Joe Bob laughed as he took payment from Hawkins. He called over his shoulder, "Crew, snap-to, sizes, colors, and stocking."

The robots immediately came forward and began taking measurements, notes on personalizing the purchased items, and then rushed off to retrieve the needed items from stockroom or storage lockers and began making the proper adjustments, modifications, and color changes.

"Give us about an hour." Joe Bob said. "There is a coffee bar across the way. It's were the local employment collective is. It's a nice place to kill some time."

Jen stood and let the robots take measurements, at one point letting a hand rest on one for a few moments, mentally letting instructions on the adjustments she needed for comfort in the armour download into it's system.  Choosing to go with a plain drab colour as a base coat, after all she'd be turning her own artistic talents on the suits of armour she was getting.

With the coffee bar being suggested Jen looks between Hawkins and Douglas.

That sounds like a good place.  We can ask if they have other work for us to do there too.  I could use a little snack as well.  On the other hand we do need to get other things done. She sighs, Maybe we go get weapons sorted for a starter then come back in an hour.  Can't sit around and relax with chores to do.

"Let's do guns next. Killian went to that Coffee Shop and we ought to leave him be while he's in his feels."

 Avoiding the showroom-cum-junkshop setup, Killian heads back into the store and straight for the 'office' window, a copy of the bounty sheet tucked into a webbing strap and a flat, patient expression on his face as he waits for the proprietor to be done so that he can ask his questions.

In reply to Jennifer Long (msg # 82):
In reply to Hawkins (msg # 83):

  Willy gives his 2 teammates a nod as he responds, "No rest for the weary, as the saying goes.  Considering our chosen line of profession, I think it prudent to make certain we're able to take offensive action when the need arises.  I for one have expended an awful lot of munitions since we climbed into that flying contraption way back.
  As he exits the shop with Jennifer & Hawkins, he immediately notices his other teammates, seemingly converging from the 4 corners of the compass.  "Well, isn't this an unexpected coincidence.  It's pleasant, as always, to see y'all in good health.  How has everyone faired on their separate endeavors?"

 "Not too bad. I have a lead on a job that'll put some cash in my pocket." Killian remarks when Book speaks up, indicating the store, "Someone's been stealing from him. Figured it was as good a place to start as any."

"Hey, yeah." Joe Bob chimed in. "Hanson. He was on trial here as a technician. Turned out to be a thief. Not sure why he stole what he did. I honestly don't think he's a villainous type of dude. But, well, I can't let it stand. It makes me a target. So, if it's possible please don't kill him. I don't want to seem cruel either. Now, how can I help you find him?"

  Willy stepped away from the others & closer to Killian, waving to grab his attention.  "I feel it prudent to tell you this before we part ways again, especially seeing as you seem to be headed off towards what could be a less than peaceful situation.  We talked about it quickly, and decided it wasn't right to leave you without proper combat protection, so we purchased a number of suits of armor, of the variety that you were wearing before.  Joe Bob here offered them for a low price if we bought all four sets.  I figured, if nothing else, they could serve as backups for your more preferred style of armor, which'n we'll be findin' with you later at this point.  I know this isn't the ideal or preferred outcome from your perspective, so we're trying to find a way to get you what you want, and make right with the miscommunication.  If'n I recall correctly, Joe Bob said they'll be ready in about an hour or so.  We're about to head off to take care of our munitions problems next.  Even if'n you don't feel inclined to accept, I wanted to extend a friendly invitation to accompany us.  What'dya say, friend?"

 "Well, first thing you could do is show me his work station, plus his locker... Any duds he left around the place. As for not killing him, can't make any promises but if he lets me, I'll bring him in healthy." Killian answers, pretty obviously prepared to work with the man paying the bills but also not about to strip away his one real means of self-defence if things turn nasty...

 ...now if only he'd brought a neural mace with him. Hindsight is, as they say twenty-twenty and the chopping blade on his hip seemed like it'd be more use.

