"That was fun," Yas says over the crew comm, still in the suit, as the ship moves on, "Well, for us, any way.  So, what about the trade?  I assume we wait for sleepy-head to wake up and seal it with him, dropping him off somewhere with the cargo?"

Jago's voice comes over the crew channel, responding to Yas' question, "That's the plan, yes.  He has a crawler, so he should be able to get to where he needs to go.  We can always ask him if he has any preferences."

Shui treats the sleeping man.  Watched over by Ash, she administers a stimulant which should counteract the sleep meds.  Within seconds he starts to stir, his snoring replaced by grumbling and the occasional moan, and he tries to open his eyes, without much success for the moment.

Edrin Othati-Fenn manages to sit up, but still looks about as lively as a corpse.  A particularly unhealthy one.  He opens his mouth to speak to Tylen, but most of what he says is partly muffled by a yawn, "Are 'e 'ere 'et?"

Ash is off the Bridge and Profit Margin in flight in a hostile zone with no gunners on station, so Saskia pulls some of the sensor data over to her panel and assigns it to a side screen.  Only the vital stuff -- lidar, thermal, EM tracking.  Anything that will warn her of incoming fire.

Jago, after all, has enough on his plate.

"Not tracking any threats Jago." she informs the captain, so that he at least knows she's still awake.

"There," Shui notes, satisfied.  "He should be fine, now.  There shouldn't be any side effects, either.  I would...keep a close eye on him, nonetheless."  She gives Ash a small bow. "Thank you, Mr. Tescali."

Then it's back to the coldsleep room with a small eyeroll for Tylen as she passes him.  "Ah, Mr. Othati-Fenn.  Awake, I see.  We have arrived at your current destination, and the captain will issue orders for your disembarking shortly.  Are you feeling well?  Any aches or pains, or other issues to report?"

Professional, as always.

Jago nods and smiles, then realises that Saskia can't see his face, "Thanks.  Not expecting much trouble up here, unless they've got somebody with a really good arm and a pile of rocks, but keep an eye on things, just in case."

Othati-Fenn shakes his head, and slurs his words as he croaks, "No.  Fee' fine.  'irsty."  He mimes drinking something.

Out in the hold, the driver's eyes open and he starts to look about.  He slowly sits up straight, and shows that he's better able to wake up in a hurry than the prisoner in the next room by looking at Ash and saying, "Maker's name!"  A wince is followed by an odd gesture, with the tip of his index finger drawing a circle on his forehead and a muttered, "Maker forgive me." then louder, "Where am I?  You might as well let me go, you know, I have no money on me, and the Fellowship of the Golden Triumvirate do not pay ransoms."

Then he catches sight of Yas, or rather, her armour.  "Ah!  Am I on a starship?"

Tylen winks as Shui brushes past him and then nods towards the woman in response to Othati-Fenn's questions, leaving the responses to the doctor.  However, Tylen stands up a bit straighter, rather than leaning on the door frame, and takes a more professional stance, now that the  man is awake.

He smiles slightly as he hears the man from the crawler awake and starts to turn towards the crawler, intending to keep and eye on both passengers. Then  he remembers that Yas is standing behind him in her full suit, and turns back towards the sickbay doorway to concentrate his full attention on the awakening passenger.  Tylen hefts his shotgun slightly, just to help Othati-Fenn remember that he is still a prisoner aboard this ship and that he really should behave himself.

Sure the man is as groggy as a teenager waking up from a three day bender -  but that is no reason to go easy on the thug.  "Is everything OK, Doctor?" he asks formally, taking another chance to make the prisoner aware of the armed man by the doorway.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:34, Sun 17 Nov 2013.

Ash holds up his open hands to show that he is unarmed.  "It's okay...." he starts, then pauses to let the groggy driver get his bearings.  He nods curtly to the man's question.  "Yup." he acknowledges, "you are parked in the cargo hold of the Profit Margin, a Van Rijn class merchant starship."

"Don't worry." Ash tries to reassure the man, "we aren't kidnapping you."  He pauses thoughtfully for a moment, as if deciding something, then continues, "We merely noticed that your crawler was in danger of being surrounded by a number of potential hostiles.  We, uh, took the liberty of moving you while you were out..."  No need to mention the armed man in the cab with him earlier.  Yet.

