THE ROBBER BARON, Part Four: Digging Your Scene

 AVASTAN, DISTRICT 268 (Day 10)

Starport Encounter: (54) Meet a Contact.

        Eldon and his crew locate a modest hostel at the spaceport, and settle into their suite.  After freshening up, Eldon sets out to try and locate the rendezvous with Barnett's contact in the port's startown.

Streetwise/INT, 8+:  Natural 2

Does he go to the wrong place? (Yes, and...)

Does he attract attention? (Yes, and...)

Is it Rowri's agents? (No, but...)

Colorful Locals: (24) Guards (but whose?)

    Eldon is stopped by Port Authority Inspectors, who have noticed him asking questions around known illicit establishments.  They wish to know the purpose of his activities.

Carouse/INT, 10+:  (14) Effect 4.

    "Good evening, gentlemen," Eldon says, as charmingly as possible.  "This is my first shore leave in months and I'm just looking for a good time - good drinks, live entertainment, a little companionship?  Know of anywhere good?"  The Inspectors scoff and turn away.

    Eldon returns to the suite, empty-handed.  "We'll try again tomorrow," he laments.  "Maybe someone has a better idea on how to find this journalist."

Day 11

    "We should just hit the town," Serina suggests.  "Go out, have a good time, maybe she will find us."

Carouse/INT, 8+: Natural 2, again!

Are they in the wrong place? (Yes, but...)

Has their contact tracked them down? (No)

Day 12

    "Maybe we shouldn't look at this as a social exercise," Kellan suggests.  "Let's think like an investigator.  If you were going to meet an informant, where would you go?"

Investigate/INT, 8+: (7)

Wrong place again? (Yes, but...)

"Seriously, you guys are the worst spies I ever met," a nondescript woman says quietly as she slides into the booth Kellan is sitting in. 

"Umm, we're not really... spies?" Kellan whispers.

"That much was clear," she laughs.  "But what other group would be stumbling around, drawing attention to themselves and conducting the most indiscreet stakeout I've ever seen?  And that's even counting Iarl Rowri's paranoid surveillance attempts."

"How do you know we're looking for you?" Kellan asks.

"Because the gentleman sitting in the booth behind you, the man I'm looking at right now, is none other than Lieutenant Commander Justan Arundel.  Who else would Barnett have sent?"

NPC Reaction: (10) Friendly... but cautious.

    "I'm Katha Miray.  If you have the package he promised to deliver to me, I have something for him in return.  But I need to be sure I can rely on your discretion.  And so far, there's little to convince me of that.  So there's something I need you to do for me, first..."

Day 13

        Eldon answers the door chime.  Katha Miray is standing in the corridor, and he invites her in.  The crew is assembled in the living room, drinking coffee.  Eldon pours a cup for her and they sit down.

    "Barnett's 'insurance policy' is in a safe place now," she begins.  "Even if something happens - especially if something happens - to me, or him, or Justan, that information will go public.  If they try to make us disappear, what will we have to lose?"

    "Recently, I've discovered some new information that will be of significant interest to him, and to you.  But it's something I really need to present to him in person.  And I'll pay each of you 8,000 credits to get me there safely.  I'll advance your travel expenses if you can get the job done discreetly."

(Portraits generated by thispersondoesnotexist.org)

THE ROBBER BARON, Part Three: Venturing Out Into Danger

Interlude

     While Justan ran his errand, and Serina rested under Kellan's care, Eldon had set out cautiously toward the startown around the downport.  There were three stops to make.  Finding a ship to take them to Avastan had been simple - buy a few drinks for ship captains in bars near the port and one could almost always catch a ride.  Perhaps less-than-ideal accommodations, but it would have to do.

    Next, Eldon stopped at the Imperial Consulate office.  He chose a particular line - one where the clerk looked tired, overworked, and ready to go home.  Life as a noble scion had taught him how to work the system and find the back-doors of bureaucracy.

Diplomacy/SOC, 10+ : (11)

    He left the Consulate with diplomatic clearance papers for a trade mission to Avastan, and a diplomatic handbag.  He carefully made his way to the hotel where they had stayed, passing it from about a block away and approaching the service entrance.  He found an idling grav-car used by the hotel for transporting VIP guests to and from the starport terminal.  The driver was leaning against the fender, a cup of coffee in one hand and a smoke in the other.

Carouse/SOC, 8+ : (9)

    A friendly, casual conversation and a 400-credit bribe got a pickup time at the clinic in the morning.  Eldon returned to the clinic and Kellan let him in.  Serina was still sedated and Justan was not back yet.  Eldon watched out the back door, waiting for Justan to return.

