go and take a shower, before I hit the restaurant." Saskia explains, as she steps up to the register.  She enters her name and stares at the lens, frowning as the scanner gives an indignant chirp.  She removes her spectacles, and tries again, this time without the alarm.

She holds the eyeglasses up to the light for a moment, then wipes them on her sleeve before putting them on again.

She turns back to the receptionist, "Where is my room, please?"

The receptionist hands each crewmember a keycard as they register.  When Saskia asks about how to find her room, the man smiles, and replies, "All of the rooms are on the same corridor on the top floor, the numbers are on the keys, of course."

He taps once on something hidden from view behind the desk, and there is a faint whirring from an opening above and behind him.  A moment later, the source of the sound becomes apparent as a small machine, shaped like a flattened sphere descends from the opening.

It looks to be made of copper, and is studded with a number of lenses, some of which are emitting fans of low intensity laser light.  There are four ducts located around the circumference, and the whole thing is perhaps thirty centimetres across.

As it drops lower, a fan becomes visible beneath a mesh which covers most of the top surface.

It hovers in front of the receptionist, who explains, "You can summon a guide from anywhere in the hotel, simply insert your key into one of the marked slots that you'll find in your room, or in most of the public areas.  Just tell it where you want to go, and it will lead the way.  Like so... Guide: Lobby."

The small robot whistles, but doesn't move for a few seconds, then heads back to the hole it came out of.  "Of course, this time it didn't go anywhere, because it was already in the Lobby.  They will show you to your room, if you give them the number, as well as to any public location inside the hotel.  Their logic and command routines are quite adaptable, so they can usually work out what you mean, even if the name isn't quite right.  That one, for example, would have been able to find the Lobby, Front Desk, Receptionist, Reception, or Entrance, as well as any reasonable variation on those."

"Though I saw it roll its little mechanical eyes," Yas mutters under breath and then steps up to the scanner.  Leaning in with a sigh she waits for it to finish and then yelps as if in pain.

"Ow, my eye!" she complains and covers the left one with a hand, "Does it remove the eye to scan it?"  She rubs it and pouts, looking for a reaction from anyone, but especially the receptionist of course.

Shui waits until after the demonstration, nodding politely the whole time, then agrees with Saskia, eyeing Yasmine's histrionics with some amusement.  "A shower.  A fine idea."

Dust, dirt, rolling on the ground to avoid getting shot...all things Shui would like to forget, washing the memories down the drain with whatever planetary particulate has clung to her.

The receptionist smiles at Yas, "Yes, Miss, very droll.  I will need to be careful not to injure injure myself by laughing too hard."  It seems that he may have seen that particular joke before.

Conrad looks about, and finds one of the wall slots.  A few moments later one of the hovering machines is floating just out of reach.  "If'n the rooms're all bunched together, then maybe we c'n all follow this one?"


The rooms are... well, "large" would be a serious understatement.  As would "very nice".  They are, quite frankly, very large and extremely nice, each with its own bathroom.  Each also has a view, looking out towards the port, where ships can be seen arriving and departing at fairly frequent intervals.  It's probably a good thing that the windows are soundproofed, so that the noise of their passage is muted to no more than a whisper...

There is one more thing about the rooms - on each bed lays a box, perhaps a metre by a half metre, with an attached card, bearing the appropriate crewmember's name.  On the reverse of the card, there are just five words, immaculately printed in a flowing script: "Hope you like it.  Jago."

It seems that Profit Margin's captain may have had some time on his hands.  Each box contains a complete outfit - a match for the sort of things that each person might normally wear aboard ship.  Except for the fact that these clothes look much newer, and still have the stores' labels attached.

Unused to such largess, Shui pads around the apartment for several minutes, reflexively drawing the curtains shut, studying the bathtub with bemused wonder, flicking open the closet doors then closing them again.  But when she finds herself dropping to check under the bed, the doctor shakes her head crossly.  "Foolishness."  Moving to the window, she opens the drapes, letting the light in, and draws a bath.

