Re: Rendezvous At TAS
In reply to Darrel Cromwell (msg # 37):
"I must say, Sir Walter," Vonon said around a bite of...some local fish called 'kippered'..."I'm both pleased that you found more than one offer of a ship for sale on this backwater -- pun intended! -- planet, as well as being surprised that you found any ship for sale here! This planet really is the back end of nowhere. If I were to believe the data in the library, this planet wasn't settled too long ago -- maybe a century -- and most of the colonists are from that big star-state, coreward of here...the, uh, Principality of Caledon."
Vonon chewed thoughtfully for a second, "In fact, as I think more upon it, I'd be willing to bet a fistful of my stock shares that, when you get those ships checked out, they're probably Caledon-built leftovers from the initial colonization effort. Not that there's anything wrong with a hundred-year old ship, mind you, but my personal preference is for trusty, Imperial-built ships."
"That's why..." Vonon lifts and sips from his mug of Kaff; a Viliani style, hypoallergenic mild stimulant beverage, before continuing, "...when I was finished vacationing here on Planet Grendal, I'd planned on going to nearby Planet Outpost. There is a de-facto Imperial Naval Base there, and I was going to look into possibly purchasing something from their mothball fleet."
"I'm not talking about buying a warship, of course." Vonon returns his attention to the fish on his plate, "But remember, there are more to naval assets than warships; I'm talking about scouts, supply ships, troop transports. All of which could be turned to civilian applications, but are built to military specifications. Although...I suppose, if an Imperial Destroyer were offered for sale, then I'd consider it. Hurr-hurr."
"Of course," Vonon finishes the last bite of fish, "If we could find an appropriate ship here, then we could forego the expense of a jump-three trip to Outpost."