>>19517496

We're Jame Briggs, and this is the Chrysoprase.

We bought this ship for peaceful purposes, like carrying stuff, and people. General design.

Name:
Nelson Cappiello

we bought it with the intention of crashing in into the flaming pile of quest threads that is tg

>>19517590

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

>>19517558
>>19517565

Your ship's a general purpose one - since you don't really know what you'll be encountering, out in the deep night as they call it.

'Captain Capiello of the Chrysoprase, welcome.'

The guidance beams haul your ship gently into the station's belly. This is not a particularly big outpost, but even then you count at least ten or fifteen other ships here, sitting in the small ship section. Man, competition for jobs and the like is going to be stiff.

You don't get to sit long before the customs personnel come in and check your ship, which checks out. 'Well then, captain, welcome to the... rather crowded station. This is what happens when a planet's colonies are all growing well, eh? Is there anything you'd like to know about the station?'

> What say/ask?

rolled 1 = 1

>>19517496
James Russell, pilot of the Stellar Wind.
We (I?) purchased this ship to do various of odd jobs, but usually we bounty hunt and salvage wreckage.

>>19517610
Any jobs I could pick up around here?

>>19517610
Gravity, environment, if there are any species other than human around, where to find jobs, lodging, and a drink on this station?

>>19517616

> Your job preferences are noted!

>>19517637

Humans are the only species known to move across the deep night. Well, the only surviving species. You know your share of the archaeo-civilisations whose footprint in the galaxy far exceeds that of current humanity.

There's lodging, but to save money you figure it's better to sleep on your ship. Prevents people from nicking your stuff too.

Gravity is mostly controlled, and environment is... somewhat chilly. 'We don't really have the water for a proper humidifier system,' the customs guy says, 'so just drink more, eh? You do have water in your ship?'

'A little, yeah. Well, is there anywhere to find jobs?'

'You could keep an eye on the station's channel.' He gives you some specifics so you can tune in. 'But if you're the sort who likes mixing around with the other captains, the leisure section is up on Deck 6A. Pubs, a club, a cinema, massage, the rudimentaries are there, so go crazy. No wait, don't.'

He laughs at his joke, then dismisses himself.

> What do? You've actually had a nice sleep on the way in, so you do feel rather energised.

>>19517610

What's the occasion, why are there so many ships here? Has some shit gone down?
Look around at the ships, try to see if there are any specific types around here. Or if they're part of a gang or something.

>>19517734

Well, such a congregation of ships isn't very unusual for a growing planet such as Menvalle, which this station orbits. As colonies grow into cities, and before the big firms get their hands in on everything, small ships are often needed to ferry goods from the stations and orbiting ships to planetside.

Looking around, though, you do notice quite a few sleep ships that seem better designed for a low signature, and speed, than general utility. They're possibly on government business... or maybe they're raiders or smugglers? Either's possible.

You notice that some of them have the symbol of a clover stenciled on their sides. Probably a local lifting gang or something. Nothing much to worry about, per se...

> What is your attitude towards jobs and the law? Would you take any job that comes along, or mostly stick to the legit ones?

>>19517722
Well, we should probably start by getting some grub, hang out in the captain leisure section while keeping an eye on the jobs. This means if anyone is looking for captains not over the channel we'll be there.

>>19517800
Well, other than the less legit ones having to pay more to compensate for the additional risk I advocate we have little care for the law.

Obviously we aren't going to do anything too evil and horrendous and we'll have to weigh the pros and cons before we accept a job from a major criminal organization, just for safeties sake.

>>19517800
We prefer the more legal jobs and we'll consider the less than legal jobs if the wealth outweighs the risks.
>>19517722
Let's hang out at the pub and see what news we can pick up there.

>>19517858
>>19517837

The customs guy made the leisure section sound pretty nice, but then your expectations aren't high after so long by yourself in the ship. Dating your right hand and some holograms wears thin after a while.

You pass by the row of massage shops, run both by flesh-and-blood people and quite a few androids and gynoids, before reaching the leisure cafeteria. Ah, the smell of mashed proteins in the morning...

Meanwhile, you sync your earpiece and databook and soon a stream of job notifications is flowing into your ears. Hmm, it's pretty much as you thought - many of the jobs are planetside lifting jobs, paying at the usual rates - 15K, 20K, enough for fuel and some whiskies.

The cafeteria has a few other people around too, whom you're guessing are captains and crew. Most of them are huddled in threes and fours, though there are one-handers too. There's a short-haired woman who's talking to two large men, with clover patched on their shoulders.

And then there's a sudden brawl. Someone must have said something out of turn, and in a trice a table is flipped and everyone looks their way.

> Look their way? Or ignore?
> As for jobs, are you looking more for routine stuff, or something interesting? You currently have 8,500 credits in your account, saved up after a long series of boring milk-runs.

>>19517959
I love a good fight. Let's take a gander.

>>19517959

I'd say look what this is all about.

As for job, maybe something exciting, this probably mean dangerous and well paying, we need more dosh for better ship and stuff.

>>19518003
>>19518001

Yeah, you saved all that money to go on an adventure! That means you'll probably have to look harder then. You disconnect the earpiece as it blabbers on about taking construction materials for building a new primary school. Fuck primary schools.

Getting to your feet, you try to gauge what's going on - it seems two crews, each with three or four people, are going at each other, with people holding them back. 'You son of a bitch! I'll bite your dick off!'

'I'd do that but I can't find yours, you runt!'

One side is clearly quite organised, the members of another lifting gang perhaps - they all wear red leather jackets. The others are just a ragtag bunch, looking rather the worse for wear. After hearing more, you determine they're talking about girls. A captain takes another captain's chick, well, how'd you expect they react?

Looking away, you see a few others going about their business as usual. There's a bearded man, eating soup calmly; and in the far end is a blonde woman smoking right under the No Smoking sign.

> What do/say? Take a sight? Watch? Ignore?

>>19518114
Take in the sights, put 5 bucks on the jacketed ones and see if anyone takes us up on that.

>>19518114

Actually, ignore the fight, let's go talk to some of the quieter ones.

>>19518167

This, get a layout on how stuff look, doubt the kind of job we want is hanging out in the open

>>19518159
>>19518167

You walk over to the bearded man, but he ignores you. He eats the soup like a demon.

The blonde woman is joined by another man when you get to them. The two of them look, a little lazily, at you.

'Hey.'

'What?'

'Twenty credits says the jacketed ones will win.' You look. 'They're almost unable to hold them back now. What say you?'

'Twenty? What kind of a pussy are you? I see your twenty and raise you two thousand.' The blonde woman crosses her legs and passes her shade-wearing companion a cigarette. You then notice that, all around the cafe, other than the hiding staff, most captains are also looking forward to the fight. The gangs themselves know this.

> What do/say?

>>19518222
I was once told, never make a large bet like that without rigging the game. I just came in, it's likely you did not, you know the people fighting better, therefore it is a horrible idea for me to take up your bet.

>>19518259

This, but no need to list the reasons.

STOP MAKING NEW QUESTS, CirrusandN!

>>19518222

''...100, I don't have enough credits to throw it out yet''

>>19518307
>>19518259

> But I'm bored. Gah, actually, you're right.

'Bet two thousand on a horse I haven't seen and you have? Not bloody likely, ma'am. Maybe a hundred.'

'Deal,' she chuckles and pulls out a chair for you, just as the men slip free of their companions and have at each other. The yelling and punches soon degenerate into a wrestling brawl, as men and women pile on top of each other.

'Hmm. You're a new kid, aren't you?' The woman turns to you. 'I heard you listening for jobs over the station intercom. Have you been doing that at most stations?'

'Um... more or less.'

'Don't, unless you want to be a nobody like these guys.' Smoke issues from her red lips. 'Always ask for jobs up front.'

> What do/say?

>>19518383
"Up front? How do you mean?"

>>19518383

Smile, and ask her if she's got jobs.

>>19518383

''Point taken. Any jobs you've got to offer?''

Simple and to the point, no real need to sugar coat it.

>>19518422
>>19518408
>>19518406

'Up front? What do- ah.'