 As for William, he nods in a friendly fashion, pretty patently not blaming the other man and then rolls his eyes, sighing "Tin-plate dumbass didn't get it, did he?" he asks, before laying it out again, for Williams benefit "I earned a share of our take from those fights, and because - now - I'm a free man, not tank-bred cannon fodder there to soak up gunfire that might otherwise singe a real person, I wanted the right to spend that share, how I saw fit, where I saw fit on what I saw fit." - here, he shrugs with seeming nonchalance, as if he's pretty used to having his opinions roundly ignored by humans in general before continuing "Well, it was generally decided that I could go fuck myself and my freedom - for which, let us recall I am under sentence of death if I ever go home and fair enough. I guess I know better than to share now. Once I've got my shit together, we can work on getting home or whatever the fuck it is we're planning on but first, well. I've got to make up for what was stolen first. Kind of ironic I'm going to try doing that by hunting down a thief that stole from the guy my money was spent at."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:07, Sat 29 Jan 2022.

Replying to Douglas before he goes off for his conversation with the Dog Boy. Jen nods and offers a little bit of a smile.

Yeah, once we get weapons sorted we can see what we can get involved in.  Personally I'm fine with what I have, the JA-11 is a solid rifle and the vibro bracer sorts out up close.  Natural ability pulls up any other slack if needed for me.

In reply to Killian (msg # 89):

  Willy listens carefully & attentively before responding.  "I think I can understand what you mean there friend.  I myself can't figure out when or where the miscommunication occurred.  I do recall a conversation concerning finances and expenses.  As I recollect, it was decided that all repairs, munitions, food, lodging, and other expenses would be paid for first, then the remainder of our funds would be divided evenly.  After all, if we just split the funds right from the start, how would we decide who pays for the expenses of the vehicle?  The intention of this method is to ensure that those of us who need more repairs or resupplies wouldn't be short-handed and have to pay for so called 'business expenses' out of our own pockets.  For example, some of us, like yourself, need extensive repairs, or entirely new armor, while some of us hardly took any hits at all.  It's just the nature of combat.  It just isn't fair if those hit hardest are then required to repair or replace their equipment at their own expense.  That's the logic behind it, anyway.  Once everyone has their essentials provided for again, the remainder was to be equally distributed.  I sincerely believe that nobody is trying to rob anyone here, just a misunderstanding."

 "I had no problem - none - with fixing our ride first. I have no problem - none - with patching someone up or de-cursing them or otherwise un-fucking anything we get them fucked up with." Killian states flatly and simply - refusing to get angry about it while simply giving his side of things "And I understood the logic then, and now. But we're not talking 'repairs'. We're talking 'oh hey, you may have had some money coming but we're just replacing your kit for you instead, be a good little boy and take it'. I'm not here for that. I'm happy to take a lowball share and do my own damn' shopping and I don't much care if that's unfair because if it is, like you just observed, it's unfair to me more than most anyone."

"Shouldn't take long if we can find a gun shop that is similar to this place. I think Nutball and Book had some things they want to look for."

In reply to Killian (msg # 92):

  Willy likewise wasn't getting upset, but did seem a little confused as he attempted to explain his side of the situation more clearly.
  "I'm not trying to minimize your own troubles, expenses, or hardships.  Lord knows you need new armor and more ammunition after those encounters, and you may have started with the least of both amongst all of us.  At this point, however, I feel it is necessary to inform or remind you of the situation for the rest of us, or at least a few prime examples that I hope will make my point clear."

  "You're not the only one of us that your idea of distribution would be unfair to.  Jennifer and I both took enough damage directly to our protective apparel that it is easier, simpler, and cheaper to replace them entirely.  My own armor was completely annihilated by the end of our encounter with those no good slavers, and I even took some damage to my person directly.  Thankfully, my artificially enhanced physique is able to withstand a fair bit more punishment than your average human, and my augmented metabolism is able to heal even major wounds at an impressive rate."

