Standing outside the office, and listening in on the conversation, Pablo smiled slightly, imagining the look on Darrell's face if he would step into the office and put a couple of tranq rounds into the Grand Poobah's face.

Not that he would, of course. Sharik might understand, but she would not approve. Besides, Pablo had spent enough time in prison, all considerations of courtesy and morality aside.

That and it wouldn't actually help the situation. Still, it was an amusing thought.

"Apology accepted, Count Cromwell," Kenzi responds to Darrel. "And, for the record, your title is not being held against you. It just isn't getting you the things you are used to, and that's due to the tip. If you had been the Emperor, I would have had to do the same things. Otherwise, the Emperor, his ship and this entire facility could have been destroyed."

"It seems to me that you think your title supersedes the Laws of the Universe. That's the part that bothers me. The last I heard, your title won't stop a bullet."
This message was last updated by the player at 18:32, Mon 27 June 2016.

At the mention of Darrel's title not stopping a bullet, Pablo opened the door and stepped into the office. After a quick look around the room, he looked at Darrel, coming to a stance of attention. "Apologies for interrupting your Grace, but is all well?"

Pablo couldn't care less about Imperial ranks, but this overblown Starport bureaucrat needed to know that Darrel's title didn't need to stop bullets.

He had people for that.

Sharik also looked concerned; sharing a glanced with Pablo as he poked his head in.  "Grand Poobah Muran," she asked with obvious concern, "Is there credible threat to the Count's personage?"  This was the first that she'd heard of violence being mixed with the tip about smuggling.  In the cosmopolitan socialite's experience, the examples that people used were not all that random.

And, of course, any serious threat towards Darrel might mean collateral damage - which could include her and the rest of the crew.  So, her motives weren't entirely altruistic.

Such paranoia had kept her alive for the past couple of decades.

This message was deleted by the player at 07:42, Tue 28 June 2016.

"I think you've misunderstood me, Miss," Kenzi replies to Sharik.

"Without specific knowledge about the reported contraband, we have to take whatever precautions we feel are necessary. It could be an explosive device, it could be nerve gas, or it might be a Rigellian saprat carrying a deadly contagious disease."

"While we didn't get any indication that the Count's ship fell into any of these categories, a certain amount of precaution was still warranted... until we knew more."

OOC: I think you may have missed a few posts, Sam: #126 and #127.


So Khea has left the ship with the group. Is Kaengarr going with them, or is he staying behind on the ship with Jones and Valeska?

"First things first, we should check our credit rating - see if we can use our Creds here. Theres nothing more embarrassing than offering someone an incentive, and then finding you don't actually have the funds to back it up. Believe me, I know."

Sam scanned the display looking for any sort of shopping type areas, or even a bar

ooc

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 142):

oops - thought we were looking at the display still on the ship!

Nodding at Pablo's entrance, "Yes, everything's fine, thank you Pablo."



"So, you've already inspected the ship. Since it seems we have a clean bill of health, perhaps we can put aside the past unpleasantness and get down to business, beginning with allowing our comms access to your net and then maybe a dinner somewhere nice."

"I haven't inspected your ship, Count, nor do I intend to," Kenzi replies. "As I told you, the Star Port Authority did that. Since you haven't been arrested yet, I would hazard a guess that nothing serious was found. Sometimes, however, they can be slow to process things. I can't release your block until I get an official report from them. For all I know, they are processing a fine levied against your ship for something that was found. In which case, I can't release the block until the fine is paid."

Knowing better than to try to convince a male that there is no point defending his territory, even if it is just a ship, if the opposition can bring a so much stronger force to bear if they desire she sets out to buy local communicators from the first merchant she finds. Being in the disreputable part of the base might even even prove useful as the equipment found here might be harder to track for the authorities.
And she hopefully has not walk back quite as far to bring Kaengarr his communicator.

While walking she asks Walther "You also have a honor title, yes? Could you force that Baroness to a duel, even if it had to be fought by champions?"

Her head quirked to side slightly, "When should we expect those results to be finalized?  And if any fines are levied against our ship, how will we be informed and where would we need to post payment of pay those?  Is the base controller's office nearby?"  The logistical questions were innocuous enough, though of course, they could likely ask someone lower down on the food chain about such things.  But, Muran was conveniently available at this time; and Shar didn't mind playing annoyingly ignorant.

"Logged, M'lord." Sharik noted dutifully, continuing to tap away on the input screen of her dataglove.  She simply nodded curtly to Kenzi when the woman had explained that her example and nothing more than a hypothetical.  She leaned over towards Darrel, seemingly looking for his approval on an item - however, on her display was the simple highlighted note ++Word of our arrival preceded us.++  Which had plenty of implications: either the ship, the crew, or a contact on Grendal (who had a faster transport than they did) was suspect in this case.

She swiped on the display and a transcript of the conversation appeared.  Shar pointed to a region for the Count's thumbprint as verification.  Then touched the screen to finalize and moved towards to Muran to give her the opportunity to review the transcript (sans her highlighted note, of course) and notarize the document, if she desired.

Her duty with respect to the documentation done, Sharik stepped back and noted to the Grand Poobah, "Thank you, Ma'am."  She paused and glanced at Darrel, "The Count appreciates you taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with him."

"If there was to be a duel, I think I would come out second best." Sir Walter said. "The laws are pretty specific on duels between people of different social standings, so I could not duel her unless she challenged me, although that also depends on the sector since we are not in Imperial space. Those laws were put into place to keep people from fighting each other left and right, even if it did not stop the various Emperors and Empresses from getting killed sitting on the Iridium Throne based on the Right of Assassination."  he added.

