… right on in. Sialann needs something to ease the pain; Torq has come with on a ride along, talking with Garet and Kallen on the ship’s comm during the trip about which direction they should go. While the best thinking might be done in solitude, Exo Laant is in turmoil, where the worst decisions are made; artillery shells fall on the city scape, erupting in geysers of debris and pain, their flashes like heat lightning against a clouded sky. On the way in, Torq notices that this is very close to the address Irulan’s factor gave him about the officer selling weapons. The Taxi leaves them in a district of desperation to come out and score before it all falls apart, at a club called the Blue Light, immediately after exiting the taxi they are assailed by a woman sharping her wares, offering “a good time”.
Back on the ship, Walt, after stowage of the airship, ruminates on the fate of his father while peering into McCready’s crystal ball, too bad it can see neither past nor future. Nor can it explain why his father was fighting in Netherburn subsector, other than that of the most obvious reason to be fighting the black ships. From what little information he can find on the news, it seems his father had volunteered for the expeditionary forces.
Garet, stowing the airship in the Witch’s hold, gets to thinking that the twin props could be replaced with higher efficiency electric motors, and the clumsy engine by a portable fusion generator, both probably at least half the size of the current engine, induction gear drive setup it has now. This is until other fundamental questions arise about their destination, and how to make money; Floriant may seem a dud as far as cargoes and passengers, but not to raiders up for a smash and grab. Torq is right in that the worlds of the frontier all seem to be spinning in the devil’s grip, Kallen knows that Irulan won’t send out the bounty hunters to slit throats over a payment is missed, as long as a message is sent. Garet might remember as well, Jaq telling him that the Black Ships are said to be gathering in a fleet coreward, and other forces are gathering like storm clouds as well to drift in that direction to fight them.
Jaq struggles with the strange sightings of Tandeel and maybe Eve, but also the dreams, and not to let the dreams become the master. But soon enough, Jaq is distracted by a man with what looks to be a Butler Bot, waving at the cargo ramp camera to the bridge; it is a fine time, nightfall and all; and without the security densimeter scanner buds installed all the way yet.
[ooc: a cool scifi vid and bit of music for atmosphere – Massive Attack – Dissolved girl]
Comments
Sialann takes the woman by the arm and walks her inside, “Well met, sister. You don’t have what I need, but if you can help me connect, there’s a drink or two in it for you.”
edit: the above happens after she tells the taxi to wait (and keep the meter running)…!
Getting the cab to wait is on top of a 50Cr charge. As Sialann pulls the woman aside and asks her to help her to score, the woman gives a sardonic smile, flipping the flap up on her purse, to expose a badge, she pulls a body pistol and says:
“Any other time you would be stuck like a bug on sticky paper, damn these days. Get out of here, you”.
Torq just smirks, an undercover policewoman-hooker, this was one of fantasies, “So Fangs, didn’t she have what you needed? At least get her number, she was on fire.”
Jaq, noticing the man waving, activates the ship’s external comms and tries to make her voice as pleasant as possible, “Hello there, I’m sorry not to great you in person, but at the moment, I am setting a protocol and it needs me here for at least a few more minutes. The others are away from comms at the moment. How can we help you?”
The man is moderately well dressed, though maybe that he has slept a night in his clothes and he is with a cloaked figure. He starts with a sort of stammer:
“Well, I’m no salesman, but you see this place, I need to get off world. Now I have transport arranged to Vilian, but … you see … I need the creds”. He then turns and pulls the cloak off the figure.
“I’ll give you a helluva deal, it a protocol robot with excellent ‘training’ in skills such as Steward, Languages and Diplomat; are you interested?” He says in an earnest manner.
Funny thing, one could swear by the advanced poly carapace armor that it’s a warbot …
“Hellfire!” Sialann spits.
And broods all the way back to the ship.
Walt hearing the voices over the comms makes his way to the door and speaks to the gent in person,
“Thats a fine looking bot you got there, why did you say you need to sell him?”
“I need the money, he is a good ’bot!” The guy says, somewhat nervous, maybe shy.
“So whats your asking price?” Walt asks as he is thinking this could be a good speculative deal here pay a bargain price for it here and sell at profit at the next world
“He’s worth a lot, 75000Cr and he is yours”. The guy says to Walt.
[ooc: So Sialann at Torq are headed back to the ship?]
edit: as they pile into the cab, (perhaps with Sialann having to pull Torq away from the cop) she’ll ask the driver, “Anywhere else you can take us?”
Garet, coming up behind Walt, but not to startle him: “Actually, Walt, before we start making deals, let’s hear what the gentleman has to say about why he’s looking to move such a fine protocol ’bot!”
Over the comm: “Walt and I just arrived back and stowed the airship. Jaq, continue on your work, if you need help, I’ll be up shortly.”
Turning back to Walt, “do we still have that item we traded McCreary for? if so, please bring it up to the galley for me. Before we lift, let’s see if we can find a bulb for it.”
Turning back to the gentleman, Garet speaks: “I’m Garet Jax, captain of the Dust Witch. You’ll excuse me if I say so, but that is a fairly beefed up body for just a protocol droid.”
“Bur I am curious to hear the story. Care for a cup of coffee?”
(Garet’s nature is to try to put the man at ease, so he’ll speak freely)
double edit: unless Torq weighs in with something like, “For crud’s sake, let’s quit while we’re ahead!”
ooc: just opening up the option – if you’re happy to come along for the ride, mr elite, then fine – let’s go get into some trouble. if you’d rather we go back to the ship – or you’d like to chat up that cop chick, also can ;-)
The cabbie will take Sialann and Torq somewhere else if requested, having seen what happened with the police woman, he’ll say “You really walked into that one”. Taking them to a place a few blocks away, just as dirty and dreary, avoiding gunship over flights on attack runs all the while, he drops you at at a place called ‘Club Alchemy’.