'Hmm. Reasonably quick,' she flicks on the lighter, then pauses, and puts it back into her pocket. You wonder why that is, and then the doors slide open and Station Security rush in.

'Oi! Oi! The fuck is going on here!?'

'Back off! Everyone! Back off!'

'Let's get outta here. My name's Olga, by the way.' She says it like Alga, you notice. You head out a back door, and someone yells after you but you follow them out into the walkways, then into a pub where she slides into the private stall. 'I've got a job for you, yes. I need you to ferry two people who will be arriving in the station in about... oh, three or four hours. I want you to take them planetside. Head for New Roanoke, offload them, and then just... sit around for a few days before ferrying them back here again. Three, four day outing, tops.'

'Right. And the important thing...'

'Twenty five grand. Minus that hundred you lost.' You're about to protest when she smiles. 'I wouldn't recommend you protest against a client, boy.'

> What do/say?

>>19518533
"Sounds like easy money. My daddy always told me if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Any catch?"

>>19518533

Who are we ferrying exactly?

>>19518597
>>19518651

'Well, so what's the catch? It sounds too good to be true.'

'Oh, don't be so distrustful, you!' Olga waves her hand dismissively. 'There's no catch. Those two are just rather valuable and useful people.'

'Well, how valuable and how useful?'

You think you know by now how to catch someone lying. A movement in the eyes; a raising of the brow. But Olga doesn't miss a beat and she doesn't give any signs as she says this, sincerely.

'The two of them are important personnel. One is an engineer. The other is a doctor. Roanoke's in need of a clinic, and they've emptied their coffers to ask for one from nightside. Now, I'm not a saint, but this is money for a good deed, isn't it? So there's your answer. I need a reply quickly, because we also need to load up the hospital equipment. So.' A pair of bright, icy blue eyes looks up at you.'What say you?'

> What do/say?

>>19518702
You've got yourself a pilot then.

>>19518702

''Got your ferryman, you won't mind if I still stay careful right? Also any picture or descriptions?''

>>19518740
>>19518726

'Feel free to stay careful. We want you to stay careful,' Olga says. God, her legs are really long. 'As for photos...'

You look at the databook she passes to you, and see two pictures. One is a man with shoulder-length hair and a five o'clock shadow; the other is a woman who wears her streaked hair in a ponytail and has a beauty spot on her left cheek.

> Tomas Arnozek
> Yulia Kurylenko

Well, well. 'You've got four hours. Give me the ID of your boat, and I'll have them sent to you. Watch them carefully, okay? Especially Yulia, the doctor.'

You have to say, she looks like many things but doctor isn't really one of them... Olga snatches the databook from your hand. 'Any last questions?'

> Anything? And do anything in preparation for the job? You have four hours...

>>19518841

''Could the local gangs interfere with the job in some way?''

As for preparation, I'd say getting some offensive weaponry is a must, unless we got one. What's our inventory ?

> Actually, I'm rather hungry - going out to get dinner before the shops close. Give me 20.

Your ship is currently unarmed. It's a freighter, after all.

As for you, you have a 9mm projectile pistol, and a 4.85mm assault rifle locked away in your private cabinet on board. No one has the key to that except you, which is nice.

>>19518841
>>Only passengers. Myself, the boy, two droids... and no questions asked.
Adventure! What could possibly go wrong?

They are probably trade in super-drugs or bio weapons.

>>19518841
Sure, sure. Why do I need to keep an eye on my willing passengers, exactly? They have ADD or sommat?

>>19518904
>>19518901
>>19518882

'The local gangs... I doubt they have an interest in this. Well. Maybe in the fact that you're taking a good contract from them...' Olga smiles. 'Nah. They can be negotiated with.'

'That's nice.'

'Or shot. If it comes to that. I give you permission.'

'Also. Why do I have to keep an eye on the two of them?'

'Well, if you're going to be their space chauffeur, that's part of your job innit?' Olga smiles again. 'They're fine. The two of them have a job to do, they know to do it. It's only for a few days.'

'Then they both lift off?'

'Presumably Yulia's replacement will get there... by more official means. But meanwhile, someone to check the medical equipment can't hurt... okay. Enough time yakking with you. You're a charming boy, though. Let's dine planetside some day, perhaps?'

She then leaves, and a moment later you realise she's found your profile on her databook and you now have her details. Vice versa.

> Okay. Any preparations? You have four hours and 8,500 credits.

>>19519229
Try some discrete checks of the duo's pictures/names and see what we come up with. I mean, even if they're like, illegal space immigrants we'll do it, but if they're known terrorists we may want to alert the authorities. After that.... I dunno, grab a bite to eat if we haven't fed ourselves in a while, and do a check of the ship, make sure everything's in order.

>>19519229

Shit sounds fishy, this place has any armement to sell?

I doubt we can outfit our ship in only 4 hours, but perhaps getting another pistol for the two of them wouldn't be too much.

Browse personal security I guess

>>19519276
>>19519252

> Roll d100 for checking insights.

As for armament, this place hasn't got a shipboard armament shop - it's a civilian station, after all. And anyway, you'd have to drill a hardpoint, and that would take days.

You do manage to buy two pistols easily, however; personal security is definitely a business they can do. Actually, on second thought, that's a lot of stuff they have on sale. Assault rifles, submachine guns, shotguns, grenade launches, stabilised rifles...

Also, on a hunch, you bought plenty of groceries to stock your ship with. It's all protein paste and carbo packs, but what did you want in space, lettuce greens? Nah...

> Money: 8,100 credits
> Personal armaments: 3 pistols, 1 assault rifle (hidden)
> Anything more do/say/buy? Just list your needs, I'll see if the station has them. If not, say we're done, then we'll move to see the cargo.

rolled 57 = 57

>>19519326
Here you are, one d100 roll.

rolled 77 = 77

Rollan!

>>19519326

Not packing too much heat is the best, 3 pistols and the AR for when shit hit the fan is enough.

Good ammo as well... If it were up to me I'd get an android/gynoid bodyguard but eh, that can wait.

>>19519358

> 77: interesting!

You do some cursory checks on the two of them, and everything appears to check out... wait a minute.

You may be relatively new to this business, but you're not an idiot, and you can tell when numbers don't match and things don't seem to make much sense. The Tomas guy was in two different universities, on two different planets, with a one year overlap. That's some travel time for courses.

Also, Yulia is 22 on one of her profiles, but 19 on another profile. And 28 on a third. There are large gaps in her qualifications as well - she's got a masters and a MD, but where's her undergrad? Also, she can't be 19 if she's an MD, can she?

It takes the better part of two hours to figure out this much, and then people rap on your ship's hatches and ask to start loading the stuff. You look out - crate upon crate, mostly unmarked except for FIELD HOSPITAL, of different shapes and sizes. There are also planks and posts on pallets, and a forklift ready.

'Can we get started now, mate? We're running behind schedule already.' The bald foreman looks at you. 'Also, your passengers are on the way down now, says the lady boss.'

> What do/say?

>>19519436
"Sure, get started. The passengers can come in when they arrive."

Continue digging.

>>19519436

''Load it''

Go greet the VIP, maybe we'll be able to grill some info once were alone

>>19519498

This. Make sure to clear our desktop so they don't see we've been digging.

>>19519490
>>19519498
>>19519511

'Yeah sure, get started then.' You wonder if you should let them come find you... nah. If they're passengers, maybe you should play the gracious host.

And that's how you end up at the elevator looking at two people who are... probably not whom Olga says they are. Well, at least they do match their photos. Tomas wears a cheap-looking grey suit and a maroon shirt, and extends a hand once he sees you.

'Tomas. You're... the Nelson person? Our ferryman?'

'Yep. Cappiello.'

'Got that.'

The girl is clearly not a doctor. Then again, who says doctors can't wear tank tops and scruffy jeans? And those boots are good for field medic work, probably...

'Yulia?'

'Yeah. Is that your ship?'

'Yeah.' Something about her gaze at it offends you. 'What?'

'No, it's nice.'

You let them into the ship, and Yulia flops onto the first mate's chair immediately. Tomas grabs her shoulder but she shrugs him off. 'Very nice.'

'So, you do know the terms of this? The coordinates for our town are here.' He docks his databook on your reader.