*        *        *

    They awoke in the early morning, stiff from dozing in the uncomfortable chairs.  Kellan found a clean jumpsuit for Serina, who was still groggy from the sedative and her injuries.  The VIP shuttle arrived right on time and drove them to the port, where a Baronial Guard stopped the car at the Extrality Boundary.  Eldon tried to hide his tension - if this bluff failed there would certainly be trouble.  On his lap, he held the diplomatic pouch containing the three body pistols and ammunition, as well as the confidential files Arlor Barnett had trusted them to deliver.

Contested roll: Admin/INT vs. Investigate/INT.  (13) vs. (5), Effect 8.

    The guard stepped around the vehicle and Eldon handed over his paperwork. "Trade Attaché to Mewey Delegation", he said in an officious tone.  The guard gave the papers a cursory review, clearly understanding none of the legalese, then peered into the back seat.  Serina sat between Justan and Kellan, her head lolling forward.  "Is she okay?" the guard asked.

    "I'm shot", slurred Serina.  "It's been a long week", said Eldon quickly.  "We're all tired."  The guard nodded and signaled to his partner, who opened the gate.  "You can proceed directly to the tarmac, sir" the guard said, waving them past.

Starport Encounter: (62)  Nothing out of the ordinary

Edgar Larson's reaction: (9) Friendly

    The car stopped near a small landing pad, upon which a Suleiman-class scout ship was parked.  The name "Endeavour" was stenciled on the hull.  The man at the bottom of the ramp greeted Eldon warmly as Kellan and Justan helped Serina from the car.  "Captain Larson," Eldon said, shaking the pilot's hand. "Permission to come aboard?"

*        *        *

    As with all ships of the class, Endeavour was cramped and utilitarian.  Eldon and Justan would have to share a stateroom, while Kellan stayed with Serina to monitor her condition.  Justan suggested that he and Serina might negotiate with Captain Larson for working passage, as even the smallest ship could benefit from a couple of extra hands in Engineering.

Engineering/INT, 8+ .  +1 for favorable Reaction, -1 for Serina due to injury.

Justan (6), Serina (10).

    Larson was willing to allow Serina to work her passage as an Engineer, but declined Justan's offer, saying he preferred to handle piloting and sensor tasks on his own, as he had always done during his years in the Scout Service.

Starship Encounter: (6) None.  Pirate activity in the area? (10) No.

Non-Passenger Ship Event: (64)

    Within a few hours, the ship had broken orbit, making its way toward its planned jump point.  "I'm seeing an inexplicable power drop," Larson told them.  "But the source seems to be external."  Justan studied the sensor panel.  "Serina's in no condition for an EVA," he said as he donned a vacc suit.  "I'll go."

Task Chain: Vacc Suit/DEX, 8+ . (8) +1 to Engineering check. Engineering (Power Systems)/STR 8+ .  Natural 12.

    Justan flipped carefully over the rim of the ventral hatch, and made sure his magnetic boots were firmly set on the hull before letting go and removing the welding torch from his belt.  He made his way aft, toward the power plant.  Attached to the hull were three tubular creatures, about the size and thickness of a man's arm.  Power Leeches, thought Justan as he ignited the torch.  Deftly he killed all three of them with the torch, tossing their corpses free from the vessel before making his way inside.

    "That was a fine piece of work, son," said Larson as Justan emerged from the airlock.  "I dread to consider what might have happened if we jumped with those things still attached.  I have to reconsider your earlier offer.  You've definitely earned the price of a passage."

*        *        *

        An uneventful week later, the Endeavour emerged in the Avastan system.  Justan and Serina had made good use of the time, with Justan cleaning and rebuilding the air filters while Serina tweaked the power plant and maneuver drives.  Kellan was clearly unhappy that she was working in her injured condition, fussing about at every opportunity and reminding her not to overdo it.  Eldon spent his hours poring over the library computer, learning what he could about Avastan.

Ship Encounter: (8)  Large Transport table.

    "I'm seeing a Type RX subsidized merchant ship on approach," Justan announced from the sensor operations seat.  "500 tons, transponder identifies it as Roebuck.  It's not answering hails."  He adjusted the communications array and continued to try.  "No response, she's not adjusting course."  Larson made some corrections to their own course and several tense minutes later the Roebuck had passed, silently, out toward the depths of the system.

    Eldon bid Edgar Larson and the Endeavour farewell as it cooled on the pad.  His wallet was a little lighter, but not so much as it might have been had Justan and Serina not earned their keep.  They would have enough funds to complete Arlor Barnett's mission and return to collect their pay.

*        *        *

(Portraits generated by thispersondoesnotexist.org)