For Garet and Walt, they find the guy amenable to stepping on board, he accepts the cup of coffee, introducing himself as Eneri Smitti, and saying the ’bot has some upgrades, but he himself actually inherited it from an uncle. Now he is looking to sell it for credits; he has booked passage for himself and his wife, he just needs the fare plus money to survive on Vilian.
“Torq – your call. We’re here on my thing. You wanna split back to Berthing, it’s up to you.” She looks at him long and slow, as if seeing him for the first time. “Anybody ever tell you, you’re really ugly?”
Jaq comms Garet on a private channel, “G, I don’t know what this guy has up his sleeve, but something here stinks. I can’t put my finger on it… Call it Woman’s intuition, if you like.” Garet knows that when Jaq speaks about her ’woman’s intuition’ that it is unerringly right. “It might not be any big thing, but just make sure you get down to the real story. I don’t want us to end up with a warbot trying to kill us, disassemble the ship or worse, yet, give Virus to our ship’s computer. And I don’t know that just shutting it down is enough, ya know?”
Walt grumbles about being dismissed from the talk, but goes to take the item to the galley, as he leaves he does say “Given these desperate times 75k is a bit hopefull – how much time do you have to sell this bot before your transport lifts?”
Walt will keep his comms on though and follow the conversation just in case it goes south!
Sitting down with a mug of tea (if we picked some up, otherwise coffee), Garet listens to Eneri, asking casual inquiries about Eneri’s uncle, keeping his comm open to all in the event the name jogs anyone’s memory.
“So, this was your Uncle’s bot, eh? nice quality..what did your Uncle do?”
“And you mentioned, er..upgrades? would you happen to know what those were, off hand?”
“Vilian, you say? That’s quite a trip. You have family there.”
Eneri says to Walt: “Make me an offer?” Then he turns to Garet, accepting the coffee/tea.
“He was in the military, maybe business? I didn’t know him too well, a few years ago I inherited the ‘bot; I know it isn’t a standard Naasirka Valet model, it seems to be a military model, it was his batman, a present. That is why I say upgraded, it is uh, not the ordinary model I have seen, seems smarter, his name is Zhukov. Uh, yes, I have family on Vilian”.
Torq’s seems content to tag along on the hunt for something to ease Sialaan’s pain. He looks at her as if she’s asked him something ridiculous when she asks him if he’s ever been called ugly, “Sure, I was in the Army. Pot, kettle, black, glasshouse, stones and all that. Anyway, lets get what you need and then since we’re close we may as well see about that weapon shipment. Not that I can buy anything; Garet never gave me any creds.”
Garet swings around to Zhukov: “Zhukov, can you tell me why your previous owner upgraded you, and what was his name?”
Then back to Eneri: “Sorry if I seems like I’m asking a lot of questions, everyone’s on edge with not only the conflict here but the issue with the black ships..”
Garet pauses thoughfully, then speaks: “Eneri, I’m a bit concerned about your destination. I have a close friend in the scouts, that has intel that the black ships are massing coreward not far from Vilian.”
“I’d hate for you to sail into that storm.” “As for myself and my crew, we’re heading spinward. Chiep Zhez.”
Pot? Glasshouse? What in the stars is he talking about?
“How much do you need? I have some cash on me…” she says, hoping it won’t be enough because she really needs to spend it on something else. They’re this close to stopping those nightmares, for the first time since the beasts cut her loose.
Club Alchemy: this time she walks inside… unsnaps and slings her tunic over one shoulder (concealing the satchel) and showing plenty of ink so she doesn’t look so straight and to the bar to schmooze the barman.
Carouse Roll
“I have heard the Black Ships are gathering at Troskrueyot in the Yrgonomi subsector, but if they attack, we’re all frakked anyways. The Nyardhel knocked them back out of their subsector before, maybe they’ll do it again, who knows”. Eneri adds to the comment on where the Black Ships are gathering, not being the most positive.
At the questioning of Zhukov, the robot replies: “I am not at liberty to disclose that information, sir”.
At which point Eneri, begins to scratch his head, in a sort of distracted manner looking away, and says: “Yeah, that, see it has a helluva antivirus and security program in it, you would have to hack the military cypher I guess, but he’s always worked fine. He’s got a huge memory upgrade, I’ve seen the sticks, looks synaptic, high quality. I was told he was wiped, but I have a feeling he had a backup on a partition”.
[ooc: Torq would know that some deals are better when cash and goods trade hands at the same time, though I still think carrying 400k Cr at one time is a bit iffy; you guys can if you want though. As per cred sticks, most of the ship’s money is in cash, Jaq is the only one with a cred stick, unless one says their personal account is on one, but then they have to go through a back, such as depositing cash.]
Torq makes his way into ‘Club Alchemy’ with Sialaan. He’s amused at the distraction, but business is pressing and time is money. For now Torq is content to hang out and wait for Sialaan to get some zombie pills.
Passing through the door at Club Alchemy, Sialan and Torq can see that if the place had any sort of upright reputation, it has fallen over completely. The place is playing holo-porno on the 3D projectors; while on the dance floor a rather scabrous prostitute dances for a couple Stane Army soldiers, in armor with weapons slung, smoking a cigar of some sort of nasty substance rolled in what looks like common paper, laughing, they pass a bottle in between hits on the giant reefer. The rest of the clientele could not pass a more dubious muster for scoundrels, some wear gang jackets, with ‘Zombie’ emblazoned on the back. The bartender is quite interested in Sialann, maybe a bit too interested, he gives her a gap toothed grin: “What can I do you for, babe?”
ooc: lol. this is gonna be fun.