"I guess lets see if we have any money remaining and if we can track down the Count. However, I have a funny feeling that we can not access our credits just like my Broker license was suspended. "

Khea can purchase communicators but it wasn't the communicators that were the problem--it was access to the starport's internal web. In order to get that access, you have to provide proof of identity; it doesn't matter which communicator you use.

====================================================================================

Kenzi informs Sharik that she has no idea how long it will take as it's completely out of her hands. If it turns out that there is a fine, it would be paid at the Star Port Authority office... otherwise known as Starport Control.

At the Comms shop, Sam says "So we can buy stuff, but not use it. I guess that means we need to see someone about lifting restrictions. So do we get to the head or the hands?"

ooc
Starmaster - I am assuming your post meant we can use our Creds?

Either physical credits are readily accepted... money is money... or your electronic creds are useable. There is no physical or electronic reason for electronic transactions to be controlled on the starport, and no ID is needed. Local transactions aren't a problem, but obviously you can't transfer funds over any distance.

When she discovers that the new communicators don't work either Khea lets out several Aslan curses. She hoped that in a run down area like this communicators would have some way to access the grid without registering.

Maybe if she gets several transmitters and places one of them at each intersection they pass to set up their own makeshift grid. But that would be costly and the transmitters will be stolen within minutes.
Or get someone to register communicators for them? But how do you approach a humaniti to do something so dishonorable?

"Again, I do hope we put this behind us and I was sincere in my dinner offer, have a good day(night?)."

At the secretary, "Thank you young lady, my fans are what makes all this worthwhile, could you please ensure that the rest of my comrades at the ship bay, know that I'm heading towards star port authority."

Since it seems our business is done with Mrs. Kenzi, departs for the star port authority.

As Vonon recalls, he didn't have to buy any access to the local comm network; it was automatic. The standard protocol is that when a ship requests permission to land, the ship's computer/comms exchanges data with the base's computer/comms. Unless you are trying to sneak someone onto the station, all personnel's comm codes are transmitted to the station. It's the minimal security.

This is SOP for nearly all Class C starports or better that isn't interdicted in some way.

Outpost is a slight variation on that because it's been hardened against EMP attacks. That means that normal comm signals won't penetrate the walls. So you have to connect with the base's net. What seems to have happened here is that when the ship transmitted the communication protocols (which also includes, by the way, all medical and engineering data) all the access was denied. More exactly, since it should have been automatic, someone had to have actively shut down that access.

You've at least found out that the Grand Poobah was the one that ordered that shut down.

Vonon was mistaken in thinking that basic service to the ship had also been shut down. That was never the case. Air, plumbing and power were available. All that meant was that the Long Shot wasn't considered 'dangerous' such as a terrorist threat.


Darrel and his entourage head for the Starport Authority, and since that's where Walter and his entourage were heading, you all meet up there.

Kaengarr, Valeska and Jones are still back on the ship.

"Count!" Khea shouts when she spots the rest of the crew.
Walking over them she continues in a somewhat lower voice and in Throkh "There is trouble with the authorities. We better all meet up and discuss what to do next. And with communicators not working we better do not split up again before setting up meetings beforehand."

No, the comms don't allow access to ship's systems, not without a sophisticated routing password and some serious hacking. What gets transmitted is the inspection reports... essentially the last time your power and engines were inspected. A fusion reactor, despite all the safety protocols, is still capable of turning into a fission bomb. Captains (and sometimes engineers) have been known to foolishly push a ship beyond its capabilities.

Such inspections are a normal part of starport landings... when they are required... usually once a year.

Along the walk towards Starport Authority, thinking aloud to Pablo/Shakira,  "It's unlikely this is some simple misunderstanding, or a personal quirk to punish me or nobility. It's too developed for that....maybe the Imperium...maybe. I get a distinct feeling Mrs. Kenzi wasn't the originator of our problems, it just doesn't make sense for her to act this way, without valid cause, and some bullshit reason...it just doesn't add up."

As Count Cromwell passes through corridors, elevators and passageways...a dark mood starts to bubble to the surface...putting aside all the rigamarole, he was separated from his comrades and had no idea how things were going, he started thinking the worst...I swear, if this gets out of hand and they harm my friends, I'll tear this place apart...

At which point....



Seeing the rest of the group at the entrance to SA (barring Kaengarr, Valeska and Jones), he got caught up in the moment and gives a little bear hug whirligig to Khea..before realizing the impropriety...

Setting her down, with a cough,  "Ahh, well, it's good to see you folks have finally arrived."
NOTE:Not to God-mod..if Khea doesn't allow, it's a brush-off with the following dialogue, just as if it happened without the whirligig  .


At this point, Darrell covers in exact detail everything that has happened since he left the ship...(meaning, he updates all he's learned***.)

"And Kaengarr, Valeska and Jones..are they ok...and the ship?..."

***OOC: Not to meta-game here, but, we've all got to be on the same sheet of music.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:45, Wed 13 July 2016.

Pablo quietly followed along behind Darrel, nodding when he spoke. It was all stupidity to him. A part of him really thought the best move might be to stop by the ship, pick up a bit more firepower, notably a musette full of plasma grenades, and clear the Starport Authority offices. It would be a subtle hint that internecine bullshit had just gone too far.

When they met up with more of the crew, Pablo smiled, happy to see them. When Darrel was done filling them in on events, the ex-marine said, "If you intend to storm the building with the bunch of us, at least let me go back to the ship and accessorize properly. I'm embarrassed to say that I came loaded for shore leave, not room clearing."

Seeing the Count, Sir Walter shook his head. "I hope you have some good news as mine is not good for our cargo." he said "Someone here has decided that I am persona non grata. I tried to set things up at the family business and found out that the other brokers were told to not touch the shipment. I guess it stems from the issue with the ship." he said