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S3: Valorous; Aurora Class Transport Vessel
Topic Started: Dec 13 2014, 04:29 AM (14,329 Views)
CaptainNickHunter
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Mudder
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"Is this your first time on Ariel, then?"


Nick looked to Monte and nodded to him, as if to say, very good. He felt bad scolding him earlier, but they had a performance to show, an role to play, an act. Assertive fearless, commanding captains didn't allow their officers to speak out of turn, especially to use slang in front of moneyed clients. He'd apologize and explain later.

"I lived here for a few years while I was on Medical residency at St. Lucy's, but then the war happened and I had to leave. Hadn't been to the core in a long time," Nick said wistfully and looking out the opaque window in futility, deliberately leaving his role in the war unclear. He wasn't sure which side these people would have been on.

"We spend a lot of time on Persephone, that's where I'm from." He smiled back at Trencher and the bodyguard, an easygoing smile, with his blue eyes.

"Where do you all hail from?"
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SamanthaHunter
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Reavers Love Slave
Sam say in the limo quietly, trying not to get in trouble like Monte. She could tell what Nick was pulling. Clearly it was an intimidation tactic, a way to make it look like he had a better hold over his crew, and she could play along with that, no problem. She folded her hands in her lap, keeping her eyes spinning around and out the window, taking in the beautiful city.

She had noticed the bodyguards eyes, looking nearly only ever on her, but she would keep it together and keep it quiet in a hope to keep up the appearances. The thing was, she was out of her element. And if the bodyguard thought that she'd be open to flirting or anything of that nature, he was wrong. She would be smart right now, keep herself in the role she was asked to play.
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PMD14
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Lighthouse Keeper

..... // THE MEETING

Decker just nodded, almost knowingly, as Nick spoke of his past. He made no reaction to mention of the war. Only when the question of his own origins arose did the bald man actually seem to be paying much attention.

"Ah, yes. Ariel City, I'm afraid. Born and bred. I've been off world, as you would imagine, but this is my home and always has been." He trails off quietly before the back of the car falls to an awkward silence once more.

A minute or two later, it starts to slow down.

The transition between the back of the slick limousine and the warehouse is quite fast. Decker leads the way, his companions standing aside the open the door for Nick, Sam and Monte. Outside they find themselves still within the spaceport, though the Valorous and its neighbouring ships are nowhere to be found. The entire area around their arrival site, in fact - landing pads and open stretches of road - is empty, too.

A large warehouse stands nearby, new and sterile and made of smooth metal and glass. Decker leads the way to a set of huge hangar doors which are only opened wide enough for a few people to wander through, single file.

The security detail follows as the Valorous' crew fall in behind their guide.

Within is a cavernous open space, the likes of which could hold the Valorous at least thrice over. About two hundred paces from the hangar doors are a pair of small tables, facing one another. A man sits alone at one desk, looking at the entourage as they approach. A dozen or so others linger nearby and around the perimeter of the warehouse.

Against one wall is a narrow staircase that leads up to a catwalk which circles the warehouse from above. There are also some glass windows and a door that lead into some overseers office up on the upper level.

The seated man has short blond hair slicked to one side and a nose that looks to have been broken once too many times. He wears a simple jacket, turtleneck and jeans. Not as formal as Decker and his detail, but the glint in his eyes is just as intimidating.

The second table, facing this man, is set with three chairs facing him. A silver briefcase lays atop it. Decker stops the group a dozen or so feet from the table and waves Nick and his crew over to the meeting place.

The entire warehouse is cavernously quiet.
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Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon
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CaptainNickHunter
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Mudder
The warehouse was cavernous in it's emptiness. Each footstep echoed into perpetuity and the whole room seemed to exhale a breath when the doors opened. Sunlight slanted in from the high windows illuminating golden dust motes, swirling down from a ceiling that seemed miles above.

The choice of meeting space was intimidation. The emptiness of the space was a tactic, Nick knew that, an old one, to put people on the defensive. He'd seen it before. He knew better. He kept a casual smile fixed on his face. No need to make trouble, often times these situations could be diffused with a professional cheerfulness.

