Walter and Vonon and whoever are going to pick up Vonon's HEV and then head to another marina to interrogate one of Ondrac's ex-employees.

Vonon precedes Walter back out into the main club room, and makes a beeline for a table and chairs -- where he recovers from the back of a chair a short-waisted jacket of maroon suede that is only slightly darker in shade than his maroon trousers. With a practiced twirl, the jacket is on, and Vonon leads Walter to the exit.

Once outside on the sidewalk, Vonon pauses a moment to inhale a deep breath, then let it out slowly.

"Ah! I tell you, Sir Walter, the smell of this air is wonderful." Vonon says, waving his right hand to indicate the city around them, "Where I come from, the air always smells 'canned', y'know? It has a slightly stale scent to it that reminds you that it has been filtered and scrubbed, like, a ba-zillion times. But this ... This smells fresh!"

Vonon visibly shakes himself, "Anyway. To the task at hand."

Vonon steps over to the edge of the sidewalk, places the index fingers of each hand to either side of his muzzle, and produces a loud whistle, followed by a shout of "Taxi!" Then he turns to look over his shoulder at Walter.

"Did I do that right? We don't have anything like taxis back on Cassandra's Belt, it's all automated mass transit. And, it seems I can't pucker my lips the way you Humans can, so I have to use my fingers to warp them the way needed to whistle."

Vonon tries to 'pucker up', but he just hasn't got enough lower lip at the end of his muzzle.

"See?" Vonon turns to look up and down the street, "Where's the taxi? I thought they came right away?"

No taxi shows up immediately, but a limo pulls up, and the driver gets out and comes around and opens the rear door.

"Count Cromwell's compliments," he announces. "You have the services of his limosine for the evening."

Once in the limo, the vehicle transports them first to the Gresham Hotel where Vonon is staying, and then to TAS office for Sharik.

During the ride, Vonon accesses the basic Aid program in his comm to search the business database for an "all night" pick-up and delivery service--24/8 Shipping, call them, and make arrangements for his HEV suit to be picked up from where he has it stored, and then delivered to the Seacraft Marina, "at the submersible pier".

Next he'll call the storage facility and inform them of the transport company that is coming their way, then he'll ask them to go and remove the case that holds his HEV suit -- describing the case exactly -- and hand it over to the movers when they get there. He'll give them whatever ID info they need, and he'll even arrange payment for this extra service (i.e., he'll either pay the extra fee and then add 50 credits for a "tip", or he will outright bribe the guy with 100 Credits to do this, if it's not an actual service they normally provide).

Once at his hotel, Vonon will say he just needs a few minutes to change into "working clothes", then asks Walter if he wants to wait here in the taxi (keeping access to the taxi) or if he'd rather wait in the hotel bar. Either way, Vonon will rush up to his room, swallow a couple of pills to get past the alcohol in his system -- Vonon has had 3 rum-and-cokes and a pint of beer -- if his metabolism is anything like mine (or better) he's not plastered, but he is "under the influence"; he's probably been slightly slurring his words -- I said Slightly! -- for the past several minutes, and his attention is drifting just a little. I wouldn't vouch for his accuracy with a pistol, just now, either.

Anyway. Vonon will come down in about 15 minutes dressed in an old Space Patrol black BDU jumpsuit, tucked into functional looking black "ship boots" (nothing special, like "Space Boots", just boots with "grippy" soles for grabbing metal deckplates in low-G) and one of his old Space Patrol black psuedo-leather jackets. The BDU jumpsuit and the jacket, while he wore them while he was in the Service, they now have had all patches and Cassandra's Belt Space patrol marking removed. His dressage looks more like a military uniform than "work clothes", but it just looks like he's wearing a black "uniform", he actually isn't.

Oh, and of course, even though it looks a little out of place, he's also wearing his wide, heavilly tooled, brown leather belt with a big silver buckle...and a holstered 10mm automatic pistol on his right hip, and Blade (basket-hilted Bowie Knife) sheathed at his left hip. Both these weapons hang on the belt "Garrison Style" (up on the belt, like a Cop, not slung low on the thigh, "Gunfighter Style")

Now he's ready to "back up" Sir Walter.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:15, Thu 16 Oct 2014.

