After a good deal of discussion the groups settles on purchasing Taran's Wanderer from the Highport of Dukh, ICC.* By pooling their resources into a limited partnership** (including the vast majority of Ruzz'koff's saved turst fund dispersements (and a MCr1.00 silent investment made by Zaedhrarrg before he returns home), the group is able to put together a ten percent down payment on the ship. Even with a very favorable interest rate obtained as a result of the Scout Service's endorsement, the annual payment is daunting: MCr3.20 once a year for forty years. Despite your ability to show that at least the first two years payements are covered by the remaining portion of the salvage settlement owed you by Malikot Enterprises, Mr. Tukera expresses concerns about the payment several times over the course of drawing up the purchase contract.
He excuses himself from the room a one point, and you can see him through his office door speeking to someone on his video link. When he returns, he is willing to go ahead with the deal, though Gwydion sees that he is clearly nervous about it. But, Tukera's nerves aside, by the end of the week, you are the proud owners of a Polo-class scout merchant with a full (main tank) of fuel.
When the paperwork is complete, you receive another call from Tjoyia, who says she has a few more details on you mission, as well as an offer for your first fare. She asks you to come in to her office at the Scout Base.
You arrive at the base in your newly purchased gig (a very fast--5G--small craft with 10 tons of passenger or cargo space. Weapons could be added as funds permit), and are shown inside by a junior scout of luriani heritage. The 70 year old woman in the office greets you all with a big smile, and starts talking a mile a minute.
"Good, good - good to see you all. Hope I was able to smooth things out for you up in the highport. Gavigan's a good boy, but he gets so nervous when he thinks he needs to act responsibly. Anyway, I'm glad that you have your ship, because I've got something lined up for you. Now, as Gwydion may or mayn't of told you, there's a lot of construction going on out in Diamond Prince subsector: some of your trade is meant to support that construction, so securing good suuplies of building materials is going to net you a bonus and give you a leg up on getting some of the better future contracts, and---wait-- getting off track here a bit. The point is that Gavin*** has found the administrator he wants out there to handle the constructions before-- well, before things really take off out there. So what I would like to do is hire you all to get him to his destination, which just so happens to be yours, as well. Now at this point, we'll still be keeping scout money out of the equation, but Mr. Gudeli has more than enough personal funds to cover standard high passage rates to to the Delta quadrant. He also be bringing along a couple of his assistants - you can either charge them or have them work for their passage - I know you had been interested in some training, and let me assure you, that these are very capable people, much as yourselves. Thought it might be a win-win, but that's your call, up to you, no question - er - do you have questions?" She looks at you as if you might, for about the first time since you came in.
ooc:
*"Imperial Charter Corporation"
** Will your limited partnership have a name, or just do business under your individual names? Do you plan on renaming the Taran's Wanderer, or the gig (called "Gurgi"). The new name for the starship needs to be registered before leaving the system; gig and other small craft can be renamed at will.
***Gavin is the name of the Emperor - she's uses his name quite casually here, probably a bit inappropriately.