The reverberations of each step made them seem like a much larger crowd than they were, and he hoped, with his smile and his easy confidence, and his friendly demeanor, he approached the table in the center, and waited to be offered a seat.
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SamanthaHunter
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Unlike Nick, Sam was feeling the awkward pressure and uncomfortableness that accompanied the large room with the echoing footsteps. There were people with guns here. People who probably would not hesitate to shoot. And Sam actually preferred her body without any holes in it. That was generally how she liked to keep it.

She kept arms across her chest, staying defensive, until Nick stopped walking and she ended up being one step in front of him. She quickly fixed her stance, taking two steps back so she was just behind him, flanking his left.
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Tojoyama
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One of the men, the youngest of the four, caught Africa's attention as he was returning for the final haul of crates. He looked quite young, maybe just in his 20's, and his face had an unexpected youthful innocence to it. His eyes glinted with something unexpected and he looked away.

fear


Africa meandered to the young man. Seemingly without purpose.

"What is it my friend?" she said in practiced and yet sincere query.
"there is something amiss I know. But I would like to the best for us all. How can I help?"
Sonya Gulliver Description
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PMD14
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Lighthouse Keeper

..... // THE MEETING

The seated man nodded to the table across from him, flattening his palms against the surface of his own table. Decker took a step forward toward the trio, as if trying to herd them into the waiting seats.

"Thank you for your service, Captain. And to your crew. A very efficient job well done." The seated man's voice was soft, yet pronounced, carrying across the otherwise empty silence of the large warehouse. He smiled as he spoke, hands unmoving, and nodded to the silver briefcase on the table before Nick, Monte and Sam.

"Your payment has no doubt already been processed by Mr Vukic. I made contact with him as soon as Mr Decker here confirmed the merchandises arrival. I had hoped, then, with business done, we might be able to find something more for your crew to do for our... operation."


..... // THE SHIP

The young man was startled as Africa approached. To her words, he remained silent, as if unable to speak, his mouth half open. Were the pair not interrupted, he'd surely have broken out in a sweat, so exasperated did he look.

"Come now boy, we're finished here." One of the others gestured to the cargo door. Two men were now moving out the last of the crates and the waiting vehicle started up. The speaker, standing only a few feet away, took another step toward Africa and the young man.

"Best not harass to employees, Jacob." He gave Africa a smile, clearly intended to be polite but icy nonetheless.

"Our work here is done, miss. We'll leave you to your day."
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Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon
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CaptainNickHunter
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Mudder
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"Your payment has no doubt already been processed by Mr Vukic. I made contact with him as soon as Mr Decker here confirmed the merchandises arrival. I had hoped, then, with business done, we might be able to find something more for your crew to do for our... operation."


Nick spread his arms wide, and held a toothy smile.

"...how can we be of further service? Do you have another job that needs doing?"

He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, still smiling. That was the ticket. Nice and easy. No need to start any trouble here.
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Tojoyama
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AFRICA CHAMBERLAIN

"No Harassment sir," Africa made a small bow. Her eyes looked deep into his, a slight friendly and sincere smile. "Thank you for your efficiency." she added. She blinked and followed.

"If you would sir, I was thinking of treating my crew to some fresh food. Is there a market nearby?" Her intention was to keep him in conversation, the longer she could interact, the easier she might read some sign on his face, tone, body posture.
Sonya Gulliver Description
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PMD14
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Lighthouse Keeper

..... // THE MEETING

The seated man nodded in agreement, though his face remained stone cold, as the small group took seats across from him. The metal briefcase in the middle of the small table the crew had sat at weighed down on the warehouse with intrigue and mystery.

"Excellent, then. There is plenty to be done here in the city, though I lack a lot of support in the air. Transport and supply was always something that Mr Vukic took care of." He grins slightly, the tense demeanor surrounding him dropping its guard for a few moments. "However, while you're here, maybe you can help with a few outstanding matters of I have to deal with." He clasped his hands together before him.