Sir Walter headed out with Vonon. "Indeed it is rather nice to smell air that does not reek of lubricants and old socks like a vessel does after being in transit for a week. However, I find myself torn between both worlds as I like to travel but as I have gotten older, part of me wants to settle down. My ex wanted me to leave the merchants but I did not want to at the time. When I finally did, she did not want me around any longer as she was use to me being gone for long periods of time." he said entering the transportation.

Walter waited for Vonon to take care of his business and spied a spacer clothing shop near by that was getting ready to close for the night. "Wait here, be right back." he said to the driver. A few minutes later, Sir Walter returned carrying a bag with a pair of mechanics coveralls and work boots.

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 3):

When Walter rejoins him, Vonon notices the duffle.

"Gear for the mission?" Vonon asks, pointing at the bag, "Outstanding!"

"Now, about questioning this guy about Ondrac...here's the way I'm thinking we can handle this." Vonon says as Walter settles himself in the car, "The way you're dressed right now, you kinda got an 'official' look going on. I'm thinking we find this guy and approach him like we're some kind of Investigators who're looking into improprieties made by Ondrac. You look like some kind of gov't official, I look  like some kind of enforcer. We just make sure we don't ever actually say what part of the establishment we're with."

"From what info we have, this guy has a lot of reason to hate Ondrac, so hopefully he'll be happy to answer our questions. But, if he clues into us not being anybody 'official', I'm thinking that then we can try and 'pay' him for information; start at 1-thousand Credits, more if needed."

"What do you think, Sir Walter? Got any ideas on the subject?"

Sharik sidles up behind Walter and Vonon.  "Take in the fresh air now," she quipped off-hand as she waited to pile into the vehicular transportation, "When we are underwater, it'll be recycled air again..."  The diminutive brunette winked at her vargr friend.

"How long were you married, Sir Walter?" Shar asked idly as they waited for Vonon to get 'dressed'.  She seemed keenly interested in the fact that many had actually been betrothed, her own experience with relationships had been much more transient.  It seemed to her that travelling wasn't really conducive to marriage - unless both parties actually travelled together.

Naturally, Sharik was last to get her stuff together.  The trio needed to stop by the TAS hostel in order for her to pick up her items.  Like, Walter, Sharik returned less than ten minutes later to the car with a nondescript duffel bag in tow.  She also had changed out of her riding leathers, and into a dark, pin-striped business suit.  The fabric looked freshly pressed, the crisp pleats of the tailored cut were fairly flattering.  Though when coupled with her designer mirrorshades (especially at night), it did make her look a touch more imposing.  There was a slight bulge under her left arm where a sleek leather holster with a compact stunner lay.  A thin coiled cable tied the sidearm to a powerpack that was strapped to her belt.  Plopping the duffel down on the seat, Sharik slid into the car next to her bag.

"Should I just wait in the car?" the diminutive brunette prompted Vonon when he started to 'talk shop', "You know, back-up to the back-up?"  She seemed at ease with what Vonon had proposed as a ruse, and the secondary plan to potentially bribe the man.  Sharik knew her strengths and weaknesses and if Walter wanted to the talking that was fine with her - if they needed her as a foil or some such, that was fine, too; Shar had had some experience with that as well.  "I'm fine with either play." she noted simply.

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 5):

"Dressed like that," Vonon answers, "I'm thinking you'll be of more use with us, rather than sitting in the car. Wouldn't you agree, Sir Walter?"

"Well Ms. Kaagira, we were married for 4 years and had two children together. My son is 25, in the Merchants and my daughter, 23, is in college studying to become a surgeon. Last time that I saw them was 4 years ago when I got knighted, the ex did not come." Sir Walther said to Shar, with a slight smile at the memory.

While they were waiting, Walter had pulled the coveralls out of the bag, started cleaning any tags off, and then adjusted them to his size so he could fine tune the clothes later. He did the same with his boots.

