High Law and Low Justice, Part 5

[Wilphe]

Sanaath, Ktarle:

Lt de Paolo hands Ktarle's data pad off to the Petty Officer, who, now she takes her helmet off, you can see wears a medics insignia. "Imperial complications? We had better go see the captain then."

A marine corporal and two privates stay behind to secure the airlock and engineering. The rest accompany Saanath and Ktarle up to the main deck, a marine private and Sgt Kurushii take the lead. They don't need directions, which strongly implies that they've studied the deck plan.

Saanath, Ktarle, Gwydion, Tuan:

The passengers are slightly unsettled by the unheralded arrival of a bunch of marines. Sgt Kurushii goes about his business without paying them a great deal of mind, deploying two pairs to secure the twin passages to the bridge and med bay.

Gwydion, Tuan:
Elizabeth Carnot composes herself and looks at Gwydion accusingly, "You could have told us we were being boarded."
Malico looks at his cards, "Did you expect that we'd just land and walk off? Something like this was going to happen, so why tell us what we should have been able to work out for ourselves," he looks at Jake Carling, who is dealing this hand, "Card. Besides, doubtless our minders are keen to see the looks of doubt, fear and guilt crossing our faces at this development." He beams at Tuan as he says this, "Fold".

Everybody:
On the brdige are:
Lt de Paolo
Sgt Kurushii
A marine private
All of you, unless you specifically absent yourselves.

Lt De Paolo, "Captain, I understand that you have a dead body and a sensitive imperial situation. Would you care to explain please?"

 

[doghead]

Saanath, male human merchant.

--- THE BRIDGE ---

Saanath deliveres the Navy detachment to the bridge. He would like to say, but realises that someone needs to remain with the passengers.

"If you don't need me, I'll be out back," he says to Ruzz'koff. Assuming Ruzz'koff doesn't need him at the moment, Saanath departs.

--- THE MESS ---

Saanath arrives just in time to catch Malico concluding comment. Saanath grins. He can imagin how the rest of the conversation had gone.

"If there is room for one more, deal me in. There is not much to do now except wait for the Imperial machine to grind into action.

"A conclusion Malico has already beaten us to, it would seem."

Which makes Malico rather more canny than the others, or more than the others are letting on, at least. While Saanath doesn't really expect the killer to give themselves away at this late date, Saanath will keep his eyes open nevertheless.

- ooc -
Gamble +8, no ranks in sence motive, Gather Info +12 inc Bluff and Carousing syn.

 

[Radiating Gnome]

Lt De Paolo, "Captain, I understand that you have a dead body and a sensitive imperial situation. Would you care to explain please?"

Ruzzkoff nods and begins his narrative once he is sure they will not be overheard. "We are making our way to xxx, by way of this system, and have passengers for both destinations. During our recent jump, a passenger died. Our investigation of the death leads us to believe that his death was the result of someone unknown tampering with the environmental controls for their cabin -- specifically the gravity controls.

"This would still not be a matter for your review except that we found in the dead passenger's effects a collection of data disks -- disks that contain, among other things, what appears to be top secret information about disposition of the imperial fleet. One of the disks appears to be missing, presumably taken by the killer.

"That, Lieutenant, makes this a matter of supreme importance to the imperial navy, a matter of grave military espionage.

"Since making the discovery we hae taken the precaution of locking down all of the passengers, permitting them no access to the ship's computer system or any outside communication. They're getting restless, as you can image, but that seemed to be the most prudent thing to do.

"To further complicate matters, we have on board an important government administrator and his staff, doing their best to travel as discetely as possible.

"The crew of the Vykris will support you and your investigation in every way. Our only hope is to resolve this matter quickly so that we may try to make amends with our other inconvenienced passengers and continue our voyage. "

With that, Ruzzkoff will turn over the passenger manifest and his notes about the chain of events leading up to this moment.

-rg

 

[DrZombie]

Gwydion keeps an eye on the passengers, and on the marines as well, scout-marine relations being what they are.

 

[Maerdwyn]

Ktarle takes in the scene, hoping that this lieutenant turns out to be someone Ruzz'koff can work with.

