"So I'm told.  Would like to have a quick look at your stock.  We're delta fleet. Checking every business on the street.  We would like to see what's available.  Maybe weed out some undesirables to make more room for useful business' such as yourself."

  The  Fellow  looked over his shoulder , he called abck in some odd language that  the  Chips  didn't   sort out.

  Lirg's  hushed   voice said,..that is Pirate trade talk..mix  match of  differant races and made up words... that me.. he is pirate?  or they work with  Pirates...much...

 ..Right then?.... Come in...  but  I'll give you fair warning, i will... we gots us threee turrets  hidden around the place... they cut through air cars like sanri underwear... Just 'case you thinkin' of  doin' somethin' stupid...  the  two flank guards     still looked out over  the dark streets...

 The two close to the Gates   had weapons  on  GArrat and anyone else they see.. the   ( garrat's right hand) right hand Gate Guard  turned so he could watch anyone   whop enters  from the back

    Garrat switches to whisper mic. "Everyone but Minnet stay hidden.  Minnet come with me and keep transmitting anything we see.  Hans, IF..and only if, things go to hell for us, you call in reinforcements and rain hell on their parade."

   "That's okay."  Garrat says comfortably to the guard, "If anything happens to us theres a cruiser floating around outside that wouldn't mind tearing a hole in the side of the stem to eliminate some EDT sympathisers.  I trust you won't allow things to come to that.  We rather like Pirates and their ilk as long as their raiding the other side.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Tue 10 Oct 2017.

  Sath  and Lirg Hunker  down.. Lirg's  rifle  is trained on the right hand side, guard.

 Sath weapon is in the general direction on one of the forward guards.

 Minnet  and Jesse    are a bit away  behind some rubble.. her   Heavy Pulse  ready  and His grease gun  Kept low  as he watches.

 Hemsly does  say softly,...as long  as the blackguards aren't playin' both sides against us...

...........

 Supe's outfit  enter the Compound though they have weapons  trained on them. Supe  Just grins,..Ok.. show  me the person in charge... and  we can talk some buisness....

   a wiseass looking  guy has a Cig-stick , he chews on it a bit and   jerks his head to the Door  behind them, of a  ...much repaired... building...Go get  the Boss... we'll see what he says..... the worst thing that could happen, is  we get a bunch of new  weapons...

 Tucker   chuckles,..or?.. we get us a new shop...

 The  guy's  grin  dropped  as he  chewed on the stick.

In reply to Stem (msg # 33):

   Garrat goes in for his tour

  Garrat walked into the Compund.  He noted  two  light gray Vans. a couple   people playing  EDT stud.

 creds and some shieny stuff on the crate  near them. A slight loking guy  came over,..Ok  .. you'll stop there ... Now?.. things  go worng.. you'll be  cut  down.....Now..  what can we do for you... Boss  is inside.. he's wacthing... good  bet..he's watching through a scope....

   Garrat looked around, his standard issue sensor visor scanning things, then raises and sticks a spice stick between his teeth.  "I've been nothing but polite, so first I ask that you return the favor rather than threaten me every other sentence.  In the end, Delta fleet is parked on the other-side of that bulkhead. You kill us, some bad shit is going to happen to you.  Second I want an inventory of articles you deal in.  We often have trouble gettin what we need through proper channels so there ain't no reason for me to slap around a golden goose as you Earthers say."

   The   slight looking fellow..might have been sick when he was a kid? Sat one the  end of one of the  crates stacked  near the Vans.

  ...Delta Fleet, You say?  Well... we';re good... damn good  at getting stuff...But  a whole fleet?  we can supply  folks like that... maybe a ship?.. maybe a few crates  here and there... If the Creds are right, we might even be able to make a call and see what folks  found in the way of a ..um...er... 'missing' transport?