> What do/say/ask? Also, do anything else before you set off, once loading is complete?

>>19519566
"Terms as Olga told me were that I fly you both down to the coords, wait three, four days, then pick you back up and take you back here. That right?"

>>19519566

Ask about the job he's supposed to do down on the planet.

>>19519566

Scratch that idea about handing them guns, what the hell was I thinking anyway?

Best to wait for takeoff before trying more grilling, the loaders are probably in they're pockets

>>19519592
>>19519598
>>19519617

You reiterate the terms of the job as you got them, and Tomas nods. Yulia, meanwhile, is exploring the bridge - stretching her hands into this and that, crawling around to look under tables and consoles.

> Do anything?

After a while, the load-up crew taps your hatch and signals that it's done and secured. You check the screens, then go back to check it physically, before finally making the take-off queue.

'Third? Bloody hell.'

'Always takes a long time,' Yulia says. She's halfway across the bridge, and you weren't talking very loudly either. Eventually you get onto the slipway, and under guidance you slip out into the deep night, orienteering yourself towards the light brown surface of the planet below you. Thin atmosphere, high gravity; well, getting down is going to be the easy part then.

> What do/say/ask? Yulia is still rooting around. The trip won't take too long; you can make other long term plans while you're en route.

>>19519653

''Sniffing out the captain shit right infront of him isn't exactly subtle, mind filling me in on your game?''

>>19519653
"Any reason you're rooting around like that?" Spoken to Yulia.

>>19519653

Tell her to stop messing about on the bridge.

also, ask again about the job. So where do we land? Do we have to do anything?

>>19519653
"Looking for something in particular?"

>>19519679
>>19519674
>>19519672

'Reason? No reason.'

'Pardon the doctor, captain... she's a little bit... curious, I suppose.'

'Never been on a ship before?'

'My arse. i've been on hundreds of ships.' She stands up, looking bored of the game, and then sits down in one corner, folding her arms like a child.

Meanwhile Tomas is explaining the job, as you gear up for re-entry. 'Well, there's a landing yard and ship-camp on the outskirts of town! There's plenty of ships going to New Roanoke all the time anyway, so you'll have company. We shouldn't be too long.'

Then it's too loud to speak, as you burn through the planet's shield of air, until you finally enter the realm of atmospheric flight, deploying the aerofoils and flight surfaces. Yulia looks up.

'Have you got any guns then?'

'Yulia!'

'I'm just asking...'

> What do/say before landing? Also, since their jobs are well defined, anything you intend to do in New Roanoke?

>>19519756
"What do you need guns for? Are you expecting trouble?"

>>19519756
"Now why would an innocent pilot transporting two reputable doctors to a colony possibly need a weapon? Unless you've got something to tell me about this job that Olga forgot to mention?"

>>19519777
>>19519789

'You're a doctor and an engineer headed for a colony. The hell you want guns for?'

'The hell we *don't* want guns for?' Yulia says, before Tomas can stop her. He turns to you.

'Well, you probably come from a very civilised chunk of space, captain, but it's pretty tough out in New Roanoke. In fact, if you have heat, you probably should keep some with you as well.'

Good he brought that up, since you've got one right on your belt. The hailing system at New Roanoke is bloody indecipherable, and en route in for landing you find that someone else appears to want to edge you out of your place in the queue. You could yield it to him if you don't want trouble; or you could show him.

Yulia looks out the window and sees the other spacecraft, about the same size as yours but with retrofitted cargo bulkheads. 'Son of a bitch!'

He's getting pretty close. And now you can hear the tower. 'Get out! Out of the way! Out!'

But who the hell is the voice talking to?

> What do/say?

>>19519867
Yield to the guy. If he's just an asshole, we can find him later and get him to buy us a drink in compensation. If it's an emergency and he needs to land now, we don't want to fuck it up.

Inform the other ship to GET FUCKED

>>19519867
Power up and move out the damn way. Sound an alert/alarm if there is one about incoming?

>>19519916
>>19519909
>>19519904

Goddamn it. You turn to look at the other ship, and think you can see black smoke coming out of one of the turbofans. It doesn't look like anything dangerous, but why have life on your hands?

'Roger that, traffic control. Yielding now.'

'Good call, captain,' Tomas says. His voice is always so... level-headed. Yulia, on the other hand, goes back to her seat again.

'He was all right. There wasn't a need for that...'

It's another twenty minutes before you finally manage to land. To your surprise, the idea that these two are really doctors seems to be borne out; a Rover plows across the ship yard to your vessel, and is waiting there when you open the ramp. It's a cheery-looking man, flanked by two women and another guy, and he waves at Tomas.

'Mr. Arnozek! Miss Kurylenko!'

'The fuck's with a welcome party? I thought our job was quiet,' she mutters. The man thanks you for your valuable help, and you note the jeep's insignia - a circle, with a clover within. Yulia and Tomas walk to the car, and then Tomas turns back.

'Well. Thanks for the short trip. You'll be here when we're back, eh? Try to keep up to that.'

> What do/say? And what do after this?

>>19520004
>'He was all right. There wasn't a need for that...'

"Well heaven forfend that you get planetside a few minutes later than planned."

>'Well. Thanks for the short trip. You'll be here when we're back, eh? Try to keep up to that.'

"Of course."

>>19520004
"Try not to get into too much trouble."
Dunno, does our ship need anything? Do we? Whiskey?

>>19520004
"You've got my com signal; how long do you expect to be? I'll need to refuel and make sure I've got provisions and that crap. Give me some notice if you need to leave in a hurry."

Lock the ship up after everyone's gone, see if you can find the ship that was smoking.

>>19520048

Yulia sulks a little more. Then again, you figure she's not sulking because of what you said. Her expression reads boredom more than anything else.

You still have doubts that they're really an engineer and a doctor, seriously. Yulia just doesn't look like she even has that sort of temperament...

Anyway. As you look around the landing yard, all by yourself again, you notice that there are flags and banners all around the place, and lining the roads. They're rudimentary, but they're clearly election canvassing banners. Checking your news confirms that New Roanoke and the other territories in this area - 28 cities, with about a million and a half people between them - are voting for their regional senators and high councillors.

Hmm. That makes you a little uneasy. You've been around enough systems, including your own homeland, to know that elections are always when the gangs turn out. The police have to escort the candidates; so drugs flow, money is cleaned, and all too often blood runs... hmmm.

Oh, also, you see that man from the ship you yielded way to, coming towards your ship. There are two or three others coming around as well. They don't seem hostile...

> What do/say?

>>19520110

You've got food... fuel is fine... well, four or five days might be enough time to do some retrofitting.

>>19520131

'You do that. Make sure the ship's ready to go, eh?'

He says it like it's usual routine, which it is of course. No point having a ship that can't go at a moment's notice. But why's he mentioning this specifically....?

>>19520166
"Oh hey! You folks holding up all right? That was some nasty looking smoke coming out of your ship!"

>>19520166
good for them

ask them if their ship is okay

>>19520166

We got a pistol concealed on us right? anyway wait for them but make sure to get a good distance.

>>19520253
>>19520252
>>19520232

'Hey there, you.' You make sure your pistol is here. Yep. 'How's your ship? Saw a bit of smoke coming out from there and yielded to you.'

'Yielded to me? Are you deaf or just fucking stupid? Traffic control clearly gave me precedence!' The man growls at you, though the other still look neutral. They probably came here knowing there was a fight that needed prevention.

'I couldn't hear what the man was saying. He was breaking up.'

'Come on, Piter, let's go for a drink. No need to be pissed, you're on the ground safe and sound anyhow.' The tall, genial-looking man puts his hand on Piter's broad shoulders, then points at you with a pipe produced from his pocket. 'Join us?'

> What do/say? You can talk to the guy en route, if you accept.

>>19520325
Might as well. Though ship probably can't lift so fast a few minutes can't hurt. (heh)

>>19520325
sure, why not? Npt like we have anything to do

The man might be a dick (or just too hotheahed) but the other two seem okay enough

>>19520325

Ask about the situation in the town, is it really this dangerous?

