Brownsville Station, Asim/Tlaiowaha/Trojan Reach


Braxton's Beerhaul, 023.1112

Shadows never seemed to change on Asim--brown was always brown. Even the sun seemed brown through the more-gray-than-blue sky.

Now, as that ochre sun slowly settled over the western horizon, workers from the brown fields slowly filtered into Braxton's for refreshment and to drown their sorrows.

A few were there by invitation, of sorts. A request, maybe?

Braxton's. Dusk. Opportunity. Pays well.
                                -C.

That was all the note, whether physical or electronic, had said.

If you responded to it, you saw several people in Braxton's drinking alone. But only one of them seemed to be the likely sender. Perhaps a woman, sitting at one of the back tables in deeper shadow than just the bar.

She waited patiently for anyone daring enough to show up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:26, Wed 01 May 2019.

Teddy walked into Braxton's at the time appointed and looked around. He looked from face to face of each customer, sizing them up for 'opportunity'. He didn't let out the bartender either, he gauged everyone. At last he settled on the person sitting at the back in the shadows, whether it was a man or woman he wasn't sure, it looked like a woman.

He walked over at a normal pace to the bar and ordered a beer, after it was served he walked over into the shadows and stood before the woman, "Are you the opportunity that pays well?" he asks in a conversational tone. "I'm Theodore McFarlane." He then takes a swallow of beer and sits down if given any confirmation.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:44, Thu 02 May 2019.

As he entered the establishment, the small man checks his computer again and shakes his head. Unsure, he stands near the door opening and gazes bout the room. He makes way for a leaving patron and then continues towards to the bar. There the man combs through his ruffled hair with his hand seemingly still weighing his options.

Finally he walks to the side of the bar closest to the back tables. "One tea please.", he whispers as he leans against the bar, keeping an eye on both the woman sitting and the man joining her, without trying to stare.

"Yes, Mr. McFarlane, I am, indeed, an opportunity that can pay well," the woman replies. "I am Cheshire."

"I have invited several people that I think might be interested in this opportunity, so I'd prefer to wait till they are all here before I go into any detail."

"Very well." Teddy nods to Cheshire and sits back in his seat and nurses his beer. He looks around the room again to survey the crowd and notices Aaron at the bar and signals him to join them at the table. "This is Aaron Lancaster, an associate of mine that I invited in because you said others would be needed. I trust him with my life. May he join us now?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:49, Fri 03 May 2019.

Noticing that Theodore signal him, he stands and starts walking over. "Hey there Teddy, long time no see", he greets with a large smile on his face. Coming closer he spreads his arms wide in a jovial greeting, almost spilling half the tea in the cup. "Whoops", he utters glancing at the floor before returning his gaze back to the retired naval officer.

He gives a Theodore a good look-over before turning towards the sitting woman. After shifting the half-empty cup into his left hand, he reaches out towards her with his right hand and states with a curt nod, "Aaron is the name, how are you?"

The message had been strange, to say the least... not so much in the nature of it but that it had been sent to him. He wasn't sure what that meant. Did it mean it was from someone he knew? Or was it just someone that knew him... by reputation? He didn't really think he had one of those. yet.

So he arrived at the bar a few hours early and did a recon of the place. He wanted to know all the ways in and all the ways out. The former because it could be a trap, the latter because it could be a trap. Security doors and windows were often reinforced, but the walls were just as often overlooked. He'd spent the first drink watching the people. He'd spent the next hour nibbling at his food while he evaluated the structure. He'd spent the next hour nursing a second drink while he tapped at his computer.

He was tucked in the opposite back corner and, somehow, he'd managed to miss the woman entering. She was just suddenly... there.

At the appointed time, others started showing up to meet with her. He wasn't surprised at that. The note may not have said anything to that affect, but it had certainly hinted at it.

He couldn't be sure how many were expected, of course, but the current two seemed safe enough, so he put away his computer, stood up, picked up his drink and headed over to the other table.

"Viridian," he said as he grabbed a nearby chair and swung over to the table and sat in it backwards.

Teddy nodded to the newcomer as he sat, knowing him from way back. "Theodore McFarlane. Since I know you, you may call me Teddy, Viridian."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:40, Sat 04 May 2019.

Aarlon turned around to face the newcomer as he sat down, "Oh, hey there", he said surprised. The small man reached for a and chair and began to sit down, he continued, "You are also here for ...", he started to ask but cut himself sort. After a short pause, the medic answered his own question with a mutter, "'course you are", nodding to himself.

He looked at Viridian for a moment but averted his gaze just before it became a stare and switched to the woman for a brief moment. Seemingly wanting to ask some questions, but they never came, instead he focussed his attention on his cup of tea, swirling the hot liquid around between the occasional sip.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:11, Sat 04 May 2019.

"Aaron, this is Viridian, I've known him about 10 years, we go back a ways, but not to the New Horizon days like us." Teddy smiles.

In the dim light of the bar, Viridian hadn't recognized Theodore at first. Plus, it had been several years.

"Has it really been 10 years?" he asked Theodore. "Yeah, I guess it has. You still got the itch?"

When he said Viridian could call him 'Teddy', he was torn between laughing or barfing.

"Do I have to? When did you stop being just plain old 'Mac'?"

He sized up Teddy to see how much change there had been before turning his attention to the other man.

"Pleased to meet you, Aaron."

Sometimes it was hard to tell what people were about, and sometimes it wasn't. In this case, the fact that the other two were here--presumably in response to a message similar to what he'd received--helped add to his impression.

But it worked both ways. Just as them being here added a bit of dimension to them, so, too, did their presence give some dimension to Cheshire and this endeavor. Although that made him a bit suspicious now, he also found it amusing... and a good thing.

"Heheheheheheh, Mac is fine too!"

As he followed the conversation between Theodore and Viridian, a small smile appeared upon Arron's face. After the ex- Navy Captain responded, Aaron turned to Viridian and responded to his greeting, "Please to meet you too, Viridian". He turned his gaze at Theodore for a moment and then turned back to Viridan, tilted his head slightly, and asked "So, how do you guys know each other?"

"We met during the war, he was a mercenary hired to protect Deneb while I was there from the Zhodane invasion that was thought to be imminent, the Marines were stretched too thin so mercenaries were used."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:15, Sun 05 May 2019.

That wasn't quite accurate, of course, since Viridian hadn't been that kind of mercenary, but maybe Mac really thought he was. He did try to 'talk the talk', but wasn't fool enough to actually go into combat!

"Those were odd times. You either had to step up or get run over from behind," Viridian added. Best keep it rather vague.

Switching his gaze from Theodore to the mercenary, the medic listened intensely. "That sounds grim.", the small man said, then continues with a question at Viridian, "But I understand from you that the Zhodane's never came?"

"Nope, never came, they knew better, how bout it Vir?"

"Yeah. As I understand it, they were looking for an Ancient artifact," Viridian answers. "I've heard it called the Tox Uthat but that's also from fiction. It's rumored to be a quantum inhibitor but just be a fancy ukulele for all anyone knows."

"So, either they found it and didn't need to move farther into the Imperium, or else they were stopped and didn't want to put any more money and effort into what was probably a pig-in-a-poke anyway."

Teddy then concentrated on the woman on the other side of the table. "How many do we await Cheshire?"

"I sent notes to a dozen people that I felt might be interested," Cheshire replies, "but I don't expect all of them to respond."

"However, I do think a certain quorum is needed, which may depend on who does show up."

"We'll give it a few more minutes. If no one else shows up by then, I'll have to start with who is here."

  If it wasn't brown, it was drab. On Axim, that was the rule.

  Zhouth was the exception to prove it.

  It wasn't that his outfit was comprised of unrelated pieces, accessories, and decorative flourishes. That alone would have been merely jarring. No, it was that each one of those things was rendered in its own bright, mismatched color, such that the entire ensemble was heard long before it was seen.

  In this region of space, and especially on a vargr, one might have immediately thought 'corsair' save that the stereotype continued with intimidating armor, bristling weapons, and a brash swagger. He had none of those things: the retinal assault notwithstanding, his garb was entirely civilian; there were no weapons in sight; and while he hardly seemed lacking in self-confidence as he entered and looked around, there was nothing in his manner that suggested aggression.

  Indeed, he would have passed as entirely unremarkable... if only he'd worn brown.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:30, Tue 07 May 2019.

Teddy turned when the Vargr in party-colored attire walked in the door. At the distance and in the light, he didn't recognize him. He knew immediately the vargr was one that they waited for. "Looks like another has arrived."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:59, Wed 08 May 2019.

  Zhouth's eyes and ears swept the room before his gaze returned to the openly-clandestine gathering at the back, and without further ado he strolled over to it.

  "C?"

  That had been the enigmatic signature on the letter, of course, and the inquiry was apparently his way of confirming that he hadn't missed some less obvious clandestine gathering amidst the gloom, though judging from the relaxed tone and the hint of a smile curling the corners of his lips, he already knew the answer.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:43, Tue 07 May 2019.

Ingrid hesitantly pushed open the door to Braxton's and looked around. It was clear to see that this was no place for a proper lady, and she nervously clutched the skirts of her elaborate blue dress. Her green eyes kept looking from the note in her hand to the faces of each person at the bar. Who could possibly be C?

Idling, the small man took another couple sips from his cup. Emptied, he put it on the table next to him and uncoupled the rectangular device from his belt.

He listened absent-mindedly to the various conversations around the bar and started fiddling with the uncoupled device. It has strange pulsating blue lines converging in the middle and Aaron started to trace them with his finger as he looked around.

"What are you doing Aaron?"

" Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle, is that you Ingrid? What in the world are you doing here? I'm in a meeting now, but sit down somewhere and quench your thirst and we'll catch up when I'm done!" he says as he jumps up upon seeing her. He looked to Aaron and said, "I've known her since she was eight or nine years old! My have you grown!"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:28, Wed 08 May 2019.

"That would be me," Cheshire responds to Zhouth.

Then a slight frown momentarily crosses her face at Teddy's recognition of Aaron and then Ingrid.

After only a brief moment, her face brightened up again as if something occurred to her.

"Join us. You, too, Ingrid. You were all invited."

Possibly 3 more, she thought, though I wonder how many will pass the test.

"Oh!" Ingrid exclaimed, turning around in a whirl of skirts. "Teddy!" she said with a smile.
She then looked embarrassed and looked down shyly. "That is, Lieutenant McFarlane. I... yes, I'll do that, I don't wish to interrupt. It's been too long since we've seen each other"

She turned back to C, surprised. "Thank you for inviting me, miss" she said politely, then sat down carefully.

  Zhouth circled the table, pulled out a chair, sat down, and sat back; he could have been joining a birthday gathering rather than a hush-hush 'opportunity' for the casual ease with which he was treating it.

  Like Theodore, he was curious as to what Aaron was up to, but the question had already been asked and it would be rude to badger him about it. For the moment, Zhouth merely watched and waited. The gathering would reveal itself, one way or another.

Roland was at loose ends between jobs when the message arrived.  It took only a moment to make a decision and he was walking out the door of the dingy little boarding house and toward the bar.  When he arrived the small group of people including a Vargr and a pair of women, one a Sword Worlder by appearance near the back indicated to him that this was the likely group.  Still Roland wanted to size things up.  He headed to the bar first and ordered a beer.  Glancing at the crew he recognized one man immediately which made him feel much better at least for now.

Walking over to the group Roland nodded.  "I'm Roland Pemberton.  I take it that his is the opportunity?" he directed the last to others.  "Hey Aaron, it's been a while but good to see you again."

Teddy raised his eyebrows in wonder when Ingrid sat down, wondering why she was there. He then focused his attention on each in turn for a moment settling on Cheshire.

Aaron is gazing at the wall while twiddling with the rectangular object as Theodore says something to him. The medic makes shaking move with his head, suddenly taken out of his pondering and quickly re-attaches the object to his belt without saying a word. He follows Theodore's gaze towards the blonde woman with the elaborate dress, gazes at her for a moment before dipping his head in a non-committal greeting.

As a moment later another man calls him by his name, the small man tilts his head and looks at the new man. A look of slight confusion upon his face, as if he is digging inside his head, searching for recognition. He responds with a hesitant, "Hey there", still unsure what to make of it.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:22, Thu 09 May 2019.

"I think I've waited long enough," Cheshire speaks up after evaluating all those that are present.

"I can probably accommodate anyone who arrives late."

"Anyway... it's not necessarily time sensitive, but it could be."

"My ex-mate Erik Grylla has kidnapped my son, Nathaniel. He hasn't taken him off-world yet, but that's still a possibility."

"I was hoping you folks could rescue him for me."

"At the moment, he's staying at the Draxos Estate... a compound about 80 kilometers east of here. As you can probably tell, I really don't have the skills to pull off such an operation, but I do have money that can pay others to do it."

"Is this something you all might be interested in?"

"Uhhh, maybe. . . . . How much does it pay? I thought this was a space job. Most appear to be spacers, though the few I don't know give no clue to that."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:57, Thu 09 May 2019.

  "Spacers with a ship could offer to take him off world," Zhouth noted with a mischievous grin (the vargr equivalent, anyway), and a flourish of one hand. "All kinds of things could happen once they were aboard! Or on the way to it..."

  He lapsed back into relaxed silence after making that observation. Cheshire had left some big questions unanswered, but he wasn't ready to put them yet.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:27, Thu 09 May 2019.

Ingrid gasped. "I'll give any help I can, to reunite a mother and her child." she said, carried away by her desire to help. Then she paused; this was well outside anything she'd ever done and nothing at all like her role. "Is there anything you can tell me about this Grylla and the Draxos estate?" she asked hesitantly.

"It's not like I know what this sort of thing should pay," Cheshire answers Teddy. "I suppose I can afford to pay each of you 5,000 credits."

"I don't know why you'd think it was a space job; there was nothing in the note that said that. I certainly hope it doesn't become a space job!"

"You'd probably consider Grylla one of those 'bad boy' types. He was a bit of a wild one, but I always thought he had a heart of gold. Maybe he did when I knew him."

"Somewhere along the way, he changed. I think I was too close to him to see it at first. It all came to a head one night when he got drunk and... got violent. It scared me. I realized that I'd fallen out of love with him, so I divorced him."

"He didn't seem to care, didn't want to have anything to do with his son. Once again, he changed. He decided he should have custody of Nathaniel. I didn't know if he'd get violent again, though, so I told him no."