"Most importantly is the matter of some belongings of mine which have gone missing of late. Belongings which are worth a great deal to me... personal things, the kind of sentiment. You know how I mean, yes?" There was a long pause the echo of his words slowly dissipated throughout the cavernous warehouse.

"Because of unfortunate circumstances, I am unable to get these things back with my own hand. It's something more for a third party, you see... something a crew such as yours might be able to benefit from? A mutual agreement."



..... // THE SHIP

The young man is nervous as Africa speaks to him again, being ushered off the Valorous as the engine of the loading vehicle starts up. The rest of the crew are now in a rush, it seems to get the goods delivered to wherever they are needed.

"Er... a market? Yes... a market." He stammers slightly, face red. "Yes ma'am, a market. There's fresh produce not too far off, down the avenue. You take a right at the ERC office building... it's a short walk.." He barely seems capable of without the uncomfortable shudder in his voice, his eyes pleading to leave.
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Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon
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Tojoyama
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AFRICA CHAMBERLAIN

"A short walk." Africa considered. Let these folk go on about there way, or follow up on her intuition that something was amiss. As it is always good to know more.

"I may be buying quite a few supplies, would you or one of your mates be able to assist me with ... toting them back to the ship? I'd be willing to make it worth you while." She smiled friendly, unaware of the possible interpretation of such a statement.

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CaptainNickHunter
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Mudder
Nick held his relaxed demeanor and nodded. The man continued speaking.

Quote:
 
"Most importantly is the matter of some belongings of mine which have gone missing of late. Belongings which are worth a great deal to me... personal things, the kind of sentiment. You know how I mean, yes? Because of unfortunate circumstances, I am unable to get these things back with my own hand. It's something more for a third party, you see... something a crew such as yours might be able to benefit from? A mutual agreement."


Nick nodded along and smiled.

"We'd be happy to assist in any which way. I think I know what you mean. What sort of sentiments should we be on the lookout for?" He asked.

He leaned forward to show interest and grinned through his teeth, despite the fact that they hadn't technically been paid for the last job yet. All in due time, patience keeps tension loose, and keeps people alive.
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PMD14
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Lighthouse Keeper

.....// THE MEETING

"Oh, Mr Hunter... you know. Valuables. Precious, er... commodities. The things a man holds dear."

The man clasps his hands together with a sense of finality, not pausing to allow any follow up questions to his deliberately vague banter.

"Excellent then." He stares to Decker, who offers a silent nod of confirmation, and the man seated across from the crew members smiles. "I've got confirmation that your payment has been processed. All should be well on that side of the business." Pushing both hands down flat against the table, he rises to his feet.

"Inside this case here you will find all the details, and tools, needed for what I have in mind. Mr Decker will escort your party back to the glorious vessel of yours and, if you are happy to work with what we have to offer, I'll be hearing from you later today." He nods knowingly at the silver briefcase on the table in front of Sam.

"Until then. It's been a pleasure." The still unnamed man gives a mock bow and then makes for a side entrance to the warehouse. Slowly, one by one, the majority of the armed guards take pursuit, until the Valorous crew are left seated with only Decker and his driver as company.

The bald man just grunts and gestures to the main door with his head.


.....// THE SHIP

The young man seems frozen by Africa's request and slowly turns to his superior officer as if asking for confirmation or permission. There is a long pause in which the other men, already loaded into the van, exchanges glances. Finally, the one who had been rushing the group to pack up spoke, his voice a little more welcoming now.

"Well.. alright. Hospitality is important, the boss always says. Maybe you can have the runt tag along. We'll arrange for a vehicle to pick the pair of you up." The understand tone in his voice was clearly fake, a stark contrast to his eagerness to leave only moments ago.

Without another word, not giving the younger man a chance to comment or argue, the vehicle sped away. The dock worker, twenty something and visibly green around the ears, looked startled and stared at Africa like a deer in traffic.