 

[Wilphe]

Saanath, Tuan, Gwydion:

The card game continues. Malico still looks at ease, a few of the passengers, Maxine Zdrac, Elizabeth Black and Govindra Ishaga most obviously, are very ill at ease. From the murmer of conversation coming your way, they really want to get off this ship as soon as possible.
Zdrac, "It's intolerable. We've important business to go about. First the Emperor drags everything to a halt, now our own petty tyrant keeps us hanging about at the Navy's pleasure. Someone has to keep commerce going you know."
Ishaga, "Maxine, the simplest and quickest way to get out of this situation is to be nice, polite and cooperative with the Navy. Then we can go about our business."
Black, "He's right. We'll just have to bite our tongues and deal with it."

Gwydion:
The marines manner falls into two main catagories. A couple have the "alert but bored" stance of people who aren't really expecting anything to happen but are too well trained to get complacent. The rest are equally alert but seem glad to be doing something other than the routine, you get the impression they'd like a little action.

Ruzz'koff, Ktarle:

The Lieutenant is rather taken aback by Ruzz'koff's revelation about the disks but composes himself quickly. The sergeant is unfazed, but the private's ear's nearly pop off.
Sgt Kurushii, "We didn't hear that Private."
Private, "No sergeant sir."

Lt de Paolo, "The information on these disks is accurate so far you can ascertain? Never mind I shall have them checked out. De Paolo to Gig 07, the bandits are hidden behind the rock?"
The reply is presumably affirmative as he contiues, addressing the bridge crew, "Lashing Tail has passed behind the planet, we are out of sight of the horsies. Please set a course to take up an orbit with Coronel as a prepatory to docking."

 

[Radiating Gnome]

Ruzzkoff directs the crew to comply.

-rg

 

[DrZombie]

Gwydion keeps an eye on the enthousiastic marines, making sure everything runs smoothly and that noone gets trigger-happy

 

[Maerdwyn]

Ktarle tries to make herself useful on the bridge, but mainly confines her self to watching as the Ruzz'koff and the others handle the military.

 

[Wilphe]

The Yykris takes up a holding position under a dorsal hatch in the Coronel, docking is quickly accomplised and the two ships mated. Lt de Paolo marches back to the Common area, "Ladies and gentlemen, we apologise for the inconvenience and hope to have you away and about your business as soon as possible. To this end, when I call your name, please exit through the hatch where my colleagues will ask you to give a statement. Thank for your cooperation."

The passengers file though, Malico Sharisgara goes first, but with every apperence of confidence. Curtis Foster is next and looks uncertain perhaps as the late Antonescu's room-mate he still feels somewhat implicated. Elisabeth Black, Maxine Zdrac & Govindra Ishaga leave quietly, displaying varying degrees of relief at getting off this dirty little tramp and into a 6* hotel and without saying goodbye. Eleanor Carnot takes the time out to "Thank you for the trip, I just wish it could have ended another way."

The administrator and his party are called next. All this takes a good couple of hours, it is now towards mid-morning. "We'll do you now," says De Paolo, "But first I've got the civvies from Shrigegge on the line. They're frothering at the mouth wanting to get their grubby dirt-side mits on your cargo. Something about 60 tons of Agricultural Machinery and the harvest not being able to wait. Frankly I don't give a damn, but they are talking about penalty payments, so I guess you want to talk to them. We'll patch them through, nothing about the sensitive situation though pelase"


An irritated looking woman in a worn, blue, business suit comes on the vid screen in the lounge, "Good morning, I am Loretta Hanson, Undersecretary of Trade to the Government of Shirgegge. You would be the crew of the merchant Vykris yes? We are in desperate need of the equipment you carry, I am also aware that your terms of shipping include a significant penalty clause in the case of delay. We want your cargo delivered and released within 18 hours, or your penalty clauses will be invoked in full."

"I am aware that you are under Navy jurisdiction right now. Howver, this was your own choice, as you could have landed on the planet and resolved your difficutly there. We therefore consider ourselves justified in invoking the penalty."