BELT Looking For Work

Discussion in 'Open Roleplay' started by Henry Noam, Dec 18, 2018.

  1. Henry Noam

    Henry Noam XO/Pilot of The Kanyari

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    Noam​

    A tall, swarthy Belter with a thick black beard and dark eyes appeared at Henry Noam's shoulder as he maneuvered The Durango to dock at New Providence Station. The man was Damian Slavko, Henry's childhood friend from Ceres.

    “Finally get to live the good life, eh, kopeng? It's all lining up,” said Slavko.

    “I wasn't sure we were getting out of that one. Running drugs one way and guns the other maybe wasn't such a good idea. Let’s break as few laws as possible next time, yeah?” Henry replied. He had the physique of a man born and raised on Ceres. His dark Auburn hair was almost maroon, and his ruddy complexion was a close match. Makiyama, the chief engineer, spun his crash couch to face them.

    “Relax, little brother, you always get us out of the shit. I wasn't worried,” he said. Mack was a Belter too, with a mop of brown hair and almond eyes.

    “You never have to worry ‘cause you never have to do nating,” replied Henry, jokingly. “Also, we're locked in. Killing the core and pressurizing now.” The trio glided to the rear bay and began removing their EVA suits.

    “So, Dame,” said Henry. “We give the guns, get the pay, then what?” He popped green disks into his stretched ears.

    “Then we shack up in a nice motel and wait until something else comes along,” Damian replied.

    “Thought you said everything was lined up?” said the engineer scratching his long sideburns with both hands.

    “I said everything was lining up, Mack. We've made a little money, and a bit of a name for our little ship; soon for sure.”

    “If you say so, boss.”

    Damian​

    They floated through the docking bay until they came to a tall door labeled “OFFICE.” Damian looked around then knocked on the door. A Belter man with a massive neck opened the door.

    “Uh, we need to see Spooner,” said Damian, quickly. The man's enlarged head twisted on his enormous neck, towards an ancient-looking man with a bald head and large mustache.

    “Got my guns?!” he shouted. Thick-Neck quickly shut the door so they wouldn't be overheard.

    “Yes sir,” Damian replied. “They're on the ship. I left two of my guys there to let yours grab them.”

    “My what?!” the old man screamed

    “Uh, your guys?” stuttered Damian

    “My boys too busy, you do it.” The old man returned to squinting at his monitor and pecking at his keyboard. A second of silence swept the room. Damian looked down, then back up.

    “Na part of da deal, kopeng.” His jaw jutted forward momentarily. Respect was important to him. “Na milowda job. Money now, keya?” said Damian impatiently. Thick-Neck grinned dumbly. The old man's face remained the same as he looked back from his monitor. Another second passed. Mack and Henry looked at one another.

    “Here!” The old man pulled out five stacks of poker chips bound together with rubber bands, then lit a cigar that smelled like pot and paint thinner and returned to his screen. Henry took a bag from over his shoulder, unzipped it, and put the chips inside.

    “Lucky day,” said Thick-Neck with a grin.

    “Na lying,” Damian replied.

    Mack​

    Mack watched the back of his two friends’ heads as the three of them moved through the Pit to the Azul Palace Hotel and Casino. It felt kind of good to be back.

    “Home sweet home, keya?” Damian and Henry gave simultaneous smiles and Belter hand nods in reply.

    The Azul Palace was a den of pirates, smugglers and other lowlifes from all around the system. High ceilings covered in seizure-enducing lights and carpets with nauseating psychedelic patterns were designed to funnel as many patrons to the tables and machines as possible, like dazed cattle to the slaughterhouse. An aging showgirl with bottle-blonde hair and an improbably high-pitched voice pranced up to them and spoke:

    “Welcome back boys, everyone make it safe?”

    “Sure did, Sophi, though not for lack of trying,” said Noam. Mack had only ever seen him be so tender to women and children. “Thanks for asking. Can we get rooms?”

    “We kept yours for you,” she replied while handing them key cards. “I knew you'd be back.” Mack, Henry, and Damian gave her a poker chip each as a tip. She smiled and tiptoed away.

    The shipmates made their way through the crowded casino to the bar on the other side. This is where they had picked up most of their jobs, and most likely where they would pick up the next one.

    “And now we wait,” said Damian.

    “Now we wait,” said Henry.

    “Yup,” said Mack.
     
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  2. Rachel Lei

    Rachel Lei Gunner on the NPS Kanyari

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    Rachel whistled Lo was the watched the enormous bulk of the Daedalus perform a flip and burn like a ballerina, her face lit with stark blue light as it’s drive plume ignited and began to shrink into the distance.