With Voron back, they headed to TAS to get Shar's gear.  Walter paused for a moment, in thought. "Concerning the former employee, I have a feeling that he might become offended if I was to flat out offer him a bribe. He may just spill the beans if he finds out that someone is looking into their misdeeds. If not, then I may ask to borrow his pen to dot down a few notes and then give him a few thousand credits for "renting" the pen. It is still a bribe, but more "Palatable"". he said

Seeing Shar coming out of TAS, Walter looked her over, and smiled. "I will hazard to guess that your role in this play is going to be my personal secretary." he said. "I would suggest that you come with me but conceal the weapon. A bodyguard would make sense, my personal secretary also "packing" will look like we are not on the up and up or that I am connected with the underworld." Sir Walter said

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 7):

"Oh, I never even thought of that angle!" Vonon said to Walter, "Yeah...trying to make it look like we're with the local Mob, trying to get dirt on Ondrac..."

Vonon shrugs his shoulders, "Oh, well. What you've laid out is probably the better way to go, anyways. First we just ask our questions, then only offer money if he's reluctant to talk."

Sharik nodded curtly to both Vonon and then Walter concerning the matter of her role in the upcoming 'interview'.  "Of course." she intoned dutifully, on the matter of concealing her stunner.  Given the confined space in the vehicle cabin, she carefully slipped off her suit jacket and adjusted the tailored leather harness to fit much more snugly around her torso - pushing the sidearm more tightly under her arm.  With the suit jacket back on, the weapon and holster seemed much more discreet - even if it was slightly harder to draw.

Once that was done, Shar pulled her hair back into a tight, low ponytail which along with her datashades made her appearance much more 'business-like'.  She straightening out the pleats on jacket for a moment.  "Well, boys?" she prompted the two other occupants (well, besides the driver) of the car, "How's that?  Better, right?"  Despite only saying only three short phrases, Sharik's voice took on a noticeable and slightly different vocal timbre.  It was lower and a touch more clipped - which made it sound more official or authoritative, but also both Walter and Vonon could hear a touch of the same local verbal inflection that might have been right at home in Ceruleanne Blue's voice.  The dark-haired dilettante had obviously been observing their blue-haired employer a fair bit.

[OOC:  Gotta love having Deception/3...]

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 9):

"If you're going for the look of a high-level bureaucrats assistant, you look marvelous." Vonon says, giving a double thumbs-up.

"In fact, my old friend, if you didn't look like a hairless ape, you might even be attractive." he adds, then throws back his head and lets loose with his howl-like laugh.

He quickly recovers, then asks, "Okay, so we're ready, yes? Then lets head for this marina where the gentleman we seek works. The quicker started, the quicker done, as they say."

Sir Walter cocked his left eyebrow in a quizzical expression at the notion of posing as the local mob.  "Our luck, Ondrac has them on their payroll." he said.

With the adjustments to Sharik, he nods in agreement. "That looks rather business like and will do nicely." he said.

"Driver, to the marina." Sir Walter said, giving the name of the marina that the former employee works at.

Quin Follows Sharik from the pub.  Spying the coach and following along to the door of the vehicle.

"Well I know what 'only for expenses' means.  I was just hoping that stipulation might have not been there is all."  She had wanted the advance to be an advance, it certainly would have helped her towards her goals.

So Walter, Vonon, Sharik and Quinzella took the Count's limo to Vonon's hotel, where they pick up his HEVacc-suit, then went to TAS hostel where Sharik picked up her gear. Did Quinzella also need to pick up her gear?


After that, the limo driver is directed to drive to the Harbor Winds Marina. Walter was able to find out that Shindar Oolak was working the evening shift tonight. Being mostly a water world, people tend to use boats to get around about the way other worlds use automobiles.

So there are boats leaving the marina and returning pretty much all night long as people go shopping, visit bars, and return.

It's a fairly large marina, with 12 floating docks and a security building at the entrance to the docks. There's a parking lot just outside the marina.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 13):

Vonon steps out of the limo and immediately halts, blocking the opening. He looks over the immediate area, hand resting on the grip of his holstered pistol -- really playing up the part of a professional bodyguard.

After assuring himself that nobody is paying any special attention to them, Vonon turns to the open limo door and says in a low voice, "All clear, Sir Walter. You take the lead from here and we'll follow."