She raises one eyebrow at the ugly lug. “Him and you could almost be brothers,” she tells Torq. And tells the barman in a firm but friendly way, as his eyes travel over her, “Cool your jets, sweetheart. I’m looking to get my prescription filled. Soporifics. Who do I talk to in here?”
Torq almost smirks, but manages to keep a straight face, “You think? He likes you too, all that holo porn must have made him cross eyed.”
Jaq finishes up her work on the bridge and straps on one of her gauss pistols, hoping its more for show than anything else. Then she exit’s the bridge onto the galley and runs almost smack into the ‘droid. She casts a wary eye on the droid, looking it over carefully. Something just doesn’t feel right here, she thinks, her hand instinctively coming to rest on the butt of her pistol, not in a necessarily threatening manner, but more in a practiced manner that says she knows how to use it, is ready but not planning on it. “I’m done up there. We just need to calibrate the sensors,” she lied for the benefit of the “guests”. “I don’t think we’ll need to take any of the other systems off line, so we don’t need the ground hook-up. Any idea how soon we should be ready for take-off?” Jaq is making talk, trying to get the feel for how the guy is reacting. And what’s the deal on the droid? Do we need to file his paperwork with customs before we lift?" I watch the guy’s reaction to this carefully.
Garet, picking up on Jaq’s subtle dialogue responds casually: “Well, I haven’t heard from #1 yet. They were still in the entertainment district, but any cargo we can get would be a benefit.”
“As to whether or not we’ll need to file with customs depends on how Zhukov and Mr. Eneri answer our inquiries.”
Garet then comms Kallen: “Kal, write up a message to be sent to Irulan. Let him know the cargo’s slim on Stane and in this sector in general, so we’re heading for Chiep Zhez. We’ll catch up on our payments as soon as we can. He can leave a message for us on Lima.”
At the questioning of Zhukov, the robot replies: “I am not at liberty to disclose that information, sir”.
“So, Zhukov, you cannot provide me information regarding your previous owner, and your current owner has reason to believe that your original memory is still intact. Is this accurate?”
“I am sure you are aware of the three laws of robotics. Zhukov, is there anything in your current programming or in a program partitioned within you that would cause you to perform a hidden subroutine placed there by Eneri’s Uncle that would put myself, my crew or my vessel at risk?”
“Yes, I am aware of the three laws of robotics”. Zhukov states plainly, then continues: “Risk management is a part of life, and life is inherently unsafe, sir”.
Eneri almost noticeably winces at the question and answers: “As far as I can tell he is a warbot, some of his parts are marked Fredrich Armory, I hear that is in Chiep Zhez, he’s not local, or even from Stella, his tech is too high”. Eneri sighs audibly. “Customs? You mean the ones that haven’t got out? When the People’s Front overrun this place, I’m sure they’ll make a nice mass grave for whoever is left, including them, I do not plan to be here. If Stane Credits were worth anything, I would already be gone, if you don’t want the ‘bot, I’m sure somebody else will”. Eneri checks what appears to be a fairly expensive timepiece on his wrist.
At Club Alchemy the bartender is a bit put off, “I was hoping for the chance to chat you up a bit”. He says with a rotten toothed grin to Sialann. An addict breaks his way into the conversation, telling the barkeep he needs a fix throwing 20 creds on the bar in crumpled bills, the bartender pulling a vial from his cheap pleather vest, in the vial is a iridescent beetle and glass bead, which the junky proceeds to tweak the lid of the vial in such a way to activate a plunger that crushes the bead and beetle and from which the junky hungrily begins to inhale the ichor rising in the vial.
“Get away from the bar with that snit, it stinks!” As the bartender reaches across the bar pushing the junky away. Turning back to Sialann: “I’ve got juice and gunge, you want something fancier, go talk to them”. Pointing to the gang members in Zombie jackets.
“Gunge? Mmm, that sounds so appetising, but I doubt it’s what I need.”
Moves away from the bar. “Er … cover me?” she asks Torq. She opens the satchel and rests her free hand inside it on the butt of the force pistol, the arrangement covered by her tunic. Then waltzes over to a table of Zombies, to try the same spiel.
Deception roll (INT), to conceal what her hand is doing 2d6+2
Die rolls: 2, 6 + 2
Roll total: 10
Carousing roll (INT), to get nearer her goal 2d6+2
Die rolls: 4, 5 + 2
Roll total: 11
Garet looks at Zhukov: "You’d make a fine Lawyer, ‘Zhu. So, I’ll ask this..Eneri says your memory was wiped. Did you have a backup partitioned off? Do you currently have your original “modified” programming and memory?"
“And I will rephrase my question. If you became a member of this crew, is there anything in your programming placed there by Eneri’s Uncle that would make you deviate from your prescribed duties and cause harm to myself, my crew, or my ship?”
Speaking back to Eneri: “So, Eneri, what if you had Imperium credits? would that help speed you and your family’s passage off Stane? If so, we can come to an arrangement of sorts.”
Looking across at Eneri, and eyes drop to his wrist:
“Nice Watch.”
[ooc: Sialann should hit a casino, those are some some nice rolls.]
The closest Zombie takes a look at Sialann and says: “Hey hey, gorgeous, where you been all my life?” Clearly someone deeply involved in thug life, with accompaning prison tattoo’s to match. Hearing what Sialann needs, he says he might be able to hook her up, she should come down to the basement, there’s something down there. “Hey daddy – o, we’re gonna go down to the basement”. He tells one of his cohorts, to which his fellow gangster replies: “’Kay Romeo”.