Then the box.  The handwriting seems correct.  Shrugging off her concerns and lingering habits, she opens the box to find...clothing.  A white, sleeveless top, the proper sort of tan skirt (nearly knee-length and reasonably tight, but stretchy enough for movement), and even a dark jacket.  Jago, it seems, has been paying attention.  "Correct sizes," she murmurs.  Did he check by computer?  She expects - hard to imagine him rummaging through her clothing.

With a small laugh at the thought, Shui moves to the bath.  She might be late for dinner, but...so many showers in the past, on board and off.  Time for something different.  She turns the taps, sprinkles some of the salts into the water.  As they begin their magic, the doctor checks the lock on the door, then prepares for warm, foamy meditation.

"He's been going through my stuff.  Guess I'll get to be captain again," Yas comments quietly as she examines the contents of the box found on the bed.  The rest of the room was clear, the initial sweep had shown, so now she can lavish over the gift.

"Wonder what he's up to?" she mutters as she checks a second time to make sure there are no frilly underwear in there.  Or underwear, period.

Once the box has passed inspection she proceeds with the main reason to have a room planetside - the bathroom.  What she does there is her business, but rest assure she does not go there naked even if she may have no clothes on; at least one gun is somewhere very close at hand at all time.

The first think Saskia does when she gets to her room is lean back against the door and take her boots and socks off.  The deep pile of the carpet tickles her feet as she starts looking around the room, nodding with approval as she sees the brand name on the holovision.

Then she spots the box.  "Looks like Jago's writing.  Handwritten too, by the look of it." she mutters, picking up the card and studying it closely, "Wonder why he didn't just get the ship to print it out."

She opens the box.  It contains a new set of coveralls.  They don't look quite right.  After a moment's thought, she hauls some assorted small tools and components out of her own pockets, and shoves them into the pockets of the new coveralls, resulting in an array of unsightly bulges.  "Better."

One of the recently transferred items, a small white disc, she takes back out of the pockets.  It has a set of gold-coloured contacts along one edge, and an LED display, currently dark, on one side.  Examining it critically, the engineer finally says, "There you are.  I've been looking for you for ages.  Of course somebody else has your job now."

With a couple of hours still to wait for dinner, the crew of Profit Margin meet up again in the lobby of the Halcyon.  All are wearing the new clothes bought for them by Jago.

There is, of course, the matter of what to do with their time, while they wait for their Captain to join them for dinner.  Perhaps a little shopping in the nearby stores, or a few drinks and some conversation, here in the hotel...

Tylen takes a leisurely shower, making use of the fancy toiletries. He readfs the note and opens the box. As he lays out the new clothes he smiles wryly, whilst he appreciates Jago's gesture, he really wishes the Captain had taken the initiative and bought him something different from his usual wardrobe. He smiles brightly as he draws out the last item.

"Good on you boss man."

He chuckles as he draws on his new BLACK T-shirt.

He checks his reflection in the mirror, the new leather jacket is artfully distressed, but obviously far more stylish than his battered old one. He fingers the thick, soft hide, wondering idly what manner of beast it has come from. He nods at his reflection and flicks up his collar.

"Very sharp."

He chuckles and makes his way back down to the lobby.

Clothed, Shui checks the fit (perfect) and nods silently to herself.  A few moments with the mirror, and she's ready to leave her little paradise.  It has been far, far too long without a bath.

Out she goes, into the hall, down the elevator, emerging into the lobby in her customary quiet.  So far, only Tylen has completed his cleansing - apparantly, and not surprisingly, Shui has not been the only one to receive new clothing this day.  "Mr. Ogresh," she calls across the open space, heading his way.  A quick motion at his shirt, and an eyebrow rises.  "A daring departure from the norm."

Tylen smiles,

"I don't know how Jago knew, but I guess he's defined the 'New Look' for me. A case, I feel, of 'Less is More' if you know what I mean."

He looks down at his new elegance.

"I think the Jacket is a bit too posh though, I don't see it replacing the old one except on special occaisions."

"While ostentation has a purpose, it only really fits peacocks," Shui agrees, considering the scout's clothing.  "Subtle variety surpasses wild excess.  It certainly suits you."  While the old clothing fit Tylen like a glove, the new, creased look has a certain sharpness to it that brings out his features, rather than blending.  "It certainly fits well enough.  You should find an excuse to dress up in the future."  Reaching out, she settles both shoulders of his jacket with a small tug then, embarassed, draws her hands away.  "Apologies."

