In reply to Gustav Fireau (msg # 74):

"But what price if it is sold on Carsten?"

"Carsten has a very cold climate and a very thin oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere tainted by low oxygen levels. The planet is a lawless mining world whose major resource is radioactives. Small pockets of ore allow the local small prospecting companies to make a good living. Sound like a good place to sell wine to you?"

In reply to Gustav Fireau (msg # 77):

"Sounds like a place for real men. Do you produce rum maybe?"

In reply to Danila (msg # 78):

The man furrowed his brow and wrinkled his nose as he shook his head no.

In reply to Gustav Fireau (msg # 79):

"Alright, the Trake deal is fixed, and give me a night to think over the wine", - Frederick exchanged contacts with Gustav.

Andrew will visit the ISS run trading station to check on any trade opportunities as well as any news and rumors

During all this discussion, the Akerut crewmen at the nearest table have plainly been hearing bits and pieces, and are seen casting sidelong glances towards the bar. One of the Oberlindes crew also seems to have taken notice; he comes over and invites the characters to join his group at their table and swap some news.

The Oberlindes group is a friendly bunch. They are very frustrated just now; their ship, the Margin of Profit, broke down five weeks ago, The problem is too complicated for the local starport: to cope with and it is distinctly possible that Akerut has put some pressure on the starport to stall the parts orders, just to cause trouble (Akerut and Tukera, one of the Oberlindes people remarks, are not too happy with recent Oberlindes expansion into the Aramis subsector).

‘Normally a five-week vacation would not be so bad, even on Zila, but on this trip the ship’s got VIPs aboard – old man Oberlindes himself and his chief assistant, Arrlanroughl.’ Before things get much further, the group notices that the rest of the bar has fallen silent. A couple of Akerut crewmen, plainly a little worse for drink, have sauntered over near the table. They begin to make loud comments to each other, calling the March Harrier a ‘fat sow too slow to win anything but a garbage contract and so old that it is only the rust that holds it together.’
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:49, Sat 02 Oct 2021.

Smash will look over a the two would be antagonists for signs that these Akerut or even Vememe operative rather than rank and file crewmen. He will glance toward Gvoudzon and or any other potentially provoked crew member "Don't mind these clean shaven boys. They want to start a fight so their boyfriends in the police force can rescue them"

In reply to Smash Glee (msg # 83):

‘But it’s a good thing the March Harrier turned up – maybe we can give her the garbage run and have Margin of Profit hauled off with the rest of the refuse.’ At this, the Oberlindes crew jumps into action and a brawl breaks out.

Danila continued drinking his beverage, bending down occasionally when a chair flew over his head, or quickly removing the bottle from the table right before some body fell on the table in front of him.
- What do you think, mister Glee, should we maybe join this exercise, or just chill out watching? - he asked phlegmatically.

OOC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2bVAGMwi8M&t=14s

ooc - nice!

In reply to Danila (msg # 85):

OCC This is reminding me of the bar fight scene from 'Trouble with Trebles' episode of Star trek TOS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHiJXfQ1z9Y

"As much as I feel for the guys I think they are being played by Akerut.   

Tal jumps in to help the Oberlindes spacers! Beating one guy unconscious with a single swing!

Haha, yes, it's even better.

In reply to Danila (msg # 89):

The police come in with batons swinging! The brawl is quickly over with 4 cops taking Tal down, it took them all!

"Who started this?" the head of the police asks. The bartender and Akerut guys point to the Oberlindes and crew of the Harrier, Oberlindes and you point to the Akerut crew. You are arrested for the overnight lockup, they were regulars!

The next morning, even before any of the legal services can intervene to assist the characters, they are bailed out of jail, along with the Oberlindes crew. All their fines are paid and the damages as well.

Their benefactor is none other than Marc hault-Oberlindes, the owner of the line. Having heard of the fight, he and Arrlanroughl made arrangements – which involved a lot of cash – to smooth things over. He felt he owed it to the group for getting them involved in the ongoing enmity between the Oberlindes and Tukera lines. Anyway, he wants to make them an offer he thinks will be worth their while.