Vonon makes room for the others to exit the limo, "How you want to play this? You want me or Sharik to ask after this Oolak fella, or would you rather do that?"

Quin got her gear

Quin looks around, "Why not I?"  She scans the boats, "Lot of hiding places though."  She takes the time to charge her rifle, just in case she might need it.  She looked to Sharik, "I think I should wander the docks right quick, be sure we are clear, or am I being too cautious?"

The austere-looking brunette addressed their vargr bodyguard, "Thank you." as she took his hand momentarily and stepped out of the limousine before Walter did.  Even as she scanned the immediate area, her fingers were tapping away on dynamic display of dataglove sheathing her left forearm.  Data began to stream across in one of the background displays in the corner of electronics on the curved surface of the glove.

Sharik gave Quinzella a slight nod of the head, acknowledging the idea was sound.  She tapped her earpiece with a touch, then the hand moved on to straighten her ponytail to tell her friend - as well as the others - to keep their commlinks open and connected.  The others had her comm ID already; so, keeping in touch should not be an issue.

She straightened the pleats of her suit top for a moment and stood waiting for Walter to exit the limo and for them to proceed.

For a moment, Walter looks at Quinzella with an expression of horror mixed with annoyance, but then he pauses and re-thinks his attitude. He was expecting this to be a casual social encounter that could, conceivably, turn a bit ugly, but if Quinzella and Sharik both seemed to think there was a greater probability of violence, he'd be a fool not to heed their caution.

"If you are the one going in with me," he said to Quinzella, "you won't need to bring your rifle. In fact, waving that around might bring the police down on us. It's just not a bodyguard weapon in a city."

"So, Sharik, Vonon, are you two going to secure our retreat, if it becomes necessary, or were you going to join us? If the latter, it might be less conspicuous if we are partiers, looking for a place to party."

"There looks to be more than one guard on duty. Can I leave it to you, Sharik, to occupy that guard's attention so that I can have a little tete-a-tete with Mr. Oolak?"

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 17):

"Sure, Sir Walter, if you want me to hang back and watch the limo, I can do that." Vonon answered the nobleman, "As long as you got Sharik, there, in the guard shack with you, I'm cryogenic with it. Just...if this Oolak fella isn't inside, please don't go off looking for him without me, okay? I'm pretty sure we're not going to have any trouble, here, but I'd feel real bad if there was trouble and I wasn't there to help."

Sharik shrugged slightly and then nodded to Walter.  "I am willing to occupy any guards, Sir Zeller." she noted lightly and easily, "Any way you want to play it, is acceptable to me."  The thin brunette seemed relatively at ease with the fluid situation, though her demeanor remained a touch haughty - most likely due to the power business suit that she still wore.

She mused off-hand, explaining to no one in particular, "I don't expect an ambush really."  Then Shar turned to regard her companions, "But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't do our due diligence."  That was the main reason that she agreed that Quinzella should potentially take a look around; but again.  The youthful-looking dilettante looked to the elder noble; she was more than willing to back any play that Walter came up with.

Quin looked at Zeller, "I think it fitting with my social experiences I venture with you.  But no, I did not plan to take the rifle in with me, at least not in view, but give it to Sharik to hold in case I quickly needed it."

She again looked up and down the docks, sure to spot the strange wake of a hiding body, breathing bubbles, etc.  Anything out of the norm she looked out for.

She did lend a glance to Vonon, well more of a glare, unsure how he could continuously forget the woman standing in front of him.

Sharik quickly holds up a hand, begging off from taking the rifle from Quinzella.  "If you look strange toting a rifle..." and she gestures towards her simple business attire with a flourish, "I am definitely not dressed for it."

With a point of her right index finger, she motiones towards Vonon.  "Perhaps," the dark-haired dilettante ventured simply and quietly, "it would be best to leave it with him..."  Vonon was 'guarding' the car.  And more appropriately dressed as the muscle.  Or at least, one more used to physical labor.  Shar, of course, trusted her vargr friend implicitly.  It remained to be seen if Quinzella was willing to do so.  But, all Sharik knew was that she could only introduce them - the rest was up to them.