One finger taps at her lips as she considers.  "Perhaps at some point in the future we might see all of the crew in fancy dress.  Tuxedoes for the men, of course."  Further thought reminds her that such an occasion would no doubt be publicized.  With photos of the people involved.  "Or perhaps not," Shui finishes regretfully.

Time passes, and Saskia, Yas, and Conrad join their companions in the lobby.  Several newsfeeds, as well as a variety of periodicals, are available for download to a display screen set into the tabletops.  The crew take light refreshments, while studying the latest news.  Some of it is old news, to those who have travelled to other systems, but some of it is fresh.  Not surprisingly, the War is the major topic...

• Rhylanor/Rhylanor (0306-A434934-F) Date: 204-1107
  
  The Travellers' Aid Society has issued a travellers' advisory, declaring the entire Spinward Marches sector an amber zone until further notice.
  
  
• Rhylanor/Rhylanor (0306-A434934-F) Date: 210-1107
  
  The Travellers Aid Society announced today that, contrary to rumor, all representatives of the Regina branch of the Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society are safe.
  
  "All but a skeleton news-gathering staff has been withdrawn from the system as a safety measure," a society spokesperson said, "but we will continue full coverage of the war as it develops."
  
  
• Regina/Regina (0310-A788899-A) Date: 212-1107
  
  The office of the Duke announced that his Grace Norris, Duke of Regina, has been stricken with a variant form of pneumonic virus and has transferred the routine functions of state to a nominee pending his recovery. The brief statement by the Duke's seneschal was made during the regularly scheduled news conference, and no questions were permitted.
  
  Speculation that the Duke has been deposed by rival power factions within the Navy is reported unfounded.
  
  
• Regina/Regina (0310-A788899-A) Date: 214-1107
  
  Strong Zhodani advances on Louzy and Efate are reported to have been beaten back by Imperial forces late last month. Conflicting reports have prompted the Admiralty to institute a policy of monitoring news releases and rating their accuracy. The ratings for these reports was termed excellent.
  
  
• Vilis/Vilis (0309-A593943-A) Date: 235-1107
  
  Recent reports of Sword Worlds vessels entering the Vilis system were today denied by Xavier VanHaal, a spokesman for the Congress of Ministers.  In a brief press conference, he explained that a fault in a deep space listening post had been discovered to be the cause of recent alarms, and has now been rectified.

And one story, in particular, only received within the last hour or so, is more than a little familiar to Profit Margin's crew...

• Arkadia/Vilis (0407-E446845-6) Date: 236-1107
  
  After a protracted battle, a single Imperial Navy patrol vessel has engaged and defeated a detachment of Sword Worlds ships in the Arkadia system.  The Imperial ship, rumoured to be a Midu Agashaam class destroyer, is said to have suffered minimal casualties, and only minor damage in the battle.
  
  Further information is sparse, but it can be confirmed that a number of prisoners were taken after the battle.  Some of those prisoners are likely to be indicted for war crimes, based on information taken from the sensor logs of civilian traffic in the system during the fighting.
  
  Further news to follow, as it becomes available.

And it is while the crew are still reading that snippet of information, tha Jago appears, strolling into the hotel, with a large carryall slung over one shoulder, and his cigar still, apparently, surgically attached to one corner of his mouth...

“Good evening people, everybody here, that’s good.”

Jago places his bag carefully on the floor by the reception desk while he enquires about his room, and turns to the others while the clerk sorts it out.

“So, they didn’t conscript you back into the scouts then Tylen, that’s good.”
.

"Hey, welcome back.  You do realise I will have to deal with you for poking through my stuff to get this, right?" Yas says to Jago with a crooked grin as she tugs at the new outfit.

"So how's thing with you otherwise, apart from your impending doom that will see me a captain of Profit Margin shortly?" she inquires cheerfully.

"How's my baby?" Saskia blurts out, as soon as she spots Jago.  Then she winces, and tries again, "Hi Jago.  Thanks for the new 'suit, it's very nice.  How's my baby?  Those port techs aren't mistreating her, are they?"