He holds up a finger, to pause the conversation for a moment.  "Captain," he notes dutifully into his comm to the common crew channel, "our representative in the crawler from the Fellowship of the Golden Triumvirate is awake now."  He trusts that Jago will let him know if that is not the organization that he was expecting at this pick-up.

"Once we are clear of the danger zone," Ash turns back to regard the driver and picks up the conversation with him again, "we can pretty much let off wherever you like on Rangent."  He looks thoughtful for a moment and then sheepishly adds, "Oh, and I'm Ash.  Ash Tescali, navigator of this here starship..."  He extends a hand towards the crawler driver.

The cigar rolls back and forth in Jago’s mouth as he studies the various images on his screens.

“Thanks Ash, could you explain the situation and find out where the best place to drop him would be please. Also could we load that last consignment of ‘Breath Easy’ ™ into his wagon ready to go.”

“Shui, when Mr Othati-Fenn is awake he might appreciate something to eat before we drop him off. Could you as if he’s familiar with this planet, he might have a preferred destination.”

Othati-Fenn accepts a little water, and smiles wryly as he notices that the cup is soft, thin plastic.  He doesn't have the energy, or the coordination, to put up a fight with a real weapon, let alone a piece of broken glass.  Still, that and the shotgun in the doorway remind him that he's a prisoner.  "Thanks." he murmurs as the water lubricates his vocal apparatus, then hands the empty cup back to Shui.

He looks towards the deactivated berths.  "Others all ashore?"

The driver looks around again, nodding at Ash's explanation.  "Profit Margin?  Yes, that's who I was supposed to meet.  Then some poozer pointed a gun at me and made me take some pills.  Guess they made me sleepy because I don't remember much after that."

He clambers stiffly out of the cab and peers under his seat, "I still have the agreed cash if you still want to trade?"  He starts to reach under the seat, before stopping and looking from Ash to Yas and back again, "Is it okay with you if I get the packet out, or do you want to get it yourself?  There isn't a weapon, the Fellowship of the Golden Triumvirate does not take part in violence."

Shui tries not to divide her attention between the discussion out in the hold and her discussion with Othati-Fenn.  It's not easy, given how the former is turning out, with the rescued driver figuring he has been kidnapped.  Hopefully Ash's explantion will head that issue off quickly.

Tylen's wink does not go unnoticed, nor his reassuring presence in the doorway.  "Everything proceeds normally, Mr. Orgesh," she briskly replies. "You are most welcome, Mr. Othati-Fenn.  To answer your question, you are our only passenger at the moment.  Captain Lanza will decide where we will drop you off, but it will be shortly and we'd like to have you ready for it."

"Ah, yes.  Of course." the Profit Margin's navigator exhales, through his pursed lips, "We've dealt with the hoodlum that was harassing you.  We detected him and his associates waiting in ambush for us before we actually touched down."  Ash paused for a moment, "Those men have been dealt with.  Though it did require us to load you and your crawler into the ship's hold to ensure your safely."  He gives the driver a slight shrug.

"Captain Lanza welcomes you aboard, sir." Ash offers amiably, "He regrets that since we are in flight that he cannot greet you in person."  Another pause before he continued, "He is also offering to set you down wherever you would like on Rangent."

"And the Captain has informed me that we still have your portion of the Breath Easy™ consignment still available for you." the thin navigator notes off-hand, "Assuming that you are still interested."

"We can have it loaded for you," Ash adds dutifully, "in the next few minutes."

Having had her fun with the silence and letting Ash do the talking, Yas opens her face plate and grins, if in a somewhat friendly fashion.

"Trust me, with this on I doubt you could produce a weapon that would dent this little baby, had you been into guns and in cahoots - I love that word! - with those thugs," she says, as always having fun with her toys.  "You're safe here, as Ash says.  I'm Yasmine Crow, head of security, by the way."  She doesn't offer a hand, as it would no doubt be intimidating, but she offers a nod instead.

"Sorry to have put you on the spot, inadvertently, I hope you guys one day can clean trash like them from your planet."  She is and sound completely sincere.

Tylen nods at Shui's assurances that all is well, then stands his ground, watching the sickbay but listening to the conversations in the main hold.