At which he takes Sialann and Torq outside and around the side to an alley beside the club, where there are a few short steps down to a solid metal door, which he kicks a few times. The door opens, at which point an ogrish looking individual looks out and looks over Sialann and Torq, with an approving grunt, letting them into a filthy hole, stinking of a mixture of sewage and stale sickly sweet gunge smoke. Inside there are more Zombies, mixed with addicts, whores of both sexes and whatever flotsam of sophontism that have drifted down the gutter into the basement. The thug (we’ll call him Romeo) leads Sialann towards the back to a table where a couple of men sit amongst dirty glasses and used drug vials. Romeo turns back to Sialann: “Whatcha lookin’ for?” When she tells him, he tells the men and one raises an eyebrow, saying:
“I have what you need”.
OOC: these grebos have a futon? classy ;-)
“Snooze or Chill, by necessity. A lot of both, by choice.”
Eneri replies to Garet: “Yes Imperial credits would be great”. He looks at his watch rather sheepishly and then says: “I guess it is a remnant of a future lost”.
Zhukov’s memory seems to be computing for a moment, where the whirring noise of a tiny fan can be heard and one might see his electric eyes adjusting slightly.
“Memory operations are classified information”. In which Zhu pauses for a moment, his fan whirring as if tiny gears are spinning, then his speaker continues: “It is a known difficulty for robotic brains to process hypotheticals, as I would have to process every possible situation. I do not have specifics, but I have no knowledge that Mr Smitti’s uncle knew you, sir”.
The drug dealer at the messy desk says to Sialann: “It’s two large a hit for the chill, eight hundred creds a hit for the snooze”. Folding his hands in front of himself.
“Then I’ll take six of the chill and ten of the snooze. Unless there’s a bulk discount?.” Smiling sweetly but getting nowhere:
Persuade roll: 2d6+3
Die rolls: 1, 2 + 3
Roll total: 6
“No discounts, you got twenty large? Cash only”. He says, returning the smile sweetly.
Just as Sialann is paying, a random idiot comes horning his way to the desk and says: “Yeah, that looks like the good stuff, c’mon, share!” Which draws an evil look from the drug dealer, as well as Romeo, as the random idiot isn’t wearing Zombie colors.
OOC: INIT roll?
Sialann grabs her gear with one hand and slaps the cash on the table with the other (she’s already had to relinquish hold on the alien blaster ray gun in her bag), then bares her fangs at the random idiot and hisses in his face like the Queen of the Vampires.
OOC: I’ll try for a ‘Dissuade’ roll.
Persuade roll (INT?): 2d6+3
And that run had to end some time…
But the random idiot is truly too idiotic or muntered to even notice the danger he’s in…
OOC: these grebos have a futon? classy ;-)
ooc: Obviously they have Ikea on Stane.
Torq is amused by the situation, although it seems ‘even money’ he’ll have to murder a few people if they’re going to get out in one piece with Sialaan’s fix and her creds. He’s learned to keep his mouth shut, his back to the wall and his eyes open.
Yes, both roll initiative if you are going to attack the fool, but remember, this is someone else’s, house.
[ooc: Futon – Japanese for ‘makes uncomfortable bed’.]
Walt over hearing the conversation messages Garet in type, “we could always deactivate it until we were somewhere better suited to investigating it – after all its got to be worth more than this chump is trying to sell it for make him an offer im happy to pitch in part, might just be a side venture that makes you and me a bit more coin” Walt continues hunting for a bulb to light this damn globe…
Forgetting any further ploys, Jaq comes right out and asks, “Zhukov, what guarantee do we have of your allegiance, either to an individual or a ship’s crew? How do we know you are not infected with Virus? What do you know of the Doomslayers or Arywan?”
First, Garet looks at Jaq with a mixture of bemusement and curiosity across his face"
“Subtle.”
The Garet communicates back to Walt: “There’s no guarantee Zhu would fully shut down, as you could tell from his willingness to have his memory wiped. Besides, it’s worth it if he has a medical program on board.”
“By the way, where are you? I thought you’d have the projector here by now!”
Zhukov spews out data:
“I have two entries for ‘doomslayer’ in my database:”
“1. A type of virus, named so during the interregnum”.
“2. A renegade group of Military Officers and Scientists from the Republic of Terrelay”.
“Arywan: no data”.
“Guarantee: an assurance, often with the possibility of renumeration if in default”.
“Allegiance: an emotional state of being of a sophont where they trust or have faith in an organization”.
“Guarantee of Allegiance: does not compute for a robot, we are programmed to follow orders”.
“I am hardened against viral infection, if a robot was infected, it could not be counted upon to provide information to the affirmative”.
“Zhukov stop!” Eneri orders. Turning to Garet and Jaq, he says: “If you want to play twenty questions with him, pay me my asking price and I will be on my way, and then you may play to your heart’s desire; but do not waste my time otherwise, please. As you can see he appears to be a warbot, this I won’t deny, if so …” Eneri pauses.
“Zhukov is dangerous by design”.
“I just want to make sure whose orders are being followed.” Jaq says, matter of factly. She does not trust the man, Eneri. Jaq eyes the man, squinting at him. “I don’t know why you are so nervous, but I sense you are not telling us everything. I understand that you are on a time table, what time does your ship leave? perhaps I can convince them to wait on you so you can be less nervous. It may be of some worth and the asking price is not beyond my own needs should it come to that.”
“Okay, okay; I once had the flu and I told Zhukov to shut up a neighbor’s barking dog, and he did, permanently! He is dangerous, are you happy? You have to be careful with what you tell him to do, because he will do it!” Eneri blurts out in an exasperated manner, he obviously feels it is a negative selling point for a valet ’bot.