Oberlindes Lines currently bases their Aramis subsector operations at Paya; now that Oberlindes is expanding its business in the subsector, it requires a more centrally located headquarters. He and Arrlanroughl are currently in the process of personally supervising the opening of new Oberlindes offices, to be established at Aramanx starport.

Unfortunately he, Arrlanroughl and a cargo of computer records and other material have been stalled here at Zila for several weeks. He wants to arrange passage for himself and Arrlanroughl, plus their cargo (50 tons) through to Aramanx. He is willing to pay well – high passages to Carsten and Aramanx for each, plus a guarantee to pay for March Harrier’s whole cargo space for the whole trip. Thus, with a partial load, they receive as much as they normally would for a full one and that is not a deal to be casually ignored. All Oberlindes asks for in return is speed – as much speed as the March Harrier can make, even if it means skimming fuel at Carsten and passing up a planetfall there.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:42, Sun 03 Oct 2021.

- Too late! - Danila said to Smash, - After Tal joined a fight, it is not a fight anymore, it is battering and punishment. Cheers! (Another body fell nearby). Ouch, that was a rough landing! You know, I have no anger on the Akerut guys anymore, I just feel sorry for them. I think we should call an ambulance, too...



- Hey, officer, I didn't even stand up from the table! What?! Okay, okay, don't touch me, I'll go myself! (Bastards!)
This message was last edited by the player at 12:05, Sun 03 Oct 2021.

"We need you and your ship and we're willing to pay!"

- Deal! The whole cargo hold you said... That is 144 tons, or 432 000 Cr to Aramanx. Plus 40 000 Cr for two high passages, 472 000 Cr total. And you don't mind if we carry other passengers or cargos besides yours, do you?
- However, if you want speed, then skimming fuel at Carsten might be not the fastest way, because it is usually faster to cross a gravity shadow of a smaller planet than one of a gas giant, plus we can refuel refined fuel on the planet, not waiting for the onboard refinery.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Sun 03 Oct 2021.

"Just get me there now, time is money and I don't have time, we can load and be ready to depart this afternoon!"

Danila sent a message to the captain (and the team), describing the Oberlindes's offer. And added:
- Frederick is ready to sign a deal with the local winery owner, Gustav Fireau. The plan is that March Harrier picks up 25 tones of the wine, moves it to Aramanx, sells it there and only then pays to Gustav. Gustav gets 50% of the selling price (after taxes and insurance) which will be send to him via the Imperial mail service. The price on Aramanx is 60 000 - 75 000, that means we can win up to 30 000 per ton. However, it should be noted that all this became possible due to the fact that Akerut maintains a monopoly here - they buy the local wines at 12 000 and sell it at +500% margin on Aramanx. Gustav wants to break the monopoly. I bet that if we are into it, we gonna cross some serious moneybags. However again, Frederick believes that our move would be perfectly legal.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:11, Sun 03 Oct 2021.

In reply to Danila (msg # 96):

A good job both of you. As for trouble we may  aware already facing it.  I suspect that trouble that plagued the 'Margin of Profit' may plague us as well. If you propose additional passengers be aware that our VIPs have enemies that could try to sneak a saboteur aboard. I do not want what happened to the 'Mammoth'to happen to us

"I'll guard the ship captain!"

In reply to Andrew Steward Copeland (msg # 97):

- Alright, mark what we will pick up and what we will leave behind:

1) Oberlindes, his partner, and his cargo, 50 tons. Profit ca 260 KCr to the Operating Fund (after the subsidy payment).
2) The Gustav's wine, 25 tons. Profit up to 750 KCr to the Shadow Fund.
3) Speculative trade - some commodities (textiles), about 60 tons. Profit ca 175 KCr to the Shadow Fund. They are already in the spaceport so will not slow us down.
4) High / middle passengers. Profit ca 75 KCr to the Operating Fund (after the subsidy payment).
5) Low passengers. Profit ca 11 KCr to the Operating Fund (after the subsidy payment).
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Sun 03 Oct 2021.

In reply to Danila (msg # 99):

"Sounds like I need to be on the top of my game for a few weeks."