"By the way, has Bren Pylory been in? Someone asked me to look him up if I was ever this way..."

Take a swing of my whiskey.

"Find anything interesting in there?" Liisha asked?  She had never had much of an interest in archaeology or ancient history, but considering the work ahead of them, she wondered if she should start.  Of course it was likely that Thomas as a professional guide and Lorain, as a scientist were more up to the challenge.

In reply to Liisha Laagir (msg #230):

"Nothing that I can substantiate.  There's a lot of speculation in this book.  What I'm looking for is something that would give me an idea of which direction Lorraine's father went haring off in."

He closed the book, and rubbed his eyes.  Then he reached for his tea cup and took a sip.

"This would be easier for me if the trail weren't so cold.  If this were a police investigation, I'd say 'Follow The Money', but I don't even know where the money for this would be.  If we were in the bush, I'd be able to track him, if he wasn't too far ahead of us, if he left enough spoor for me to trail him."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:53, Mon 23 Apr 2012.

Ken listens carefully to Neva.  "No, I didn't notice a tail on the way back but this Bren Pylory sounds damn suspicious.  I wonder if there are other parties that might want to beat us to whatever Lorain might be able to lead us to."

He thought for a moment;  "Did the bartender seem to focus on anyone else Neva or just on me?"

The bartender's smile froze for a second, then he moved on. "Bren... Pylory? Sorry, friend, can't say I know the name. Get you another? Getting close to last call."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:36, Tue 24 Apr 2012.

"Well let's hope Lorain has some insight.  Maybe she's a chip off the old block and will naturally be drawn to follow the same leads as her father," Liisha said. People were a combination of nature and nurture - maybe Messandi thought process would be similar enough to lead them down whatever path her father had taken.  Laagir finished her drink as she contemplated the odds.

"Want anything to drink?  I need another," she asked Thomas.  "The veranda looks nice if you need a break," she offered, not sure how long Thomas had been studying the tome.

"Funny, I'm sure Joe said it was the Outback he drank in... no matter. Thanks anyway. Yes I'll have another, and something for yourself?"

Linus thought the fellow had recognised the name. Could mean anything, though. He had customers who didn't like other folks knowing where they drank or when, too.

In reply to Liisha Laagir (msg #234):

Not unexpectedly, Lorain was already out on the verandah, along with Talia. Sir Drew was there too, drinking his usual gin and tonic. He could put a lot away without showing the effects.

A fellow guest who fancied himself an amateur archaeologist had recognised her and was trying to draw her into a debate about her father's theories.

He asserted that every bit of scientific evidence pointed to the Miryan natives never having exceeded Tech Level, equivalent to Earth's Renaissance period.

Lorain agreed, saying it would take hard physical evidence (which she is looking for) to prove her father's theories. Nonetheless, there is a lot of anomalous if circumstantial evidence that points to Mirayn as being worth a closer look... such as the fact that people from the sky seem to play not part in native oral history or mythology, despite the planet being surrounded by other Sky Raider targets. It was as if some form of deliberate purge of knowledge about the Sky Raiders occurred.

In reply to Liisha Laagir (msg #234):

"My tea's gone cold.  I don't think I'll have another, however."

Thomas stood and finished off his cup of tea in one go.

"I'll join you on the verandah for a moment or two.  I've been getting up early to watch the fishing, so bedtime is early.  Plus when you're in the bush you wind up getting up with the dawn and to bed with the sun.  It's hard to reschedule yourself."

In reply to Thomas Walker (msg #237):

The Green Park Village

Thomas and Liisha repaired to the veranda, where they heard the ongoing conversation between Lorain and the unnamed guest about her father's theories.

The Outback

The bartender was still looking a little nervous but covered it up by pouring himself a rum and cola. "Sorry I can't help you. Thanks for the drink."

Ken nodded to Thomas and Liisha as the entered the veranda.  He was off to the side talking with Neva at the moment although he was monitoring the conversation with Lorain with some interest.

The Outback

Linus smiled. "No worries. Maybe he drinks elsewhere, or maybe he's just never told you his name."

He finished his drink and settled his tab.