    The Daedalus was the largest vessel ever constructed by the shipyards in New Providence Station, a massive support ship that was practically a shipyard in its own right. Day the night New Providence hired new workers for the great machine, the production line that dominated half the bill of the station, overseen by the mechanical eye of the stations Core AI.

    The Saxon, Rachel’s ship, limped into dock. It’s drive cone had essentially fallen off on the ships return trip from Ganymede, they had rendezvoused with the Daedalus half way and been towed back. New Providence Station was however, a welcome sight. She had not seen the chaotic cluster of habitats, spin rings and domes, held together with scaffolding and good wishes, for many months.

    As the Saxon flew into the docks teakettle style, mechanical arms extended out to clamp on its hull. The ship jolted as it was locked in, the stations umbillicus extending out and attaching to the Saxons cargo hold.

    “Captain Lei, welcome home.” Now that was a voice she had not heard in a long time.
     
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  3. William Buttersworth

    William Buttersworth Director of PS&E, Captain of the Revenge

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    Civilian docks - New Providence Station

    William "Bill" Buttersworth rested his palms on the railing as he watched the dented, busted up old frigate known as the Saxon limp into port. An eyebrow slowly began to rise as he took in the amount of damage across the ageing frigates hull, trails of holes from PDC fire, larger holes that looked like railgun punctures, plasma scoring, the works. He was not surprised when the ship locked into the docks and the drive cone attached to it wobbled, actually wobbled, no drive cone should wobble. He let out a sad chuckle while shaking his head.

    "Captain Lei, welcome home," he said, to no-one in particular, however, the cybernetic implant embedded in his head transmitted it, via the stations Core AI, to the Saxons channel. The reply did not take long to come through, and unsurprisingly, Rachel sounded terrible.

    "Good to be back, Bill. It's good to hear your voice again. It's been far too long." William tapped into the Saxons security cameras and pulled up a view of the Saxons bridge, the image was projected onto his retina by a small optical implant he had embedded years ago to replace the need for a handheld terminal. The bridge looks like the rest of the ship, damaged, dented and in need of repair.

    "It certainly has," He watched through the camera feeds as Rachel and the crew began to disembark, shutting down the ship's reactor and making their way down to the cargo hold. Bill stood up straight, strode down the walkway and descended the steps to the airlock in a quick manner, never missing a beat. The moment he arrived, he was greeted by a team from the station's security administration as well as a dozen medics. Rachel had alerted them before arrival that the Saxon was carrying close to 200 refugees from Ganymede, some in desperate need of medical attention.

    With a hiss, the airlock opened and through it a steady stream of worried, exhausted-looking people began to pour. "Welcome to New Providence Station, please do not worry, you are safe now," he picked up a packet of emergency rations in one hand and a package of light but warm clothing and water in the other and began to hand them out to people, the security team following his example, "Welcome to New Providence, you're safe now," steadily the stream of people subsided, taken to the dozen emergency shelters that had been set up for them due to the crisis on Ganymede.

    Eventually, the Saxon crew began to filter through, many of them stopping briefly to shake his hand, offering their condolences for the loss of his father. Truth be told, Bill was too busy to really have time to properly grieve for his father's death, all that he felt was a hot and prickly rage whenever he focussed on it too much, eventually those responsible would pay, but right now there were other more pressing issues to attend to.

    Finally, the familiar, albeit tired face of Rachel Lei stepped through the airlock, a small grin spread across her face as her eyes locked onto Bill's. spreading his arms, he embraced her for a few moments before they turned and together began walking into the depths of the station.

    "Want a drink?"

    "Thought you'd never ask."

    ---

    The Azul Palace

    William Buttersworth was well known through much of the station, he was what many would call a "big shot", being the de facto governor in his father's absence, the Director of Providence Shipyards, and a cunning Captain in his own right. So when he and Rachel Lei, the current champion of the "Pit" mech fighting ring, and newly crowned captain of the legendary Saxon, the noise in the bar momentarily died as people turned to look, after a few moments a few raised their glasses in a salute to the late Captain Bart, soon enough though, things returned to normal.

    The pair were served, and found a table at the back.
     
