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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shadowdancer" data-source="post: 1968407" data-attributes="member: 515">Chapter XXII  Date: 174-993Location: Fonnein Oribital Aidan, Swann, and Saro head out for the meeting with Sare de Salui No. 1 at the hotel restaurant. As a precaution, Saro goes on ahead and gets a table a few minutes before the meeting time. Aidan and Swann then enter the hotel and make their way to the restaurant. Saro settles himself in at a table and begins to surreptitiously watch the room for suspicious people. When Swann and Aidan arrive he watches the meeting with Sare and his companion out of the corner of his eye. From the reception station, Aidan and Swann see Sare de Salui No. 1 sitting with an auburn–haired man in his 20s at a round table that could seat six. Swann and Aidan make their way over to the table where the two men rise and greet the Bray Keaven pair politely. The man in his 20s is introduced as Worrin Takashima, an aide. After polite chit–chat while ordering breakfast, Aidan gets the feeling that Sare de Salui No. 1 is also of Noble birth. After a brief wait, the breakfast arrives — certainly an improvement over the Marine ration breakfasts, thinks Swann. Once the waiter has withdrawn, Sare de Salui No. 1 finally brings up the cubes. "Of course, eventually, we must get down to the matter at hand." Taking a small paper card from his jacket pocket, he opens it and hands the card over to Aidan before continuing. "I have been waiting for the arrival of my cube for quite some time, and I’m glad that you’ve been able to deliver it. As you can see, the card contains the identification numbers for both cubes that you should have. And, as for ‘Fallen Whiskey,’ I think that is a rather silly turn of words, don’t you?" "Quite a silly turn of phrase indeed, correctly stated though," Aidan says. "Ah well, seems to always be the case, folks think it adds to the allure with something mysterious. Yes, I see the numbers match. Excellent. Well then, let us get down to arranging transfer." -----On the morning of the meeting, Swann finds himself strangely nervous. He has an uneasy feeling that something is wrong, but he can’t figure out what it is. All the way to the hotel restaurant to meet Mr. de Salui, he feels uncomfortable. He looks around, but doesn’t see any obvious signs of danger, yet he still feels like something bad is going to happen. Since feelings like these have kept him alive in the past, Swann listens to them; today, he just can’t make out what they are telling him. At the restaurant, the meeting with Sare No. 1 and his aide, Takashima, seems to go well. They have the tracking numbers and the password. These seem to be the correct buyers. But Swann still feels uneasy. Maybe the problem isn’t here, but somewhere else? Time to make the call to Ian. Swann looks at Aidan, then at the other two men. "Gentlemen. If you will excuse me. I need to make a call to our ship regarding a personal matter. I'm sorry." "Certainly Swann, please go ahead," Aidan says. Swann gets up from the table and walks to a quiet spot in the restaurant. He uses his personal communicator to call Ian. "This is Swann. I just remembered something. Tell Martha I’ll pick up my clothing later." As he disconnects from talking to Ian, Swann suddenly realizes why he feels uneasy. "The ship!" he thinks. "We left the cubes on the ship with only Martha and Vasilii to guard them. And the cargo crews are going to be there any minute. The perfect opportunity for someone to come aboard and try to steal them." Swann walks quickly back to the table and says to Aidan, "Mr. Silver. I’m terribly sorry. Martha is having a problem with the fuel processor again. I must return to the ship to help her and Vasilii. You will have to continue without me." He turns to the other two men. "Mr. de Salui, Mr. Takashima. It was a pleasure to meet you both. I’m very sorry I have to leave. Good day, gentlemen." -----"Thank you Mr. Hellinic, we’ll conclude our business and I’ll meet you back at the ship," Aidan says. Turning back to de Salui and Takashima, he goes into full Noble mode — not haughty, just very refined. "Now, Sare de Salui, I’d like to arrange for the transfer of the cube to you as soon as possible, but I pray you’ll understand that we’d like to handle the transaction securely. May I suggest a noon meeting at a public place? I am open to your suggestions, but perhaps the lobby of this hotel would be appropriate. And, of course, I must confer with the crew to ensure that an escort is arranged." -----As he walks from the restaurant, Swann tries to catch Saro’s eye. When he does, Swann points at Saro, then points his index and middle fingers at his own eyes, then makes a gesture with his hand to take in the whole room. -----Saro watches as Swann makes a call on his comm. Swann and Aidan don’t seem upset, but they could be putting on an act. Swann then hurries back to the table, says something to the group and heads towards the exit. Saro sees Swann staring in his direction and tries to slowly look around to see what Swann is looking at. Seeing nothing he turns back to see Swann still looking intently towards him. "What the hell is he looking at?" Saro thinks. "Oh hell, it's me!" Swann proceeds to pantomime poking himself in the eyes and makes a circular motion with his finger. "What the frell is this now? Now where is he going?" Saro watches as Swann leaves, Aidan still sitting with Sare No. 1. He begins to get a little anxious wondering what Swann is up to. He continues looking around the room in an attempt to spot any trouble. -----After leaving the restaurant, Swann calls the ship on his communicator as he heads rapidly in the direction of the Bray Keaven’s berth. "Vasilii, this is Swann. Our meeting went well, but I realized you and Martha might need some help supervising the cargo crews. Lock the ship tight, engage all of the security programs inside and out, and don’t let anyone inside the berth or onboard the ship until I get there. If the cargo crews arrive first, stall them. Arm yourself, and make sure Martha is as well." With that, Swann disconnects and breaks into a run. -----Sare de Salui No. 1 smiles grandly at Aidan and replies, "Of course. A noon exchange in the lobby of this hotel would be fine. I would suggest some sort of disguise for the transport cube though. A gray featureless cube is bound to attract some attention. Perhaps, some battered packing material around it, even old packing tape? Or, alternately, place the cube inside a larger shipping container?" Continuing, he adds in a more serious, and somber, tone, "I would recommend that you do take care during the transport. Security at this facility is — adequate — but I would be wary during the transfer." "Wise words, Sare. Hmmm, in the nature of elegant diversion, perhaps I shall wrap it as a present for you. Something understated will make people see it as a silly gift, but not spend much attention on it. Rest assured, the package shall be well guarded." At this moment a waitress wanders by. Sare de Salui No. 1 motions her over and softly says, "Oh, would you please put that gentleman’s breakfast on my tab also?" He indicates Saro. With a wink, Sare de Salui No. 1 resumes a light conversation with Aidan as they finish their morning meal. Aidan grins wryly back at Sare de Salui and raises his coffee mug in salute. He murmurs "Help these days," then proceeds to gossip lightly about the court until the end of the meal. -----Over at his table, Saro continues to watch Aidan and Sare No. 1, and is a little perplexed when Sare No. 1 motions the waitress over. Other than that, the good doctor doesn’t notice anything worthy of note excet the ridiculously skinny, shorthaired brunette who walks in just as Aidan and Sare No. 1 are finishing their meals. Saro is a little surprised that his bill has been paid, but understands and smiles sheepishly as Aidan comes over after breakfast so they can walk back together to the Bray Keaven’s berth. The walk back to the berth is uneventful.</blockquote>

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