"The next day, he took Nathaniel when I wasn't home. When the babysitter tried to stop him, he attacked her... put her in the hospital."

"The Draxos Estate was a farm a hundred years ago, but the owner died and the farm closed. It's been a hangout ever since. Sometimes used as a garage, a warehouse, a bar... nothing ever seems to last long."

"Grylla and I stayed there for awhile when we were first married. It was kind of exciting and romantic at the time... well, it seemed like it. I was a bit young."

"It has three buildings that I know of--a barn, a shed, and the main house. The house has two stories and maybe a dozen rooms."

  Zhouth continued to hold his peace as Cheshire spoke. One of his questions had been answered in part, but another remained open. "The local lawkeepers don't care about any of this?" He paused for a moment before making a small those-of-us-here gesture with one hand. "And they also won't care about a bunch of offworlders storming someone's manor?"

Aaron kept quiet in the first exchange, with an quick glance at Theodore, shaking his head almost unnoticeable. At first he was sceptical with many questions, later sympathetic as she answered some of them.

"I sympathize with your plight, miss Cheshire", he pressed upon her, he asked in what he thought as a comforting tone. He was still unsure what her state of mind was and tried to observe her reaction as much as possible, "You.. ", he continued, "You mentioned a baby-sitter. May I ask, how old is your son?"

It seems more questions were burning on his lips, but he kept it at that, for now.

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 38):

[SIX DEGREES OF AARON LANCASTER]

The door into the bar opens, letting the wan brown light in as a dark figure sheathed in armor steps in--halting just a step inside, as the door swings shut behind him.  The dark armor the man is wearing is covered in a significant amount of brown dust, as is the full helmet that covers his head--even the odd-looking staff or weapon or whatever strapped across his back is covered with the ubiquitous brown dust of Asim.

(OOC: Anyone who has visited Planet Drinax might recognize the outfit as a variation of the rugged Hazard Suits worn by people who live in The Wastelands of that ruined planet)

The newcomer moves his hands--activating a small device on his left forearm with his right hand--and the faceplate of the helmet glows red as he looks around the bar.  His gaze falls upon the group sitting at the table with Cheshire--the glow fades from the helmet's faceplate as the man reaches up with both hands and lifts the helmet up off his head.

Revealed under the incandescent lighting of the bar is the face of a human male, pale of skin, clean shaven, with dark brown hair cut very short on top and shaved on the sides and back of his head.

But it was his eyes that caught one's attention--they were red.  Not 'red' as in 'blood-shot', but red as in the sclera (the white eyeball, itself) is a bright red in color, surrounding a blue iris.

A voice from someone in the bar groans "Oh, shit--he's back."

The red-eyed man stalks across the bar and walks up to the table, carrying his helmet in his left hand.  Once at the table, he sets his helmet down hard, glowers at everyone, then does a slight double take.

"Aaron." the red-eyed man growls, nodding at Aaron in recognition, then he turns his attention back to the whole table.

He raises his gloved right hand--holding a familiar looking note.

"Who?" the red-eyed man demanded in a firm, but low voice.

Teddy nods at the newcomer "Welcome Vespexer."

"For 5,000 credits, do you want him dead? Or you just want the kid back?"

  While he seemed to be taking things in with the same casual ease, Zhauth shifted his posture to sit fully upright and fold both hands on the table. The new arrival was part of the reason - actually, more the response of the locals to the new arrival, since 'Cheshire' had apparently sent him an invitation too - but Theodore's unbidden and almost offhanded offer of murder was at least as much of a concern.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:05, Fri 10 May 2019.

When the armoured man entered, Aaron's attention was quickly caught by the commotion and a soft smile appeared upon his face. He chuckled slightly and when the Vespexer acknowledged Aaron, the small man met his gaze and offered a small nod of greeting in return.

His attention was quickly caught however by the naval captain as he made his offer. The medic switched gaze instantly and looked at his rescuer from years back with unbelief on his face. He shook his head, but quickly recomposed himself and return his attention once more to their would-be employer.

"I'm not offering to kill him, I'm just surprised with the casual offer. I accept the amount to rescue your son if it can be legally done. The governor here does not like me, in fact he hates my guts. I can't stay here too long and definitely don't want to come to his attention."

Aaron catches Theodore's gaze and holds his hands up, as if he backs off. An silent attempt to apologise for the apparent misinterpretation.

His gaze then returns to miss. Cheshire.

In reply to Aaron Lancaster (msg # 46):

     Though nobody responds to his 'question' about the note he's holding up, Varca observes the immediate conversation around the table--especially that of the drenko with the Imperial accent who'd offered him greeting--noting that questions seem to be directed to a slight brunette woman.

     The slip of paper still clamped between two fingers, Varca now points those fingers at the brunette, while he turns his gaze to Aaron.

     "That one?" Varca asks Aaron, in the first 'friendly' tone of voice anyone's heard from him--not that he's spoken much, so far.

---

OOC:

  The navy man backtracked and the situation eased somewhat, but with multiple people talking it would only have confused things to have added his own voice back into the mix, so he merely inclined his head in a nod to answer the vesepexer's question.

"I'm so sorry that happened, miss. I'll do everything I can to make it right" Ingrid says soothingly, genuinely sympathetic. She could imagine how a girl would make Cheshire's mistake. There was little more tragic than when a woman's husband turned on her; how could she defend herself?

She looks at Theodore curiously when he says the governor here hates him. I'm sure there's a story there.

Ingrid looks up at Varca and shies away a little from the intimidating figure. "I think so, yes." she answers him quietly, seeing the paper in his hand.

In reply to Ingrid Gustavdottir Sigar (msg # 49):

     Between knowing his friend Aaron's dislike of social conflict and then reading his facial expression, plus noticing the Vargr nodding his head after he's asked if the brunette was the originator of the note, and then the--well, well--the attractive blonde with the strange accent speaking up, Varca was pretty sure he had his answer.

     Varca flung the piece of paper across the table to land in front of the brunette.

     "Don't know what's going on, girl," Varca says gruffly, glaring down at Cheshire with his red-eyed gaze, "But I just dropped a Wilderness Ranger off at the clinic with a broken leg after dragging him down out of the mountains.  Damfool tracked me down, gave me that note of yours, then tried to arrest me.  I objected.  You might want to check up on him, later."

     Varca looks around the table, then settles his gaze back on Cheshire, "Like I said, I don't know what's going on, here--" he shrugs his shoulders, "--don't actually care.  But whatever it is, if the Imperial, there..." Varca hooks a thumb in Thomas' direction, "...is talking murder, it's pretty much a guarantee to get screwed up and messy."

     Varca suddenly grins a somewhat--disturbing--grin, "I like messy.  Name's Varca--" he says to everyone at the table, as he reaches up and back, pulling the odd-looking staff from his back and resting it against the table, near where his helmet sits, then sticks his right leg back and hooks his foot around a nearby (thankfully empty) chair from another table, drags it over and drops down into it, "--the rest of it's for friends and family, which you ain't."

     Varca turns to look over at the bartender, "Shot of grain alcohol!" Varca shouts at the man, "Milk chaser."

     Without waiting to see the look of disgust on the bartenders face, Varca turns back around to face the table.  Breaking into a smile, Varca leans over--reaching past whoever might be sitting between them, and not caring--and slugs Aaron in the shoulder with his gloved fist.

     "Hey there, Scholar!  Been a few months--or has it been a year, already?  You're looking plump and prosperous."

---

OOC: hope you don't mind, Aaron--I just figgered you'd recognize Varca being in the middle of a snit, and not want to get in the middle of him and a potential Patron by speaking up.

"Who you calling Imperial Vespexer? I'm Drinaxian. Originally from the palace. Lately down low myself if I'm on Drinax. Not particularly welcome up above. I was a bad boy."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:51, Sat 11 May 2019.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 51):

"Izzat right?" Varca drawls in his gravelly voice, losing his grin as he looks over at Thomas, "You sound like an Imperial...you look like an Imperial...you butt-in like an Imperial...but you're really just a misunderstood Drinaxi from the Palace, huh?"

Varca brings up his gloved left hand and makes a few halting motions with it, "Oh, oh, wait, don't tell me--you got rid of your Drinaxi accent for Professional Reasons, right?"

Varca stares, unblinking, at Thomas for a couple of seconds...

OOC Theodore, not Thomas

"Haven't been back in a loooonngg time Vespexer, but yeah, I'm from the palace, though not welcome there anymore. I've been disinherited, I don't get daddies knighthood." he says, ignoring the faux punches.


"You can call me Mac." he tells Varca.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 53):

OOC: CRAP!  Sorry.  Just coming off a 12 hour shift & checking the boards before I hit the sack.

In reply to Varca Lexand (msg # 54):

OOC - ouch! I always hated 12 hour shifts, nice to be retired! Good night Vespexer! ;-)
This message was last edited by the player at 14:53, Sat 11 May 2019.

The jab from Varca got a chuckle out of Aaron. He turned back towards the Vespexer and with mock shock he patted his now slightly pumped-up belly and he lifted his hands sideways, palms up, with his head shaking in mock confusion. Signalling that he had no idea what the man was talking about.

He returned to his posture with a chuckle on his face. He signalled side-ways with his head towards their would-be employer and a single nod to the armoured man, seemingly confirming what Varca already suspected, that this was 'C'.

Afterwards though, it almost seemed as if his belly was slightly pulled in than before.

  Zhouth wasn't particularly impressed by the sudden outburst of posturing, choosing instead to remain focused on Cheshire and the information she had been providing and hopefully would start providing again before the other two had time to move from words to fists. Or worse.

"Yeahhhhh...that ain't gonna happen, Imperial." Varca responds to Theodore, then turns back to Aaron.

"Sorry, Scholar," Varca says to Aaron, "guess I kinda made a mess here, myself--barging in, like usual.  We'll have to catch up later."

Varca then shifts in his seat and faces Cheshire, putting both gloved hands down on the table, to either side of his helmet.

"Right.  Sorry to you, too, gir--" Varca closes his red eyes and pauses, raises a restraining hand for a moment, before continuing, "Miss.  I'm sorry for the interrupt, Miss."

Varca pauses to look around and see if anyone is paying attention to their table--then slams a hand down on the table and shouts at the bartender, "Where's my booze?!"

The waitress--who had just been walking up to the table--jumped a little at the sudden shout, almost tipping the tray she was carrying, with a shot glass of clear liquid and a tumbler of white liquid.

"Screw you, Redeye!" the bartender shouts back, flipping Varca a one-fingered salute, "That'll be six credits in frigging Drinaxi Scrip.  And I hope you choke on it!"

"I know you love me, you big poofka, but I don't swing that way!" Varca yells back, as he reaches to his utility belt and pulls out a wad of crumpled synthetic paper bills from a pouch, counts out a few, and tosses them onto the waitress' tray as she puts the two glasses on the table in front of him.

"And a little something for you, Doll." Varca says to her, tossing an extra bill onto the tray--as she turns away with a disgusted look on her face.

Varca shoves the wad of bills back into his utility belt, grabs the shot glass and downs the contents in one smooth motion.

"Whoo!" he says, inverting the glass and thumping it down on the tabletop.  Then he picks up the tumbler of what looks to be milk, and guzzles it down quick.

"Ahhh!  Grain alcohol and milk--just like Mama used to serve me, when I was a wee babe!" Varca says with a grin after finishing the milk, then he leans in over the table and lowers his voice.

"Okay, Miss, when I walked in and disrupted your meeting--again, sorry for that--the Imperial, here, was asking you about killing somebody.  So.  Who we killing, do you care how we kill them, where are they, and what're their defenses?  Oh, and, uh, what'd they do to deserve getting murdered?  I do have some ethics, after all."

"Goodness" Ingrid says softly when Varca described the fight he was in. She gives him a cool look for his lack of manners, but politely responds "Pleased to meet you" when he introduces himself.

"Heheheheheheheheh, you are good Vespexer, from you, Imperial is good."

"What exactly do you want from us Cheshire? Break into the estate, kidnap the boy, and then reunite him with you? Will you cover our legal expenses if the local LEOs come after us? Or do you expect it to be swept under the rug?"

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 61):

"Kidnapping?" Varca says in the same low voice, looking around the table "So, we're kidnapping, now?  Well, easier than murder, I suppose."

"Don't worry about the local law, Imperial.  Some outfit called the Foundation, or something like that, is always stirring up the locals to commit military grade mischief--so whenever there's a significant firefight, the local law call for support from the Military Governor--and he could care less about these people, so he takes his time scrambling a handful of troops."

"We make too much noise, they'll think we're these Foundation jokers, and wait for the Military."

Varca shrugs his shoulders, "Of course the downside to that is that, if we are still around when the locals do show up, they'll have Star Guard Army troops with them--with Star Guard weaponry."

"Then we'll have to make sure we're not around when they arrive then. Do I know you Vespexer? I have a phenomenal memory, I know you."

The scholar leaned over to Varca and explained in a low voice, "In this case I would prefer the term 'freeing' the boy from his kidnappers". He nodded at Cheshire again before continuing, "Her son has been kidnapped by his father and held up in a compound in the area."

With a wry smile he tapped the large man's armed and added, "Just to be sure you are not misinterpreting anything said..."

He paused for a moment before tilting his head and looking at the Vespexer in earnest, "The Oufit you say...", he asked, "Do you know them? Is there change we can contact them to set-up a diversion?"

     Varca frowned at Theo, "Yes.  Of course you know me, Imperial! I'm the person what just walked in here, sat down, and is now calling you a poofka!" Varca says, as if explaining it to a child,

     "Now pull yer head out, Imperial!" Varca then adds in his more normal growl, "This is dangerous doo-doo."



     "Ohhhhhh...a Res-Cue!" Varca says with a knowing nod to Aaron, then turn his grin back to Cheshire.

     "So, your Snuggle-Buddy stole your Snuggle-Bunny?" Varca asks Cheshire, then raises his tumbler with a few dregs of milk in it, in a toast to her  "Na Zdorovie!" he says, before draining what milk is left in the tumbler.



     "Nah." Varca responds, turning the now-empty tumbler upside down and thumping it down on the table, next to the empty shot glass, "Just some boo-geddy-men I over-heard the local-yokels bitching about.  Them, and how the Military Governor demands to be notified whenever it looks like they're making a raid.  The way I heard'em say it, these Foundling jokers are the only remaining organized opposition left on Asim, and the Damned King wants them gone, already."

