NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shadowdancer" data-source="post: 1744860" data-attributes="member: 515">While the others are attending the breakfast meeting, Martha, Vargas, Swann, and Ian remain aboard the Bray Keaven to begin preparations for departure from Sentry. -----After the negotiation with Aidan Silver, Vasilii, Saro, and Kevon return to the Bray Keaven and start working as well. Vasilii arranges for Aidan’s cargo to be loaded, then turns to selecting the rest of the load. Contacting the shipping companies, he arranges to transport 15 dtons of carbon and 7 dtons of bulk plastic to Fonnein. Finding the rest of the cargoes to be unsuitable in some way, Vasilii turns to the speculative market. He places a bid on a shipment of aluminum. He also bids on a shipment of tools, assuming that he can find a market for them somewhere. -----Musing over the offer from Mr. Seirl, Vasilii opens the comm and asks the crews’ opinion about it. "I find it a little strange that this cargo is a priority and yet the contact feels content to let it sit out near the jump radius. Since I don’t know if the cargo has been through any customs/security checks, I’d be leery of accepting it." Something about the whole situation screams "set-up" to Swann. He tells Vasilii, "This sounds too good to be true, so it probably is. I vote against taking this cargo." Martha responds, "I wouldn’t be surprised if this were a set–up to try and take the ship. With the war going on to rimward, pirates are getting bolder every year. Vasilii, I don’t think we should take this one — call it a gut feeling." The rest of the crew also votes no on taking the cargo. -----For the rest of the crew, the morning passes pretty quickly with preparations for lifting off. Kevon is involved with preflight. Vargas is occupied with prepping the ship, with Rusti’s help as required for those hard–to–reach places. Martha is green–lighting the various engine systems after running the necessary diagnostic routines. Swann preps the life–support system, then runs a check on the computer systems. -----By late morning, the cargo starts arriving, and Aidan Silver shows up for his berth. Ian greets him outside the ship. "Good day, Mr. Silver." Ian says, extending his right hand. "I am Ian McConnell, security officer. Welcome aboard." Ian’s big grin crinkles the scarred skin around his missing ear. He studies the man’s clothing and luggage, making note of anything unusual. "Please disclose all weapons you intend to bring aboard our ship." "Certainly, sir, here’s my cavalry saber, my target rifle, and my pistol. Please be most careful with the first two, they are specially built for competition." "Hmm, very nice." Ian says while admiring the weaponry. "Rest assured they will be safe. I’ll show you to your cabin." Ian then shows Aidan where the lounge area is located and to his cabin. "I hope our accommodations are acceptable; we rarely take on passengers. If you need anything or have any questions, feel free to come to me. I’m sure we will have a chance for you to meet the rest of the crew before departure." The tour is brief since the lounge isn’t very large, but Ian makes the most of his opportunity for small talk. The conversation doesn’t reveal much, but Ian does note a bit of an aristocratic tilt to Aidan’s phrasing and accent along with an apparent careful observation of the ship as Aidan boards. Ian also takes Aidan’s saber, target rifle, and target pistol for storage in the ship’s locker. The rifle and pistol are of markedly fine make and quality, from one of the more exclusive suppliers for competition teams. -----Martha double checks the security protocols, and insures that Mr. Silver is set to standard passenger access. (i.e. his room, the passenger lounge, and non–secure areas only; the rest requires crew member attendance.) -----Shortly after Aidan arrives, cargo handlers arrive at the berth with his three dTons of electronics parts. Swann, Ian, and Aidan keep a watchful eye as the cargo handlers load the cargo into the forward cargo lock/hold. The three dTons of electronics parts come packed in standard one-dTon cargo containers. After the loading is complete, Ian escorts Aidan back upstairs to the lounge. -----Vasilii arranges for his transport and speculative cargoes. Vasilii also contacts Hil Seirl with the crew’s answer about his one dTon of cargo. Hil Seirl, a rather pudgy man in his 40s with a brown receding hairline, is surprised at the rejection of his cargo. But he smiles after a moment and comments that he’ll have to make other arrangements, and politely asks if the Bray Keaven will lifting soon. Vasilii is noncommittal, and Hil Seirl pleasantly wishes the ship a safe transit. Vasilii’s purchase of the tools doesn’t go as well as he would hope, and he only gets the tools for KCr9 per dTon for four dTons. Vasilii’s purchase of the 17 dTons of aluminum goes better, and he is able to get the second cargo for what he figures to be a substantial discount off the base price. -----Kevon, Martha, and Vargas concentrate on getting the ship ready for liftoff and transit to 069-526. Since Vasilii is occupied with the cargo, Kevon works on the jump astrogation. -----Shortly after lunch, the rest of the cargo starts arriving. Again, Ian and Swann keep a watchful eye on the cargo as it is loaded. The carbon and bulk plastics arrive first and are stored away towards the front of the cargo bay. Vasilii’s speculative purchases arrive in the mid afternoon. -----After the cargo arrives, Vasilii settles accounts with the port for services provided. Cargo handling: Cr1,290 (for 43 dTons)Landing rights: Cr50Landing and berthing: Cr250Fuel: Cr11,000 (22 dTons)Total: Cr12,590. -----Before lift off, Saro checks the fake fuel processors and finds that nothing has been added to or removed from them. -----Around 1800 hours, the Bray Keaven lifts from Sentry Downport. The traffic is moderate, and Kevon easily follows the course dictated by Sentry Port Control to orbit. After reaching orbit, the Bray Keaven heads towards the jump limit and 069-526.</blockquote>

Verification