>>19520388
>>19520378
>>19520353

You agree, and together the five of you walk across the ship yard. Being simply a huge base of reinforced concrete, the yard holds ships of all shapes and sizes; there are small aircraft, all the way up to a 320-metre long ship on a dockyard. 'Big freighter. That one sprung a bad leak, though, which is why it's here.'

The group of you wind through some main roads and side alleys until you enter a pub. Despite its small entrance, the interior is seriously roomy, with a courtyard and an actual glasshouse garden. Everywhere is noise and bustle.

'So, is it always this busy out here?'

'New Roanoke's a busy town, yeah. But when elections roll by, even more so. Plenty of off-world monitors from the Federal Authorities to make sure the vote's legit.'

'That sounds like it makes the place safer, then?'

'Quite the opposite, actually. The FA monitors reinforce the local branches, and everything is focused on the elections. And so...' the tall man leans a little closer, then gestures to several men at a table across the pub. 'And so the gangsters hold their conferences here. It's likely to end badly this year too. There'd be assassins and hitmen going around the town now, probably.'

'Huh.'

'Yeah. So why're you in NR during this fucked up time, son?'

> What do/say?

>>19520505
"Medical supply shipment. Guess they predicted all the fights that might be breaking out and sent some help over in advance."

"What about you and your pals?"

>>19520505

''Doing a job, like everyone that don't live here.''

Also ask him about the emblem on the car we saw the twofaux doc leave in. I na hushed down voice, making sure nobody pick up on it

>>19520634
>>19520623

'Well, just doing work...' you give a few details, not too much. 'How about you guys?'

'Same. Election time is logistics time. You were up at Station 3, weren't you? The number of ships up there right now, eh, that's something to look at.'

You chuckle, knock back another shot of something. 'Say. You know there's this charitable trust around here, with that symbol that's... a circle with a clover inside?'

There's a pause at the table as they look at you. Finally, after a few moments, the tall man - whose name is Jonah - nods. 'Yeah, what about it? It's... not really a charitable trust. More like... how do I put it... a secret society. You've seen their lift gang, I'm sure - up at the station too.'

Oh wait, so you have! The circle with the clover inside. 'So... who runs that?'

'Oh, the O'Shaughnessy family. Big shots round this planet and the moon. It's rumoured that he also runs things elsewhere on other planets, has a network of privateers to do his work for him...'

> Hm, hmm. What do/say/ask?

>>19520707

So... are they one of the criminals as well? Did we just offload gangsters into a gang fight?

>>19520824

It might well be that way...

After a little more drinking, the other captains leave you alone for a bit. They're going off somewhere to get some girls, but you're not so interested in that for now.

Anyway, if you are interested, you can join them later. But now...

> What do/say? This is getting weird...

>>19520954
Not sure what to do actually.

How long do we have to wait for the other two?
Lets just kill time

>>19520954
Eh, what's done is done. Once their job is over we'll be 25k richer.

>>19520954

Let's investigate them while we're here. It seems a bit weird. Do we know the headquarters of the place?

>>19521034
implying they wont stab us in the back and leave us to the wolves

it is painfully obvious that they are doing something illegal

>>19520995
>>19521034
>>19521039

Well, a simple search of the O'Shaughnessy Foundation quickly turns up their address. You run through the entire site...

.... nope. Nothing about a hospital. Definitely bogus, then. But if the two of them were bogus, what the hell were they here to do?

As for killing time, well - you satisfy yourself with dinner and a nice long shower, making full use of scarce water resources. Then you retire to bed, and wake up the next morning at a positively luxurious time. You probably could take a holiday here for the next four days, gambling, drinking and maybe whoring... but you wonder if you should.

> What do? Should you just holiday? Or do something else? Ground facilities can offer upgrades for ships and other such goods.

> Also, roll d100 for insight.

Check out all manner of ship related things.
Mainly: -Upgrades available to our ship (and prices)
-Other ship sale prices
-Repair costs
-How many repair facilities available

>>19520954
so what if we just dropped of some assassins lets look for some stealth coating or extra thrusters or quick change kits for our ship

>>19521102
Did they take all of the crates? Have a look inside one if not (under cover, of course)

You can probably ring up your passengers and ask them what is going on. Discreetely, if it's a public transmission.

Check up the upgrades, but it's unlikely we'll get them done if those two need to leave in a hurry.

rolled 12 = 12

I AM ROLLING INSIGHT

rolled 4 = 4

>>19521140
Insight.

>>19521147

Hmm. Repair facilities - well, there is a proper one on the edge of the landing yard, which is expensive. There is also another one to the south of the city, which is apparently rather ghetto, but functional at a third of the price. Don't you just love planetside towns?

In terms of upgrades, after a bit of searching, you figure that the more profitable ones would be either an improved avionics suite (4,500) or a thorough retuning of the engine (3,000). The first would be good for manoeuvrability; the second is for acceleration, since it reduces reactor warm-up time.

>>19521170
>>19521176

> 12: dafty daft daft.

You go into the hold and check the pallets... yep, they're all taken. Everything looks fine.

In fact, only now do you realise that the databook Tomas passed you with the coordinates is still docked into your console. Bloody hell, hope he doesn't need this...!

Meanwhile, you find out a bit more about the O'Shaughnessy thing - they do have an enforcement arm, and are one of the big political machines in these parts. They also run a roaring trade, along with a few other competing families, in the construction materials and machine goods business - growth sectors in an industrial economy.

But it's all rather confusing and you can't really make head or tail of things...

> What do/say/investigate?

rolled 7, 8, 6, 3 = 24

>>19521261
look at book

>>19521261
Read their mail! If the idiot's left it non-passworded.

Other than that tell them you're heading out to town for a "supply run".

>>19521261
They're not idiots. If they left it here it's because the guy wanted us to know it's there. I doubt it has anything on it that we can trust.

>>19521314
>girl in shortpants
>arrogant guy

They may very well be idiots.

read the fuck out of that databook as soon as possible.

>>19521339
Yes. Because she wears shorts she must be an idiot. Clearly. And what has the guy done that's been arrogant?

wait a minute...

did we just pick up space croft?

oh god damn it. We're gonna be leaving this shit like that float Waco in Raiders...

>>19521285
>>19521290
>>19521314

> Yulia isn't wearing short pants, she's in scruffy jeans. Then again, given the bloody weather planetside, even short pants wouldn't be insane... you've got your own sleeves rolled up, is for sure.

You take it... it's got no mail... no apps, really, other than one called 'Signal Flare' and one called 'Hyphae'.

...

You check your ship records, and quickly notice that one of your own entrances got wiped, as part of wiping an hour's worth of records. There must have been a break-in in the middle of the night.

Then you head for your assault rifle cabinet, and your heart lurches as you push at the latch and it yields limply instead of staying magnetically locked. Clink, clack. Empty rifle cabinet.

It's now late afternoon, and the quiet in the landing yard only makes the sound of your heart even more maddening...

> What do?

>>19521394
Well, we've still got our pistols. I suppose we should alert the authorities. I know, I know, it could be trouble but if they try to frame us by leaving the rifle somewhere and the law comes looking for us asking why we didn't report it stolen we'll just look suspicious.

>>19521394

we have a vac-sealed suit, right? When we make our escape, could we throw it on and say "rifle back or the air goes away"?

Report theft, ask spaceport if anything was seen, sweep the ship for anything planted or missing for now.

>>19521422

It's not so much the gun, though. The gun is locked in the cabinet with our private key. If they got that, they could've gotten everything.

We should try to activate the engine and see if the ship works.

rolled 3, 7, 5, 7 = 22

>>19521394
report our gun stolen
how much does it cost for an investigation?

>>19521445
>we have a vac-sealed suit, right? When we make our escape, could we throw it on and say "rifle back or the air goes away"?

>yes please take the assassination tool so you can be arrested instead of us, sucker

Give the two a call, tell them about your missing rifle. Tell them if you hear of an assassination by gunfire and suddenly both of them want to take off immediately you're going to leave without them.

Calmly, of course. No need to get too angry, as long as the payoff is decent.

>>19521422
>>19521452
>>19521461

You quickly report the gun stolen - well, quickly as you can. As it turns out, it takes them half an hour to pick up your call, in a clearly very busy police station where someone takes down your details and says they'll call you.