    Varca turns back to Cheshire,

     "So, Miss...uh...Whatsyourname... " Varca frowns, again, "You never did give me your name."

     Then Varca turns to Aaron, on the other side of the Vargr "She really didn't, you know."

     "Anyways--Miss Mom, you want your kid back.  With the firepower at this table, It's a guarantee.  And I'm sure all these other, fine folks will help, too." Varca smiles as he gestures to the others sitting at the table.

     "Now, we need some details.  Where's Bad-Dad holding your kid?  Maps if you have any.  Is Bad-Dad alone, or does he have a bunch of Dance Partners with him?  How many?  Any idea how much firepower they have?  Security systems?  Armor?  Hardened defenses?  Any idea exactly where your boy is being kept?"

     "If you know most of this data, we'll be back in a couple hours.  If you don't know any of it, we'll be back in a couple of days."

     "Now, Miss Mom, last question--which is actually the first question I asked--you want Bad-Dad to come out of this dead or alive?  Obviously, we won't kill him in front of the boy, but if you want him dead, how do you want it done?  Quick and painless, or slow and painful, with lots of screaming?  You wants a Vid?"

"Varca Lexand, you are the Vespexer that saved me on planet 25 years ago! You found me in my camp and your mom nursed me back to health! I thought there was something familiar about you! God this is a small universe!"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:46, Tue 14 May 2019.

At first, she was a bit surprised that everyone seemed to know each other. Her research hadn't turned up that info... but, then again, she hadn't really done a deep dive into backgrounds and such... mostly because that level of data wasn't normally available.

Then it occurred to her that the very reason she'd found this group of people that might do the job was probably the reason they had prior history--they moved in the same circles.

She waited patiently for the reunion speak to wind down before she answered the questions.

"No, I definitely don't want anyone killed," she says.

"As I said earlier, I have legal custody of my son, who is only 8 years old. His father has visitation rights, but he doesn't have the right to take him without warning, or to keep me from seeing him."

"I have no idea how many friends he has out at the compound or whether they will try to stop you. However, I think you can expect at least a half dozen to... well, help my ex."

"That's kind of why I invited so many of you. I have a rescue ATV parked out back that you can use to get there."

"Did I mention that it needs to be done... well, tonight?"

  Zhouth's ears perked up at that. "Tonight? What will happen tomorrow? Off the planet, or something else?"

  The entire situation was well outside of his experience and expertise. Still...

Varca just stares blankly at Theodore for a second-or-seven...

"You saying that you were that Palace Aristo puke who didn't know not to set camp in the middle of a xank run?" Varca asks, rather skeptically, "No.  No fargging way!  That kid had problems--he was hiding from his folks back on the Floating Palace and running away to..."

Varca's red-eyes open even wider in recognition, "He was running away to join the Imperial Navy..." he says in a low voice, then shifts back to cursing,

"Mother-Puss-Bucket!  It is you! Damn, you bulked up over the years, Imperial."



"Yeah, right, you got the legal custody." Varca sneers, "And lookee how much good that's done you--here you are hiring mercenaries to fix a problem that The Damned Kings Law can't.  I'm just saying..." Varca raises both his gloved hands towards Cheshire in a placating manner.

"I'll get--we'll get your kid, no doubt of that." Varca continues, "But what's to stop your ex-mate from just doing this again, sometime down the road?  And maybe next time he makes sure you can't come back at him--either you get a sudden case of The Deads, or maybe he takes the boy offworld."

"But--again, I'm just saying--when the dust settles after we get your boy, if your ex-cuddle-hubby just happens to fall off the roof and onto his head, well, you won't have to worry about him coming back and causing grief, right?"

Varca pauses a moment, then snarls, "Oh, come on!  At least let me beat this frelling Nerf Herder bloody!  He deserves it!"

"Half a dozen shouldn't be too much of a problem... we have six too." Ingrid said brightly to Cheshire. "I'll try to end the situation peacefully if we can. Thank you for letting us use the ATV."

"It sounds like she's already made up her mind" Ingrid said to Varca.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:37, Wed 15 May 2019.

"That was me camping in a xank run, I was from the floating palace and didn't know any better.

"Tonight huh, I guess we better start soon then if it needs done today. By the way, WHY does it need done today? Is he planning on running with the child?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:35, Wed 15 May 2019.

"Varca has the right of it... I suspect my ex will take Nathaniel off-world tomorrow," Cheshire replies.

"You make it sound like getting off-world is done on a whim! I suppose if you have a ship yourself, it's easy... though getting fuel for it could be a problem."

"Anyway, Nathaniel still loves his father, and Erik loves Nathaniel. He's not doing this just to spite me."

"I wouldn't want Nathaniel to be without his father even if the two of us can't stand being around each other any more. Also, with Erik's temper, I'm worried that he'll hurt Nathaniel some day."

"As for keeping him from doing this again... well, the fact that I'm willing to go this far to stop him may make him think twice. Hopefully, he'll realize that I have the resources to find him wherever he goes."

"So, I'm not saying you should rough him up, but I don't see that a taste of his own medicine might not... 'improve' his attitude."

Aaron kept silent during the discussing of Erik's ... health. Although he did not look happy that it was being discussed at all.

He paused a moment, staring silent at the table when he fired a question, "Oh, sorry to ask this again, but what age is Nathaniel?", he asked, "Just so we know what to expect."

The medic then motioned his hand as if he was explaining something and said, "You mentioned staying at the Estate for a while?", his hand motions switched to a drawing imitation, "Could you make a sketch of the compound? The different buildings and preferably their internal layout."

It seemed as if he was done for the moment, but suddenly the scholar leaned forward and added, "Also, if possible, could you indicate where you think Nathaniel might be located?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:28, Wed 15 May 2019.

"She said he was eight, but yes, a drawing of the compound with a note where the boy might be might save your ex's life if he decides to pull down on us with a weapon."

Aaron looked at Theodore with a combination of confusion and doubt, "Oh, she said eight?", he asked. The medic then shrugged his shoulders and muttered, "I must have missed that...". Turning to Cheshire, he made a light bow with his head, "My apologies".
This message was last edited by the player at 17:40, Wed 15 May 2019.

OOC message 67, you missed it is all, I miss plenty too ;-)

"Where the boy is depends on what time of day we go," Viridian finally spoke up. "It'll also depend on how many people are staying there."

"Presumably, Nathaniel will be asleep in a bed in one of the bedrooms in the house. Whether there is anyone else in the room will be problematical. Erik? A guard? Other men?"

"In a situation like this, who will be there on any given day is anyone's guess. We'd have to know what their normal patterns are in order to know if they'd keep to them or how they'd change them."

"Miss Cheshire, do you think Erik will anticipate you doing something about the situation? For that matter, even if he does, can he expect you to do something so quickly? If he's planning on going off-world, he just might think you'll do something, which is why he wants to get out of town before you do."

"Also, if he does make it off-world, any idea where he might go?"

In reply to Cheshire (msg # 72):

Varca frowns, but sits back in his chair,

"Fine.  Then the Rules of Engagement are--no Killing.  Breaking parts is okay but no Removals..." Varca looks up, a hopeful expression on his gruff face, "How about scars?  Can we scar him?"

Varca maintains the hopeful look for about five seconds, then bursts out with a laugh loud enough to draw looks from others in the bar.  With a quick, contrite look, he stops laughing and leans back in towards the table, lowering his voice.

"Okay, okay, I'm kidding.  I'm not the blood-thirsty psychopath I pretend to be."  Varca says with a grin, "Heh-heh, I'm barely sociopathic. Heh."

Varca casts his grinning gaze around the table at everyone, "Really!  It's all bluster!  I even served in the Star Guards!  Honest!  Ask Aaron--I'm really a nice guy.  Mostly."

Varca turns back to Cheshire, "No worries, Miss.  My preference is to operate with non-lethal weapons, anyway.  We'll keep the body count low.  So, okay, we gotta go tonight--right after this meeting, I'm gonna assume.  So--like I just said--I served in the Star Guard for several years, and my duties involved a lot of...well, let's just say I have a lot of experience going into places without leaving traces of having been there.  So I hope nobody will mind if I start the planning process with getting one final detail squared away."

"Anybody in this little group got any kind of training in The Law?" Varca asks calmly, as his right hand reaches down under the table, to his utility belt, "I ask because..."

Varca's hand come up from under the table grasping a large-looking automatic pistol (a Snub Pistol, for those who know).  He quickly sets the pistol down on the table and covers it by crossing both gloved hands over it.

"Because, as much as I sympathize with the story the young Miss has given us about her ex-husband kidnapping her son, we haven't, actually, seen any proof that the boy--which we are being asked to kidnap back--is her son, at all.  Now, I believe you, Missy, but the Imperial, there--well, everyone knows how damned suspicious and paranoid Imperials are, yeah?  I think he needs some kinda legal proof."

"Could you, maybe, pretty please, provide us some kinda proof that all this stuff you're telling us is the truth, hey?"

Teddy nods at Varca's point about proof.

Ingrid glares at Varca. "Shame on you. Miss Cheshire is in a stressful enough situation without your mind games and threats upsetting her." She knew people here weren't like they were in the Sworld Worlds, but this was ridiculous! "Don't you have any manners?"

"He's right, who is to say the father doesn't have legal custody and she intends to run once we kidnap him? Just a little proof is necessary."

"Oh. I never thought about that," Cheshire replies. "But Varca does have a point. Well, let's see. Here's a few pics of us."

She shows several pics on her comm unit of her and Nathaniel, her and Nathaniel and Erik, and of Nathaniel and a dog.

"As for the custody decision, that's public record. You can call up the Hall of Records and do a search for it."

"Not sure what else you'd want."

Teddy nods, "check it out Varca, it's just a call away, let your fingers do the walking."

  Zhouth silently concurred with the utility of pictures, documents, and the like, but there was one other tidbit that could prove to be very helpful when the time came. Perhaps more than once, at that.

  "How about a note, or better yet a recording, from you to Nathaniel, so he knows that we aren't the bad guys when we crash the place and take him?" Zhouth sat back again as he spoke, flourishing one hand up a few inches into a fist to illustrate the point. "We don't need him fighting us all the way."

  His other concern - whether there was any truth to the story - was already being addressed. She seemed genuine enough - mostly - but the job was essentially being taken on trust, and his time dealing with logistics had left him skeptical of... undocumented requisitions.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:01, Wed 15 May 2019.

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 84):


     Varca casts a quick glance to the side at the pretty blond with the thick accent, and tosses off, "No.  Manners never kept anyone alive in the Wasteland--or out of jail if they got caught breaking The Law."


     Varca raises an eyebrow when Cheshire produces a comm unit and easily uses it to display her images--but then, she had said she wasn't wanting for money--so her possession of the device which the local technology couldn't produce wasn't really all that strange.
     But her answer was good enough for him--he re-holsters his pistol just as surreptitiously as he'd drawn it.


     "Sure, I'll call the Hall of Records--I've got my comm interfaced to the local analogue communication servers.  I even used the Record Search people, myself, when I first arrived on planet to search out some old records for me.  Only took'em a couple days to go through all the relevant papers."
     Varca shrugs, "Since the data about the young miss, here, and her husband and boy--all the data we're interested in--would have been recorded since The Conquest, there's even a chance it might be digitized on one of the few computers that The Damned King's administrators have given the Asimi.  Maybe.  Maybe not, and its all recorded in record books like everything else here."
     Varca moves one of his gloved hands and places it atop his helmet, "You want I should start the process now, Imperial?"


     "Oh, hey!  That is a good idea!"  Varca nods, "Let's do that."

"Sorry. I hadn't thought about it being in record books, no, waste of time even trying. We're stuck with her word."

Ingrid crosses her arms and pouts, giving Theodore a petulant look he remembers from when she was a teen. She expected him to support her. She's a little surprised that Cheshire takes Varca's request so well. "See? Nothing to worry about" she adds soothingly to Varca when Cheshire shows them all the pictures.

"A recording is a great idea! Peaceful is better if it's possible" she says to Zhouth with a smile.

She looks at Varca, baffled. Some of the people she'd met outside the Sword Worlds made no sense at all. But maybe this was one of the things she just couldn't understand, given her nature. And it didn't mean she shouldn't be polite. She closes her eyes to calm herself a moment, then opens them again.

"Please call and start the process, if that will convince you" she says to Varca gently. "Perhaps we will be lucky and get a fast response. We would value your assistance if we could have it. "

"I guess, just in case, we should be armed too, discourages them from fighting back a bit."

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 88):



With a puzzled frown, Varca lifts the gloved hand that had been resting atop his helmet and points at Theodore,

"But he..." Varca starts, then shuts his mouth with an audible click and shrugs his shoulders.

Grabbing his helmet up from the table with both hands, Varca quickly and effeciently settles it down over his head--accompanied by a couple of faint clicks.  The dark material of the visor clears, allowing Varca's red eyes to be seen.



Varca's helmeted visage turns towards Theo,

"You mean--you're not already?!" Varca asks--his voice sounding as it did before he'd put the helmet on, but with a faint metallic-buzzing quality now added.

Varca brings his left forearm around in front of himself, and begins inputting commands onto a rugged little keypad located there, with his right hand.  In a few seconds, the visor on his helmet returns to an opaque condition, and his right hand settles down to stillness.

Varca then sits there at the table, hunched over his left forearm, completely unmoving.  Only an occassional quiet, sound-deadened mumble escaping the armor of the helmet.

---

OOC:  ^_^

  I'll wait for confirmation, though ^_^

"Hahahahahahahahahah!" Teddy laughs and puts the case he was carrying up on the table. "Of course I'm armed here on this planet, Gauss Rifle." and pats the case.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:00, Sun 19 May 2019.

Ingrid shakes her head at the talk of being armed "Not me, I'm a woman." she responds, as though that explains everything.

  Though he didn't follow the reasoning - the two parts of her statement were seemingly unrelated - Zhouth didn't offer any comment on Ingrid's assertion because he was in the midst of looking at the case that Teddy had presented to the group. And it didn't appear to be envy on his part: his ears had skewed upward and his expression was a mix of skepticism and concern. They were being asked to rescue Nathaniel from the house, not bring it down atop him!

Cheshire has no problem with giving you a recording of her that tells Nathaniel you are there to bring him to mommy.

Likewise, she draws a rough diagram ((see Game Map 0)) of the compound.

Varca has no problem calling the government Bureau of Records here on Asim. While he's still trying to give the person his rationale for wanting the information, she gives it to him, along with the comment that he could access public records via the internet.