“I see.” Jaq looks over the robot, then back to Eneri, then back to the robot. She seems genuinely satisfied with the answer Eneri has given. “G, I think we should take it. Do you have the Imperial credits or do I need to draw on my own supply?” If Garet doesn’t have Imperial Credits available, I’ll look back at Eneri, “Do you have a cred stick? We can transfer the credits at the terminal here,” she says pointing to the terminal in the common area.
“Looking for that damn bulb, wait a sec – oh here one is got it be right there” Walt replies.
If the random idiot isn’t going to interfere with her or what she’s doing then she’ll happily back off, thank the nice gentlemen behind the desk and hightail the hell out of there.
“Hope that taxi’s still waiting!”
[ooc: Neither Sialann or Torq have rolled initiative.]
The random idiot reacts in a hostile manner to Sialann’s bared fangs: “Hey you dumb freak, just gimmie some!” Then he grabs at her drugs as she tries to get past him.
OOC: OK, I read
as meaning I had the choice – didn’t realise baring fangs and hissing was an attack.
INIT roll:
bq). 2d6+1, rolled once.
bq). Die rolls: 3, 4 + 1
bq). Roll total: 8
OOC: Torq! Make a Tactics roll! I need to bite this scumsucker’s face off!
[ooc: I rolled his reaction, it is a 5 hostile, may attack; so Sialann and Torq gave up initiative and he is grabbing at her drugs. Now it is turn two.]
He rolls init:
2d6, rolled once.
Roll set 1
Die rolls: 3, 5
Roll subtotal: 8
Roll total: 8
But he has – 1 due to low dex so Sialann wins initiative.
She stuffs the pills? vials? into her satchel (minor action) and bite attacks (major action), snarling in bestial fury :-E
OOC: am supposing we’re already at personal range …
2d6+2
Die rolls: 6, 6 + 2
Roll total: 14
And bites his face clean off!
“Muahahaha!”
+ 2 is dex plus skill right? Roll damage. Effect is 6, bite for 1d6 + 1.
OOC: I think that’s an effect of 6 :-0
I’m not sure you can bite somebody’s face off in an elegant fashion but it sure should have impressed the swutting drek out of everyone :-)
But i don’t know how much DAM Dynchia teeth can do. 1d6+1? And does the effect add to the DAM roll? And does her DEX DM also add to DAM?
Going to assume all the above just to keep things moving… (and because I’m having fun!)
OOC: i think our posts crossed in the ether. yes, i added DEX + skill for the attack roll and DEX + Dynchia bite attack (or skill) + effect for the damage.
[OOC: By the way, baring fangs and hissing would be considered a threatening action, so may want to keep that in mind going forward]
Garet pours Eneri another cup of tea: “Mr. Eneri, no offense, but your mannerisms put both myself and my pilot on a bit of edge. I understand your motives were to not make Zhukov look bad by the actions he made following his programming,”
“But still, that’s information we needed to know right off. But, no harm, no foul. Now my pilot has offered you funds via cred stick transfer. I, myself do not have that amount on my cred stick, but would 60k in actual Imperium Credits work? if so, I’ll be back with a case in 5 minutes. If you’d prefer the transfer, then that’s fine as well.”
it’s just her way of saying, ‘hello’ :-E
Torq rolled 5 initiative and will have to wait his turn this combat round.
The random idiot drug addict swings back on Sialann, mostly out of terror than anything else as she is ripping his face open, Torq can strike anytime he wants.
2d6, rolled once.
Roll set 1
Die rolls: 4, 4
Roll subtotal: 8
Roll total: 8
So he connects with a blow to Sialann, trying to slug her in his terror:
1d6, rolled once.
Roll set 1
Die rolls: 2
Roll subtotal: 2
Roll total: 2
Oh noes, probably stopped by Sialann’s armor; btw, her dex bonus is not included in damage.
Eneri will lower his price to 72000Cr, begging that being the price of passage to Vilian for him and his wife.
[ooc: Where exactly is Garet getting the 60k CrImps in cash from? Just making sure, most of the ready cash is in CrRots, but there are some CrImps in the safe. Jaq can use her stick, it will leave a trail though.]
Torq will delay his action to the end of the combat round to watch what the others in the room are doing, if anybody else tries to do anything to Sialaan he will attack them. If not he’ll choose to act first in the next round. Sialaan seems to have this situation covered and making a bigger scene or pulling a weapon might not be welcome.
The random idiot is now just pretty terrified, having a strange woman literaly ripping his face off with her teeth, quite a sobering experience. He looks to be about soc 8, in clubbing clothes, and from what Torq can see of the other basement dwellers, their reaction to Sialann seems to range from strange fascination, to simple bemusement. Torq could easily slug the random idiot in the kidneys at this point and bring him down.
Eneri will lower his price to 72000Cr, begging that being the price of passage to Vilian for him and his wife.
[ooc: Where exactly is Garet getting the 60k CrImps in cash from? Just making sure, most of the ready cash is in CrRots, but there are some CrImps in the safe. Jaq can use her stick, it will leave a trail though.]
[OOC: That’s my mistake, decades of only using Imperium Creds. Garet currently had (25?, 35? K in CrImps from his chargen, and since it was established that everyone (except) Sialann put in an even 100k CrRots for cargo, the remaining 60k CrRots would have been distributed to the individuals to either hold themselves, or keep in the safe (but that was not stated in direct gameplay so far) so Garet will edit his statement to read:]
“But still, that’s information we needed to know right off. But, no harm, no foul. Now my pilot has offered you funds via cred stick transfer. I myself do not have that amount available, but I have 60k in actual CrRots on hand, plus whatever my pilot would wish to kick in. if so, I’ll be back with a case in 5 minutes. If you’d prefer the transfer, then that’s fine as well.”
