Devon read his new ID, once again vaguely disappointed that he wasn't called something like Crash Fistfight or Fantastic McAwesome.  Instead he was stuck with the handle Rian Cloudrider.  He shrugged, you just had to put up with these little inconveniences.

Like several of the others, Devon had spent a large part of the journey catching up on lost sleep - mainly as a result of pulling an all nighter working on the Ghtrocs transponders, and doing various other engineer related things.  By the time he'd finally thought about packing, it was getting toward 5am.

Packing was easy - most of Devons wardrobe tended towards 'casual' with a few items of high fashion (by engineer standards)from the line called 'no oil stains'.  He shoveled all of the unstained stuff into his pack and figured he'd buy more stuff when they arrived - after all, they'd just got paid...

For more serious kit, sheer habit made him grab his toolkit and he quickly added his blaster pistol, stun baton and datapad to the pile.  Devon paused for a moment, then added the backpack that held his hiking gear.  Maybe they'd have some place he could go... and maybe not.  He grinned to himself, city or countryside, Devon never really had much trouble finding ways to keep himself amused.

"Corporate retreat of course.  We're on the annual corporate retreat of a branch of the Imperial Reclamation Service."

Heigran had spent their inital approach to planet in the cockpit, his face planted against the viewports and constantly asking questions.  He'd never been off Phindar Prime and this world was nothing like the Zeltron had ever imagined.

Once banned from the cockpit for being overly disruptive Heigran strapped into the lounge and began flicking through a datapad as planetry data started to come up.  He didn't bother with gear as he didn't own any.  Still he had some credits now and he planned to spend them.  All of them.

The Ghtroc (which hasn't actually touched down yet) is hailed by traffic control approximately three seconds before estimated time is up.  Efficiency seems to be on the menu for today.

"Please advise of reason for visit, passenger numbers and transmit personal ID codes," the traffic control officer requests.  "Permission to land will be granted upon confirmation of IDs which will need to be kept with you at all times while on Det Akari."  The officer doesn't sound hostile, suspicious or even stuffy, but he does sound efficient and a little bored.  "Also, if you have any questions I can attempt to help answer them."

"Understood control.  Nine aboard, looking for some R&R.  Codes transmitting."

Mark stretched in the pilot's chair.  He could have got anyone to fly but he enjoyed getting as much stick time as possible, even a transport.  If this was meant to be a vacation at least he could do what he enjoyed.

He didn't bother asking for any information at this point.  Zyra would undoubtedly brief him at some point.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:20, Fri 19 Apr 2013.

Flash wanders in an out, looking fitful and annoyed.  "Can't wait for this tin can t'land," he mutters, "beautiful freighter but gimme a hyperspace-capable starfighter any day."  He's travelling very light - ID, credit chip, Talon comm, blaster pistol, data pad and a bag of clothes.  "Hell, doesn't even have a proper turret.  Fixed guns just don't do it."

Cor glances over at Arin, noticing the look he gives her.  It takes her a few seconds to decipher it but then she hurriedly shakes her head.  "No, oh no, I will not be leaving the transport.  This is as close to shore leave as I get."  Her eyes grow wide at the thought.  "Going to Phindar Prime was touch-and-go as it was, even if the shuttle was... very enjoyable.  For the most part.  No, it would be better for everyone concerned if I spent the two weeks..."  She paused as she pondered the best way of phrasing it. "Well, guarding the ship."

In the absence of any questions the traffic control officer works quickly and smoothly.  It's not long before several blips confirm a landing sequence and co-ordinates.  "ID codes cleared.  You have clearance to land in bay D286-K," the officer states evenly.  "Please be ready for inspection upon landing.  Enjoy your stay on Det Akari."

The trip from orbit to surface is easy enough and the landing bay is well and truly big enough for the Ghtroc.  Less than a minute after landing the Talons are met by a small inspection team who check them for weapons, register droids and board the vessel in a routine sweep for contraband.  It is here, on-board, that Cor is checked and registered as a visitor along with the others; it seems they've a comfortable history of accommodating those with personal foibles and disabilities (of which Cor, arguably, has both).  It adds about half an hour to the wait time but it doesn't require any bribing; the inspection team don't look much like the kind to accept bribes anyway.

The whole procedure takes about two hours.  From there the Talons are free to roam the spaceport (in acceptable areas) or leave for the hotel.

Once their business in the landing bay is done they find the spaceport to be a very large and shiny affair.  It's packed full of tourists, businessfolk and other people from a huge array of species.  Though humans seem to be the majority it's not by much.  A massive crescent-shaped affair, almost as big as a small township itself, the spaceport handles all major departures and arrivals on this hemisphere.  And where you get a spaceport you get shops.  Hundreds of shops selling everything from caff to electronics to droid rentals to duty-free bondage gear stretch out on either side of the gates the Talons emerge from.  If they forgot to bring anything they can probably buy it here (at about 125% of retail cost; that's major spaceports for you).  Signs in a wide array of languages point this way and that to indicate landing bays, waiting lines, check-in points, public transport away from the spaceport and private transport rental (and sales).  Up above the ceiling is a couple of stories high.