Aaron patted the bottom of his small backpack and said, "I've got an IISS issue stunner with me", he then turned to Theodore and continued with a wry grin, "given to me by the crew of of the 301 after", he paused for a moment then continued with a shrug, "well the incident."

The scholar accepted the map drawn and took a look at it before offering it to anyone else who was interested. He then took a look around the table and stated, "As can be expected, I do not have any experience in any of this". After letting out some air with a 'sigh' he continued, "but I guess I'm as ready as I can be."

  Zhouth held out both hands, palms up, in a display of emptiness. "I'm not armed, and I wouldn't know what to do with those things, anyway." His hands returned to the table as he shrugged and smiled. "Which shouldn't surprise anyone. I worked in a life sciences laboratory. You don't see people running around with military gear there unless one of the projects has gotten very much out of hand!"

  He took a brief look at the map when it was passed around. Staging raids on old farmhouses certainly hadn't been part of those operations either, but as long as no one was inclined to be quick on the trigger, he held out some hope that they might manage to talk, trick, or bluff their way through.

  He just had to think of it as an unconventional location and unusually hostile audience for a presentation, that's all...
This message was last edited by the player at 09:37, Sun 19 May 2019.

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 95):


Varca thanks the woman and, on hearing her statement that he could have used the internet, he laughs, sharing the joke with her--until he realizes she isn't laughing.

Varca, in embarrassment, gets snippy, "Oh, yeah, like the Damned Drinaxi could actually put together a functional planetary infogrid, even after all this time.  That's what's funny!"

---

Varca had been sitting unmoving at the table for a minute-or-so, with only the occasional faint mumble escaping his sealed helmet--when suddenly he reaches to the small keypad mounted on his left forearm and presses a button.  Straightening up in his seat, Varca reaches up and removes his helmet with both hands, setting it back down on the table.

"Everything checks out.  Kid's hers." he reports, then his eyes fall on the large case Theodore had placed up on the table.

"Contaminated Hell, Imperial!" Varca hisses in a lowered voice, as his head snaps around looking for Stormtroopers, "You got a license to hunt Grav Tanks to go with that thing?  I'm not even sure you could convince the locals that that's just a rifle.  You got anything a little less 'weapon-of-major-destruction-y'?  A pistol, maybe?  Or better, a knife or club?"

Teddy shakes his head no, "just a simple rifle is it." he smiles.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:14, Sun 19 May 2019.

Teddy, looking over the bar to make sure he wasn't overheard, then looks at the map and listens to the recording from Cheshire. "We may as well go then and get this over with, blood free if possible. Then I think getting off planet will be a good idea. We'll make plans when we actually see the place, what room did you say your son stays in?"

"I have no idea what room they may have put Nathaniel in," Cheshire replies to the question. "We were staying in the second one from the rear on the left at the time."

"That's something at-least.", Aaron nodded as Cheshire describes where they lives on the premises.

He paused for a moment and gazed at infinity, motioning his right hand in irregular intervals, as if checking items from a checklist.

Finally he turned back to Cheshire and asked, "What about when this is all finished successfully, what then?" After a moment he started to fill in his question, "Do we return here, meet you at a certain location or contact you via comm, for example?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 18:50, Mon 20 May 2019.

  And do we get paid something in advance? That's part of how this all works, isn't it?

  Zhouth didn't actually give voice to that thought because, on balance, he really wasn't sure whether that was the case, or merely part of the fiction that often swirled around the fact of... well, mercenary work, even if it wasn't the conventional sort with organized squads and drop-ships and the like.

  Not unless Cheshire was severely understating the scope of the task, anyway!
This message was last edited by the player at 11:38, Mon 20 May 2019.

"I suggest half the amount owed up front, the other half upon completion?" Teddy says to Cheshire. "The cost of doing business for you, our way of getting paid instead of getting the boy then get stiffed. We get something then for trying. We should be able to deliver the boy in a few hours, outbound upon delivery?" he asks.

Cheshire had never answered his question about where her ex might take the kid off world, but that was one of the problem with so many people--too many questions, too many voices, too many ideas. He certainly didn't need to add further to the cacophony.

He nodded or grunted as the situation called for but otherwise had nothing to contribute that the others didn't think of as well.

Anyway, in spite of the story of the Trojan horse, he tended to take things, particularly people, at face value. That wasn't the same thing as trusting them, though many thought it was. In this case, until they made contact with the enemy, there was no reason to distrust Cheshire.

Ingrid looks stunned when Zhouth says he's not armed. Not armed? Whyever not?

Ingrid smiles at Varca. "See? It all worked out. Thank you for checking" She stood and fiddled with her skirt. "I'm ready to go anytime, Lieutenant McFarlane."

  So that was the protocol, or at least the asking was. Whether Cheshire would agree to...

  ...why was Ingrid staring at him like that?

  Zhouth regarded her quizzically, and sounded genuinely perplexed as he sought an answer. "What did I do?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:13, Tue 21 May 2019.

In reply to Ingrid Gustavdottir Sigar (msg # 104):

"I retired as a Captain, not a lieutenant. Call me Teddy, or Ted, or Mac. Captain McFarlane is too formal."

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 106):


     Varca raises a hand and points it at Theodore, and, with a smirk on his pale face, turns to look towards Ingrid, opening his mouth to say something...

     But at the last second, Varca could swear he sees Theo give him the Evil Eye--the same kind of Evil Eye his old Grandmother used to give him, just before things went bad.

     "Oh.  Uh, sure.  You're welcome." Varca says to Ingrid, in a more subdued, less flippant manner, as he places his gloved hand back down on the table, "No problem."

Teddy grins at Varca having an idea what is going on. It has been decades since he knew Varca, but it seems like yesterday that they were together as youth, Teddy trying to convince Varca to run off to the Imperium too, but he'd have none of it, he had his own plans.

Aaron gulps the last bit of now cold tea and turns to the armoured Vespexer, "Say, Varca". He then halts, gazes about the table and makes a waving hand gesture with his right hand, "or anyone else for that matter", continuing, "do you have any experience with such a situation?"

The small man continues to state, "I think we can tread this as a hostage situation", adding with a shrug, "kinda...".

He turns back to Varga and continues, "I mean, I know intel is handy, and as you know I'm not too bad with a rifle", he then motions to the back with his head and mutters with a wry grins, "which is in storage".

The medic then turns towards the rest of the group and explains, "I am", corrects himself, "was", before continuing, "a Xenologist field researcher by trade.". "I mean,", he says unsure, "I know my way around the human", turning to the Zhouth "or Vargr body, so I can provide medical assistance if required.". Aaron adds softly with a sigh, "Which I hope to avoid.". "I have also survived encounters with wild animals", turning towards Theodore, "sometimes just,", "and I've fired a few shots to scare off some raiders."

He pauses for a moment, to gather his thoughts.

"But this", and he motions towards the piece of paper going around, "This is very new to me".

Finally, he sits back and asks plainly, "So, how do we handle this".
This message was last edited by the player at 18:09, Wed 22 May 2019.

"As delicately as possible. We want to avoid the possibility of ANYONE getting hurt, retrieve the boy, and get out as quickly as possible before everything goes sideways. The longer it takes, the more likely it will be to go sideways." he says. "Then meet with Cheshire, get paid the balance due, and then for me, get off world as soon as possible. I'm not welcome here and will be hunted when they find out I am here." he says in a small voice so as not to be overheard.

"Guns will be available but don't use them unless it is to protect your own or someone elses life."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Wed 22 May 2019.

Ingrid blushes, embarrassed. She hadn't realized she was staring. "Oh forgive me, you didn't do anything. I've just never met a Vargr before. In the Sword Worlds, almost every man is armed and trained to fight... it was just unexpected you wouldn't know how."

A captain? Things had changed over the years. "Of course, Teddy" she said cheerfully. That's what she'd called him when they knew each other.

She nodded pleasantly at Varca. Charm and politeness were just as important as mother had always said.

"I could take the lead in negotiating, if you like" she offered.

Teddy smiled at Ingrid.

  Now it was Zhouth's turn to look surprised. "Never met a vargr? Are we banned from the Sword Worlds?" He quickly let that thought slide, returning to the previous concern.

  "Rockball doesn't like people wandering around with weapons. There are too many important components that could get damaged, like vacuum seals, right? And I was never expected to shoot things at the research base." Zhouth's tone was slightly jesting as he waved one hand in imitation and he finished with, "Or use anything more dangerous than a scalpel up close, and those targets were already dead!"

  **

  As to the subject of how to approach the situation, he'd already indicated that he wouldn't be among the gunslingers, the better to avoid hapless friendly fire, but if that was something he didn't want to do, there was also something that he did want to do...

  "If Ingrid is going to talk, I'd like to watch and listen." He swept both hands up and out as he grinned (without overdoing the teeth). "You never know what the nose will pick up, and my friendly demeanor will surely help to put them at ease, making her job so much easier!"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:02, Thu 23 May 2019.

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 113):

With Aaron's question, Varca seems to buck back up,

"Of course I'm familiar with this kind of situation, my friend.  I've been on a few Marriage Raids--I thought I told you about them?" Varca says to Aaron, "I mean, yes both sides know the raid is going to happen, but the Bride's people don't know when.  And even though nobody gets killed, there are often severe injuries--I mean, it's still a real raid, you know?  If the Groom's friends and family fail to get into the Bridges village, fail to get past all their guards, fail to grab the Bride and get away, well, then, the Groom's party probably got severely beaten.  And while the marriage still goes on, it's the Groom who has to provide Dowry, and he has to Marry into the Brides family."

Varca waves a hand in dismissal, "Yeah, it's all just ritual and ceremony, but in order to prove to the Bride's people that the Groom is strong enough to protect his wife, and that he has family and community behind him to help--it's a real raid!  We go in to win, and knock the teeth out of anyone who tries to stop us.  It's great fun, with a wedding party to follow."

"So, yeah, getting into places, finding valuable salvage--no offense meant there, Miss Cheshire--and getting out with the goodies, either by hook or crook, is what I've been doing most of my life..."

Varca smiles a wide smile, "It's even, partly, what I did for the Damned King."

Varca looks around the table, "Look, don't anybody blow a seal over weapons, here.  Even if Miss Cheshire did want us to kick the bucket of her ex-mate, we wouldn't want to be leaving a house full of bodies behind--well, I wouldn't care, particularly, but that's only because I already have a nasty reputation as a cruel dude.  But the rest of you need to keep your reputations clean."

"So don't worry about weapons!  If you don't have a weapon, we'll get you a good stout club.  Except for when you're facing a gun, a good club is all you need.  You just leave any guys with guns to those of us who also have guns.  We'll take care of them..."

Varca smirks and points at Theo's weapon case, on the table, "Even if the Imperial has to shoot them from orbit! Ha!"

"Where do we deliver your son to to get the second half of our pay?" Teddy holds out his hand waiting for the first installment. "Down payment?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:24, Thu 23 May 2019.

Aaron nods in agreement with the captain. Then as Varca talks, he turns towards him and interjects, with a slightly flat tone, "Ah, yes, I forgot about that ... custom."

After listening to the boisterous Drinaxian, the small man comments, "Thanks for the pep-talk, I'm just out of my depth here." The scholar lets out a sigh and continues, "For the sake of all of us and the young one, I don't want this to go pear-shaped." He make a wry chuckles and adds, "I guess I'm more familiar with angry wildlife than pissed-off sophonts."

Pausing for a moment, he sits straight and states to Varca, staring into the mens eyes, "Oh and Varca. I know your reputation, but I also know you", not going into detail, as if that statement says it all.

After Ingrid and Zhouth made their offers to negotiate, he turns to them and states with a nod of agreement, "I would say that is an excellent idea", gazing from on to the other.

Finally, as Theodore asks for the down-payment, Aaron glances sideways at him with mild surprise but makes no comment. He then turns towards Cheshire, curious to see what her reaction is.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:13, Fri 24 May 2019.

"If... when you rescue Nathaniel, you return him here to me," Cheshire replies.

"Where else could you go? Then you collect the second half of your payment."

"Okay, here is as good a place as any for us to bring him. And, I never said 'if', as there is no doubt."

Teddy looks to the others, "Okay, lets inspect the vehicle and get moving, no sense in putting it off any longer. Is there?"

  "No," Zhouth agreed, rising from his seat as if to depart - but then he paused for a moment and glanced toward the bar. "But maybe we should bring a bottle? A polite gift won't go wrong if we're going to try talking, and tough guys often like the hard stuff, right?"

"Try that Zhouth, it can't hurt, get a few bottles while you're at it."

Aaron nods as Cheshire confirms one of his questions, "You will stay here, right...".

Pushing his chair backwards, he reacts to the Vargr, "Good idea".

Suddenly the small man interjects, "It could also be interpreted incredibly wrong though. That we are trying to buy his son from him...", his hands open, one hand lower than the other, and palms upward in a 'it happens' gesture.

"Let's get this over with I guess", Aaron remarks as he stands up, grabs his tea glass and moves it over towards the bar with a nod at the bartender.

  Zhouth's ears shot up and his lips curled into something resembling a smirk. "I didn't think to say the bottle for the boy! Just that talking is often easier over full glasses, even when you aren't trying to put them out with it." He held his hands out to the sides, grandly indicating their present whereabouts. "That's why places like this exist to begin with!"

  With that he headed over to the bar to obtain a few - per Theodore's suggestion - of said bottles of reasonable but not exorbitant 'good stuff' before joining the others on their way out. He hadn't had a chance to familiarize himself with the local tipples, but there were only so many variations on the theme...

"Vargr banned? Oh no, of course not! We were allies in the War, after all! Their just aren't very many of them in the Sword Worlds, that's all" Ingrid answers Zouth. She lets out a soft "Oh my" when Varca describes a marriage raid. Their ways really were so strange.
"I don't know much about drinking, but gifts are usually a good idea." she says.She prepares to follow after Theodore.

In reply to Ingrid Gustavdottir Sigar (msg # 123):

Varca stands and shrugs as he reaches for his helmet,

"Assuming a recon shows the building being approachable, sure, why not.  'Cuz I'm sure the Hubby-Bunny and his Minions will totally be open to the idea of Strangers With A Bottle just showing up on their doorstep."


Varca adopts a falsetto voice, "Hey, there, Buddies!  I'm just a harmless stranger who is passing by with a fresh bottle of hooch I just bought--and as I passed this house, here, right out of the brown I thought I'd come knock on your door and offer to share my bottle of booze with all of you."