"Captain Lanza."  Shui steps aside to allow Saskia full access to Jago.  "My thanks for your generous -" and knowledgeable "- gift."  A small bow, and she inserts her words in the few pauses between the engineer's urgent pry-attempts.  "Indeed, Mr. Ogresh avoided that fate without incident, though I suspect some were prepared to cover his retreat from the Scout headquarters with gunfire, should it prove necessary."

Yasmine, of course, is always prepared with a joke.  Sometimes she envies the marine her laid-back attitude.  The woman still needs to have medical work done on her, though, and Shui wonders if the ship's XO will follow up on the matter.

Jago favours Yasmin with a quick, put on smile, which turns into a real grin as Saskia dives in with her concern about the ship.

“The margin is fine,” he assures her, “excepting for the great big hole in the side. Those techies seem to know what they’re doing.”

“I’m afraid access to the ship will be rather limited for the moment, thus the new outfits. Also, where is it now,” Jago rummages around in his bag, ”ah, here, I bought this out for you Shui, in case it needs feeding or something.”

Jago offers Shui the small, cute looking bug that’s he’s been keeping in her stateroom.

So, how are the rooms? They looked pretty dammed neat in the brochure.
.

"None too shabby." Conrad replies, sipping an improbably multicoloured drink, then sitting back to watch as the layers merge with each other in a close approximation of a painted sunset, "Leastways, good 'nough that I can tolerate the squalor for a few days, Boss."

"They'd better know what they're doing." Profit Margin's engineer growls, like a crested jabberwock protecting its young, "Because I'll know if they've hurt her, you know.  She'll tell me just as soon as I'm back aboard."

She lowers her voice a little, as she notices a couple at a nearby table looking in her direction, "Dirtside techs can't be trusted.  If they were any good, they'd have honest jobs.  On a ship.  Until you've lived aboard a ship, you don't really know her, and until you know her, she'll never talk to you and tell you her problems."

A pause, while Saskia takes a deep breath.

"I'm babbling, aren't I?  I'll shut up now, shall I?"

Jago chuckles at Saskia, and Conrad, and the world in general, he seems to be in an especially cheerful, an generous mood at the moment.

“So, where’s the dinning room, shall we go in”, he says, picking out and approaching the fairy obvious door.
.

Shui bows, accepting their passenger from Jago.  "Thank you, Captain.  Kind of you to let him out for exploration, though I expect I should conceal him from restaurant staff."  She peers at the bug curiously, wondering.  Did Jago decide on his own to bring it out for air?  Or did it...assist his decision?

She pauses for an interested study of Conrad's drink, watching the colours blur.  "As Mr. Dietz notes, our rooms are more than sufficient."  The steward turns a small smile on Jago.  "Did we do that well this trip?"

Saskia, of course, is still perturbed by the idea of others working on her ship (indeed, her ship - its ownership interchanges in Shui's thoughts, depending on who is talking).  "Hardly babbling, Saskia."  She shakes her head.  "Concerned."  The doctor cups the bug in her hands, keeping it hidden.  "If you wish, when the meal is over we might drop by the Profit Margin to see?  Assuming, of course, Jago does not have further plans for us..."  She raises an eyebrow to the captain as the group moves into the dining room.

Jago can’t help a little grin when Shui asks if they did that well on the trip, but says noting as he leads through to the dinning room.

.

The crew move through to the dining room, where a waiter leads them to their table, and hands them menus.  The food looks to be simple fare, for the most part, though the description of each item does indicate that the ingredients have been brought in from nearly a dozen worlds, some of which, Conrad notes are up to five parsecs distant.

Groat features in many of the meals, which is hardly surprising, it is, after all, just about the most common herd animal in the Spinward part of the Imperium, and the meat can be prepared in so many ways.  Apart from that, though, there are other meats, and a wide variety of fruit and vegetables from assorted ecosystems.  Including almost fifty blends of tea, and almost a hundred types of coffee.

Some of the items are well known for being expensive or difficult to procure.

All in all, it seems that the halcyon prides itself on being able to cater for as many tastes in food as any hotel on Garda Vilis.