"Goodnight, now. Take care..."

He headed out. Outside, he looked for a window to peer back in through, see what the bartender was doing.

Liisha listened intently the the stories, nursing her second drink.  She wondered at the level of effort that it would require to purge something akin to 'knowledge of off-worlders' from a developing society.  While such an effort could be undertaken, it seemed unlikely to completely succeed.  She recalled graffiti she had seen on Collace during her travels - Information wants to be free...

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg #240):

He saw the bartender pick up the phone, pause, look at the handset. Then he put it back in its cradle and busied himself with bar cleanup.

Interesting, very interesting... but not particularly informative.

Linus strolls back to the hotel, contemplating that as an investigator, he's a good barkeep!

That Evening

With nothing else to gain, Linus headed back to the hotel.

Lorain finished her conversation on the veranda. Everyone had a nightcap and watched small 6-legged lizards chase and eat Mirayan insects, then in turn were eaten by larger lizards. After, they were ready for bed.

The Next Few Days

The next couple days passed quickly.

The next morning and thereafter, Jan Kelso came by and picked up Thomas (and anyone else who wanted to accompany him). First was to arrange expedition GEVs, including a passenger hovercraft, scout hovercraft and cargo hovercraft. Once they had that nailed down they could get registered guides, which was one per vehicle.

Expedition Vehicles

Total Charter Fees: Cr52,000    Total Down Cr13,500

1 Passenger Hovercraft (capacity 16/3000 kg) Charter: Cr2,000/wk,  Cr6,000 Down
1 Cargo Hovercraft (capacity 4/6600 kg)      Charter: Cr2,000/wk,  Cr6,000 Down
1 Scout GEV (capacity 3/100 kg)              Charter: Cr500/wk,    Cr1,500 Down

Capacity is given as passengers/cargo. Charter is total Cost/Week to use the vehicle. Down indicates Credits that must be paid up front. (Bond is provided by the Institute and not included in your costs.)
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 10:23, Fri 27 Apr 2012.

Linus, as expedition bookkeeper, will go along with Jan Kelso & Thomas Walker - then decisions and bookings can be made on the spot!

In reply to GM (msg #244):

"Fuel is included in this quote?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:21, Fri 27 Apr 2012.

Ken will come along out of curiosity.  "Will the guides pilot the hovercraft?"

Kelso was to the point.

"Petrol not included, of course.

"One registered pilot and one guide per GEV. Plus support personnel.

"They don't come with the rental, either."

348-1107

1700-1900 Hours

Having completed the required task for the day, Kelso dropped the adventurers off at the hotel. Tomorrow the staffing would begin, and he had calls to make to guides, pilots, and various support personnel.

Dinner was excellent as usual and lasted until around 1900 hours.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:32, Fri 08 June 2012.

Liisha found some time to work out and shower before dinner.  After a great meal, she found a glass and not surprisingly, something to drink, and headed out toward the veranda.  As or if the others joined, she spoke.

"Kelso seems brusque, but seems to know his trade.  Here's hoping to finding Lorain's father," she said with a toast of her glass (port, sweet wine, brandy... who knew.  After the drinks at dinner, she could hardly tell the difference).

Liisha enjoyed being at the hotel - good food, strong drink, and hot showers - what was not to like?  But like her time in the Army, she knew that real work was field work.  That's where all this was headed.  And that would be the real test.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Sun 29 Apr 2012.

Ken eats dinner gratefully and joins the others on the veranda.  He joins Liisha's toast.  "Here, here.  And may we find him alive and in one piece."

As the conversation continued he sipped his own glass of whiskey.  "Kelso seems decent enough." He turns to his companions;  "Thomas, what do you think of the fellow?"

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg #251):

"He seems straightforward enough.  I don't know where to go to comparison shop.  I didn't notice anything that indicated to me that they were skimming us."

In reply to Thomas Walker (msg #252):

Neva had went to dinner with the group (she did have to eat after all) and joined in the toast.  "_{Here's to finding him alive}."

When Thomas started talking about Kelso Neva piped up with "Don't think he is over charging any more than rest of them are and less than some others."