 ..now?.. we're sorta  like a  high end  swap meet.... we want creds..pure  and simple... but sometimes the right favor will be  good  currency ..ammo..power cells... Food packs..Med tech kits... weapons that are shipped... we can  get..other stuff.. we might have to sniff around, see what we can do? One thing... we're good  business folks, no matter how  people feel about us?... If we can't get it, we'll let you know  inside a day...

................

  there was   more  weapons fire far across the way the  semi-darkness was  being lit up  by weapons  fire.

   Garrat nods,  He's cone back to his native language which translates like Texas slang. "Noted.  Most of the time it's indiviuals wanting specialty items that get subsidized by the fleet.  Spencer himself likes a good solid sniper rifle, and I'm no stranger to heavy gear,"  He pats his rifle, "I don't have a helluva lot of time but we need to know who's with us and who ain't and how they can be used to foreward the human cause.  Do you do custom work?"

  The  Door Opens, a fellow   is shouldering a  very nice looking Angel sniper  rifle. He is  taller the n the   slight guy... but shorter then the  tower guard. he looks   well muscled, he ears a  light boarding armor chest plate, but  no arms or  legs  covered, other then  ESN  pants..EMS  shirt and a HAt with a  sign of crossed lighting bolts.

   He stops  next to the slight built  fellow..who takes a few steps back...now?... folks in the Stem...any Stem? They don't have it too easy.... they are forgotten about , once the   ends are made... and... only folks down here are those  trying to make creds... or  folks who don't have  any...Damn Etna SEC has Hunts... people get paid  bounties for   gunning down Stem folks who  try to defend themselves..or ..honest business men like myself...Now?.. there folks  in here  that need dying.. and that's a fact... but not everyone  down here wants to kill people...well..unless those  people try to kill them first...or?  Muscle in on territory

 ..my name is  , Cal... this here's my place..well?  OUR  place.. i'm just in charge..

   Garrat clasps his hand firmly. "Good to finally meet you sir."    He looks the man up and down. "You have the feel of a military man about you.  Do I work with anyone you might know?" 

   Returning the clasp, Cal Shrugged...ESN  Marine , the last  part of the  Mars Colony war..... EMS fighter pilot for the The Old..EMS 046 Blackhole..  she vanished during a fight outside of Tortuga.. me  and my  pilots  were on patrol.. ended up joining up with some pirates..amking  money killin'  folks who need killed.... we have  gods-be-damned range wars here now... every on  tryin' to slit everyone's throat..'cept Hikki.. Hikki's  good ta work with...

  "Heard good things about him.  No wonder your people were a little cautious.  Well I'm part of an actual sweep team.  If you can give me a heads up on who to stomp and who not too I'll be greatful, then we can get down to business latter.  I'm afraid my presence is a thinly vealed door to door inspection but the AP really wants to clean things up.  To many EDT running around.  There has been rumer of humans being trafficed out of the area as slaves.  That tends to hit Admiral Hack like a red flag to a bull."

  Cal Nodded,...we don't deal in people.. if  we ship people in or out..its because they need to escape..or because they want to find someone, without  Etan SEC knowing..... Now?.. Hikki's is  about   half way up the Stem.... we don't go much further then there... that's not our  turf ... but between us  and Hikki's  is  ... Oswalds's.. he's a right bastard... if he can make a credit.. he sell and   transport anything...about a month ago,,, a couple of my boys  nailed  two of his who had  4 kids... someone wanted them, out  past the Hillite  system.. but  we don't know who..anyway.. 2 of them ar3e safe in  The Lowers.. the other  two we shipped to Astra.

 Oswald's ain't much differant then us...'cept they deal with the wrong folks... Yo need Help.. i can send some of my people..but..i can't get whittled down too much..or  we'll be taken over by someone else.

Garrat had made sure his helm cam was facing Cal.  "I thank you for the offer, but I get the feeling we need every one of your men intact.  If we create a vacuum Hikki's gonna need some help filling it, so you need all hands on deck more than we need soldiers.  Scouts who know who to watch-out for, an information are a different story.  That should save our lives without risking yours."  Garrat motions to the sniper rifle "Snipers at best.  Just so long as your not really risking your hides."