Varca slides his helmet down over his head.

Heheheheheheheheheheheheh! Varca, what are we gonna do with you, at least it's an idea, better than nothing."

With his empty cup placed on the bar, Aaron turns back towards the Vargr and holds both hands up, palms towards Zhouth, "I understand that, I'm just saying that even such gestures can be misinterpreted with the incorrect state in mind". Lowering his hands he shrugs and continues, "That said, I still think it is worth the risk".

The small man puts some cash on the bar and as he starts walking away he chuckles at Varga.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:00, Sat 25 May 2019.

The tea only cost 2 Credits.

Somewhat out of his wheelhouse, Viridian wasn't adverse to this endeavor, but he was letting the others do the negotiating and planning. If they'd all said 'run screaming and jump off the cliff', well, maybe then he'd object.

"Bribery is always an option, as is getting everyone drunk," Viridian agrees. "As Varca pointed out, however, getting them to that point is likely to be difficult."

"As Ingrid suggested, though, negotiation should also be considered an option."

"The indication Miss Cheshire has given us is that her ex isn't going to be reasonable, that he's going to defend his position with violence. So, we should anticipate that course of action but we shouldn't automatically rule out any other."

"First stage is recon. We should see what we are heading into before we go barging in."

He got up as he talked and walked towards the back of the bar, demonstrating that he was capable of doing both at the same time.

  "He may not be reasonable, but we'll have to talk to him sometime since he's supposed to be alive at the end of all this. If he surprises everyone and wants to talk from the beginning, well, that's better. If it happens after some doors have been kicked in, that works too." Zhouth hefted one of the bottles that he'd purchased on the way out and let out a cheerful laugh. "He'll probably need one of these even more if it comes to that!"

Teddy's glad everyone has come around, he could use the 5,000 credits to help get off world. Why did I come here he thought to himself.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 130):

"Hey, I hope this thudpucker can be reasoned with, too!" Varca says, with only the smallest burr added to his voice via his helmet, "But, come on, people!  This guy made a conscious decision to steal a kid from the lawfully designated caregiver--that he is the kids father doesn't mean crap in the eyes of the Damned Kings Magistrate.  But then, knowing that his actions were wrong and illegal, he forts up and hides, surrounded by lots of friends and/or minions--and on top of that, this yotz-sucker, knowing he's completely in the wrong, makes arrangements to leave the jurisdiction as fast as possible!"

Varca grabs his "staff" with the long, flared head on it--looking almost like an odd, long-shafted mace--and swings it up-and-over his right shoulder where, with a snap of magnets impacting, the "staff" hangs from his back.

"Now, I'm not saying that talking this guy out of his plan isn't possible--of course it's possible!  I'm just saying that the odds are huge against that happening--like two-in-ten thousand.  On the flip side, if I had to make book on it, I'd say that the chances of a quick and silent slip-in, find the kid, then silently slip-out, with nobody being the wiser, has some pretty long odds against it, too--like maybe one-in-one thousand."

Varca has been walking towards the front exit of the bar since he'd attached his staff to his back--talking the whole time.  Now he pauses before stepping outside, looking back at everyone.

"Odds of a successful light raid are better--as are the odds of a heavy raid.  And since the job is just to get the kid back here--well, only one of us has to survive to do that--so I'm not even adding in the variable of 'and we all get out alive' as a part of the calculation.  Which makes the odds pretty damn good that the kid will get here."

Varca steps out the door and pauses after a step-or-two, to wait for the others.

Those who leave via the front door see a medium-sized rough terrain vehicle parked at the edge of the street, just in front of the Bar.  The vehicle is painted beige-over-brown, has a metal bar mounted abouve the windshield with an impressive-looking number of lights affixed to it--and a logo painted on either side of the vehicle, reading "Asim Wilderness Conservation Service".

There is also a--man?  woman?--waiting with the vehicle.  It's difficult to tell, exactly--because the person is dressed very similarly to what Varca is wearing.

"This is Reggie." Varca says, making an introduction, as he walks over and hands Reggie the 2500 credits Theodore has handed out, "And if anyone even thinks about objecting to him coming along--don't.  Reggie is in on this.  Period."

Varca turns his attention to Reggie, while he walks around to the operators side of the vehicle,

"Family Raid, Rej." Varca says while he walks, "Local Bad Dad stole his son from Good Mom.  Bad Dad now hanging out in abandoned agro-production facility--uh, locals call it a 'farm'--complete with bunch of goons.  Plans to leave planet, with the kid, in a half-day.  Good Mom mandates 'no disintegrations'--you up for busting some heads?"

"Hello Reggie, I'm Captain McFarlane, you're welcome to join in on the fun."

  Another one? Why hadn't he joined them inside?

  Still, as long as Varca was vouching for him... well, that made him about as trustworthy as Varca. Zhouth wasn't sure yet where that left things.

When Varca comes and the others come out, Rejji is sitting in the passenger side of the ATV, his feet up on the dash, smoking a cigarillo. For those untrained it would appear the man is totally relaxed, but anyone with a trained eye could see that he was alert and keeping a cautious eye out.

Turning his head toward Varca when the Vespexer mentions a family raid, Rejji's face breaks into a bright smile, his pearly white teeth a stark contrast to his darkened skin. "A raid mon! This be a good day for it!" Scanning the guys in the crowd, he asks, "Which ones the groom?"

Acknowledging Theodore, Rejji extends his hand, telling him, "Lance Corporal Rejji Harrasyn, Captain MacFarlane."

     Varca pauses on his way around the vehicle to lift his eyes to the sky and shake his helmeted head.
     ~~I never should have introduced him to those old vid-story files, back when we were both in the Damned King's Army!  Plasma Fire!  That accent will haunt me until the day I die...or I kill him because of it...~~ Varca thinks with some amusement.


     Varca was just about to pull the driver-side door of the GPUV open, when he stops short and steps back towards the sidewalk--looking at Rejji but gesturing between him and Theodore.
     "What the frack?  You know The Imperial?  When did...?" Varca demands from Rejji, but then turns to face Theo--Varca's red eyes can be seen, through the helmet's faceplate, to be squinting.
     "Did you sneak back to the Damned Floating Palace, some time ago, Imperial?  Tsk-tsk!  And here, I seem to recall a certain young Palace Puke swearing to every God of Space that he'd never return to that place...hmm?"

  Amidst the latest verbal barrage, and as Varca headed toward the driver side door of his vehicle out front - perhaps not 'his', but in the circumstances, close enough - Zhouth was momentarily distracted by the thought that, when it came to the one that had been requisitioned for them... someone had to drive.

  Someone else had to drive. Rockball's vehicles generally didn't need drivers, and there had always been someone else about to provide that service during his time in the Imperium. Asim was somewhat lacking in the advanced infrastructure that he'd become accustomed to, and that put him at a disadvantage when it came to getting around.

  Then again, you could walk outside, get into a vehicle, and drive it around on Asim without needing to wear a hazard suit or worry about either the atmosphere or some sort of hostile megafauna destroying both the vehicle and its occupants, which was a major point in its favor compared to some of the places that he'd lived!
This message was last edited by the player at 10:07, Mon 27 May 2019.

Ingrid curtsies to Reggie. "Nice to meet you, Corporal Harrasyn" she says politely, adding a smile. "I'm Ingrid Gustavdöttir Sigar"

Teddy accepts the offered hand and says "welcome aboard, I'll go get the other atv if Vir hasn't already got it."

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 138):

Varca--on the other side of the jeep from Theo, Ingrid and Rejji--suddenly stiffens, then starts walking back towards the Bar door with a purpose.

"Be right back.  Need to get one last thing..." Varca says, opening the door and stepping back inside.  As the door swing shut, shouts from inside of "Crap! What now?" are heard.

"You driving Vir?" Teddy asks Viridian when he gets round back to the ATV. "I don't know how to operate it so I get 'shotgun' on the right. You drive Ingrid?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:53, Tue 28 May 2019.

Aaron started walking to the back of the establishment, but halted for a moment, looking confused at the group exiting at the front. He attempted to call on the group but failed to put power in his voice and his statement drowned into the background noise. With a shrug he continued his path, following Viridian.

After leaving through the back-door, as he made his way towards the ATV, he turned to Viridian and asked the mercenary, "Would you like to drive, or shall I?"

"I can drive, Teddy, well enough to get around" Ingrid said as she followed Teddy to the ATV.

"Well, maybe Ingrid." he says aside to her as they approach the atv out back as he see's others from the party there already. "Can you drive? She said she can. I can't" he tells them.

  Having made his way around to the back, Zhouth claims a middle spot in the passenger area and began securing the bottles under the seat. "And you don't want me to try. I mean that, really! Unless I missed something about being covered for civic demolitions along the way."

"Same with me Zhouth. I can fly a space ship just fine, never learned one of these."

Aaron turned to Ingrid as she and Theodore approached from around the corner. Picking up part of the conversation, he smiled and stated, "We were just discussing the same thing." Waving at the ATV, he made a small bow and said, "If you would like to drive, it's all yours."

"Shotgun!" and he moves for the front passenger seat unless it is taken already.

"Oh, you can take the wheel if you like. You're probably a better driver" Ingrid says modestly, and only moves to take the driver's seat if Aaron doesn't. She giggles slightly when Theodore claims the passenger's seat.

Viridian had gone out the back door of the tavern and was surveying the vehicle that was parked there. Since it was an ATV and the only vehicle in site, he figured that must be what they were using. It certainly looked the part.

((OOC: picked up Drive (wheeled) as one of my Connection skills. Also, asked GM about the vehicle, so the following is directly from the horse's mouth.))

It had definitely seen better days. Dents and scrapes (and even a few holes) adorned the vehicle. It was probably made right here on Drinax a long time ago. Been salvaged. Paint faded, scraped off, sandblasted. Any logos or serial numbers would be meaningless now. Even the tires were mismatched.

It had a turret, but he didn't see any weapon protruding from it.

The fact that it ran at all was astonishing, but then the tech level that made it generally made things to last.

As the others arrived, he listened to them discuss the driving arrangements... and smiled.

"Don't worry--I can drive this beast," he mentioned. "If the interior is intact, though, I'm pretty sure it can drive itself. Probably voice activated as well. It'll only be a problem if we have to drive through a war zone."

Seeing Theodore claiming his preferred seating, Aaron mutters, "Bastard", with a friendly smile.

Continuing the converstation, Aaron replied, "Oh don't be so modest", to Ingrid with a smile, "you can ...". As Viridian interjects Aaron holds up his hands, stops his 'protest' and mutters, "Sure, also fine with me", at the mercenary.

He then proceeded to find a seat inside the sturdy vehicle, relatively unperturbed by the cramped interior due to his small size.

Since nobody moves to counter him, Teddy takes the passenger seat and gets in, strapping himself in, ready to roll.

While waiting for Varca to return, Rejji lights another cigarillo and goes back to his relaxed stance. From his reclined position, he can keep an eye out on the street without appearing to do so.

It probably doesn't matter who drives for as soon as Viridian sits in the driver's seat, the console comes alive. Well, most of it. The GPS screen doesn't lite up. That makes sense because there probably aren't any satellites in orbit.

However, the auto-mapper program is working. It displays known geographical terrain which the autopilot can navigator with reasonable accuracy.

The key to the vehicle is 'in' the ignition--it's a magnetic block-key; it has to be aligned with the ignition switch in order to work, meaning that not just any magnet will work. It also has capabilities for fingerprint and voice recognition, but neither of those functions have been activated.

There was probably a gun in the turret at one time but it has been removed a long time ago. Loose wires are still hanging down.

All sensors are working, including the array of vehicle status sensors... power, speed (current, max, RPMs), tire pressure, tire traction, oil pressure, hydraulic pressure, temperature (external, internal, engine), air pressure, radiation levels, proximity, 360-degree video (not all of them are operational).

Other equipment includes headlights, spotlight, starlight vision, radio, and heads-up display on the windshield or can be broadcast to a helmet.

Viridian can drive the vehicle at night without having to turn on the headlights. That won't help in an underground tunnel, though.

The technology is clearly TL 15.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:49, Thu 30 May 2019.

Teddy shows the map to Vir again to get his bearings and begin the drive, leading the Vespexers on the way to the house.

As they set out, Aaron played around with his wrist-comp, looked-up for a moment and asked Theodore, "Teddy, can you tell me the coordinates of the compound?"

He then removes his backpack and starts ruffling inside it, obviously search for something.

Teddy gets the coordinates from the map and relays them to Aaron. Then settles back for the ride.

  Zhouth also settled back for the ride, mostly watching the terrain ahead but occasionally looking out the sides, once in a while, out the back to check on the vespexers' progress, and also from time to time at the xenologist and his bag of tricks.

  Presently, he waved a hand in that familiar all-round-us motion and asked, "So, as we ride this expensive salvage into the middle of nowhere, ten credits to whoever successfully predicts what she forgot to tell us?" Despite the question, he sounded rather relaxed, maybe even a bit amused by the notion that there might be some sort of cloak-and-dagger involved with their mission. "That's how these things work, right? Always the unmentioned details. And my nose says at least one somewhere."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:35, Fri 31 May 2019.

"I'd say there was quite a bit left out. She plans on taking the boy away from his father forever. That I know."

  "Off world?" Zhouth wondered aloud, and then the note of amusement briefly swelled. "Think they booked the same ship?"

"Heheheheheheheheheh, I wouldn't doubt it. They both plan to leave this dirt ball far behind never to return. Selfish people, I'll never understand it. But, for 5,000 credits, I'll do it."

  Zhouth held out both hands in a please continue sign. "What else do you think we're riding into this night? Besides the obvious answer of trouble, that is!"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Fri 31 May 2019.

"I think it will be trouble, don't you? I expect him to fight for the kid."

  Zhouth all but wilted as he took that thought to one logical conclusion "You think he's hired goons? Like the ones that didn't show up for our meeting? That could get very, very messy." He straightened up a bit and stared out the front window for a moment, and when he spoke again he seemed to have recovered his resolve, albeit grimly. "There's something else that no one's talked about: what if she's actually the bad one here and the child doesn't want to go back? We still grab and run with him? That's also part of how this all works, right?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:26, Fri 31 May 2019.

Ingrid admires the ATV, more advanced than what she was used to.

"What makes you so sure she's going offworld?" she asked Theodore.