The driver nods happily, "Very pleased to meet you all, and even more pleased that the plan to ruin our deal failed."  he reaches under the seat and pulls out an envelope.  A very thin envelope.  Then he walks around to upen the large hatch at the rear of the vehicle.  "my name's Barrat, Barrat Haynes.  I'll have the medicine in here please.  Definitely still interested." The thin envelope is held out towards ash, then Yas, and back to Ash.  "Who wants this?  I'll need a receipt."

Othati-Fenn manages to clamber out of the berth, and leans against the side of it, swaying slightly.  "One of these days I'm going to get the money together to travel unfrozen.  I don't mind missing the journey, but the headache is always annoying.  And I feel cold for days afterwards, even when I know that my body temperature is normal again."

He steps away from the berth, "I'm ready to leave as soon as the captain... " he screws his eyes shut for a few seconds, "As soon as he's ready to let me off the ship.  Doesn't matter where it is."

"Jago." Saskia says quietly, a note of concern creeping into her voice, "I'm getting a radio signal from the planet.  Not directed at us, it's a broadcast.

"Seems as if our new friends are declaring war on us.  Reception is frelling terrible, but it sounds like they're telling all their gang members to watch out for us and report in if they see us, and to try to detain us.  They're saying that we attacked some of their people who were, quote, engaging in authorized business on behalf of the organisation, unquote."

Then she cheers up a little, "Not that they've shown any sign, so far, of having anything that could even hit the ship, let alone damage it.  But I think what they're basically saying is, 'Please Jago, come and drop all that sewage on us.'"

Moving over, Shui attempts to assist their passenger find his way to the recovery seat. "Please sit.  I have some tests to run, and you really should eat a nutritional bar and drink some water.  The coldsleep can be quite hard on the body, as you are well aware." She frowns. "I can also give you something for your headache.  Sadly, there is nothing I can do regarding the psychosomatic chill you experience."

Nothing with medication, in anyway.  Meditation in motion?  She could manage something with that.  Sadly, Shui has no interest in teaching Othati-Fenn her family's style of qigong.

"The captain will, no doubt, prefer to put you down somewhere in reach of civilization rather than out on the middle of the ice," she finishes.  Much as some members of the crew and passengers might wish otherwise.

"What's the weather like here?  If it's nice and warm I might stay for a while." Othati-Fenn declares as Shui examines him, "Otherwise I'd like to be put off at a main port, so I can get a ship out of here as soon as possible.  Cold enough from the berth without freezing parts off due to the climate."

Barrat Haynes watches as Yas loads the cargo into his crawler with no difficulty whatsoever.  "Thank you.  Can one of you let your captain know that he can take me home at his earliest convenience.  The transport was refuelled this morning, and the gauge still shows that it's almost full.  If he could drop me off anywhere within a hundred kilometres of where you found me, I'll be able to get back easily enough."

"We glad to make your acquaintance as well, Barrat." Ash said crisply with a nod.  "I will inform the Captain of you desired destination, as well." the thin navigator responds to Haynes' request for drop off.

He cast a glance in Yas' direction as the envelope is thrust towards him.  The chief is busy with cargo.  Ash looks at the physical package with a 'deer in the headlights' look for a brief moment.  Physical money transfer is... quaint.  Well, perhaps not quaint.  But, highly archaic to him without a doubt.  He holds up finger and halts the transfer for the time being, "I'll take that... in juat a moment."

He taps his earbud and speaks quietly into the common crew channel, "Captain, Mr. Haynes of the Golden Triumvirate has informed me that when we are done he wants to be dropped off within one hundred klicks of where we picked him up.  Also, he has physical payment for their portion of the cargo."  The thin navigator admits into the mouth piece, "How should I verify the amount and terms?  And he is asking for notarization of the funds transfer..."  In all honesty, Ash's confusion likely stems from the fact that he was blissfully unaware that they were accepting compensation - let alone know the amount to expect; he thought that these were charitable donations...

Well that, coupled with with fact that the ex-Scout isn't sure that they have a receipt book with carbon paper in triplicate anywhere on board the Profit Margin. "Uh," he notes tentatively, still not taking the envelope yet, "about that receipt... "  He pauses, stalling slightly, "I may have to check the ship's locker to be able to properly generate that receipt."