  "On top of that, several of us make use of weapons with non-renewable munitions that are more expensive to replace than simply recharging or replacing energy clips and canisters.  I'm speaking, of coarse, about the various explosives that Hawkins, Nutball, and myself deploy.  Now although these weapon systems are not the cheapest to operate, the ability to dispense impressive amounts of firepower to entire groups of opponents simultaneously and quickly make such weapons indispensable to combatants such as ourselves, especially when there are so few of us to engage the enemy."

  "Now, you, being an experienced battlefield combatant yourself, would obviously know this, and understand the benefits of having and using such ordinance.  That is why it confuses me that you seem so dead set on each of us financing our own armor, weapons, and munitions.  The few of us that take the most damage or use the most firepower would quickly become bankrupt, which would only lead to our team being deprived of their full combat capabilities.  It would unnecessarily weaken us as an effective combat force."

  "The alternative that was agreed upon, however, would ensure that everyone's necessities are taken care of first and foremost.  After all, you can't control who will get shot at by the enemy, nor who will even get a chance to dispense firepower upon our targets.  Maintaining the defensive and offensive capabilities of every member of the entire team is quite simply in the best interest of the entire team as a whole, as well as each individual.  It's just makes sense.  Otherwise, some of us, like you, Jennifer, and myself, could find ourselves without enough funds to even eat, much less replace all our armor and ammo.  I, myself, find I need an entire new set of armor, full recharges on more than half my extensive e-clip supply, and replacements for most of my explosives, a combined cost that I doubt I could afford on my own."

  "Lastly, a point to take into consideration.  A larger mercenary company would be paid as a unit, and pay its members a set salary, likely with extra pay for various reason.  The company would cover the cost of repairs, munitions, and all other necessities, and then pay its soldiers.  Even if it had a profit sharing program, those profits would only be distributed after all other expenses are settled first.  We're simply trying to use a similar model, on a smaller scale.  Once everyone is combat ready again, we'll all get an equal share of the remaining funds, including you." 
This message was last edited by the player at 02:33, Sun 30 Jan 2022.

 "No, I get it. I really do. The difference between magical and practical logistics are something the Coalition hammer on day in, day out - how much more dangerous magical logistics are on the tactical level, and how much weaker they are on the strategic is a cornerstone of Coalition doctrine." the wolf answers calmly, after listening - and he does indeed, listen - "And I am not insisting on equal shares, I am not insisting on cutting out anyone who's lost gear, I am not insisting on everyone taking a share and I am not even insisting on replacing everything I lost. All I want is the right to do my own damn' shopping to my own damn preferences, to which end I was happy to take a lowball cut on what my rough take would be and to go and do said shopping. I don't even give a shit if I'm handing back receipts and unspent cash at the end of the day."

 A beat, and he shrugs "Instead, as mentioned, fuck me and the horse I rode in on. Well, okay. If that's how it works then that's how it works. It's not like I'm used to better.", then motions to Bob as if to request to be shown the lockers.

Joe Bob disappears for several minutes and comes back with three things in a box and sets them on a table of mundane uniform items for Killian to investigate. The first item in the box was a custom tool kit. The second was a pair of shop coveralls with the logo 'Joe Bob Griggs - Nobody has better deals' on the back. The last item was one of those swamp guides published outside the swamp that was supposed to be a 'definitive guide to the dinosaur swamps'.

(OOC: Killian this is your 'stuff' to use to locate Hanson. Use whatever skills or abilities you want to gain some clues for this fugitive recovery. Make the rolls you need and put them in your post stating what you are doing and give me an idea of what you hope to gain. We will go from there. Thanks.)

 Pretty much the first thing Killian does is spend several minutes sniffing the coverall, particularly at the neck and wrists where it would have been most likely to come into contact with skin - this includes the question "Do you mind if I take this?" which, if affirmative sees him put the garment (or any other strong source of the mans scent) into a ziplock baggy*.