"I thought about that. The government said she had legal custody. So, it doesn't matter what he wants, he goes to her. As far as messy goes, that's why I have the gauss rifle, I believe it will go pear shape about three seconds after we disembark from the ATV's. Daddy is going to fight, and probably die, for his son. We'll find out in a bit.

"If he lives, daddy WILL get his son back if she stays here Ingrid."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:40, Fri 31 May 2019.

"He attacked the babysitter. He shouldn't have done that" Ingrid replies to Zhouth. "I don't think he would have done that if he had others to do it for him".

"A planet is a big place, Teddy. But I suppose that makes sense." she says "Don't be so quick to jump to violence. I'm going to try to end this peacefully."

"Believe me, I'll give you every opportunity, only if I see a gun will I show one, and I'll hold my fire until he starts it up."

He then opens his case and assembles his rifle from the parts inside. He loads in an 80 round clip and puts on the safety without loading a round in the chamber.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:09, Fri 31 May 2019.

  "I know, I know, daddy did bad things, or so she says. I don't think she's lying about it, but we've only got her word for most of this, and why pay us to do this in secret if it's all okay with the local leadership?" He let out a Vargrish harrumph, then grinned again, the jovial mood returning. "I don't know, I'm not used to this mercenary thing, and maybe I'm letting academic cutthroat cloud my sense of the thuggish kind!"

  "Most of you, I see why she asked. You have these skills that work for this in-and-out raiding, right? But me? Did she think, 'Oh, a vargr, therefore a pirate!' or do people heading for the Tower just get pulled aside for this sort of thing all the time here?"

"There might be things that she simply doesn't know," Viridian chips in. "Rather than assume she's lied or left out something."

"Although, now that you mention it, I sort of got the impression that she might be from off-world to begin with. Can't quite put my finger on it... maybe she just doesn't seem brown enough."

"And we forgot to ask her which government she was talking about."

"We did neglect to ask that Vir. There were a lot of unasked questions. I hope we don't regret not asking them."

Ingrid smiled at Theodore. "Thank you"
She giggled at Zhouth's question. "Miss Cheshire asked me to help, didn't she? So I don't think she's looking for pirates."

  "Not pirates, just raiders!" Zhouth pointed at Ingrid and proclaimed theatrically, "That's surely why she also looked at you and thought, 'Aha, Sword Worlds. She has made her way here by dueling one captain after another for right of passage, and can do the same to him to get Nathaniel back! Or maybe just swing from a rope and drop the chandelier on him instead.'"

  He shrugged and settled into his seat again, then took a moment to double-check that the bottles were still secure. "We'll just have to ask her these things when we get back if they don't answer themselves while we're there."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:16, Sat 01 June 2019.

"Someone call the jeep on the comms and see what they want to do regarding the approach... together or separate?" Viridian said to the others.

"We never worked out a plan. I recommend we cut lights at about 10 miles out and one of us should circle around to the other side of the compound."

"Also, see if your comms can pick up any communications to or from the compound."

  "There's nothing else near it, right? Just the one place out on its own? So no skulking from one to the next, but I suppose the barn is something, at least."

  Zhouth thought about it for a moment. "We can't sneak up if we want to talk, and they'll get jitters if another one is circling around and seen. Maybe just keeping back while the first makes an open approach?"

  Having made that suggestion he looked to everyone else to gauge their response. It seemed straightforward enough to him, but this really wasn't his field of expertise!
This message was last edited by the player at 22:36, Sat 01 June 2019.

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 174):


From behind, Varca begins a steady acceleration of the 'Jeep' and pulls out along the driver's side of the ATV--making sure he can do so safely within the confines of the street traffic.  Varca accelerates forward until the Jeep is slightly ahead of, but still to the side of, the ATV--and then he tries to hold that position...

Ingrid giggles and blushes. "Oh, goodness, I certainly hope she didn't mistake me for a Sword Worlder man. And I certainly shouldn't swing from a rope in a dress. I suppose I'm not above dropping a chandelier on a foe, though."

"I agree if we're going to negotiate, we'll have to approach directly. One group could stay back to support but won't that be an obstacle if, um, a scuffle breaks out?"

The only time concern that Rejji shows on his face is when Varca starts driving the jeep. He had ridden with the Vespexer down the mountains and knew how he drove. And it wouldn't have surprised Rejji if the ranger had ended up with a few extra broken bones from the ride. But Rejji didn't complain as he knew his driving wasn't much better. Now give him a grav car, and he could work miracles with it. Something for the future.

Rejji glanced at the big ATV in front of them, and worried. Something like that is going to be seen from a long distance, and be an obvious threat, whereas their little jeep was so commonplace that it could almost drive up on the compound without anyone showing concern. "Maybe we want to wing off to the side to avoid the heavy fire that things gonna bring," Rejji loudly suggests over the wind.

Hearing Varca's request, he opens up the glove compartment, searching through it. Unsurprisingly he finds a grease pencil that would be used to make marks on maps that the rangers use. With a deft hand he starts scribing out the comm frequency that Varca calls out to him, making sure that he does it in reverse so the other vehicle can see it properly. Once that's written out, he scribes, Comm Freq above it. If they can't figure out what the numbers mean, even with the words, then there's no hope for that group. Hopefully, that Captain MacFarlane has enough military background to understand. But Rej realizes that he never said what he was a captain of, so he could just be a merchantman.

"It's set," Rejji shouts out to let Varca know he can implement the next phase of the plan.

In reply to Rejji Harrasyn (msg # 177):

"Well, get their attention and point it out to them." Varca says, keeping his focus on controlling the Jeep--now having the extra concern of trying not to get too close to the ATV, while staying in a position where they can see the note on the passenger side window.

Viridian frowns at the other comments for a moment, but then realizes he hadn't been all that clear.

"I'm talking about recon, not an all-out assault," he clarifies.

"We need eyes on the place so we have an idea of what we're walking into. Does he have bodyguards? I mean, is he even in charge of this compound? For that matter, is anyone actually in charge? Or is it just some sort of hangout?"

"Although I was never in the military, I've still heard the trope that no plan survives contact with the enemy."

"My main concern is that he and/or they know we're coming. I certainly don't want to drive into an ambush."

"Also, you may notice that we aren't driving through the desert. This is rolling farmland with bushes and trees and hills. It's all the brown that makes it look kind of flat."

Set the comms to that frequency right there Zhouth, that Reggie is showing, then we can discuss this better. I agree we can't just drive up, I figured to stop as soon as they got in sight and make a plan by what we see, not by what she said. Glad you're thinking though. If we just drive up, they're going to start shooting."

  To Viridian's elaboration, Zhouth responded, "Okay, so we stop a long way off, get out, and walk up all sneaky-like to take a look? Have to hope they have all the lights on, then."

  Theodore's instruction merited a low, "Uhh..." as he worked on the comms controls. He really wasn't familiar with vehicular operations, but the systems and controls were sophisticated enough that it wasn't too much of a challenge, even from the second row.

  ...right?
This message was last edited by the player at 11:31, Sun 02 June 2019.

After Zhouth finds the right frequency, Teddy gets on the radio, "What's up Varca? I guess we'll stop short and weigh our options when we get in site of the buildings."

"Hey mon, why don't we tell them we be doing a drive by recon and they can wait out of sight. This jeep isn't going to attract attention, but that beast will. We can get a feel for the layout and defenses of the place before we try to infiltrate."

Ingrid assists Zhouth with the coms. "The technology is rather advanced in this vehicle."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:44, Sun 02 June 2019.

After entering the coordinates into his wristcom, Aaron was following the route and occasionally chipping in unhelpful advice. In addition he followed the discussion on the risks with half an ear but had little to contribute.

When the discussion turned to the topic of recon he abandoned his wristcom and pointed to his backpack, "I have something that may be useful...", and he starts to unbuckle his seatbelt and then unbuckle his backpack as he tries to keep his seating.

Rumbling through his backpack, he continues, "I dabbled with it during my days as a field researcher, seeking and following wildlife". In between rumbling in his backpack, he nods gleefully at Ingrid and mutters a happy 'Yeah'. Finally he retrieves a hand portable drone. "We can use this to scout out the terrain and the compound, though it has been awhile since I used it."

"Varca, Aaron has a damn drone! RECON!"

  "That solves all of our problems!" Zhouth exclaimed brightly, followed by a sly, "Well, if they don't spot it and start shooting it down. But that would tell us something too, right?"

  The cheeky thing to do would be to deliver one of the bottles right up to the door via the drone, but that might be pushing their luck even if the residents were inclined to talk...
This message was last edited by the player at 18:51, Mon 03 June 2019.

Aaron grins widely at the enthusiasm of his comrades, but he cautions them, "While I know how to operate this drone,", explaining with his free hand waving around, "I have no experience in scouting out a dangerous area."

With a shrug he adds, "So I might need someone to help with more practical experience in this regard."

"I'm sure we'll make do with something!"

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 189):

[IN THE JEEP, BACK BEHIND THE ATV]



     Varca turns his head for a moment, ready to point out that neither of them actually look like Asim Wilderness Rangers--but, instead, just looks at Rejji through his helmet's faceplate, silently, for a second-or-two, then turns his head back to watch the road.

     "Say that again, Rej!" Varca said, without turning away from the road, "Something you just said started an idea bouncing around my head, but I just can't grab it!  So say that again!"

However, just as Varca stops speaking, the comms open up,



     Varca let's go of the Jeep's wheel with his right hand, and reaches over to his left forearm--there to quickly tap a button on the computer command keyboard, mounted there,

^{COMM START>>>}  "Bloody Contagion!  Aaron actually still has that thing?  It's almost a toy." Varca responds, "Ask him if he's figured out what to do when the damn tiny thing hits a thermal?  He almost lost it, once, it climbed so high before he got it out of the thermal updraft over a radiation pit.  Ask him if he's figured that out, yet?"

     "Then tell him I said 'Nice!', okay?"  ^{<<< COMM END}
This message was last edited by the player at 07:54, Wed 05 June 2019.

When they got close enough to see the 'farm' and outbuildings in the distance, Teddy stopped the 'convoy' "Stop here Vir, we'll use Aaron's drone to scout the way from here."

When the vehicle stops, Teddy exits and waves at Varca and Reggie.

At Mac's direction, Viridian stops the vehicle.

"What kind of range does he have with that drone?" he asks.

He checks the odometer to see how far they've gone. It was probably time to shut of the headlights anyway and drive by starlight.

With a shrug Aaron responds to Viridian, "I don't have a good idea, but it's reasonable." With that Aaron follows Theodore out of the ATV, and moves over to the following jeep. "Can one of you guys help me with the scouting", he asks the occupants, turning to Varga he quips, "You know how last time we tried this went.", and winks.

Standing outside, he looks about in the direction to the compound and tries to get to a location with the best oversight. With that he settles down and activates the drone. "Come little guy, don't fail on me", the small man mutters as he connects to the device with his wristcom.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:47, Fri 07 June 2019.

  "Did it involve big explosions, or just a loud crash?" Zhouth inquired lightheartedly of that 'last time' that Aaron had referenced as he also exited from the vehicle, not really wishing to remain cooped up while everyone else stretched their legs. He continued in the same jesting mood in offering his assistance in scouting the place out through the drone. "I'm used to looking for things in a lab, and maybe spotting the problem guest at a party or napping one in a conference. How different could this be, really?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:00, Fri 07 June 2019.

"It involved suddenly a lot of small arms fire as a group of raiders were alerted to our presence.", Aaron says sheepishly, painfully aware of the irony, "But you are most welcome to help me out".

After a moment of silence, the drone takes of in the direction of the compound, making a high pass to identify dangers before going in low for more detail.

OOC: GM, Do I need to roll something?
Edit: 18:55, Today: Aaron Lancaster rolled 14 using 2d6+3.  Remote Ops.

This message was last edited by the player at 16:55, Fri 07 June 2019.

"Well Varca, Reggie, about ready to liberate the boy?" he says with a grin.

  Aaron hadn't actually declined his offer.

  Well then. It seemed as though he was going to be the eyes part of their eyes in the sky! And probably their ears, depending on how sophisticated its sensors were. Nose, probably not. Unless that model was actually of vargr make...

  Zhouth stood next to Aaron. Display screen or headpiece? And would the latter fit?

"We are working well together! Now, get the boy, then get paid. Then make plans to move on."

     When Aaron walks up to the jeep, Varca is still sitting in the driver's seat, with the door closed.  Varca's helmeted head occasionally makes tiny movements, as if he might be talking, but no sound is coming from the helmet's tiny speaker.

     But when Aaron speaks to Varca and Rejji, Varca's helmet does turn towards Aaron--faceplate opaqued--and gives him a silent, acknowledging nod.



     "Oh, Burning Cities, Aaron!  Are you still trying to control that drone with your wrist-chrono?" Varca says, as he gets out of the jeep, reaches into the back seat to grab his staff, and swing it up and over his shoulder--slapping it into/onto the magnetic holster on his back, "How many times did I tell you and tell you, those years ago, that you trust your miniature tech-toys far too much.  You need a controller for that drone that has some heft!  Something you can yank on and repeatedly jam on the controllers--something that can take some stress!"

Varca steps over, beside Aaron and Zhouth--who's looking over Aaron's shoulder, now.  Varca also looks over Aaron's shoulder--then leans in closer to the wristcom on Aaron's raised arm.

     "Aaron--I have visual enhancement with this helmet, and I still can't see crap on that tiny monitor!"

     Still leaning over Aaron's arm, Varca turns his helmeted head to look up at Aaron,

     "The comm-unit inside the Kay-seven-ninety-three All-Terrain Roller..." Varca straightens up and points at the ATV, "...should be able to interface with the drone, you know.  Assuming the comm-unit still works.  Why don't you control it from in there--that way we can all watch the data on bigger displays?  You might even be able to use the Roller's gear to control the drone, too."

     Before Aaron could answer Varca, Aaron responded to some question of Zhouth's that Varca had missed.



     "Yeah, frelling Tobeon Tribe!  Those primitive hillbillies came at us for checking out that radiation pit as if it actually had some kind of value!" Varca nods as he confirms the story--then he puts a comradely gloved hand on Aaron's shoulder and leans his helmeted head in closer to Aaron, lowering the volume of the tiny speaker.