"Good idea.  I'll come along too and make sure they too haven't gotten into my stuff," Yas says to Sushi and Sassy, with a flash of a grin at Jago.

Once at the table she looks at the menu and grunts, "Not ever 500 variants of coffee.  Cheap place, this."

No reply from Jago.  Curious, though the smile hints at good news.  Perhaps their salvage operation proved more lucrative than they expected.  Or perhaps they have been paid up-front for something requiring a great deal of hazard pay.

Shui firmly shuts her pessimism into a mental closet and locks the door.

"A pity the coffee cannot be to your liking, Ms. Crow," she remarks after seating herself.  "Still, you have more coffee choices than tea, which might assist..."  Trailing off, she studies the tea list.  "...in your enjoyment," the steward picks up after a moment's throught.  "I am certain that should you search hard enough, you can find something that might mimick the coffee I strain from our machine."

"I'm not really sure I want to go back before it's finished." Saskia says with a quick shake of her head, "If I see her, and she's in a frelling mess, it'll just make me want to shoot the techs until I run out of bullets.  Then finish the rest off with a stem bolt adjuster."

She shrugs, and gives a strained looking grin.  "Probably best if that doesn't happen, don't you think?  Then she decides to distract herself with the menu.

After a little intense scanning of text, she comments, "Oh, look, they have fried groat with yarmoc sauce and steamed tessapates.  Think I'll have that."

Food is ordered, and the waiters prove most helpful and efficient, combined with a certain degree of cheerfulness.

The meals themselves are tasty, and prepared exactly to everybody's specifications regarding exactly how intensely they would like various items cooked, ranging from "just show it where the oven is, then slap it on the plate." to "burn it until somebody calls out the fire department".  And, judging by the time it takes each course to arrive, the food is being prepared by traditional means, rather than by use of microwaves.  Whether this has any actual effect on the flavour is unclear, but there are one or two people at the table who insist that they can taste the difference.

The starters are delicious.  The main courses are delicious.  The desserts are, perhaps unsurprisingly, delicious...  The various beverages turn out to be superb (and delicious).

For most of the meal, the conversation (when it is not about how delicious the food is) revolves around the crew's adventures out in the wilderness areas of Garda Vilis - the encounter with the Aslan and their would-be assassins, and the IISS science team at their remote outpost, devoting their time to studying a seemingly insignificant variance in the sun's output.

All very entertaining, and the source of more than a few humourous remarks.

But by the time the coffee arrives, it is becoming clear that Jago has something he wants to say to everybody...

Jago leans back in his chair and lets the fragrant smoke of a fat Havana drift up to the ceiling as he sips a steaming hot, black, Java, from a large, white cup. Actually the products are only reasonable substitutes and never having tasted the originals, Jago has no idea how faithful they are to the real thing, but they compare very favourably with the many and varied substitutes he’d had on previous occasions and they round a good meal off very well.

“This coffee is nearly as good as yours Shui.”

“While we’re laid up, I’ve taken the opportunity to have the lounges and passenger state rooms decorated. The guys can do your state rooms, but if you want anything other than the standard colour schemes, you’ll have to use your own money.”

“Oh yes, that reminds me,” Jago produces envelopes from the inside of his jacket and checks the hand written name on each before handing them out. “We did quite well on that salvage operation, but we had to split half of it with the ‘Ore Hound’. It’s not as much as you deserve but it’s your proper entitlement and hopefully it will make your stay here a little sweeter.

OOC, If you open the envelope now you will find

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
A bankers draught, made out to you, for 150,000cr.

---

.

"Wise decision, Saskia," the doctor notes, considering the menu then snapping it shut.  "Your vengeance would have me running for days, trying to keep the poor technicians alive."

"The garden salad, if you would," she requests of the server, then remembers the day's frantic activity.  "If possible, a plate of lightly steamed legumes in a balsamic vinagrette, and a side of cold tofu?"  A hint of a smile touches her lips.  "As for the beverage, I will start with water, but would like to try your Cìshà green after the meal."

The meal, when it comes, is a delight, the legumes crisp, the salad a mix of varied, complimentary flavours.  The tofu is, of course, cold and unadorned, but Shui, accustomed to such fair, enjoys its simple, bitter flavour.  When the tea finally arrives, she draws in the delicate aroma, closing her eyes against the memories it raises.  Home.