    #3 William Buttersworth, Dec 19, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2018
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  4. Damian Slavko

    Damian Slavko Captain of The Kanyari

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    DAMIAN
    The three shipmates spent hours at the bar. Damian sat idly swishing his drink around and shook his leg mindlessly while Mack and Henry kept watch for any interesting customers with pleading eyes. A news feed from Ganymede gave body counts and damage values from above the bar. Mack was about to order another drink when Sophi wiggled up to them, crying, and told them the Saxon had just rolled in and Cpt. Buttersworth was dead. A look and a moment passed between the four of them--they would miss the old bastard. The sudden news had put them in a reminiscent mood, so they talked and drank to memories. They had barely noticed that the makeup of the crowd had changed from the usual patrons to a more timid lot--refugees from Ganymede--no doubt looking for a stiff drink after a long ordeal. Seeing the faces of the numbers on the screen above him gave Damian a strange feeling. It wasn't fury. It wasn't compassion. It wasn't quite helplessness, but something else. Was he...laughing?

    “What the fuck, Dame? What's funny?” asked Henry.

    “I...dont know,” he replied between giggles. “Its not...funny, I just...its so fucking absurd. Mars and Earth get their wires crossed and it's us that pay the price.”

    “What's absurd about it?” asked Mack. “Been that way all my life and yours. That's just nor--”

    “No,” Damian interrupted. “Its na normal. Its normalized, and its fucked up. We gotta do something.” Mack shrugged with his hands. Henry looked sympathetic. Just then, the bar went quiet and turned their heads toward the entrance. Damian could just make out the faces of Rachel Lei and William Buttersworth, the XO of the Saxon and son of the late Captain, respectively. One by one, the entire Azul Palace lifted their drinks in salute of the fallen father of New Providence.

    “That's it,” Damian said. Henry and Mack exchanged a glance. “I'm done doing nothing. I'm going to go talk to them.”
     
  5. Rachel Lei

    Rachel Lei Gunner on the NPS Kanyari

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    Rachel held the cold perspiring blub of New Providence Ale in her hand, she had thought when the ship docked she would want a drink, but not the subject matter of the discussion she was currently had given her second thoughts. "He was a lot more unwell than any of us realised, he hardly interacted with the Core, she wouldn't have known the state his body was in."

    "How can someone just...die like that though?"

    "Doc...oh...uh..a Doctor we had onboard called it a "ruptured oesophagal varix", whatever that means. He said he was because...well...he was an alcoholic, I don't think there was a time in the last two years I didn't see him without a drink or locked out of his mind. He also copped a fair few beatings since the first troubles broke out on Tycho."

    "Tycho? You mean when Fred Johnson was murdered? That was months ago! Why didn't he say anything? He should have come back here." William was obviously distressed, hearing that there was no one else responsible for his father's death, except for his father, was tough news to hear. "It can't just be that. The inya's must have had a hand in it, the pashang nonecks have their stumpy little fingers in every pie between Mercury and Pluto. Do you have any idea how hard it is keeping them out of New Providence? I swear this station would run perfectly fine if it wasn't for the sabaka and their sabotage." The young man drunk deeply from his bulb, obviously angry now.

    "Okay, now that does sound a bit paranoid, sabotage? Really?" Rachel looked on in mild concern, she knew Bill Buttersworth was not his father, but seeing him in a rage was not a good direction for their conversation to be headed in. She tried to change the topic. "So uh...the black freighter...you know the one...Any news?"

    "Just the usual mindless yammerings, those eggheads seem to make less sense by the minute. They're well excited at the moment though, seems like Protogen released a new experiment on Tycho and its currently tearing the station a new one. So obviously the nerds are all buzzing around their computers, hell they've even stopped regularly assaulting the guards."

    "Well, that's an improvement..."

    "It is. Still, though, I'd really like to know what happened with Eros. if the Daedalus wasn't en-route to Jupiter I'd have sent her after it, but I suppose it'll have to wait." Rachel had mentally checked out of the whole Protogen ordeal since Thoth, having almost murdered the Protogen scientist in charge of the operation, only to see her taken in by Morne Du Plessis and his faction of the OPA, it had sickened her. That being said, she wasn't sure if what the Saxon had done was much better. Somewhere out in the expanse was a freighter loaded with kidnapped Protogen scientists and Providence Security personnel, monitoring the movements of the Protomolecule through the system. The whole thing made her skin crawl.

    "There is a war going on after all..." Rachel lifted her blub and clinked it with Bill's and finally took a sip. Before she even had a chance to place its magnetic base back on the table, a figure approached. He looked...familiar, but then again, Rachels pool of people she knew was rapidly shrinking.
     
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  6. Makiyama Yamato "Mack"

    Makiyama Yamato "Mack" Chief Engineer of The Kanyari

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    Mack

    Mack watched as Damian got up, slicked back his hair with his hands, and started towards the table. Mack had seen him like this before, and it didn't bother him. Henry, however, was an overthinker, and Mack could see that he was already getting anxious.