To Walt’s comment, Garet comms back: “Don’t worry, we already looked for a bulb that fits on board to no success, that why once this exchange is done, either you and I, or you and Jaq are going to head to the entertainment district to try to find one. I’m more than curious about this.”
Garet then turns to look at Jaq with an expression that says: “Darn! I wanted my own Warbot!”
[ooc: the 35k creds from Garet’s chargen, are wherever he wants them, they could be on a cred stick even. As per the other finances, I will keep an eye on it, but everybody else has to handle their finances. Remember there were a bunch of ship’s purchases by Jaq that haven’t been subtracted from the running tally, plus the 1000Cr bribe at the beginning.
Re the crystal globe, it does not have a base for a bulb, that is the missing part …]
If the offer is 60k in cash or 72k in transfer, Eneri will take the 72k.
Torq holds his position to keep his eyes on those that may blind side Sialaan. He knows it will aggravate the situation if he intervenes and at the moment Sialaan seems to have the upper hand (er upper tooth). In the next round he’ll delay initiative again and watch Sialaan take the man’s face off; interrupting to attack anybody else who tries to hurt her.
OOC: new round? this round, she will delay attack and react (dodge) to any attack he makes.
Sialann spits (not swallows!) a mouthful of the man’s blood back at him.
“Had enough now, pretty boy? Got a few interesting scars to go with your slumming stories? Go back to mummy and tell her how you got them – while you still can.”
“No probs Garet” Walt replies “Again I’m happy to pitch in for the bot – who knows he may come in handy, or be worth more elsewhere” Walt adds
Walt will examine the globe and makes a rough sketch with dimensions as to what the base should look like (Im assuming we are talking about the fitting/socket etc ex Edison or Bayonet)
“Once one of you is free I’m happy to go and try to source the parts needed”
Yes, like a bayonet or edison, at least rudimentarily, one would have to find plans of the original setup, or someone who knew the way it is supposed to be setup to know exactly.
Sialann the minx. ;)
The random idiot when released from Sialann’s bite, falls to the ground and begins to whimper (his end is gone and only two of str left). Fleeing the basement as the Zombies begin to move in on the random idiot, Sialann and Torq find the taxi is still waiting, with another 20Cr on the meter, adding to what she has already given him to a total of 130Cr.
“Where to now?” The cabbie asks.
“Sorry about the mess,” she tells the nice gentlemen, then her and Torq exit the club, as things behind them begin to get even messier.
“There, I told you I needed to calm down,” she says to Torq over the rising screams, blood running down her chin. She grabs a glass of something toxic-looking from a table as she passes, washes out her mouth then spits the burning liquid out on the street.
“Back to our ship, please, I think we’re done.”
A light rain begins to fall in the night as the cab grav’s up through the sodium glare of street lights. Artilley pieces flash against the cloud cover in the distance, red, like a vision of roiling blood, and blackened. The cabbie looking out through the windscreen says absent mindedly as if to no one in particular:
“All the animals come out at night – whores, dopers, junkies, sick, venal. Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets.”
It’s another 50Cr to get back to the ship, the cab has to slow and go through a travel lane where it gets a quick scan by Imperial forces; below at the gates a crowd is gathering, trying to get into the starport. Soon enough Sialann and Torq are back the ship (cab ride total 180Cr), just in time to walk into the galley where Garet and Jaq are talking to a disheveled man in a suit about a robot that stands nearby.
OOC: :-D
Sialann sleepwalks into the galley, weary and bloody and a bit disgusted with herself. She hadn’t realised she would plumb such depths just to murder her dreams. She just glances at the suit and his tin can man, and asks Garet and Jaq, “Where’s the cat?”
“Who’s the tin can man?”
edit:
“Who’s the tin can man?”delete.Torq walks onto the galley and stares at the warbot, “Why do we have a killing machine in the galley?”
Kallen wakes up a bit, not having payed attention to Garets request, thinking it will be better to send any message from some other world that is not shooting each other. He looks up and see’s the robot, no one noticing him seated in the galley, and becomes startled. Especially so as he does this as Torq speaks.
Whilst nervous of the thing he loudly mumbles to Torq, “Any luck on finding anything of value?”
Grabs cat, takes it to stateroom, zens out.
Eneri, taking his credits for Zhukov, gives Zhukov his final orders that he is to follow Garet and Jaq’s orders now; thanks him for all he has done and is sorry to have to part with him this way. Then Eneri makes his way down the ramp and disappears off into the night.
Torq looks at Kallen, “No kallen, it’s always easier to shop if you have creds. I don’t have access to the ship’s safe, even though it seems like I’m the ship’s broker. Which is why I’m going to have to ask what the frak is this killing machine doing here? Did somebody buy it?”
To Zhukov, “Robot; what are your weapon systems?”
“Don’t ask that, it might shoot you! And me!!” Kallen remarks scared out of his wits just thinking all the possible un-mundane devastation it can cause.
Zhukov turns his head and looks to Garet and Jaq, to see what his reaction should be, processing external data as to their non-verbal cues, he smartly snaps his head back towards a face front position and his voder’s monotone answer: “None, sir”.
Plays with cat, names it ‘Jones’.
Cat Reaction 2d6, rolled once.
Roll set 1
Die rolls: 4, 3
Roll subtotal: 7
Roll total: 7
Non-committal.
While Jones the cat may allow itself to be scritched behind the ear and fed a treat or two, it will in turn, commit to no signs of true affection.
Torq walks onto the galley and stares at the warbot, “Why do we have a killing machine in the galley?”
Garet simply replies: “Jaq purchased Zuhkov. I;m going to see if he has a medical program, because we could use a ship’s doctor. He is also versed in Ship’s purser, so we could move Sialann to another duty, perhaps repelling boarders.”