Those eyes snap open at Jago's comment.  "You tease me, Captain Lanza," she returns with a smile.  "What I coax out of our machine cannot compare to what they produce here, I am certain."  Though in truth, they did well with the tea.  Her eyebrows rise at the decision to redecorate.  We must have truly done well.

They rise higher as Jago continues, then relax as she takes her cheque with a small, nodding bow.  "My thanks, Captain Lanza."  The steward leaves the envelope closed for several heartbeats, taking a sip of her tea.  But tradition is different here - Jago will want to see their reactions, and there is nothing rude about opening it immediately.  So she does.

The eyebrows rise again, as her eyes widen.  "Captain Lanza?"  Shui blinks.  Far more than what I can use.  "An enormous honor you do us."  Biting her lip in surprise, Shui stares from the cheque to the heavyset man, then back again.

She needs to ask him about the Profit Margin's debt, and the possibility of her weighing a large portion of these earnings against it - a drop in the bucket, but every little bit off the principle would help.  But not here - such questions are better suited for privacy.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:05, Fri 08 May 2009.

"Nearly as good.  Lacks that final touch, though," Yas comments on the coffee.  "It's all what you are used to, I suppose, but it doen't taste at home, narmean?"

She takes the envelope Jago offers and looks at it on both sides.

"Fancy envelope.  Too fancy for a pink slip, so I suppose I'm safe," she says with a grin and opens it.  Pulling the contents out enough to see what it is she shoves it back in again, then out again a bit before pushing it back in again.

"Hmph," she comments and holds the end of the envelope to wave it at Jago.  "You know I can't spend all this on guns that are legal, so I'll invest in the ship.  Could do with a few items to tighten security and general safety.  Plus, with the new outfit I have no need to shop much for another decade or so," she points out and shoots a wide smile over at Jago.

Saskia opens the envelpe, and pulls out the contents.  She studies the slip of paper, before placing it carefully back inside and reaching for her drink.  Her expression is completely blank the whole time, as she finishes her brandy in a single swallow.

Then she pushes the envelope back towards the captain, "Jago.  I think there's a mistake on this.  There's too many zeroes."

“It’s only what your due Shui,” Jago responds to the medic with a smile.

Yasmin’s comment has him drawing deeply on his cigar and watching the rising smoke as it drifts towards the extractor vents, “you think? I’m not sure I’m ready to start issuing shares just yet.”

His contemplative spell is broken when Saskia tries to return the envelope. Chuckeling quietly Jago pushes the envelope back to , “I expect it’s right Saskia, the bank wouldn’t have drawn it up if I hadn’t deposited the finds. My only concern now is that some of you might take it into your heads to retire or something.”

“The draught I handed over to Jockram did have an extra zero; his face was a picture. The rest I’ve split as usual, half to the ship, the other half equally between you guys.”
.

"Well, if you won't let me invest in my home I might have to consider retiring, boss.  Perhaps take up residence on the other side of the cargo hold," Yas says with a mock sigh and shakes her head.  "Besides, if I was to keep this around I'd need extra security for that alone."

"So yeah, I think," she rounds off, complete with another grin.  "I don't much believe in saving things for tomorrow, as you know, since I might not be around to enjoy my savings."

And again, Saskia pushes the envelope back across the table.  "In that case, would you mind looking after it for me, just until I have time to think what I want to do with it."

She smiles, although it looks a little weak, "Otherwise I'll just blow the lot on the first set of solid gold microdrivers I see, or something stupid like that.  So hold it, until I can make a sensible decision, instead of impulse buying something."

"A wise person knows their limits," Shui notes.  "Though you did well enough buying your coat, Saskia."  She honestly doubts the tech would throw it away - she'd bet her entire bonus that a core of common sense lies beneath Saskia's seemingly scattered mask.  There's definitely more to this book than the cover shows - the steward gets glimpses between the covers from time to time, and suspects the simple binding conceals a fascinating story.

