Babylon 5: Outrageous Fortune

[Shayuri]

Ashley nods slowly as if thinking it over. It was a bit much...but frankly they didn't have a lot of options at this point, and given that, his request was actually pretty reasonable. Trying to keep up the charade was beyond pointless at this time.

"I'll need authorization before I can agree to that, but from where I'm sitting I don't see a problem with it."

She glances at the others to see how they're reacting to this.

 

[Blackrat]

Sarhat gives a slight nod to signify his agreement with Ashley. He then glances at Kev and grumbles inside. It was a bad idea to give Denn'boks to humans. Satai Shakat had taught him to believe that, and he had to agree. There was only one group of humans handling them and they were not as secretive anymore as they had been a decade ago.

 

[Shayuri]

(OOC - Simon, not sure how Ashley would check on this...I need a little feedback on what he's proposing and what she'd need to do to check in so I can post more. Also ping. )

 

[Dr Simon]

OOC: Will address this all later today - been mulling over the next move

 

[Dr Simon]

[SBLOCK=OOC]
Okay, in character terms, Ashley or the other team members can use a comm terminal (there's one in the hotel room) to get in touch with Valerie Maupassant, your liaison for this mission. Maupassant is a French-Guyanan woman who is neither Anla'Shok, nor officially an ISA representative, but serves as a go-between for you and ISA officials. She's currently based on B5 and can be reached through any tachyon relay system.

In game terms, this kind of decision can normally be covered under the Influence rules, although in this case, since things are desperate for Earth, I might subsume it under normal inter-personal skills to see how pliable Maupassant and her superiors are to the request. All of you have +1 Influence with the ISA for taking this mission, by the way.
[/SBLOCK]

Raive smiles.

"You do that," he says. He pulls a communicator from one of Sethyk's webbing pouches and hands it to Ashley. "This is a little gizmo of Sethyk's design. Transmits a coded signal on a closed frequency right into my head. If you need to call me privately, use this." He stretches and slides his shiort back on over the fresh bandages. "I'm going to get some sack time. See you when I see you." He saunters over to the door. "Keep the room," he says over his shoulder, and is gone.

Sethyk hops onto the back of the room's sofa and begins tinkering with the dart-firing eye again, twittering to himself.

Kevin looks at the door. "Want me to follow him?"

 

[Shayuri]

Ashley rubs her temples moodily. There's a dull throb deep inside that lets her know she's been overdoing it lately.

"I..." She hesitated.

Somewhere along the line, she'd become the leader, it seemed. She hadn't intended to. It'd just happened.

Don't fold up now, Logan. When someone throws you the ball, you run with it. There could be a lot riding on this, so you're going to have to carry it just a little longer.

"Yeah," Ashley finally agreed. "Yeah, but play it safe. Keep in touch, and if you think he's onto you, break it off and get back."

She stood up, already feeling drained and tired. "The rest of us should get back to the hotel."

 

[Dr Simon]

Tribon City, 0630 EST

Ashley awakes suddenly, to the sound of the com systems "message waiting" alert. Sarhat is sat cross-legged on the floor, near the door, awake but in the Mainbari meditation pose. Vurk is slumped in the room's easy chair, snoring noisily. Kevin is nowhere to be seen, and at first it looks like Sethyk has gone too, until Ash notices him curled up on top of the wardrobe.

There are two waiting messages.

The first, from Valerie Maupassant. "I'm sorry Ms. Logan, but we can't authorise the requested funds at this present time. However, we are very interested in this Mr. Timogen, perhaps you could persuade him to come with you so that we can arrange a face to face meeting? If it helps, dangle the carrot of double payment in front of him."

The second, from Duane Kessler. "Ms. Logan, I'm pleased to tell you that all the finances have been cleared and we are able to procede with your shipment of Q-40. We will be bringing it to your ship this morning, 0900 EST. Thank you for using Rax-Mindstrom Enterprises!"

[SBLOCK=OOC]
For the record, Influence checks use 3d6 plus Influence score, vs. a DC. A DC of 10 or 12 is usual for requesting extra funds, I used 12 for the larger amount. Ashley's total was 8 + ISA influence 1 = 9.
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Shayuri]

Ashley growls in frustration at the message. "Come with us where? To Earth? You have to be KIDDING me, Maupassant! We came all the way out here, just to shuttle the guy all the way back without even..."

Through her shower she racks her brain, trying to think of a way to turn this around. Didn't those idiots on Earth WANT to be saved? What was ten thousand next to even the CHANCE they'd find something useful? Every time she went down that road, she got so mad she had to stop and do relaxation exercises.

Finally, over room service breakfast, she sent another message to Valerie.

Let me just make sure I'm reading you right. You want me to offer him twenty thousand to come with us back to Earth? If that is correct, I have some follow up questions and observations.

1) You do realize that Raive is a wanted criminal, is stuffed absolutely full of black market cybernetic alterations, and that you're asking me to ask him to come willingly into the very heart of enemy territory for...what? A lousy twenty grand? I'll be lucky if he doesn't burn my face off.

2) Furthermore, was our mission not just to find Raive and get his help, but ALSO to then actually go to the planet and find technology? If we bring Raive back, we'll be -at best- delaying the second...and to my mind most critical...part of this mission by weeks at minimum. Is that worth a lousy ten grand?

Please help me out here, Val...because I am confused. I thought we'd want Raive to take us seriously, but I'm not sure how he can be expected to if you ask me to behave like a moron. Considering what's out here, and especially considering what's at stake, ten thousand seems like its more than justified.

What's really going on here?

 

[Blackrat]

Sarhat followed Ash's pacing around with his eyes but otherwise didn't move a muscle. The human was intriqueing. She seemed to be going through just about every state of frustration in circles. Once the breakfast arrived, Sarhat finally moved and ate, but still said nothing. The girl seemed lost in her thoughts and he wasn't going to interrupt her.

 

[Dr Simon]

Vurk, as a relatively urbane pak'ma'ra, eats his breakfast in a other room, as it is well aware of the effects that pak'ma'ra food can have on the appetites of other races. Sethyk joins him to discuss technical matters. Either cascor diets are just as bad or the little alien is just not squeamish.

Not long after Ash sends her message there is an incoming call from Maupassant, appearing in person (or at least, via tachyon relay).

"Ms. Logan," she says placatingly. "I apologise if there has been some misunderstanding here. There is no need for Mr. Timogen to be bought to Earthspace, that would indeed be a waste of time and resources. We have operatives in Abbai space, just a short jump from where you are now. Mr. Timogen would have nothing to fear from them, and indeed we can offer immunity to prosecution for any crimes that he may be wanted for. At any rate, the ISA has no jurisdiction over local matters.

"Further, we would like our specialists to debrief Mr. Timogen before authorising a mission into Tal-Kon'Sha space. A venture as risky as this demands some planning otherwise it could be an expensive waste of lives, time and equipment. Besides, we have another lead in your area that we'd like you to follow.

"Now, I respect that you and Mr. Sarhat's team are the one's at the sharp edge, and any other information that you can give me would be appreciated."