Half a light year from the nearest star, Nomad Drift is a secure Spaceport straddling several Space lanes as it orbits a lonely brown dwarf. The station Is typical of a deep space drift. A collection of modules, habitats and factory/ Lab modules that have grown up over the years, Nomad station is a fuel station dedicated to harvesting Lithium Deuterium and Metallic Hydrogen from the dim Gas Super Giant it orbits.

  Spreading out from the central core “Nomad 715 Foxtrot Charley” is a dizzying maze internally. Shops, kiosks, Hotels and bars line its outer corridors. Ships and repair facilities crammed into every corner of t Drift fill the air with the smell of lubricants and waste heat from the machinery. The constant throb of machinery fill the halls, and there never seems to be enough room, clean air or privacy in the stations cluttered interior.

   Constant shouts, squabbles and brawls seem to be the norm in the station; it is not a tourist locale by any means. The Station sits in the heart of the Delta, a dangerous and contested region of space the scene of many battles over the past century, burnt out hulks and shattered warships and freighters litter space and orbit the planets of the region. Many colonies show the scars of raids, strikes and full out assaults by one side or the other. No one travels the Delta without a weapon, and no one is shy about using weapons to settle a dispute.

   Pepper leads T'risa down several passages and down several levels n the Maze like tangle of connectors and shafts that made up the structure of the Drift Station. she wore only her Uniform Jacket and a short leather skirt with a pair of knee high armored boots accenting the numerous belts and pouches she wore. The Heavy automatic pistol on her thigh was no hanger, it was just as lethal as the service weapons carried by CASAR and Colonial Marshals without the Stunner module.

    " Okay Hun we got thee prices here on the Stations, one for transients, one for locals and one for people who might shoot your ass." Pepper laughed as she took T'risa by the arm." Okay now here even the hairstylist around here have an attitude, they're good but their a rough lot."

    ' Now the best gear is in the "Pitt" no rules no layout just plop your blanket down where you can and sell what you want... of course out here the only warrantee is catching the guy who sold you crap and threatening to stick his head into an ore crusher toll he makes good on the deal." Pepper grinned wickedly, as she spoke as if she enjoyed the free wheeling nature of the station.

T'risa walked beside Pepper, a broad smile on her face. Dressed in solely her issued gear, she felt distinctly outdressed by her guide, a situation she hoped to resolve with this shopping expedition. She allowed Pepper to lead her by the arm into the Bazaar of the bizarre.

"I wonder which price they will quote to me? I wonder if they would dare give me anything other than their best offer. This will be an education."

Her smile only increased as they arrived at the Pit.

"I find I am in need of many items. I need several changes of clothing, all I have is formal wear and issued gear. Something similar to what you are wearing would suit me, but I think it may need to withstand some more adverse conditions than may be encountered on a station. I need restraints, including psionically inhibiting restraints if they are available here, if not I'll need to requisition them for our next trip out. Some kind of non-lethal device such as stun grenades or somnall grenades would be nice to have. Also night vision gear or preferably blackout goggles. Aside from that I'd like to get a laptop and.....well, do you know any of the vendors that might have some fiction originating from O'maeda space?"

T'risa face turned slightly deeper blue.

"I believe the others in our team might function better in the absence of my presence. With that in mind I may have a lot of time to read when I'm not reviewing Colonial Law. Colonial Law is slightly different from Imperial Law and I need to review the differences if I am to do my job. With all of these matters in hand, I can shop for toiletries myself if you can point me in the right direction and we can finish up with a meal, my treat, if you'd like. Thank you once again for agreeing to accompany me, it is much appreciated."

Balkir moved through the crowd like a natural. He was wearing his new fatigues open with a bare chest beneath them. His scars on his chest displayed with a pride only seen in Valkiir. He stopped occasionally and talked to a few people he knew. He did however not linger, he had time to keep. His pistols and sword were still on his hips. His new patch was on the shoulder and people seemed to show him a bit more respect, primarily because they knew he could arrest them now. He stopped and picked up a small box of cigars and a decent sized bottle of Sokyo. He eventually came across his new compatriots. He stuck the cigar in his mouth and lit it as he approached the pair.

"Hello ladies." he stated around his cigar with a nod and a respectful tap to the head. "Figured ya guys might enjoy an escort, nasty figures in places like this." he said with a bit of jest in his voice and a wink to Pepper in his eye. She would know that most of the crime around here could not stand up to anyone from the military. Like all Valkiir he was a closed book the telepath. "That an' I'm damn hungry and hear that yer buyin'" he stated with a smile. Once again like all Valkiir he was insatiable in his hunger. "So whats first on the itinerary." he said clapping his hands and rubbing them together in mock anticipation. In reality he just wanted to get to no more about his commanding officer.

T'risa used her TK to keep the fumes of the cigars away from her. The smell was rather pungent and deeply unattractive. The Valkiir had good mental control, no stray thoughts leaked out from him unlike most of the others on the station. She was tempted briefly to try to break them, but decided in the end team unity would be best served by respecting his privacy. She welcomed him with a broad smile.