 Using his uniform gloves, he flips through the magazine (for what it's worth), then checks to see if it opens on any particular page and finally... Well, finally he gets to the tools and frowns, almost immediately asking "This guy, Griggs. If he's good enough to have custom tools, he's good enough not to leave them behind, isn't he?"


 ---

* There is in fact, no roll for identifying someone's scent on 'a thing' for reference purposes. I start rolling if and when I'm ID'ing that person or tracking them, and I do so every thousand feet or so.

Joe Bob shrugged and said, "That's all that was left. The coveralls were hanging on a nail back in the prep area. The tools and magazine were in the pockets."

  After listening to Killian's response, DW turns back to the others, shrugging his shoulders in resignation.  "Well, it seems to me, the best we can do at this point is either leave him to fend for himself, buy him equipment he might never use, or hand over some cash for him to make his own purchases.  'Least, that's what I can figure.  In my opinion, that first option is an automatic negatory.  The second option seems a tad tyrannical to me.  The third option may not be what we all agreed upon, but I'm outta ideas.  Of coarse, that might be on account of the empty state of my stomach.  I don't know too many people who think at their best when hungry.  What do ya'll think of all this?" 
This message was last edited by the player at 01:46, Tue 01 Feb 2022.

When Book steps outside (He'll have to do that to talk to Jenn and Hawkins. Theresa and Nutball should be out there by now as well) Hawkins is looking at the door.

"I could hear the whole conversation. You did the best you could and he made his decision."

"Can't trust a guy that doesn't consider himself subject to agreements we make the first time he gets a whim.

"He can take the gear that we left in there for him or not. He can swap his e-clips with Joe-Bob like I arranged or not. I got no more energy to spend on a grown ass sentient being that won't listen to reason."

"Besides, he called me a thief three times and I didn't rip his head off. I'm calling it even."

He looked around.

"Y'all ready to go gun shopping? I'm ready to get that done and move onto checking out the potential work Nuts found."

 Leaning back, Killian raises his voice to call out "Just in case you forgot, I didn't agree to anything. You want to put a couple thousand credit truth tax on descriptions though, sure long as you sleep better at night for it." before he goes back to what he's doing.

 Oh, right.

 Dog Boys hear good too!

 Grumpy fuckers as well, or so it seems.

 For now though, he's asking Bob "These look pretty high-end. Anything likely to be on this computer and any way we can access it? And what do these say... Looks like he's been taking notes." - turning the magazine towards the other man, showing him where it's been marked.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:43, Tue 01 Feb 2022.

Jen shrugs, not party to the full conflicted conversation and not really caring for it either.

Yeah, we should get the gun shopping done and then hit food.  While not nearly as in need as Douglas or others with augmentation, I could really do with something.  The jobs can get a work on after that.  Sure there will be something for us to do, we've got a good spread of skills in the group.  Hell could even help out collectors by reading psychic impressions from objects to give them an idea of what stuff is, that's part of what I signed on for with the original expedition.

  Willy gives a casual shrug as he responds.  "Mostly I just require recharges and explosives.  My other weapons were left in my ride back in Colorado." 
  "As for Killian, I don't presume to understand his reasoning, but it's his choice to make.  Maybe he doesn't understand how democratic votin' works.  Maybe he just don't care.  Maybe it's somethin' else.  Granny used to say 'It's no use fussin' over other folks' thinkin'.  I do believe it's high time we moved on though.  As Jennifer so eloquently stated, we have a wide variety of skills at our disposal, and a will to use them, so I say we make inroads towards gainful work." 
  He turns to Nutball & Theresa as he asks, "Will you two be joining us for the next part of our resupply endeavors?"

As they began to walk away Hawkins asked Theresa,

"How did the deal go for the magic stuff? Get anything for it?"

Lets get to the next store.