“Also, he was built in Chiep Zhez sector, so any info he may have would be beneficial.”
“Zuhkov, this is our ship’s broker, Torq, and one of our gunners, Kallen, who should have been busy writing up a message for us to try to get out to Irulan.”
“Torq, your compliant has been received. Garet reaches for the ships’s data pad, and starts keying something in, then presses the pad once. You now have access to the ship’s vault. Now you can grab funds for cargo and equipment as needed.”
Garet then comms all hands: “Now hear this, as of 00:28 hours standard, Torq will continue to handle ship’s funds. Any hands wishing to contribute funds received to purchase cargo may contact Mr. Torq, who will notify you of your contribution amount, and any profit and or loss coming from the purchase and sale of said goods after your contribution amount has been paid back.”
“This also means that unless you hold on to any funds not designated part of the ship’s funds, any requests for spending funds must also be made through Mr. Torq.”
Torq nods, “Thanks, Garet. Does this walking canned-death obey all of us? It looked as if it was following your lead.”
That’s ma boy! :-D
“Guzumped” Walt says as he enters the galley, “Congratulations Mr Torq, I will be leaving shortly to gather a few parts and would like to draw on some funds for the endevour – that is unless your friend here lords it over me again and goes himself” Walt gathers his satchel and notes and prepares to go find something suitable as a fitting.
Kallen loks at the group then to Garet, “You realise we are on a planet that is at war with itself. Getting a message of from here is maybe a bad idea. Best we send one when we reach Floriant.” Kallen then gets up and comes closer.
“And I think Irulan already knows of the trade value of the local cluster.” Giving Garet a slightly quizzical look.
Jaq steps over to the credstick terminal and processes the transactions, plugging in two seperate credsticks before Eneri plugs his in. 50,000 CrIMPs transferred from the first stick and 22,000 from the second stick are then transferred onto Eneri’s account on his Credstick. “G, if you are going to be part owner on this droid, you’ll owe 36,000 CrIMP. I’d rather have done that in cash. You should have offered CrRoT. But oh well.” She turns to Zhukov, “The 3 laws are in effect, acknowledge.” Once Zhukov acknowledges, then Jaq will say, “You are to follow the orders of the crew. Any conflicts you will ask for clarification. Do you understand?” Expecting an affirmative response, Jaq will turn to the new arrival.
“Ah Torq, welcome back.” When he asks about the “killing Machine”, she smiles, “Oh, you know… It’s our new Quasinart. It dices, it slices…” When Torq asks Garet if Zhukov will obey everyone, I’ll playfully say, “Actually, he’s mine. He obeys me.” She pauses, thinking about that for a moment., “Hmmm, my very own killer ‘protocol’ droid… fascinating…” She starts to walk off, then pauses, “I think he’ll play nice, Torq. But at least I can sleep knowing you won’t be putting me out of the airlock.”
Again, Jaq starts to leave, having been distracted by all of the goings on, then she stops and turns back to Garet. She walks up and pulls up a seat to where he is sitting, “G, I know we are all keen to get off this rock, myself included. Or maybe especially. But you having seen Tandeel and Eve and the fact Dr. Misishii was seen within 24 hours of our landing… G, we have to try to find them, or at least Tandeel. Actually, Tandeel is the only one I trust. Where did you say you saw him?”
“Query: 3 laws are in effect. Negative, ma’am”.
“New command: I am to follow the orders of the crew. Any conflicts I will request for clarification. Request for clarification: I require crew manifest [ooc assume Jaq tells Zhukov] Command processed, ma’am”. Zhukov stands, slightly humming with electricity, waiting for orders.
Jaq pauses at the unexpected reply, “Negative on the 3 laws? Explain.”
“The 3 laws would cause a programming conflict, ma’am”. Zhukov’s voder explains.
“So it is not possible for you to safeguard life instead of taking it, is that what you are saying, Zhukov?”
Assuming the answer is in the affirmative, Jaq will issue the following order, “None of the ship’s crew or registered guests are to be harmed. Non-lethal protocol is in effect. If a threat is found, it is to be dealt with in a non-lethal manner unless overridden by myself or Garet Jax. Comply.”
Jaq remains matter-of-factly about the situation and keeps any emotion out of her voice. She looks at Garet while the robot processes the command and shrugs slightly. “I would venture to say it’s warbot programming is still in effect.”
Jaq doesn’t believe in coincidence. The dreams, Tandeel and Eve, this warbot showing up. It’s like she has to have at least one piece of the puzzle.
Sometimes it is like raindrops on glass, the drops make rivulets that run together into bigger ones. Just to step from behind the curtain for a moment: earlier I stated it would have been nice to have an npc on board, then later I rolled “butler ’bot” on a significant encounter (phil’s hooker/policewoman was random as well), so then I get the npc to drop clues or whatever, and everyone paid for them to be there … almost perfect, not that it isn’t even more a wheel within a wheel … [insert evil GM laugh here]
“Query, restate? Ma’am” Then Zhukov states to Jaq simply: “New protocol acknowledged, ma’am”. about her further orders.
“Zhukov, can you simply turn off your warbot programming?” Jaq tries again to restate her question, finding the ability of the droid to understand more limited than she had originally expected for a so-called “protocol droid.”
Robots like very clear syntax.
“My programming is coterminous with my operating system, ma’am”. Zhukov bleats.
ooc: so basically the rich players bought an obstinate, lethal npc?
[ooc: They could paint a smile on his face like in the little drummer boy, or maybe some flower decals for the killing machine.]
BTW: This log post is getting long, I want to post a new one but I also want to know what people are doing or planning on doing, it is night gametime, next it will be a newday.