"You must be Balkir. You're more than welcome to join us. I should warn you, we intend to shop for clothes as well as picking up some of the more mundane items on our list. I have been known to spend a great deal of time shopping. I say this to warn you so you cannot claim I misrepresented this expedition. If you choose to stay with us, I would be more than happy to treat you to food, and perhaps even buy you a present. As to the first item on the agenda? Well, Pepper knows the station much better than I. I've explained what I need, I assume that she will take us on an appropriate route. I imagine clothing will take up the bulk of our time. I need to find some good footwear, the boots I have on will never do."

She looked over to the Valkiir, realising he probably didn't appreciate just how valuable a good pair of shoes were to her. She changed the topic of conversation.

"Thank you for your assistance, Sir. I am pleased you are able to assist us in carrying all the packages we will assemble here. So Pepper and Balkir, what are your favourite foods?"

   " Nicht'zha Has the best Nact'had chosu In the Deta, just a little spcy with a hint of smoke to it." pepper ginned as she described a Quetzl dish. And the waiter He is cuuuuttttteee. Not as buff ass tall and gruesome here but definately eye candy." She grinned again, Hooking Balkiirs arm and T'risa leaving their weapon hands free as she led them into the maze of stalls, Kiosks, and blankets filling the majority of the stations oldest sections.

T'risa looked dubious.

"Are you sure it's not too spicy? I'm used to eating food with more subtle flavours. I've had Quetzl food before and lived to regret it......but if you recommend it, then I have to try. Besides eye candy is always a good thing in my opinion."

T'risa giggled to herself, with a look of glee as she saw the large amount of vendors present.

"I believe, Pepper, that I have found paradise."

     " There are fifty planets and outposts in the Delta," Pepper grinned as she dashed over to check out a vender of body jewelry. And all of the ships carrying cargo convoy up from Chalice to Nomad, so all the best comes here first."
    She took a large set of metallalic, gn metal blue and black belts checking them for size then draping them across Balkiirs chest. Damn to small, You know big guy it would be hard to find anything that fits you...What your daddy feed you back home anyway." Pepper winked mischievously to T'risa and then giggled.

T'risa let a wry smile creep in at the corner of her mouth before joining in the collective giggle.

"I'm sure we'll find something more appropriate for him as we roam this place. We need to find something that will emphasize his scars, or else he won't wear it...perhaps an open vest in subdued colours, one with armor inserts and many pockets. That would suit his stature more, I would think. Would that be a suitable present Balkir? "

T'risa looked through the selections on offer at the vendor. He clearly emphasized Terran jewellery more than Tau. She picked up a pair of metallic earrings with strongly coloured red gemstones in them. She split them, placing one hand holding an earring on each side of Peppers head. She stepped back tilting her head to one side in thought.

"Now these.. look good on you. They emphasize your natural colouring and bring out your cheeks. I have to get these for you....if you'd permit it. With a touch of lipstick in a darker colour, you could have any man on the station."

Balkir dug his hands in his pockets as he followed behind his commanding officer. He had slowly, and rather frustratedly, come to the conclusion that his new commanding officer was a rather girly O'maeda woman. He chuckled as Pepper came back with belts. "I don't have any problems, I just don't look at nice things." he said as he turned to look at a bunch of knives that were for sale. Most of them were garbage but one or two were of the quality of his knife, but he was more of a sword guy anyway. "My dad an' me hunted all the best kinds of animals when Ma was out to war." he said with a smile. "That and alotta milk." he said turning and rummaging through a box filled with old Valkiir military surplus clothing. He produced a pair of urban camoflage pants and a well worn back sling that had, much to Balkirs joy, a spot for an ax. He could finally take that boarding ax with him, damn thing had been collecting dust for the past 3 months. He handed the vendor a couple of bills.

At the mention of a present Balkir chuckled. "I was always taught if you have to ask, its not a gift, its a favor. Surprise me." he said as he strolled down one of the rows of vendors. He knelt down and picked through a box filled with old music files. He smiled broadly as he stood up. It was an old band that he hadn't been able to find music of for a long time. He strolled over to his compatriots, glancing up at them from his find he muttered "Nice earrings." fleetingly before returning to his find. "Can't wait to give this guy a listen." he stated with a big smile.

T'risa slyly smiled at the Valkiir out of the corner of her eye.

"Very well, I accept your challenge, Balkir. I shall obtain a gift for you and woe betide you if you do not like it. Actually I suppose I should purchase a small token for everyone on our team."

T'risa looked with interest at the music the Balkir bought, sidling up to him to see what he has bought.

"If it is not rude, may I ask what kind of music is to your taste? I am Kronos's biggest fan. I have all of his music. I'm beginning to grow into DeeDee Tea as well. I also like some old Terran genres of music."