"Uh... yeah. I can help." He muttered.
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Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon
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CaptainNickHunter
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Mudder
Nick reached forward and grasped the metal of the steel briefcase, sliding it off the table. He turned, nodded to Decker, and followed the driver and the guards back to the limousine and back to Valorous.

In the cushy black leather seats of the limo, Nick didn't speak and looked about, scanning the area. He wondered what was in the case, what was so valuable? It didn't matter. He'd been a transport captain a long time, he knew when to ask questions and when to not.

Once they returned to the ship, he waited for the driver to open the door and he stepped out into the clear of the day, looked around once and entered the ship through the open airlock.

In the cargo hold, the dry air swept in and it felt refreshing, cleansing, as if it was blowing out all the old dust, clearing the air. He smiled as his crew followed him in.
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Tojoyama
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AFRICA CHAMBERLAIN

' well this is a pickle isn't it ' thought Africa.
She considered that she was supposed to be staying with the ship, but yet something amiss here triggered some unconcious conclusion that this was something. This something being the peculiar behavior, something more than downtrodded dockworkers, something more ... suspicious. Suspicious to be... determined at a later date.

Discipline vs. Curiosity
Loyalty and the understanding that order was the root of civilization
VS.
Intuition and the yet to be defined subconcious of the brain, that fickle child that figured things out and won't tell.

=============================
... and there is 'the way'.
As Grandmaster of the Golden Fang once told her, "When all you know and intuit, when all your experience and training fail. Stall."
"Stall Grandmaster?" Africa had replied. "You mean to contemplate the way?"
"No Africa." said the Grandmaster. "I mean fuck the way and hope something comes to you or the cavalary arrives."
=============================

"Uh... yeah, I can help." said the nervous longshoreman.

Africa needed to call the Captain before leaving.

"Yes." she bowed. "thank you very much. I'll just call a hover taxi." she moved back inside the ship. Still near the door she commed the Captain.

.... 'peculiar activity on the dock. Captain? should I stay with the ship or follow the ripple.'
Then she thought how odd this sounded. A peaceful balance took her.
'something about the longshoremen.' she added.

Then she returned and called out to the docks. "oh my, I can't seem to find my shopping list. Just one moment."





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The message from Africa to Nick had arrived just as the Captain, Sam and Monte had returned to the waiting vessel, metal briefcase in hand. Moments after their driver had departed, Africa returned once more and the group were reunited.

The longshoreman, looking awkward and out of place, offered Africa a nod and little more as he waited several dozen yards away from the vessel as she went back 'for her shopping list'.
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Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon
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Tojoyama
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Cap'n
AFRICA CHAMBERLAIN

Africa moved closely to the Captain, "This Longshoreman seemed very nervous. I was going to have him help me carry supplies. . . The kitchen and quartermaster list," The ones they kept up with.

"Can you authorize the purchases?"

Once(if) he does so then she gathered the lists and heads off to the grocery and supply house.

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MacTrom
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Monte returned to the ship along with Nick and Sam, and wondered at first where Africa had gone, but then she showed up and commented about supplies. He smiled and touched the edge of his brow.

"Why, I'd be most pleased to accompany the lady shopping if she would have me."



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But my heart is not weary, it's light and it's free I've got nothing but affection for all those who sailed with me
Stick with me baby, stick with me anyhow. Things should start to get interestin' right about now

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Tojoyama
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AFRICA CHAMBERLAIN

Africa moved close to Monte inside the ship. "Oh Monte." She said playfully. "I'll have you, and you can help with the shopping too."

She then explained about the nervous longshoreman and her intuitive feeling that there was something more going on. Africa couldn't explain her subconscious connections, hopefully he'd know by now how her mind and empathic senses worked. More so, that her curiosity about such things could only be tempered by following them or a logical argument as to why to avoid them.
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MacTrom
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Monte responded to Africa's closeness, and then the comment about the longshoreman connected.

"Huh. So we go shopping... for strangers with odd habits. I'm with you, lover."



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But my heart is not weary, it's light and it's free I've got nothing but affection for all those who sailed with me
Stick with me baby, stick with me anyhow. Things should start to get interestin' right about now

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