>>19521491
>>19521445

You call them on the comms channel, and a deep female voice comes on. It takes a moment for you to realise it's Yulia.

'Yulia.'

'Yeah, you caught on?'

'You- look. If I hear that any rifle fire's happened in town, you guys can book the next ship out. The worst that could happen to me is the loss of a rifle, after all.'

'Nah, that's not the worst could happen. You really should have a nice drink and - do you shoot? Actually, you could even join us!'

> What say?

>>19521460

... Fuck on a shingle. The engine's internal mode works, which is how you've been well lit and keeping cool so far, but the reactors have been placed under ground-lock. 'Administrator Privilege required to enter reactor flight mode.'

'I AM THE ADMINISTRATOR YOU BITCH!' You yell at the gentle-voiced console woman voice. Not much help there...

> What do?

Join them! Acquire the finest alcohol this planet has to offer!

>>19521599

Dude, we don't even know what we're joining!

Obviously it's time to show the ghost in the machine who the god is. Pull out the password reset disc and get back in.

>>19521533
>the reactors have been placed under ground-lock. 'Administrator Privilege required to enter reactor flight mode.'
Reboot the fucker. Oh, that can't be too hard.

>'Nah, that's not the worst could happen. You really should have a nice drink and - do you shoot? Actually, you could even join us!'

"I'll be busy arranging a clean escape from this backwater dump, thank you very much. And you, my dear, have had the price doubled for the trip outbound. I've got engines to unlock and perimeter defenses to scout out because of you two."

>>19521632
Wait, scratch that last bit. Tell them you'll secure an exit now and will be having some serious *words* with them after.

>>19521533
Look and see which account currently has administrator privileges. Continue talking as we do so.

"And I see you've made it so I can't abandon you after all. Pity. Really making me work for my money here. And to think, if you'd all been honest with me from the start we could have done all this without the worry and paranoia."

>>19521613
>>19521632

Yeah, fair enough. But not while you're still on the datalink - the reboot disc is all the way at the bottom of the main console.

'Well, I'm not joining you, thanks very much. I'm arranging an egress now, and we'll have something interesting to talk about later.'

'Wait, now? You're leaving? No, no, wait-' Yulia's voice is suddenly cut off by gunfire. Just as you begin to gasp, though, she's back, and several bursts of fire, much closer to the phone, ring out. 'Bring out the rifle, Tomas!'

'Don't use my fucking rifle, you-'

Yulia hangs up. By the time you fix the reboot disc it's already evening. The election is taking place when you leave planetside; why has the violence started this early? And you don't even know what they were doing, other than that they were meant to... possibly kill someone?

Bloody hell. Glancing around outside, you see silhouettes - people - around your ship. They're clearly looking at you. There must be six or seven of them...

> What do?

>>19521727
What? No, I don't think we meant for us to leave. Just to get the shit unlocked so we could leave if we have to. Shit. Uh, can we see anything about the people around our ship? Are they police? But yeah, we can't charge them for the flight back if we don't stay.

>>19521727
Turn on the exterior lights and announce "Is there a problem, people?" over the comms.

rolled 2, 4, 5, 4 = 15

>>19521599
drink 1/2 before we show up with all weapons and amo

>>19521778
>>19521774

Good point, that. You wonder if threatening to leave might have changed their behaviour a little, though - maybe if you're crazy enough to throw away 25,000 credits, they might want to look out for you?

Anyway, positive thinking aside - you turn on your outside lights, and see that the silhouettes are indeed policemen, and there are eight of them.

'We're here to investigate the stolen rifle you reported earlier today,' one of them says, when you ask. Wow, that was quick. This is also a slightly disproportionate response - it's a rifle, not several tactical warheads...

> What do?
> Roll d100 for perception!

rolled 15 = 15

>>19521865
Relax, wipe our brow. Looks like they're okay guys. Assuming these aren't imposters.

rolled 40 = 40

>>19521865

Let's be paranoid. Look at hats, badges, shoes or whatever.

Why roll? It's kinda obvious that you don't need eight cops for a theft report. Even breaking and entering merits two at the most, unless they've got reason to suspect that something is up with us. Since they've no reason to so far as we know, the good doctor's razor tells us that these probably aren't real cops.

rolled 95 = 95

"Having some engine problems right at the moment... Give me a minute..."

Hide the same datafile an see if they try breaking in. With the ship locked down we can't exactly flee.

>>19521865
Request badge/identification numbers from the guys outside (or names, if they lack such numbers)
Dial up the line we called earlier to report the rifle stolen and verify that these guys are legit. Do -not- let them aboard without verification, and inform them of such, politely.

"Other pilots warned us that gangs might claim to be law enforcement to steal cargo or our ship. So many men to investigate a stolen rifle makes us wary."

>>19521918
Also, to add to my 95,
Get on comm to the spaceport admin and ask if they did let proper police into the port.

>>19521907
>>19521918
>>19521898

> Yes, friend - you've already noted that's an awful number of policemen.

What gives them away from almost the first moment is their rank badges - you notice all of them actually have the same rank, which is really quite silly now.

'Yes, I'll be right here to cooperate with you,' you say, and immediately dive away from the window. Sensing their game is up as well, the eight of them simultaneously open fire, the sounds of bullets pinging off your hull (YOUR PRECIOUS HULL!) ringing in your ears.

Fortunately you've managed to roll out and get to your pistols, and just then you see your databook flashing. 'What? Who?'

'Yulia!'

'Can't talk!' Ping, ping, ping, ping! The other ship captains are keeping properly schtum, the clever bastards.

'No, wait, are you in trouble? Fucking Connollys. We're on our way.'

You back up against the amidships bulkhead, listening out for movement. It isn't long before movement comes, in the form of the egress hatch under the bridge being opened. Shit!

> What do? You are pretty much being boarded.

>>19521987
Pistol, two handed grip, pray that we've had some training in their use, aim at the hatch.

I knew we shoulda taken that primary school job...

>>19521987
pew pew pew the motherfuckers!

>>19522007
Hit the emergency bulkhead seal as soon as the first comes through the door. Then re-open it and open fire again.

>>19521987

can we activate an emergency override for "oh shit decompression close the hatch!" and seal the boarders into what I assume is an airlock?

Also, can small arms hurt the hull? How the hell did we survive reentry if they can?

>>19522041
>>19522007
>>19522027

Clever plan. You edge over to the remote auto-seal, and watch through the slit windows as the first 'policeman' clambers into the ship. Just as the second man's hands appear on the rim of the entrance hatch, you activate the seal.

The sound of fingers being crunched and severed by the metallic rim, and the unearthly wail of agony from those fingers' owner, is quickly drowned out by gunfire. The first man fires several rounds at the bulkhead, then runs for the main entrance to open it; but that presents you with a more than adequate target. One round goes into his shoulder, and a second splatters his brains all over the door. Damn.

Then, all of a sudden, you hear something screeching to a halt outside, followed by a storm of gunfire. Footsteps thump around the concrete under your ship's landing frame, followed one after another by the popping of handguns, the deep throb of shotguns, and then thuds. Thud, thud, thud.

Knock, knock, knock. 'Oi. Yulia here. Are you alive? Herbert? Um... Darren? Nelson?'

> What do/say? Next post will be last for this thread!
> And yes, it's me, CirrusandN on twitter. (I'm bored, okay?)

>>19522070
Micrometeors hit shields? Which we don't have up right now.

>>19522070

Small arms fire, in general, won't hurt the hull. But then your heat shield is still susceptible to chipping, and a chipped heat shield isn't much good in a re-entry.

It only took a gap in the shield from a foam strike to take out the whole of Columbia...

Anyway, grim scenarios aside, it's still not very good to show customers a ship all dented with bullets. Maybe if you're a bounty hunter, but you're a respectable (kinda) freight carrier!

>>19522106
"Yeah, I'm alive. The everloving FUCK have you bastards gotten me into?"

>When can we expect part 2 OP?

>>19522106
>Clever plan. You edge over to the remote auto-seal,
Sigh, let them in.

They better pay up what they promised. Heck we might want to demand more.