     "Turns out it was, buddy." Varca says at low volume, that plasma blast out in the middle of nowhere turned out to be a strike on the doorway of a hidden shuttle hangar.  Couple months later, me and the Star Guard Scouts broke in and recovered a couple hundred million worth in Old Drinax-made shuttle parts."

     Varca stands back up, and his voice returns to normal volume, "The Op was classified--that's why I couldn't tell you, back then.  Sorry, Scholar."



     Varca turns to look over at Theo, "I...really have no response to that.  I really don't.  But, do you really think we should engage the opposition, before we've got the Recon data, Imperial?"

Ingrid follows Theodore out of the ATV and curiously regards the drone. She was usually good with machines, but she didn't want to intrude.

"If you don't know what I meant, maybe you should go home now." Teddy tells Varca with 'that look' on his face.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:47, Sat 08 June 2019.

The drone takes off without any problem, and Aaron is able to direct it in the direction he wants easily enough, but he doesn't have fine control with it.

The first thing he is able to spot when the drone reaches the compound is the wall. Nothing was said about a wall. It's only 3 feet high, and it circles about 75% of the compound. There's a good 60 feet between the wall and the nearest building.

It's made of stone and mortar.

Otherwise, the overview confirms what Cheshire told you--three buildings: house, barn, shed.

Three vehicles are also visible: an air/raft, a flatbed hovertruck, and a what is probably a civilian grav SUV.

There are two lights on in the house, both on the lower floor in different rooms.

You can see no sign of people.

"Three vehicles, so you can figure at least three adults. The wall is good and bad, it provides cover, but it also leaves a kill zone for the defenders. Suggestions?

"We can approach with the barn between us and the house, keep the drone flying so we know if there is movement. Get your other friend, you say Cyrus was his name? Get him here with those uniforms and under the sound of the 'jeep' approaching, we move as close as the barn, within striking distance."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:25, Sat 08 June 2019.

  "Lights in the living room and kitchen, if this map is right," Zhouth observed as he glanced between the drone display and the sketch that Cheshire had given them earlier. "Maybe just relaxing and thinking he's safe? Or it's bait." He paused, then added, "If there's no one hiding just inside that little wall then we can use that for our own sniping instead of theirs, if that's how this all goes. Can that thing move close enough to get a look inside any of the buildings without being obvious about it?"

With a slight defensive tone in his voice, Aaron states at Varca, "Look, I like my wristcom OK.", and with a shrug, "Also, I need line of sight anyway for best connectivity." With a sigh he continues, "I'll transfer the images also to the ATV's so it's easier for you guys to follow."

After Varca confided in him, Aaron turns to the Vespexer, momentarily distracted, "That.. explains a lot. At least something came out of it.", and slightly sour, "Did cost me my charlie though, he was with me from Igualada." "Also taught me not to name my droids", he muttered painfully.

Returning back towards the drone, he made a high pass around the compound, keeping an eye on the lights inside and searching for possible movement outside.

"If there is no-one outside, a select group could clear out the barn and shed.", Aaron said in response to Theodore, "Oh, and since I'm probably more useful here, someone else could use my stunner if so desired."

Turning towards Zhouth he responded hesitantly, "I think I could, but rather not risk alerting them."

Finally, the drone operator tapped a few buttons on his holographic projection as it was on high station looking out over the compound.

  Zhouth let out a good-natured laugh. "Because you don't want to lose another valued pet, right? Okay, we'll do the looking ourselves." The merriment disappeared as he studied the display. "So we drive a little further without lights, then some of us make ready to drive up in the ranger jeep while others check the barn for unannounced guests. If it's still quiet after they do that, the jeep drives up and we either make up a story or just tell him why we're there. If it's not quiet, we do whatever we have to, but try really hard not to kill 'bad dad' as we do it. Right?"

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 206):

     "The more I see of this set-up, the more convinced I am that we should do it the old fashioned way." Varca says, looking off towards the distant farm compound, "Just rush in, overwhelm them, take what we want without explanation, then run away real fast.  There are a lot of advantages to that plan.  But then again...I've got this niggling suspicion that there is something going on here we haven't seen yet..."

     Varca turns back to his companions, "Anyway--nobody has mentioned the great big virus in the room--those two grav-vehicles.  One..." Varca raises a finger, counting his points.

     "Grav-vehicles fly.  Anybody over there gets to one of those with the kid, and we're flarged.  We have no flight vehicles, and we dare not shoot down a flying vehicle because a crash could hurt the kid."

     "Two.  Grav-vehicles, people!  Off...World...Tech.  The Drinaxi Occupation Forces have Grav, some Drinaxi business interests have Grav, and a few non-Drinaxi Off-Worlders doing business on Asim have Grav.  Other than that, only really connected Locals have Grav."

     "Three.  With two grav-vehicles sitting over there, Hubby-Bunny is either seriously wealthy, or seriously connected.  Either one could be bad for us."

     "On the positive side, though, this place looks to be easily approachable.  Hmm.  Maybe too easy." Varca gestures as if he's looking at a mounted image of the compound--which, maybe he is,

     "Look, I don't want to beat a dead victim, here, but the presence of those grav-vehicles just clenches all my sphincters.  If they have access to that tech, what other tech do they have?  Suddenly the lack of posted guards doesn't look sloppy--it looks like they have a sensor grid laid out.  Maybe.  Dammit.  Aaron, does your drone have any other sensors besides just visual?  Anything that can pick up EM fields?  Power signatures?"

     "I've got some intrusion sensors, but their range is short--I'd have to personally get closer to detect any sensor grids."

---

OOC:

Theodore:

"... Get your other friend, you say Cyrus was his name? Get him here with those uniforms and under the sound of the 'jeep' approaching, we move as close as the barn, within striking distance."

     That was just a suggested course of action, offered in the OOC Thread.  To the best of my knowledge, StarMaster has not, yet, read/confirmed/approved it as a method of getting Cyrus involved.
     And now that I/Varca have become aware that these guys have access to some (and maybe more) "advanced tech" than they should have, Varca is starting to rethink any plan that involves "subtlety".  The less he understands, the more he wants to smash-and-grab.
     But, y'know...your post, there, could maybe still work.  Not the thing about the uniforms--but about Varca "calling" a friend.  Varca is conflicted about the presence of the two grav-vehicles--he'd like to consult with someone who's familiar with raids involving high tech and flight capability...and it just so happens he ran into an old friend, the other day, with just that skill-set...

     How about it, StarMaster?  Can we bring Cyrus into the situation this way--say that Varca ran into him a couple days ago, here on Asim, they got caught up, then went their separate ways, but exchanged comm-codes.  Now Varca calls Cyrus and asks if he'd be interested in a quick smash-and-grab against possible "higher than local" tech security.  Then we use the jeep to go get him.
     Or, as an alternative, anyone else who has a Connection to Cyrus can mention that they "ran into" an old friend who sounds like he'd be perfect for "getting past that kind of security", and they can call him?
     Or, did you already have something else in mind, and we should just proceed without him, for now?

Rejji smiles at Varca's observations, stating, "Mon, we get a grav vehicle and we can get out of there fast. I'm the shiz at flying them, and if we have the kid in one, they won't want to shoot it. Disable the other and escape is quick. We leave the jeep behind if need be."

  "What about taking one without Nathaniel in it? You know, a distraction. 'They're stealing our car! After them!'" Zhouth made wide circles with both hands as if to illustrate the liftoff. "If most of them rush off in the other one, all the better for us!"

  Following that suggestion, he made another one. "Maybe someone can call in and find out where those grav vehicles came from? If they're so high tech, they ought to be noticed, right? Don't need flight tracking for that."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:16, Sun 09 June 2019.

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 209):

     Varca shifts to look over at Rejji and Zhouth--Varca's body language indicating he's giving Zhouth, at least, an appraising look.

     "That...is a brilliant idea." Varca says after a moment.

     "We still have the issue of a possible sensor grid to get through, but if the first thing we do is steal one of those valuable grav-vehicles--making no appearance of attempting to get into the house--that could be brilliant.  Yes, they would be on alert, then, but there is a good chance that, if no attack on the house happens within a few minutes of the theft, they may assume it is just a vehicle theft, and maybe some of them will take the other grav-vehicle and go chasing after the first vehicle."

     "That would reduce the number of guards we have to go through, to get Nathaniel, as well as remove their airborne escape from the equation.  And, on the odd chance that Hubby-Bunny panics when we steal the first grav-vehicle--let's say we go for the air raft, okay Rejji?--after we steal the air raft, if Hubby-Bunny panics and flies off with Nathaniel in that grav-car, well, we'll have an air raft to chase after him with, won't we?"

     Varca pauses a moment, then adds, "While I doubt they'd call the Law Enforcers when we steal the air raft, they might.  I set something up to handle the Enforcers, back at the Bar, but if Hubby-Bunny has the kind of pull it looks like he might, then no matter what we do or say or show them, they'll side with him.  So let's hope he doesn't want local law involved."

     "Okay, I guess I'm just going to have to crawl up to that farm, scanning for alarms and sensors.  If there is a sensor grid, I'll clear a path through it that we can all cross."

     "Rejji--sure, you can drive that air raft, but are you going to be able to get it started without a key or command code?"

"I... I'm good with machines" Ingrid admits in the guilty tone of voice of someone confessing to stealing your wallet. "I could try to sabotage the grave vehicles so they can't get away. I mean, if they are as valuable as you say stealing one could cause us a lot of trouble"

"And I don't think the lights are bait. These aren't exactly commandos we're dealing with."

"Hmmm, go ahead Varca, let us know when you want us to cross. I don't like it.

  Zhouth actually liked Ingrid's idea better than his own, mainly for the long-term effect. "Sabotage works! They can't leave so easily then, though we can't draw them away either. I suppose it stops any chance of them chasing us later, so maybe that's still best."

"Works real well if they'll be out of circulation for a day or two. That gives the lady a chance to get out system, and us too. He's going to be out for blood!"

Aaron responds defensively towards Zhouth, "No, no that is not what I meant, exactly..." and then turns towards Varca. "You are correct, something does seem off, two Grav-Vehicles even." He taps some more on his holographic controls and shakes his head, "I don't have other sensors than visual on this thing, though we should have Infra in a moment if I get this right...", and he continues with a wry chuckle, "Never imagined that I would use it for a situation as this."

"I would suggest the middle-road.", he states simply, the continues to explain with a shoulder shrug, "Sabotage one, steal the other."

Teddy nodded his head, if you gain access, easy enough, break the controls or remove an important part.

Teddy puts his gauss rifle together just in case. "I have a bad feeling, mommy keeping things in the dark from us, hubby has serious connections, she offers a LOT of money to 'rescue' her boy to off worlders. Why?"

"At this moment, the simplest answer is the one you gave", Aaron tells Theodore with a wry smile, "Daddy has some serious connections."

Then, as he returns his focus back to his wristcom, "That is not to say I believe that is the only reason thought, but I guess I am getting paranoid."

Rejji frowns as Varca points out the obvious. "I can fly them really good, but no skill at stealing them."

"I know I am paranoid. First berth off of this rock, I'm in it."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:06, Sun 09 June 2019.

"Amen", he replies in a deep sigh to Theodore before focussing his full attention at the retired captain, "Oh and next time you have a nice job offer for me, please notify me that you are wanted on that damn rock."

"That is relevant info you know!", the scholar tells Theodore accusingly.

"I'm not technically wanted for anything, the governor just hates me and enjoys twisting the knife if you know what I mean. He does what he can to make life miserable for me."

  "So we sabotage all but one and steal that, unless we can't, in which case we sabotage them all." Zhouth shrugged, then pointed skyward with a mischievous look. "This all supposes that we don't have orbital bombardment coming at us from one of daddy's favors, but we also have to suppose there are limits to that, right?"

  "Won't be much talking if we steal one, but maybe we still can if it's just sabotage. I'd really rather not start shooting people, but I'll trust your judgements on that."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:22, Sun 09 June 2019.

"I'd rather not shoot anyone either, but a dead enemy is a good enemy, they aren't after YOU!"

"I'm leaving the planning up to you mercs, as this sort of thing is outside my wheelhouse," Viridian finally chirps up after hearing all the plans.

"I think you are missing the point of this compound. It's a hangout for lowlifes and dissidents. About the only thing we aren't seeing are a bunch of motorcycles."

"It's not like these people keep regular hours. There could be an all-night poker game going on in the living room, for all we know."

"And, yeah, the gravs are a bit suspicious. BUT... there's no indication that Erik is particular friends with anyone here. It's a hangout. Those hanging out tend to stick together, but unless there's a greater motivation... The Brotherhood of Idiots or some such, it's not likely any of them are going to take a bullet for Erik."

"Keep in mind, also, that though the world's tech is low... mostly because they don't have the manufacturing structure, it's still got a Class-B starport. There's a certain amount of tech necessary to maintain such a starport, even if most of it is considered extraterritorial."

"So, two grav vehicles... which could be 50 years old! Neither of them may actually work... or, if they do, are unreliable."

"You are assuming the worse possible case scenario... and while I understand the precautionary wisdom of that, I think you should also consider other possibilities."

"I'm not saying that we can just walk up to the door, knock, and ask Erik to hand over his kid. And driving up in the ATV is automatically going to arouse suspicion. Even here on Dirt, that's a bit suspicious. The jeep, on the other hand, seems perfectly in keeping with the nature of this place. And so does Varca and Rejji. Not sure the rest of us fit in."

"Very astute Vir. That's why I keep you around, you think. I get caught up sometimes and I don't think things through. Varca, get your friend Cyrus and his uniforms then you can go in and get the boy with the rest of us as backup. Just point to the guys with guns if he has trouble understanding. How does that sound?" Teddy speaks his thoughts out loud.

"Any better ideas? I'm not ashamed to ask."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Mon 10 June 2019.

Aaron continues to fly the drone around the compound, switching it over to infrared.

While he can send the signal to any other device capable of displaying images, he's also using the holographic projection that puts a 6" by 6" display floating above his wrist comp.




As Aaron flies the drone around, circling behind the barn to hide it from view from the house, the camera picks up two heat sources in the barn. He has to get without 500 feet to get a decent image through the walls of the building, but it looks like two horses.

At the house, the concern is the drone being spotted from one of the upper windows. Anyone inside a lighted room can't see out into the darkness very well, particularly since there are no external lights... just starlight.

He eventually picks up 16 heat signatures from in the house. Six are in the living room around a table. They probably are playing poker. Every now and then, one of them gets up and moves to the kitchen to get something.