She listens carefully to the discussion between Jago and Yasmine, as it parallels her own concerns.  It would seem that while the marine isn't interested in taking no for an answer, Jago may very well hold steady against her assault.  "My thanks, Captain Lanza," she quietly replies to his compliment.  "I may see if there is something I can purchase for the medical bay.  There are, no doubt, more advanced instruments and equipment that could prove...useful in the future to bolster my own skills."  Skills that are sadly lacking, Shui would be the first to note.

Anything to ensure the safety of patients in her care, and if it increases the value of the ship?  Merely a bonus.

"Of course," she continues, shooting a glance at Saskia, "I would need your input, Chief Engineer Blake."  A deliberate choice of the formal reference, given the official nature of the request.  And some delicate humor in the formality, of course.  "Power requirements, structural necessitites...one doesn't just purchase large medical equipment willy-nilly."

Tylen takes the envelope, and slips it into the pocket of his new jacket. He figures that, no matter the amount, Jago will have played straight with the crew and that, as he currently has no use for the cash, it would be best invested in his retirement nest egg. He glances at the menu, glad that he actually rather enjoys Groat.

"The bonus is much appreciated Boss, but right now all I can think about is a nice thick  braised Groat steak with whatever the 'vegetables in season' are on this planet. That and a nice bottle of red wine will do me very nicely."

With the meal over, and the bonus paid out, there doesn't seem to be much else to do.  Saskia's envelope still lays on the table, waiting for Jago to take it into safe-keeping until such time as the engineer can think of something worth spending it on (in her opinion).

It will be a week before Profit Margin is ready to fly again, by which time, she will look a little different, both internally and externally, with a new airlock fitted just outside the bridge, and all-new decor in the passenger section.

That means the crew will have a week of shore leave here on Garda Vilis, a world with a half-decent Tech Level and a good quality port.  There should be plenty for them to spend the money on...

As the meal ends, Saskia’s money is spirited away to the warm and cosy confines of Jago’s pocket, “it will be in my safe, any time you want it,” he tells her with a smile, “though I may put it in the hotel safe until we leave.”

“You know, it’s been so long since I had any time off from the Margin, I’ve forgotten what I like to do on such occasions. I think I’ll just go and soak in a hot tub for a couple of days, until it comes back to me.”
.

A week?

Part of Shui rejoices at the time spent out in the open, breathing uncanned air, feeling the wind and sun on her skin, grown painfully pale after weeks and weeks within a ship.  Another part of her wants to curl up in the ship and hide.  Dangerous, walking around in the open, spending her money in the same place, day after day after day.

But surely... Only a week, she reminds herself.  She won't leave a long trail, not in that amount of time.

"I might spend some time in the wilderness," Shui muses.  "Somewhere I am not likely to run across any venomous fauna, of course."  She cocks an eyebrow at Jago.  "Of course, perhaps after a two-day hot-tub."  A visit to a local spa, should they have something along those lines.  There's nothing wrong with a little indulgeance, she considers.

"But I would like to get out and about.  Perhaps pick up something natural as a souvenir of this world."

"Unless you prefer solitude I could offer to come along, doc.  I have a fair amount of experience with living of the land and doing so well too.  I could do with some time to ponder what to do with my little nest egg," yas tells Sushi and awaits her answer.

"Well, assuming you don't mind company, maybe the three of us could go somewhere together?" Saskia chimes in, "A girls versus the wilderness, sort of thing.  We can always try not to hunt down every life form on the planet and turn them into fashionable articles of clothing."

She laughs then, "We'll have to settle for not getting lost though, since we can read maps, and aren't afraid to ask people for directions."

Shui brightens as the other two women show interest.  "Absolutely I would not object - the company would be most welcome, and while my theoretical knowledge of flora and fauna is sufficient, I am woefully weak in field experience."  She studies them both for a long moment, then a small smile steals onto her lips.  Still seated, the doctor bows.  "I thank you."

A small laugh escapes her at Saskia's witticism, and she inclines her head in agreement.  "True...though in all fairness, Mr. Dietz is more than a touch acquainted with navigation, and Mr. Ogresh, a former scout, is as unlikely to become lost as the inverse is for myself."  Her eyes sparkle for a moment.  "Captain Lanza...has experience dealing with chaos.  While he might lose his way, I suspect he would regain his bearings in short order."