>>19522106
"I'm only alive if I'm getting paid double! Get on board, shut the doors, tell me the damn code to unlock the engines if we're getting out of here. I'll unlock once we're off the damn ground!"

> I'll announce Part 2's timing on my twitter channel, CirrusandN.
> Thanks for playing, people!

You shove the dead body away and let Yulia in. She steps in, holding a pistol in one hand and a sawn-off shotgun in the other. 'Where's Tomas?'

'Taking care of business,' she says. 'Ooh, look at his brains fall out. Good shot.'

You look. Argh, you shouldn't have looked. 'You've cleared them all out?'

'Yep. You're welcome.'

'I'm not thanking you! The fuck did you get me into?! Look, I'm demanding double for this job!'

'Don't demand double from me. You want double, go ask Olga. And Olga will tell you no, politely, and you shouldn't ask again. Olga's rules.'

Goddamnit... 'well, double or no double, give me the unlock code, so we can get out of here. We get off the ground first!'

'Who said anything about off the ground...? I can't leave yet, my job ain't done.' Yulia sighs. 'I might's well tell you straight up now. We've been assigned to take out a bunch of the chief organisers and network people for the Connolly machine, but somehow they've found out about it. So there was a raid at Shamrock House just now. There's going to be fire all over town for the next few days, but I've got to do my work. Or we both get splattered, like him over there.'

You look where she's pointing. Argh, shouldn't have looked!

> What do/say/ask? I'll take note of responses for the next thread!
> Also, if there's any suggestions or cool ideas for the quest setting, put them up here please - I'd be glad to use them.

note to self no more jobs fron Olga
EVER

>>19522304
Agreed.

Eh, decent for a first quest. A bit too railroaded for my liking. And on the other hand, not railroaded *enough*.

You need more things for the main character to do, rather than just put the next setpiece into play. It's trickier here because we're tied to the ship (spacefarer quest ain't no spacefarer with no ship) but try to work something out, ok?

>>19522275
This is so incredibly breach of contract it's not even funny. Make DAMN clear that if she doesn't come clean about any other fun surprises she WILL be delivered to the highest bidder, damn the consequences. She might be some assassin killer type, but this is our ship and we weren't shipping no assassins nor interested in getting involved in their cute little turf war.

>>19522275
We'll be getting on the comms to Ogla, then.

Half the money up front now and the full amount when we get back. Including the replacement cost for a rifle and ammunition.

>This is so incredibly breach of contract it's not even funny.

Murder, accessory to murder, blah blah blah. Who are we going to complain to?

>>19522373
Who? Why, the entire goddamn universe. She won't be a very good Johnson if every freelancer from here to Star's End knows that she can't be trusted to come through. Hell, mention we're pretty sure she's going to try and smoke us rather than pay and her higher ups will probably erase her themselves.

>>19522322

well we did just say kill time when asked for action..

Hey OP,

Are you going to continue Dark Spirit Quest?

>>19526313

I don't think so, actually - sorry about that.

If anyone would like to take it up from where we left off, though, that'd be excellent!

>>19527275
I'm here, continue Cirrus!

>>19522275
Ok, Yulia, what exactly is your job? Don't leave out any details or things I'm "not cleared for".

>>19522373
>>19522402
>>19527328

'All right, Yulia.' You turn to her. In other circumstances - at a pub, or a bar perhaps - you'd be glad to have her company, as would a million other people. But right now, no mood for the pretty.

Besides, she's still holding both her guns. 'What?'

'So what the hell exactly were you here to do?'

'God, so Olga didn't tell you? Is this the first time you've worked for her?' She nods when you nod, then flops back on the first mate's chair. 'Yeah, she does this to all first-timers. I'm a hitman. I've been assigned to take out a few of the Connollys, and then Tomas sets up... presumably a listening rig or maybe steals some data, and we take some of that back to Olga in Station 1. I'm not too clear on Tomas' job.'

'The hell does she do this to first-timers for?'

'Oh, you know, just to test them! Make sure they're of... sufficient quality, as she says.'

Sighing, you press the comms button for Olga. It takes several minutes to search for her, and then it turns up an image of her luxuriating in a huge jacuzzi, holding a shot of clear liquid with a pickle in it. 'Da, Olga. Oh it's you, Nelson dear. How can I help?'

> What do/say?

>>19527495
Well, you know exactly why I'm calling. I'm increasing the payment as you are currently requesting services that were not covered in our initial contract.

Double it.

She might refuse the double and we can negotiate, with the lowest being an extra 50% on top.

>>19527516

You make your demands, and there's a deep pause. The sounds of jacuzzi jets fills your hearing. Then Olga speaks.

'I don't recall requesting services beyond the conveyance of those two kind souls to New Roanoke to help save lives.'

'Please, Olga, cut that out. You know they are contract killers, and right now there is one man splattered all over my ship, and seven splattered under it!'

'What?!' She gasps theatrically. 'That is absolutely unacceptable! Bring Yulia on! I will reprimand her roundly for you.'

Yulia takes the databook over, and the English soon degenerates into some other language. You hear lots of 'suka' and 'hooey', but only Yulia is doing the yelling; the voice you can hear on the other side remains pleasant and calm. Then Yulia hands the databook to you.

'I've terminated Yulia's contract, for deception.'

'Okay.'

'I can offer you 65,000 credits.' That's quite a bit more than what you asked for! 'But now you'll have to do Yulia's work. She'll be on hand to assist you. This is my offer, and I don't tend to renege on my terms. What say you?'

You have the distinct impression of being talked to by a tigress.

> What do/say?

>>19527567

Well, it's damned nice she admits that they're actually contract killers.

I'm not really for killing, though. 40,000 to let Yulia do the killing while we wait here. Or somewhere else.

>>19527567
Sounds like a deal.

Also, don't pull this on me again, it compromises any operation when people aren't made aware of what they are in for.

Right, Yulia, who is already dead and who needs to die still. In addition what resources do we have that I'm not aware of and are there any specifications for how the deed ought to be carried out?

>>19527596

Yeah let's go with this. Yulia would be a nice ally to make, too.

>>19527614
>>19527596

'... right, okay. Deal. But don't pull this on me again, Olga. Doesn't work for you, either, to have someone shooting blind.'

'No, of course it doesn't! I sympathise. Cheerios.'

Then it's Yulia's turn. 'So. Who's left?'

'Who's left? Oh, on that list?' She takes the list out and puts it on the console; there are five names, two of which have been crossed out.

You can see the problem - all five of them appear to be from the same political faction you just read about. If two just got taken out, then the other three would be stupid not to get more guards. 'So. You bungled the job, eh?'

'Bungled? Me?' She sits up angrily. 'I was just giving a diversion for that long-haired guy. I could take those guys all on if I wanted!'

You'd much rather there was a plan, though... 'is there a time limit for this job?'

'Election's in four days,' she shrugs. 'What info do you need?'

> What ask? I'm going to get food now, give me a bit.

>>19527656
First what does suka and hooey mean, was that Russian?

Where they live, what security measures they have already in place and what they are likely to add, what points of leverage can we apply, like family members and children or other things they would expose themselves for, what resources do we have available to us both in weapons and in people, what are your personal specialties, how good of a shot are you?

>>19527682

You have no idea what they mean.

> They mean 'bitch' and 'cock' respectively.

>>19527699
I knew that, I was adding that to the list of questions for Yilia.

>>19527682

'You don't need to know. And yes it's Russian.'

She then leans back. 'Dear god, you've got a lot of questions. I know where they live, and that what we've got on us is what we've got. We could always buy weapons in town, though. Their security details are provided by Connolly; the quality is rather subpar, I'd say. But I don't know who they might have hired as mercenaries. The rest is bullshit.'

'It's not bullshit.'

'Did you seriously think that if they've got guards, their kids would still be skipping around in the backyard waiting to be kidnapped? And that they would go see their kids rather than turn both of us into mincemeat if we told them we had the kids?' She sighs. 'And as for me, I'm a good shot. Naturally. If you want to support me with research, go ahead. I'll be off to have a drink or something while you dig stuff up on them.'

> What do/say?

>>19527936
Bring me back some alcohol, I'm going to want it after the day I've had.