   Cal Nodded...,...we have a few snipers. I don't have  as big a gang  as most.. i go for quality.. one sniper is  worth  4 or  5 nut jobs with guns..

  ..now.... I'll tell ya  this. two Blokcs up, and towards the Middle is , waht folks  down here call... " the Swap Meet '.. there's a big gathering of  folks who sell stuff to the pretty boys from the Uppers... and the adventurous ones  from the lowers.... its also a good place to  get jobs..nothing  real big in there.. but you can set up orders... set up hits... whatever.... that helps  keep customers alive.... also?.. people will run there if they are being chased... there are   Tunnels in a couple of the buildings that lead to other  parts of the Stem... if you'er  chasing someone.. and they make it there... you'er not  finding them.

Garrat scratches his chin, "How many snippers would it take to cover all approaches?"

 Cal points at the   walls behind His Compound, and the  double doors  that open to the Docks.

 ..the same thing that is good about thses places.. is the same thing that's bad.... The Hull has  our backs.. but there are Pipes, ducks  and    hand holds all over to theplace, for maintainance  and inspection.... there is sort of a pact, that we leave those folks alone, so they can take care of the  Station... now?.. we don't get alot of Benefits.. but now and again some one might run an extra power line  down to us... or, we'll scarpe Creds toghter and thell  link up a house that has a broken connection..

 he waves it off,..But?.. Smart Guys  put snipers up there...  sitting on a piece of dec playe   melded to the Hull...Now?.. I'll put a couple folks up there when I know there is trouble... some folks  never  do?...some..always do..so you can't really account  for them, until the show themselves.... The other things to worry about is ... Turrets.. tower guards..and if they have any creatures  to help guard..

 .......

  Garrat's COM come on....Supe here.... first Compound taken... 'New Owners"  are  Docking up soon... we'll stay until they Dock and MOve on...we'll let ya know, when we're on the move...

   Garrat looks at his com. "Well, I'm  behind schedule so I better get moving.  Any help you can get me will be appreciated.  Now I gotta shake a leg."

    Garrat waves off and heads out moving forward with his team. "Gotcha Supe, hope everyone came through okay.  Found an Ex marine from the Mars conflict in charge of a compound.  I'll introduce you latter.  I think you'll like this guy."

  Cal nods  and whistles  he points to  two people across the Compound and points the  the Hull, the Points to Garrat.

 ..you'er people we'll have to get in the gates... These two will help thin out  the Compund...

  a man and a woman, both only wearing chest armor, shouldered  some sleek looking rifles and climbed the   hand rungs of the hull net to the   dock doors , disappearing into the darkness..

Garrat finds the next compound and examines the gate.

  Garrat and his  team  moved up the street... Hans  was still somewhere ahead  using the buildings.

  they saw another Compound... about  3 blocks away to the   middle was   " The MarkeT"

  Oswald's Cpmpound  had  two tureents by their gate... there were view  ports for snipers..no outside  gaurds  could be seen.

Garrat looked at the turrets and sniper posts he had his team take cover across from the entrance and radioed Hans while he sets up his high powered rifle on the bipod for some good ole fashioned armor peircing.  "Okay Mr scout, is there any other ways into the Oswald compound?"

   Hans  can see  some  movement over the  wall, but  doesn't really have a   shot.

  The turrets  move slowly from   left to right...now and then a bit of light  can be seen in the  sniper slots.. as if  there is movement  behind them

garret gets some of the explosives in his pack ready then checks the turrets with his vision to see if they are automated.  if they have infrared cameras they would show up on the scope as strong infrared signatures.  "alright guys, target the sniper slots and fire  on my command."

   He gets on the com to Cal, "Say Cal, can you tell us anything about the front armament on the Oswald compound?"