  Pepper grinned wickedly as she ducked into the side row of kiosks. She reappeared a few moments later with a kid dressed in a mish mash of clothes including a nasty looking Valkiir short sword with a cut away scabbard showing off it's serrated edge. She whispered something into the station rats ear and sent him scooting.

     ” I think we can find what we need from an old friend of Rhic’s he’s set up over near a Bar called the “Stink Hole” Pepper shrugged as she spoke Spinn will give him theshoppinglist we had so he’ll get it together for us.”</blue>

      Pepper looked through a set of armor sized for a small woman and fitted the chest plate against her chest. So you hunted a bit then Balkiir, Well You might like to visit H’kahd Domahr, He runs safaris out to stygia, He has a standing challenge for anyone to best the Hunter he dropped as a boy.”


OOC: Stygia Is a planet famous or infamous for the lethal nature of it’s Fauna, and the ferocity of it’s weather even in the best times. Hunters are a powerful Bi-ped predator with a mix of insectoid and mammalian features, that is know to be almost impossible to kill with anything smaller than an anti-material rifle. Stygian men are legendary for their practice of hunting them with spears, and axes facing them on the ground and battling them to the death.

T'risa looked disappointed.

"You mean we can get everything we need in one go?"

T'risa sighed a deep breath of regret.

"But there's so much to see and do here, it would almost be a waste to leave so quickly. We have the rest of the day before us, or at least until the other Marshal arrives."

  " Ohhh but he will need time and we have soooo much to see and do." Pepper took Balkiirs arm.and pointed to a row of shops tucked in the corner,</blue> she hung her woven shopping bag ver his arm and smiled sweetly." And we have such a handsome companion, I say we see if there's anything cute and frilly around."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:58, Sat 15 Mar 2008.

"Hunting has grown dull since I became a soldier. I was in one campaign against the Onai, after that no quarry seems all that dangerous." Balkir said with a bit of a shrug. He turned to T'risa. "I'm not a fan of alot of the contemporary music. Though some of it isn't too bad." the music he had was some old and forgotten band from the beginning of the alliance. It was more of a Terran-bluesy style then any of the new music. He tucked his newly acquired music into one of his pockets. He let his hands fall onto his gun belt as he looked through the crowd a few friendly faces, but they didn't want to see him now...not in the presence of other "law" enforcers. He tossed the stub of his cigar over his shoulder as Pepper took his arm. He glanced down curiously at her. "If its too cute and frilly It might actually burn me." he said with chuckle. He strapped the beaten ammo belt over his shoulder and slung the pants he found over the other.

T'risa smiled. She'd caught the band name. She didn't reveal for now that her musical tastes for Terran music were actually rather similar to his own, though she preferred the much older varieties. She decided to tease the Valkiir male.

"Don't be silly. Frills would suit you. Frills suit everyone."

She started giggling to herself.

"Balkir, you know there are three of us. We're all heavily armed and we all carry badges, no-one will start anything. Relax, we're shopping, it's supposed to be fun. A Lawman Mk 9 and a badge are good for a lot of things and shoppign trouble free is one of them."

She'd incorrectly interpreted his looking around as keeping an eye out for trouble.

   a heavy built Cesti barged through the trio without so much as an "excuse me" snorting as it moved it only paused to sneer and snarl at the three with a low rumbling growl that rumbled from it’s chest. ” CA filth…. go home…not wanted no warning agin give they.”

His face neck and shoulders heavily scarred, the Cesti warrior was easily as massive as Balkiir and was armed to the teeth with Cesti blades. On it’s shoulder a remote operated plasma pistol tracked the movements of its nearly bald head.

The stench of the Cesti wafted Van's way, and even over the garbage in the alley he could scent the thing. To Van, one Cesti looked like another, but to his arm top computer, they were as distinct as snowflakes. He had the binoculars trained on the thing, and data being fed directly to his facial recognition software. There was a soft chirp as the computer finished running its program. Van looked down at the screen and saw the Cesti's face alongside a name, Aruhn and a reward, which looked like one hundred thousand. "Hmmph" Van snorted as he realized that he would barely brake even on this run when he figured in rental fees and such. He would have to hang out here and hope another wanted slime ball showed face so he could collect on two bounties. It was the only way he could make any money these days. First I gotta pop ol' Aruhn there, and he looks like a tough customer...

Van decided against the forward approach, instead waiting for the Cesti to pass by his spot. He would then step out of the Alleyway and shoot the thing in the back of the head. It was messy, but fast and Van wanted this over with fast. He didn't want to end up dodging plasma or worse get into it hand to hand with the Cesti, who looked like a walking Gensu commercial.

As he stepped out he caught the blue skinned O'maeda and made sure his anti telepathy screen was engaged. Wouldn't do to have a mind freak warnin the walking shag carpet before Van could collect, no sir-ee bob.

There was no pretext to Van's action, he simply stepped up behind the furry thing, pointed his .50 cal pistol at the back of that big hairy knoggin and pulled the trigger.

OOC: Rolls Right hand 13 damage 13, Left hand 14 damage 10.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:55, Mon 17 Mar 2008.