See if we can get some aerial views of where they live, the more up to date the better.

See if we can pull up blueprints or house plans and see if it matches the aerial view and if there is anything of interest there.

Try to find likely mercenary companies they would hire people from, if we can impersonate them it's an easy way in, not necessarily the plan but a good thought. Also we just want to know who they are likely to bring in for this.

Get an idea of how rich these people are and how many guns they're bringing to the table.

Did you people SERIOUSLY took up assassination jobs?
What the fuck is wrong with you?!

We're just a freight hauler with some minor jack of all trades skills, not a God damn assasin.
Besides, we got offered 65k to kill FIVE targets. That is such an abysmal rewards that Olga must be laughing like mad.
Jesus Christ. Don't take less than 50,000 for ONE head, especially for high profile, political targets.

God damn, this went to shit rather fast.

>>19528800

I'm actually kinda having the same idea, goddamn. Maybe we should cancel...

Or, or, we could get Yulia to do all the work, and get the money from it?

>>19529919
Offer her 30k to do the dirty work.

>>19529937
This is how we need to deal with it. We're not a trained assassin.

>>19529937
>>19530284

Better than nothing I guess. Although I'm not sure Yulia will agree

File: 1340043979991.jpg-(49 KB, 523x718, 1264972634513.jpg)

>>19522106
> And yes, it's me, CirrusandN on twitter. (I'm bored, okay?)
Plz moar hoarfrost!

>>19530936

More hoarfrost is acceptable!

>>19528800
>>19529919
>>19529937
>>19530284
>>19530365

Actually you've had that idea anyway. If Yulia is going to be around anyway, you might as well...

To your delight, she agrees. 'Well. I'll take two, and you take one. I'll tell you the one to take...'

You watch as she throws up some information on the console, on the three marks. Then she points out the one on the left, a young man with a moustache. 'He's a junior partner in the team. Last we saw, he had just three bodyguards. I can tell you where he lives. But you'll have to take him out carefully, no public jobs.'

'What, and you'll take the other two?' You study the other two and can't help but feel a little glad. One of them appears to be a line commander for the Connolly's enforcement machine... and the other one is also a circuit sheriff for several villages outside of New Roanoke. 'But they're...'

'Heavily guarded.' Yulia gives a sudden, wide grin, and you feel a chill down your spine. She's beautiful, but that grin... 'Well, all the more meat for gorging.'

> What do/say now? Yulia says she's going to head into town to get some booze and ammunition. You still have a pile of bodies right under your ship.

>>19532887
We should investigate and learn more about our target.
We should prepare thoroughly.

>Did we offer her money or no?

Tell Yulia to come back soon.

Meanwhile, we'll have to clean up the bodies quickly, and then do research on that man.

>>19532887
Why the hell did you take our rifle anyway? Didn't you have your own weapons?

>>19532925
>>19533033

'I'll be back soon, yeah,' Yulia waves as she steps out of the ship over the dead body slumped on the floor. Bloody hell. Literally.

Sighing, you drag the body away and wipe the brains and blood off your wall, before checking up Walston Doppel, the young man. He's married, and lives in a small terrace house - with a front garden - along a busy street.

You also notice that he is charismatic, and quite popular within the town as an organiser. His office is quite busy since he handles many of the volunteers and community workers in the town and surrounding areas.

Yulia said no public jobs - you have the sense she loves mowing large numbers of people down, instead of stealthily taking out one person at a time. Well, there you have your job cut out for you...

> You have Walston's home and office address.
> Do/say/research anything more? If there are more specific queries, roll d100.

After a while, Yulia returns with two bottles of vodka. 'Want some?'

The vodka burns its way down, but it feels good. 'Where the hell did you guys take my rifle? And why did you take it?'

'We hadn't any arms. I stole the pistol and shotgun anyway. But your rifle's with Tomas.'

> Say/ask anything?

rolled 32 = 32

>>19533221
>> Do/say/research anything more? If there are more specific queries, roll d100.
investigate his habits, daily routine
also investigate the place he lives and works, the personnel, etc

>'We hadn't any arms. I stole the pistol and shotgun anyway. But your rifle's with Tomas.'
"That's what I don't get. Why didn't you have your own arms?"

rolled 96 = 96

>>19533245
Lets try again.

Oh, also investigate his guards, namely their shifts and such and if there are moments when he is left unguarded

rolled 56 = 56

>>19533221
Wait what you were about to kill people but you didn't have enough guns so you took my rifle? What the hell?

>>19533221
Hey, hello fuys, I'm your conscience. Just checking. Did you really agree to kill a young guy for money ?
Don't you want to call back Olga, say we were angry and confused when we accepted her offer, and that actuallly we don't have it in us to assassinate someone we otherwise have nothing to do with ?

rolled 80 = 80

>>19533342
I feel we're already stretching our luck

>>19533245
>>19533254
>>19533256

'Yeah, that's what I don't understand. Why the hell don't you have your own arms?'

Yulia looks at you, crossing her legs and pulling her jeans up. 'Fuck, it's warm. Also, why would we go around with the same guns? People would trace us right away. So we go round and use what we find. Speaking of which, you do have your own guns, right?'

> 96: Excellent roll! However, you do have to spend the next day researching; this is not stuff you can find online.

The next day, you get up early and sneak out. As you get to ground level you turn around and notice that the bodies have already disappeared.

... what the hell? Also, come think of it, you didn't see Yulia anywhere...

As you wander around the streets, you quickly notice both opportunities and problems with Walston's routine. He is actually under very light guard - the only people you see are two companions with pistols, and two more shadowers who carry submachine guns and normally trail him in a car.

The problem isn't them; it's more of the people he's working with. It seems he's *always* with someone, if not with more than one person - colleagues, rallying people, constituents. He's quite an interesting and amusing person, handsome and charismatic.

> More incoming.

Following and trailing him for 12 hours, you don't get found out by the guards, which is itself an encouraging sign. That's how you managed to find out the moment when he's not guarded; after a long day's work, he dismisses his guards and heads off to a small pub to relax. You follow him into the cosy establishment - wooden tables, wooden floor and racks of whiskey.

Hanging around in a corner, you watch as several more people approach him. He talks to them, cracks some jokes, and then you overhear something about the Connollys really going to give him a good future.

'Well, whatever it takes for the town,' he smiles, and they laugh and wish him good luck. Then - and then he turns around and sees you.

'Hey,' he says, and you freeze. 'Come think of it... I remember kinda seeing you around this afternoon. You from around New Roanoke? I don't recall seeing you before...'

> What do/say? You're packing your pistol now. But you can see he's also armed, and there are people around here.
> Meanwhile, you're not sure how Yulia is doing...

>>19533403
Tell him we were on one of his rallies. We liked his performance (is this the right word to describe it?).

[What the hell is New Roanoke anyway?]

>>19533433
The town we're in.

>>19533433
I'm pretty sure it's the town we are in but don't quote me

>>19533485
>>19533492

Oh, tell him that we're not a local then.

>>19533403
>>19533433
And start offering him drinks as well

>>19533403
This >>19533433 and then ask if he's married.

>>19533492
>>19533485
>>19533433

New Roanoke is the town you've landed at. You were supposed to bring Yulia and Tomas here to... build a hospital. Well, that's turned out nicely.

'>>19533499
>>19533492
>>19533502

'Oh, I'm not a local,' you say. 'But I saw you going around organising, and man you're impressive.'

'Thanks very much,' he says. 'Well, I do my best. The Connollys would be much better for the town, if you ask me, so it's something to work towards.'

You make some small talk, about the state of the town, and offer him some drinks. As for marriage, you already know he's married, and that his wife is newly pregnant. 'Six more months... well, can hardly wait to be honest. It really means growing up, doesn't it?' He grins.

> What do/say?

>>19533570
"Yes it does." Smile and raise a mug.

Man, OP, you're really making this hard, aren't you?
I don't really care about money that much anyway

>>19533570
Congrats but man we should do some shots to celebrate even though it kinda early for that. Anyways you kinda have to do it know before the baby born. You know the responsibility of being a dad and all. (Trying to get him drunk. Might be easier to get alone with him that way.)