Zyra turned to address the group.  "I've arranged for transport to the hotel for our luggage and anyone who wants to check in first.  For the rest of you, your time is your own.  Your rooms will be ready when you arrive and all meals are included in the hotel restaurant.  I wouldn't recommend shopping in the spaceport.  Far more variety onplanet at cheaper prices.  Have fun."

She goes to get her bag then consults her datapad and heads for the meeting point for their transfer speeder.

Arin set after Zyra - he was going to check in first, but get out to do some shopping right after that. He needed clothes and personal items, he had not had the chance to get from the garrison as he defected. It was all a bit difficult - he was being supported by the human rank-and-file of the Talons, at least to some degree, but the whole thing about Flash clearly bothered him. Ever since he had come out of the personal debriefing with Mark, he had seemed a bit sullen and keeping to himself.

Flash, on the other hand, doesn't seem in the slightest bit perturbed.  He looks around with a wide grin, hands on his hips, and nods to himself.  "Shore leave, huh.  Bit o'cash, bit o'time, nice little planet."  He spots a nice-looking café and steps up, grabbing a caff to go so he can drink it as he... goes.  Heading after the others he walks with an easy gait.  He seems determined to enjoy himself.  Tapping his Talon comm he briefly contacts Cor.  "Hey uh, Sola, can you check the local 'net for music stores?  Got a hankerin' to get a proper setup."

"I'd be delighted," comes Cor's voice over the comms.  "Are there any other requests?  The extranet here seems to be particularly well set-out."

CC9 stomps along beside the Talons, looking around now and then.  While he doesn't say anything he sure does loom good.  While he bears no weaponry of his own he is still a huge, imposing bulk that most people are probably unwilling to get in the way of.  He doesn't respond to Cor's query.  He seems to have settled into guard duty.

A9 rolls alongside too, peering this way and that and letting out the occasional beep and whistle in his droidy language.  He beeps a bit louder and more cheerily whenever he passes another astromech; comrades in arms, as it were.

Heigren followed behind the others, sticking close to Mark and Zyra.  For once he was quiet and subdued.  His face seemed pale and he continually looked around.  It was his first time of Phindar Prime and he continually waited for stormtroopers to jump out and shoot all the aliens flowing freely through the airport.  Slaves maybe?

He kept looking for the non-alien check-in area.  He hadn't seen one yet.  Surely the non-humans didn't get the same treatment as humans?

Sheila followed along with the group following Mark and Zyra, watching the people around her, noting the moods.  almost on a whim, she grabbed Heigren by one arm, and Arin by the other, linking hers with theirs.  "First thing we're doing after check in is I'm buying both of you drinks.  After that you're on your own."  She will let them separate from her if that's what either of them wants to do, but that's up to them.

Arin was surprised by Sheila's sudden grab of his arm, but he nodded in agreement. "I suppose I could use a drink before heading out to shop for necessities. I mean, this jumpsuit is all I have besides the credits." He made no move to separate - he needed all the allies he could get.

"Actually I'm good for one drink for everyone sometime over vacation and I want in on your special project, Sarah."
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:16, Mon 22 Apr 2013.

Mika, no Kimy Stell, picks up her shoulder bag and follows along.  "I've seen enough space ports, I'm for the hotel and get checked in before I figure out what to do next.  A hot bath certainly, a good, hot meal next, then maybe check out the local bars or rent a swoop and get some time in the saddle.  It's been years since I've been astride a swoop."

It strikes her as odd, but it's been so many years since she could just relax and think about having some fun, she wasn't even sure if she still knew how.

"If you're getting a swoop, do you mind if I tag along? I wonder if theywould have any of those old JR-4s", Arin said to Mika. "I've been riding a swoop ages ago the last time. You know how you can tell a happy swoop jock? He's got bugs between his teeth..."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Sun 21 Apr 2013.

Janine removes her arm from arin's with an exaggerated eeewwwww.  "I draw the line at bugs. Speed yes, bugs no."  She pats heigran's arm.  "Kimy can join us for a drink and then you two can go do the bug thing."

Rian hurried to catch up with the rapidly growing biker gang ahead of him.

"Count me in too, if theres room - but not for the bugs bit - seriously, some of us wear scarves across our faces and stuff.  If you're that desperate for extra protein maybe you should get a decent meal before you get on your bike..."

"And I was told, I have no sense of humour", he laughed. "I wonder if they had an old JR-4 for sale, actually. If it's reasonably priced, I could take it back home and work on it whenever I have time to spare."

Kimy grins, seems like her idea has striked an accord.  "I spent a few years wringing extra dynes from swoops, if you ever want a hand with it.  If you find a good deal on a couple, maybe I'll get one too.  So, check in, get a bite to eat and a drink or two, then we go find some swoops to rent, bugs optional."

"Hey, I used to race with swoops when I was a kid", came the reply with a bit of a grin. "Graduated in to spacecraft after I deemed airspeeders too slow. And what comes to swoops, I'll see what I can find. Of course there are models that would be newer and faster than JR-4, but none of them has the flare and the new ones are not half as rugged as JR-4. Too bad they stopped building them a century ago or so." It was clear, Mika had found an enthusiast.