Two of the heat sources are in the first floor bedroom, presumably sleeping together in the same bed.

There are two more in the front right bedroom on the second floor... apparently in bunk beds.

Three more in each of the front three bedrooms on the left, one in the right rear bedroom, and two small ones in the left rear bedroom. One of them is probably a dog.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:53, Mon 10 June 2019.

"Hmmm, there are a LOT of them in there! A dog might not be good either, it might be trained. Kack! I definitely don't like it now. Maybe we should take the money we have and fly off world now! Suggestions or ideas? There are more than the vehicles can hold, I figured five or six. Not this huge crew. My guess is mercenaries for him too and she kind of forgot the  detail."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Mon 10 June 2019.

"Not sure your reasoning is sound there, Mac," Viridian responds to McFarlane. "Air/raft holds 4, SUV holds 8, 3 in the truck and several more on the back."

"Besides, why would everyone leave the compound at once?"

  Contrary to Theodore's reaction, Zhouth brightened up at the drone's revelations. "No, no. It's a good thing, that dog! It tells us that Nathaniel is there. She showed us a picture of the two, right? So that's where he is. We just need to get up to that room." The smile returned as he concluded, "Quickly, with a grav car! They won't have time to react! And if the others don't work, they won't be able to follow!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Mon 10 June 2019.

"Okay, so they haul more than I pictured. Zouth, Varca, can the boy be gotten out quietly? Through a locked window or window that does not open? Despite sensors?"

Nodding at Zhouths suggestion Aaron states the obvious, "While I do like that plan, it completely negates the earlier idea of talking."

Focussing back on the image from the drone, "I'll stay here and keep you updated, I have still some time left on this thing", and then he reminds them, "Not that I hope you need it, but I still have a stunner someone can use..."

  "With that many, talking is best if it works, but if it doesn't, they'll all be alert and we won't have a chance to get him any other way."

  Zhouth's ears flattened somewhat as he made a smashing motion with one fist. "No way to do it quiet if the window won't open, and probably not with a dog around, unless you want to use stunners on the both of them." He let his hand fall back to his size. "Nathaniel will want to take the dog with him, and won't be happy if we zap it, right?"

  "Maybe if someone climbs in a different bedroom and down the hall, but that supposes a lot of locks not locked and no one moving or hearing while they do it. And the dog will still make noise when they get there, so 'out' will be the challenge either way."

"Definitely stun if you can, kill if you have to. We'll need off planet passage too, can someone look into passages off world, I guess Drinax for now, then greener pastures."

  Zhouth seemed a bit startled by that suggestion... actually, both suggestions, but one was decidedly more immediate. "She wants him back alive, right? So it had better not be more than a stunner! And I don't think she'll be in a paying mood if we traumatize him by shooting his dog as we whisk him away!"

"I was referring to the guards and others in the house, not the boy and the dog Zhouth, really?"

  Zhouth's apparent alarm subsided somewhat. "It sounded like you meant to shoot the dog if that's what it took..." He shook his head. "Never mind, confusion about who you were answering, I suppose."

  "I still think we're best off using a grav car to get to him and get away quickly, or at least get some of us to him and through the window. We can't all fit in one, but the other cars have to go back anyway."

Ingrid looks concerned when Theodore said the governor hated him. Now, what could that be about? I hope Teddy isn't in any trouble.

"Sixteen of them? Goodness!" she says, worried. "Are we not going to try to negotiate, then?"

They outnumber us two to one, I advise against it now that we know he has what is most likely mercenaries. Hit and run like hell."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:35, Tue 11 June 2019.

Rejji shakes his head in disbelief, stating that this is a "a real Charlie foxtrot" when he sees what they are against.

Then adding his two cents worth, "If the mon took his boy against the law, he not want to negotiate. He already made his stance clear."

"That many people, two ways do it. Strike fast, strike hard, or cause a distraction while others sneak in and grab the boy and dog."

"Sixteen a lot, but how many actually fight? If they all bodyguards, then what other security be there? If not bodyguards, then less fight."

"After we grab boy, he may call police. While boy not his to keep, we are breaking in and probably assaulting. Enough for police arrest."

After his long speech, Rejji shakes his head again, adding, "Risk much higher than reward."

"And 5,000 credits doesn't cover the risk. My life is worth more than 5,000 credits. What do the rest of you think, there is bold, then there is stupid. Feel free to pipe in Varca. Aaron. Everybody."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:52, Tue 11 June 2019.

  "He wouldn't call them in because he and his friends are all illegal themselves, she said. Maybe she's wrong about that, though?" Zhouth stared at the readout while weighing their options, some of which were more creative than others, and none of which struck him as ideal. "I still think the grav car idea to get him from the window works best, especially if they're distracted when we do it. If it's not that, we find some way to catch him when he's moving tomorrow. They go as a convoy, right? Unless maybe the things don't work, or we've got a way to shut them down while they're going."

  "We could still just try to talk it over, but with that many guards, he's jumpy, and they might be told to just start shooting if they see anyone approach."

"Twenty-five hundred credits won't break the bank. Keep what we got for expenses and leave this job behind. The odds are heavy."

  Zhouth had one last, somewhat longshot, idea. "How much did he pay them? Buy them off, maybe? If Cheshire has all this money, as she says, then she could help cover that if what we already have for expenses isn't enough, right?"

"That is a possibility, but the ex would just raise his bid to keep them. Can we win a bidding war? I don't think so. Knock on the door and ask?"

  "It would be between the two of them, then. She gets what she wants if she can pay more than he can. That's how things usually work in the Imperium too, right?" Zhouth flashed a grin, but he knew they were out of options that weren't extremely risky or thoroughly dependent on things beyond their control.

  "Maybe try to call her to tell her what the situation is before we leave. If she knows the odds, she may change her offer, or call in the police herself. Actually, we could do that now, couldn't we, knowing that they're both here?"

"Go ahead and call her. We're keeping the deposit money regardless. With odds at better than 2 to 1, I'm going to have to say we should scrub trying to do this by force."

Teddy disassembles his rifle and puts it away in his briefcase carefully, wiping it clean in the process.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:23, Tue 11 June 2019.

  Zhouth shrugged. "Someone used to this should do the calling. I wouldn't know how to say it, or how to wheedle for other options. This is all new to me."

"Varca? You want to make the call? Ingrid? Aaron? I want more options. Bribery works or nothing will."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Tue 11 June 2019.

Not one to sit around and bicker a point, Rejji takes his binoculars in his hand, telling the others, "I'm going to put some eyes on and see if I can tell more." Leaving the others to talk he starts silently down the road in the direction of the house, periodically scanning through his binoculars until he's close enough to see inside the house.

  "Rejji? See if there's a way to his window without raising a fuss? Then it's just him and the dog to worry about, and maybe we can do that," Zhouth called low after the departing Vespexer, though he didn't move to follow, supposing that someone like Rejji would work better alone, or at least in the company of other practiced raiders.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:45, Wed 12 June 2019.

"We can't give up" Ingrid says seriously. "We said we would do it. Our honor is at stake." She frowns at Theodore when he says he would keep the money.

"Most of them seem to be asleep, so I suppose a quick raid is our best option."

"I still think Zhouth's idea is a good one, disable one grav-car, hijack the other and use it to kidnap the boy directly from his room", Aaron simply stated, "Perhaps set-up Theodore with his artillery at the other end and cause a distraction if need be."

"It has risks, of-course, but less than any other except bailing out", he mused, "Which, while tempting, doesn't sit well with me."

"I think you guys are all operating on a faulty premise or two," Viridian suggests.

"First of all, you seem determined to put all of your eggs in one basket. It's either this plan or that plan or some other plan. Why does it have to be just one option?"

Secondly, when this was just a working farmhouse, the windows to the rooms probably opened readily enough for ventilation. The frames were probably wooden, the windows glass also in a wooden frame. Now, I'm not saying that's changed, but given the nature of this 'hangout', I'd seriously consider expecting a few upgrades... such as Varca's sensor grid."

"However, just because these are possibilities doesn't mean they happened."

"Cheshire didn't give us any indication that Erik was the 'mob boss' of this motley crew. There's no reason to think that he controls everyone here or that they are particularly loyal to him. Friends, yes, but, as I said, when the bullets start flying, how many of them are going to stand up and say 'Oo-oo! Shoot me, shoot me!'. You know what I'm saying?"

"Unless the windows open easily... and there's no reason to think that out here in the middle of nowhere in a compound of ruffians that the windows would be locked. If Erik is paranoid and expects some sort of retaliation, then, yeah, the kid's room's windows might be locked. But if it's just glass, that ain't going to stop anybody."

"I don't suppose anyone has burglar tools? Cut the glass?"

"Any forcible entry is bound to alert the dog and probably wake up the kid, as well as Erik. I'm guessing Erik is across the hall, rather than next door. Easier access. And that's why the dog's there--warning system."

"Anyway, I was just thinking that Varca and Rejji could just drive up in the jeep, park, get out and walk in the front door. All they have to do is say they're friends of Erik and he told them to meet him here. They look more like the type than the rest of us."

"Join the poker game. Start a fight over cheating. Or not. At least, you'd have a foot in the door."

"While they are doing that, the rest of us could try the grav vehicles. Keep in mind that they aren't totally silent... unless they are stealth versions."

"In any case, I'd try the hall window rather than the bedroom window. Less likely to wake up the kid and panic him. Also, the dog might not be as concerned about a noise in the hall as opposed to in the room."

"Oh, and one last thing: I can't see the kid's room door being locked in case the kid has to go to the latrine in the middle of the night. But, if it is, can anyone pick locks?"

     Varca's helmeted head quickly turns away from looking out toward the compound, to face towards Theodore--an instant later Varca is on the move--purposefully striding over to stand before Theo.  For a moment, all Theo can see is Varca's dimly illuminated, red eyes, as Varca stares at him through the transparent visor.

     Then Varca reaches up, grabs the helmet, and pulls it up and off--keeping hold of it in his left hand, as he lowers it.

     With a bit of a scowl, Varca raises his right hand and points a gloved finger at Theo, saying, "I've made no secret about my doubts that you're the same starry-eyed, aristocratic puke who came down from the Damned Palace all those years ago--not knowing shit about life outside the Damned Palace--swearing you were going to go live the Better Life, off in the Imperium..."

     Suddenly Varca breaks into a wide smile, throws his right arm around Theo and pulls him into a one-armed hug.

     "But anybody that Governor-Yotz-for-Brains Cleon Hardy wants stomped into the mud, has got to be my kind of Drinaxian!  Welcome Home, buddy!"

     After a couple seconds of hugging and laughing, Varca shoves Theo out to arms length and, still grinning, shakes his head while letting out a happy-sounding sigh of "Haaahhh..."

     And just as suddenly as it came, the grin is gone,

     "But, until you lose the accent, I'm still gonna call you Imperial!" Varca says, seriously, as he brings his right hand up from Theo's shoulder to give him a light slap on the side of the head.

     "But!  You did just give me an idea!  Just let me make a comm-call, and I think I can layout a perfect smash-and-grab raid with minimal casualties.  Just a tic..."

     So saying, Varca slips his helmet back on, then starts tapping buttons on the control pad on his left forearm.

"Could be, but with so many in there, you willing to find out who's with Erik and who isn't.

Old wood warps and quits opening too, but I guess we can try and die if you all insist. Okay Varca, glad you're back with us instead of in your own world! Thanks Vir."

This message was last edited by the player at 13:59, Wed 12 June 2019.

Cyrus watched the shack through his PRIS binoculars and counted bodies inside via X-Ray setting. Three vehicles and over a dozen people and a dog inside.

This would not be an easy bounty but he needed the money.



His eye's flicked up when his HUD displayed the silent notification that he was receiving a communication.

Speaking subvocally through his commdot he responded.

When Rejji gets to a good position, he lays down and starts scanning the house, trying to get an idea as to what type of people are in there and what they are carrying in armaments.

Rejji has Recon-1. Do I need to roll or do you?

"The problem with a snatch-and-grab is that if something goes wrong, we'll wind up in a firefight with the kid in the middle," Viridian further adds.

"Anyway, just because none of us are burglar material doesn't mean we can't sneak in."

"Anyone good with animals?" He looks pointedly at Zhouth and Ingrid.

"Cause it just occurred to me that Erik may have bought the dog for his kid. A bribe... to make the kid happy and to stop complaining about missing mom."

"Can anyone climb? Climbing down from the roof might be better if we try a second-story entry. But, good point, Mac. We have at least three possible entry points on the second floor--either of the hallway end windows, and the bedroom that's not occupied."

"In either case, going down the hallway to Erik's room shouldn't be a problem. Even if the floor creaks, the second floor is the sleeping quarters. Footsteps would be expected."

"Open Erik's door and stun him right off the bat."

"As for the others on the ground floor, we give Varca and Rejji about 5 minutes to bluff their way in. Once in, they take up a strategic position before the rest of us come in."

"I was thinking drop a sleep gas grenade on the floor... don't know why I thought we had some... I just expected Varca to have some. Does anyone have sleep has grenade?"

"Oh, wait! Did anyone check the ATV for equipment? Sure, it's an old ATV that's seen better days, but that doesn't mean Cheshire didn't stock it."

None of them wanted for a firefight to break out, but it was impossible to come up with a plan that eliminated all risks.

Teddy nods to Viridian as he watches Rejji's progress toward the house. "Who can steal the grav car and who can sabotage the other two vehicles? Follow Rejji as we may as well get on with it. If it don't kill us, it will make us stronger. Varca, after Rejjis is done with recon, you two go in and create our diversion, I'll cover you with the gausse rifle from the wall" he says as he heads for the wall to set up.

  "Me? Good with animals?" Zhouth was both surprised and amused by that suggestion, but nevertheless gamely conceded, "Well, maybe in a lab and running tests on it?" He pointed back the way they came. "Cheshire showed us a picture of Nathaniel and a dog among the ones she had. Probably the same dog, unless it was just replaced. Doesn't make a difference to how noisy it is, though."

  "I don't know how well we can bluff. These groups usually have pass phrases and secret handshakes and such, right?" He made a lobbing motion with one hand and smiled. "But if anyone has grenades, that would change the situation considerably, no matter what kind they are!" He followed up on that idea by walking back to the ATV to check for any supplies that had been previously overlooked...

Teddy chuckled at the thought of grenades, it would be nice, but he doubted it seriously Varca even had one on hand.

"I can either sabotage the vehicles or try to calm the child."