"Hmm, you haven't seen any of them planet side, clearly," Yas inserts with a impish grin at the men and a mock sigh, continuing on the line of jesting that Sassy started.

Tylen chuckles,

"Jar-Heads always think they're the only ones who get survival training, mostly I think they have to spend years training them not to just shoot anything that they don't have to salute! I'd offer to come along, unless you're planning to make it a 'Girls only' thing, I reckon the Captain's generous bonus is more than I'm likely to want to spend here, though I might see if they have anything in the way of mechanical curiosities to go with my music box."

"Now, Tylen, maybe the ladies jus' feel like a little time on their own, away from your socks, and Jago's cigars." Conrad says, with a broad grin.

"I say we let 'em have that time.  It'll do 'em good to get some fresh air, an' some space to relax.  Then we can show up to save their skins when they get lost, an' there's a mouse in their tent."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:32, Fri 22 May 2009.

Shui waits for the back-and-forth between Yasmine and Tylen - some rivalry there, most certainly.  Perhaps it is services, perhaps something different.  Sure enough, it comes, and she hides a smile.  Conrad chimes in with his own humor, and the steward inclines her head.  "A mouse, yes.  For anything more dangerous, Mr. Dietz, we will have Ms. Crow do the job."

Abandoning jests for the moment, she glances to first Saskia, then Yasmine.  "I have no objection to others joining us...but I am not the only one on this outing.  Might I have the thoughts of our engineer and security chief?"

"Careful, Quadman, I dont' have to salute you, y'know...  As for others joining us, well, since we will allow mice," Yas says with a grin that sits quite askew, "a man or ten would pose no issue.  As long as they keep their socks away from me, anyway, or I'll have to put up a mousetrap."

"But if they come with us, we'll have to say all those horrible things we were planning on saying about them to their faces," Saskia says thoughtfully, "which would just be really rude."

Her expression drops into a sulky pout, "And you know how much we all hate to be rude to people."

"Separate tents, Ms. Blake, to keep Ms. Crow's safe from socks."  Perhaps it is the tea, reminding her of her younger days, those where she had the freedom to wander the factories before her duties swept her away.  Whatever the reason, Shui finds herself in a more whimsical mood.  "We can most certainly discuss the boys in private, safe from prying eyes and ears, and recall with amusement what was said when facing them over...whatever passes for breakfast," she finishes, with a shrug.  Civilization has its perks, after all.

With some horror, the steward realizes she needs to purchase some sort of portable coffee perker, useable upon a stove.  Certainly she cannot serve 'instant' coffee to her crewmates, no more than Saskia would be satisfied with a half-way welded patch.

"Of course, that runs both ways," she admits.

"Well, if we do this, I'll be really glad that Ridge isn't on the crew any more." Saskia comments, with a half smile, "He'd only insist that he should be allowed to share a tent with the three of us, and suggest that we could all put on some sort of sordid show for him.  Probably involving mud wrestling or wet T-shirts."

She sighs, "And then Yas would just have to waste ammo, and get her shotgun all dirty, shooting his mivonks off."

"Yeah, or ruin my fine machete on it," Yas sighs and pats the long blade at her side lovingly before cracking into a mischievous grin.

"But seriously, some downtime in the dirt, far from tech, could be just what I need.  No confined space, bring along my bike and...  Yeah, that's right, transport.  That depends who's coming, unless I drive," the ex-Marine states, twoards the end losing the seriousness again.

"I find myself more and more pleased he has left with every one of your explanations, Ms. Blake," Shui sighs, responding to Saskia's description of Ridge.  "I have hopes of finding somewhere with hot springs or the like, uncontaminated by heavy metals, or at least somewhere I could relax in the sun.  With such a person about, I would be forced to avoid these activities."  Mudwrestling.  She doesn't much like the sound of that, and with the 'wet tee-shirt' comment, can ably picture what it might entail.

"Sordid varies on the beholder," she notes, "but some things transcend culture."

"You mean subscend," Yas corrects the doctor with a wink.  "As for Ridge, yeah, well, he did have a few redeming qualities.  Or at least one.  I'm sure he had one, but he hid it well...  Right, Sassy?"