Walt is going to try and source a useable fitting for the globe, might even look for some groinal attachments for the war-butler maybe he can do some cleaning as well.
Again, Jaq starts to leave, having been distracted by all of the goings on, then she stops and turns back to Garet. She walks up and pulls up a seat to where he is sitting, “G, I know we are all keen to get off this rock, myself included. Or maybe especially. But you having seen Tandeel and Eve and the fact Dr. Misishii was seen within 24 hours of our landing… G, we have to try to find them, or at least Tandeel. Actually, Tandeel is the only one I trust. Where did you say you saw him?”
Garet replies: “In the Entertainment district, which I am going to head for to see if a fitting for this projector can be made..if not, I may be able to get a blueprint made and manufacture the missing piece on board.”
“Zhukov, what other programs can you currently access?”
Garet’s plans are as follows: he will go with Jaq (regardless of what she says to see if we can find Tandeel or get an idea as to where they may be. He will have Walt accompany to see if we can find a way to recreate the fitting for the projector, or if not, then have a blueprint (if possible) drawn up.
Jaq nods to Garet, “Well, I’m leaving now, so if you want to ride with me, you’d better get a move on.” She turns to the warbot, “Zhukov, stand by here in the galley and power down to minimum and stand by.” With that, Jaq heads toward the air/raft hangar.
You are getting very very sleepy …
In gametime it is still the first night you have landed, I think that the day should have been active enough so that everyone is very tired. So next post, I’ll transpose Jaq leaving and we will pick up there game time in the morning if there are no objections.
Garet just looks at Jaq, half bemused, and stretches a bit before rising from his chair. “I told you the entertainment district, I didn’t tell you where. I figured you might take off half cocked, so you’ll just have to wait while I get ready.”
Over the comm: “Sialann, where is my credstik? please bring it to the galley immediately.”
To Walt: “Walt, make sure you have your funds on you. I’m going on that you didn’t give them to me, so they’re not in the safe.”
Garet will then go to his room..unlock the safe, take out 40K in CrRoTs, place those at the bottom of his backpack, cover them with the projector, secure the backpack, put his armor back on, grab his SMG, slap a full clip in, place another clip in his bandolier and walks back to the galley.
“Kallen, rather than debating every order I give you, compose a message to Irulan that due to the current system upheaval, we’re going to be late with our payment, but we are bound for the Chiep Zhez sector, and hopefully better pickings. We will check in upon arrival at Lima.”
“If you can’t get it out, you can’t get it out, but I want to hear from the port that you can’t first.”
For the first time Torq and Kallen can recall, Garet seems on edge and agitated, even more so since his rescue from Numenzar.
Once Sialann arrives with his credstick, and he places that in the upper pocket of his jumpsuit under his armor will he then announce:
“Now, we’re leaving.”
Walt did infact hand over the majority of his earnings, keeping only a portion for personal expenditure, also Walt has the globe under lock and key so unless Garet has the ability to override Walts code the projector/globe should still be locked up (unless im missing something or miss read)
[ooc: since Torq is tired he’ll go to sleep and consider hunting for guns/cargo on the new day]
Torq adds, “Why don’t we just measure the globe and make a best guess drawing of what is missing and run it through the 3D printer?” as he heads to his stateroom to get some sleep.
Kallen looks at Garet dazed eyed, “Fine, but in the morning, am already dead as it is.” With that he pats his friend good night and heads to his stateroom to go to bed, quickly falling asleep after taking of his cloths and getting under his covers, pistols placed on top of the box’s they are normally stored in, to tired to put them in and lock them up.
what kind of machine do you have in mind there?
Sialann makes of herself a pillow for the cat.
Jaq is driven by something inside. She is tired, but unable to rest. She feels something is tangibly close, some answer. She has a driven look about her now.
Garet’s words echo behind her and somehow, she doesn’t leave him behind, but is in the Air/Raft hangar looking over the dents and damage, ensuring it is just cosmetic damage that Sialann caused with her attempt to operate the craft. She is just climbing into the operator’s seat when Garet catches up to her, the hangar bay doors already open.
Somehow, she must stay moving. If not, she may fall asleep and then the dreams will come again. Her hands glide over the controls, performing the preflight checks with memory muscle. Then she goes back over them more deliberately a second time and it is this more deliberate action that Garet finds her doing when he arrives. “Where’s Walt?” she asks as she finalizes her checks. Then she shrugs as Garet gets in. He doesn’t even finish fastening his harness as she begins to pull out of the ship’s hangar and heads toward the entertainment district.
[OOC to Walt: Yes, Garet wanted you to get the projector/globe so that you two could see if a fitting could be found for it in the entertainment district. we can either try game time tomorrow, or measure it out and fabricate it on board]
Garet: stifling a yawn as Torq makes his comment says: “That’s my next option, but if I can find one already made, it’s a bonus, but grab some zzz’s. we’ll lock the ship up on our way out.”
Garet clasps his old friend on the shoulder..“morning it is, old shoe. get some rest.”
She is just climbing into the operator’s seat when Garet catches up to her, the hangar bay doors already open.
Garet quickly climbs into the second seat after making sure he sealed the ‘Witch tight, frowning. "I knew you were about to do something crazy, Jaq. But you should’ve let me fly, that way you can keep your eyes peeled, and move faster if you saw something."
_“Where’s Walt?” she asks as she finalizes her checks. _
“I think he’s going to miss the train.” Garet comms over to Walt: “We’re taking off, Walt. we’ll look into the globe/projector issue tomorrow. make sure the ship’s locked up.”
As the air/raft pulls out of the hangar, Garet gets his bearings, simply raises his right arm, pointing towards the entertainment district.
“That a way.”
There is a new log. ;)