>>19533570
Well isn't this adorable, get him drunk, toast to his marriage and his new coming child, bond, buy him drinks, all that, make him get far drunker than he should. Offer to help him stumble home, take him to an alleyway, blow his head off.

>>19533591
>>19533620
>>19533621

Well, that gives you plenty of excuses to drink! You drink to New Roanoke, to the Connollys, then to the baby, the missus...

All this while Walston keeps up quite well, laughing and knocking back the shots. Dear fuck. This is turning into a bit of the competition; you swear you can see people watching you. A foreigner and a favourite son of the town going at it with alcohol...

> Roll d100 for outdrinking. He seems to be matching you well.

File: 1340059274117.jpg-(99 KB, 500x502, gorillion-dollars.jpg)

>>19533591
Hey man we got 12 thousand kids and we need a gorillion credits to take care of all of them. It's nothing personal

rolled 81 = 81

>>19533570
Well, I think we'd better call ogla and tell her she'd better give back the job to yulia.

Also, I roll to seduce that guy.

rolled 32 = 32

>>19533654

rolled 19 = 19

>>19533654
Oh fuck rolling to out drink him

rolled 12 = 12

>>19533654

>>19533660
>
>Also, I roll to seduce that guy.

wut?

It looks like we are amazing at seduction but HORRIBLE at drinking

>>19533687
We're an endearing drunk.

>>19533660
>>19533670
>>19533676
>>19533679
We got out drink by this guy and awake next to him in a dirty motel. Oh god why

rolled 45 = 45

>>19533687
we still have more chances to recover.

And I suggest we use that roll for drinking stamina and not seduction
We're both men and we know for the fact that he is not gay

>>19533710
We can destroy his reputation instead of his person...

rolled 2 = 2

>>19533728
That's not our mission. God damn, do what is told to do or nothing at all. Don't try to improvise on the spot.
We either kill the guy or decide against it

>>19533744
but for real now let's use that 81 for our drinking

>>19533660
>>19533676

> 81: success!

It takes nearly two bottles of whiskey, but you think you're somewhat getting the better of him. Meanwhile the talk is gradually drifting to the subject of attractive people.

'So, what are some recent hotties you've seen?' You raise the question. He grins, and then shoots the question back. You wonder if you should say anything.

Then, after a moment of silence, he looks around, then gestures outside. Huh. You follow him out, and he takes you off into a back alley. 'Man, it's been a long time since I've seen a foreigner as good looking as you,' he murmurs.

.... well, that's interesting. You feel his fingers clasp around your hand, and his breath as he leans in... well, more objectively, you're definitely in a darkened alley and alone now.

> What do/say?

>>19533711
>we know for the fact that he is not gay
A lot of guys who liked to fuck fuck other guys at one point had children at some other point.

>>19533778
>>19533769
Looks like you were right. oh god my sides

>>19533769
Well, go along for a while, take the time to reach a decision. Maybe we can get those 65k and a blowjob to boot.

>>19533769
Man.
I can't really bring myself to kill this guy, even if we need gorrilion dollars to feed our thousands of offspring.

>>19533778
you're right, maybe.
Even then, it serves absolutely no purpose since our job is to KILL him. If we do not kill him, we don't get paid and we have no leg to stand upon to demand payment. So the whole thing is moot

>>19533769
Well, kill him, preferably in a quieter way than blowing his head to bits with a pistol. Get him to let down his guard a bit then strangle him or something like that. Then cover the body in whatever stuff we find around, the cover doesn't have to last all that long and get back to the ship.

>>19533820
>>19533819
>>19533818
Man just ask him to bend over and bash him across the back of his head.

>>19533820
That's horrible.
You're horrible.

In fact, we're all horrible. Why did you agree to assassination job anyway?

>>19533819
Well, we did get those killers here, and we did fight off the other guys. We deserve payment.

But >>19533855
what about our kids >>19533655

(Btw I never agree to that I wasn't here.

>>19533863
That's different.
The first, we were just a driver and wont have their blood on our hands

The second, we were acting on self defense so it was completely justifiable.

>>19533820
>>19533819
>>19533818
>>19533798

Well. He's not a bad kisser, smelling of whiskey as he goes for it. But after a few minutes, and two opened shirts, he backs away.

Then he starts to break down, murmuring about how he really loves Kristy and how he can't do this and yet he can't help it, he just thinks you're so hot, what should he do...

Well. Here's your chance. You have a gun... you also have his silk tie, which you've secreted from him. You choose the silk tie.

He gasps in surprise, then tries desperately to struggle; but you turn him around and pin him to the ground with your knee. You choke him for a while, then as his struggles weaken you grab his head and give it a quick, fast twist. Like taking out a chicken in a farm.

The body slumps on the floor, silk tie around his neck. Well, well. You lean back against a building, then freeze as several police cars scream by along the main road, sirens flashing. People are yelling as they pass.

And then you think you might hear the report of gunfire in the middle distance...

> What do?

>>19533769
Hey do we need to make a roll

>>19533893
Sure. I just meant to say, we have grounds for asking olga for money even if we ask her to give the assassination job to someone else.
She probably expects us to fail or wimp out anyway. What was she thinking, asking a beginner pilot to be a hitman for a day ?

> .... tsk. Actually. If you guys violently disagree, I can backtrack. Reading your responses, I'm not sure myself that the majority is for killing him.

> Do tell me your decision, argue over it if you want.

File: 1340060551407.jpg-(21 KB, 352x270, 1238518307308.jpg)

>>19533931
Reflect on our actions.

>>19533931
Fucking sweet time to make our get away. No need to investigate that gunfire man and this is a dangerous town so we could either drop the body in the dumpster or leave it there.

>>19533950
I really don't care either way but I think other would rather you back track so I guess just wait a bit and hear what they have to say.

>>19533950
I vote against killing him. I'm not completely against killing people, but he was/is a nice young man.

>>19533980

> Yeah, since the debate took up many more posts. Well, let's just see.

>>19533995
Well that how assassinations are (Same guy who didn't care either way. Odds are you gonna kill good people if you accept to become a assassin for a day. Just wanted to point that out.)

>>19533950
How about we make a vote here.
I'm personally against it but I actually think the majority is for

>>19533950
Kill him. Deadify him, shuffle off his mortal coil.

>>19533931
Walk out of the alleyway, get rid of any identifying hats or coats we have, join a crowd and take a circuitous route back home.

>>19533995
Though I say that, I'm not in favor of going against Olga and of trying to prevent his assassination by someone else. Maybe I'm a coward.

>>19534034
Thing is, I don't think we ever should have accepted. unfortunately I wasn't there when it happened

>>19533950
Kill him, we're getting paid, the job was successful and he was going to die no matter what we did, at least we gave him a quick death and made a profit off of it. Also I'd rather not piss off Olga.

> May I say that the general consensus is that, though we didn't enjoy it, it had to be done, so we've gone ahead with it anyway?

> In which case, the course of action for next post should be to get the fucking out of dodge city?

>>19534129
Yeah, okay. I changed my mind, we might as well do it ourself than letting someone else do it.
I still think we should be bitter about it.

>>19534129
Yup

>>19534158
It is what it is man.

>>19534034
Some targets are less likeable.

>>19534182
True but unfortunately this one was one of the likeable ones.

>>19534097
>and he was going to die no matter what we did
That is a horrible justification.

"Oh, SOMEONE is going to rape and murder this child, so what does it matter if _I_ do it?" .... doesn't really sound right, does it?

>>19534214
So I guess just deal with it

>>19534233
>>19534214
>>19534180
>>19534160
>>19534158

Yeah, well. You're not feeling particularly good about this. But still...

As you wind your way through the alleys and get back to the main road, you try to orienteer yourself while using the databook. New Roanoke at night is not a particularly pretty sight; there are drunkards, junkies, and not a few drug whores about.

When you get through to Yulia, the first sound through your comms is a blizzard of gunfire. Holding it away from your ears a little, you realise it's synchronised with the gunfire you're hearing in the distance. Well, that answers everything.

'Oi. Nelson. Is that you? Is that you?'

> What do/say? You think you're on your way to the landing yard... you should be around the exit of the town soon.