Tylen steps back slightly from the doorway, although making sure that he can still keep an eye on the doctor and her patient.  Then he speaks softly into his voice com, trying to keep his voice low enough that neither guest can overhear clearly

"Do you want be back on the bridge, Jago?" he asks in response to Saskia's last message.  After all, it might be good to have the turret manned, even if the local thugs hadn't get shown anything capable of damaging the ship
This message was last edited by the player at 18:38, Wed 27 Nov 2013.

Shui sighs.  "Sadly, Mr. Othati-Fenn, you'll then want to be off at a main port.  The weather here is inhospitably cold.  Hence, my earlier comment about your leaving us shortly, rather than immediately."  She offers a small, somewhat sad smile.  "We can't very well drop you off in the middle of an icy field."

Pursing her lips, she considers the situation for a long moment. "In fact, when we do let you off, I would suggest finding a ship out immediately.  And not informing the locals that you arrived with us.  It could get in you into some trouble."  It might get HER into some trouble informing him of this fact, but Shui isn't going to just drop him off without warning.

Jago responds to Ash first, "They have some sort of rule here which says that a charity can't just accept a donation above a certain value.  Our donation is above that value, so we agreed they would buy it for a small amount of local currency.  Just bring it through, and I'll give him a receipt for it."

Tylen's question brings a, "Stay were you are for now, Tylen.  They've got nothing on this planet that we wouldn't spot in time for us to react.  For the moment, it's just talk.  Saskia's keeping an eye on them, and so is Jockram."

Othati-Fenn frowns, "Port it is then, at Captain Lanza's earliest convenience."

"Well, I expect that 'at Captain Lanza's convenience' would be more appropriate." Tylen drawls from the doorway.

"Indeed," Shui agrees with a smile. "Gunnery Officer Orgesh is correct - we are in the middle of a situation at the moment, so some patience is called for.  Rest assured, I shall see that you are deposited at the spaceport when it is safe."  She cocks her head to the side.  "In the meantime, would you like something to eat or drink?  I can provide a small lunch, if you feel up to it."

Ash listens carefully to Jago's orders and then nods curtly, acknowledging into his comm, "Aye, Captain."

He turned to Barrat and notes cordially,"Mr. Haynes.  The Captain is drawing your receipt right now.  May I take the envelope?  Or would you prefer that either you or Ms. Crow, our first officer, ..."  And he indicates the rather large armoured exoskeleton loading the cargo - even though Yas had already introduced herself, "to hold the envelope 'in escrow', if you will, until you get your receipt?"  The thin navigator is more than willing to do it any of those ways, though he does have to review the amount first.

Once that is done, Ash makes his way to the bridge to collect the receipt from Jago - relaying the amount so that that Captain can complete the form.  He glances up at the security and sensor feeds on the tactical displays.  The lanky ex-Squid nods silent thanks to Saskia acknowledging her diligence in covering for him - especially while in the air.

Once he has the receipt in hand, Ash makes ready to head back to the cargo hold.  He tugs at the sleeves of his duster for a moment.  "Anything else that I should convey to the Golden Triumvirate representative?" he prompts Jago.  He heard the chatter of over the line concerning potential mobilization or retaliation by the Syndicate on any involved parties.

Ash brings the envelope through to Jago, leaving Yas to keep their guest company.  Opening the envelope reveals a single bill, similar in size to an Imperial credit, but more colourful and bearing a design that is unfamiliar to both the captain and the navigator.  The value is displayed as a single digit; 1.  Jago holds it up to the light for a moment, "Better make sure it's genuine.  It's worth nearly one third of a credit."  He writes out the receipt and hands it back to Ash.

"Tell him thanks, and we'll be starting back down in ten minutes."

Jago opens a channel to Shui and Tylen, "If your charge wants anything to eat, Shui, it'll have to be sandwiches and coffee to take with him.  I'll be starting back down in ten minutes, and he'll be off the ship as soon as humanly possible after that.  As I see it, the sooner we can finish our business on the surface, the less time it will give the locals to come up with a real plan."

"My plan... " he studies the map provided by Ash, "... is to drop the Golden Triumvirate rep as close to his home as I feel comfortable, then go directly to the furthest landing field from there to let Othati-Fenn off.  I think we'll be all done here within a half hour."