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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tickleberry" data-source="post: 1542378" data-attributes="member: 1565">Cat's eye view/ earlier post has been editedI have been busy. The ship is at least flightworthy enough to get somewhere it can be fixed. However, we will have to do it in a series of jumps. We also received some very good news: the Qbert lives! Two crew are aboard, and they dare not leave it. We can resupply their fuel to keep them going, and take on some popsicles to get them home. We get to do good deeds, and get paid for it. Isn't that lovely?We will have to make two layover stops to get to Ranua, and perhaps raise the needed money that way. I am good at trading, very good. It is quite possible that I can make more than enough between both places.The first layover involved some minor trading, and some major trading. I make a good profit on our refueling stop, but the second stop got a little more interesting. There I finally clue in Alice about the lesson I wanted to teach princey. Already the marines had tried to talk, scream, and plead sense in, I decided to be a little more "hands on." After I inspected Himme's necklace again, which she did not want back on, she helped me with the lesson. What does a cat need with a neural blocker?If that jackass Mason ever pulls another stupid stunt like that again, I'll push his lasered carcass out an airlock. He may have had a gun at my ear, I had a damned laser on his heart. He KNEW it was going down, and KNEW that Alice knew. I think I'll put a bug in her ear to let the pompous princeling keep Mason sole company, whilst she and the others bug out for a little while. Hell, they deserve a break. Mason needs a lesson in true pretentions, I believe.Finally, finally, we make it to Ranua. I have no idea why that stateroom will not keep a decent temperature. I have had more than enough of the teasing. Tempting to fix their staterooms for them. Nah, then the Medical suite would get too crowded. Himme can talk. She has asked to join our party. I asked her why she doesn't just ask Brenda? Heh, she really likes me for some reason. Amazingly, enough to put up with Jesse and Squish. So I smuggle them aboard. I made enough on those trading trips to not only put the ship back to specs, but to consider some improvements. However, even with frank and Jesses considered winnings (boy those boys can play), not enough to offset the costs of improving the jump engines. Nuts.We take on some interesting cargo for our trips back through the jumps, and boy, have we got surprises for Gateway. Not only are we taking back a treaty, but loads for Gateway, and a relief crew for Qbert. Heh, we even managed to get our missle bay back from that spooky "surprise " package. I did NOT want to mess with that thing. I can't believe Squish was stupid enough. . .No, wait, I Do believe Squish was stupid enough to want to open it. As one old vid put it "That boy ain't right."To give you an Idea how NOt right this boy is, he did not know who invited him over to a party one night, and dragged the MCQuades along for the ride. Took them to an oldfashioned ambush is what he did. The three nearly didn't make it out of there. People for the Ethical Treatment of Aliens my hind leg!They were actually Humans Against Tolerating Extra-terrestrials. They drugged Jesse and proceeded to beat the everloving life out of Frank and Squish. Then someone pulled a gun, so Frank returned fire. Finally the police showed up, and arrested Frank, Jesse, and Squish. Tell me that isn't messed up! Jesse was in trouble for being drugged, Frank for firing, and Squish for fighting back. Make sense to you?Thank heavens Ali was there. He managed to pull their fat out of the fire, but Jesse, poor Jesse, was blackballed for dereliction of duty.Trips back I make more money for us, but it is time consuming getting the numbers in order. It seems like I spend most of my time computing numbers. Wish there was an easier way. The warhawks are already making Bounty Hunter noises. Guess what we might be going into. I think I might continue the trading on the side, or use it as our cover.FINALLY!!!! I have found the reason for the freezing stateroom! Jumpspace has invaded the bulkhead. I'll have to get that replaced. Very next stop I'll get it replaced, and finally sleep in my bed. Fixed.Back on Coin, the fur really flies, Qbert? No problem. Delivering Gateways goods? No problem. Delivering the treaty? No problem. Implementing the treaty? PROBLEM. As we lift off, they fire on us. Us, an Imperium ship, and they are going to fire on us. So I download the treaty and broadcast it all over space, over every net I can reach, I send word of the change in Coins status. Until now, Gateway had been making money left and right off of Coin, while the natives were being left behind. They did not want the status quo to be changed.All the Coiners want is to be educated, and reimbursed for the metals Gateway takes from their home.So of course Gateway Metals is going to shoot the messenger. Luckily, Jesse catches one inbound, but the second tags us, and we start loosing fuel. I have to try to staunch the flow.</blockquote>

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