    “Let's follow him,” said Mack. “Make sure he doesn't say anything too Damian.” Henry nodded, and they started after their captain. Patrons gave them looks as they passed as if to warn them against approaching. He was clearly grieving, but Mack knew you couldn't stop Dame when he was on a mission. When they got to the table, the pair looked up.

    “Oye bosmang,” said Damian. “Mi du sensa fo du suchok wit to ere da diye xiya, amash mi bera wanya du wating fo da Belte efa Ganymede. Fodagut. Desh wating milowda kang du, ke?”
     
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  7. William Buttersworth

    William Buttersworth Director of PS&E, Captain of the Revenge

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    William leaned back in his seat and looked at the man who had intruded on their conversation. He didn't seem in the slightest bit nervous, considering he had just interrupted the Captain of a supposedly bloodthirsty pirate crew, and the governor of the station. In fact, he seemed rather confident. He chuckled briefly, admiring the man's nerve. He could see the rest of his crew walking up behind him, they seemed to be the nervous ones.

    "Hah, ya milowda toda want to do something for the belt after keting happened at Ganymede. To look familiar, flew in on the Durango ya? Da's a gut little kapawu to got. Xélixup fo transporting...goods between here and Eros," he smiled slightly as the man realised what he had just said. He had tabs on most crews that operated out of New Providence, the AI that ran the station flagged "suspicious" behaviour as part of its standard operating procedure. He had, in fact, known for quite some time that the crew of the Durango were drug runners, not that he cared, where there was a market there was money to be made. "When's the last time to were there?"
     
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  8. Damian Slavko

    Damian Slavko Captain of The Kanyari

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    Damian


    “Oh shit,” Damian thought as he said it. “Shukumi, I guess.” Putting one hand on his hip, he watched as the captain studied him and his crew. He almost jumped when the captain chuckled to himself. "Hah, ya milowda toda want to do something for the belt after keting happened at Ganymede. To look familiar, flew in on the Durango ya? Da's a gut little kapawu to got. Xélixup fo transporting...goods between here and Eros," he said, and smiled. “When's the last time to were there?”

    Damian looked at him, and at Lei who remained silent and drank from her bulb. “Long time, bosmang,” He said. “Fore da action. Na gonya lie, milowda in jail detim da kaka hit the wall, amash we got da ship back. We always get her back.” He smiled. “Oh, and sorry about your father. He was one of a kind.” He gestured for Mack to go buy them a round on his tab, then lifted his thick eyebrows and darted his eyes between the two of them to ask if they could sit down. "How can the Durango be of service?"
     
  9. William Buttersworth

    William Buttersworth Director of PS&E, Captain of the Revenge

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    Rachel snorted in amusement before taking a sip from her bulb, returning it to the metal table with a click. William eyed her for a moment, the corners of his lips turning up slightly. Rachel had always been a bit cynical of people, but since her return from the last trip aboard the Saxon, she had become even darker, more brooding. She obviously didn't approve of these drug runners, well-meaning as they were. "Something to say, Rachel?"

    "Huh? Oh, just that life is getting harder for beltalowda out there, especially if you got a red flag. I'm sure dese koyos are smart, but all it takes is one UNN patrol to look at them de wrong way and its game over." She was definitely in a bad mood, usually, the woman was quite gung-ho over new adventures, but now, as Bill sat across looked at her, he wasn't sure if she was even willing to Captain the Saxon let alone run more missions. Maybe she wasn't ready for her next assignment...If she isn't, maybe these guys can be of some use...He thought to himself, but before he could say anything, Rachel continued, "De inyas took time out of shooting at each other, just to try and blow us out of de sky. Can you believe it? Paxoníseki's..." She shook her head, looking out at the club and avoiding eye contact with the two men at the table.

    "Hmmm...I don't deny things are getting harder out there for the less...legitimate vessels," He was speaking like an inner, he was aware of it, but it actually took effort for him to speak in Belta Creole, he was educated by the Core AI, which for all its forethought, did not seem to think him sounding like his compatriots was an important part of his upbringing. Still, he could if he wanted to, but right now he simply didn't care.

    "I do have a couple of errands that need running, nothing any of my official ships can do though. It needs to be kept quiet," that caught the attention of both the man from the Durango, and Rachel who looked back at him, her eyes narrowing. "The Saxon is too hot, she's being watched by too many people, she'll be a lightning rod to anyone looking to start up kaka with the belt. I'm looking for a reliable crew to investigate two...uh...anomalies my team has detected-"

    "Anomalies?" Rachel interjected, "What pashang anomalies?" Bill lifted the palm of his hand up in a settling motion, even in a brooding mood Rachel was still firey; "The type that can not be discussed in a public place, even here," he looked up at the belter, "Meet me and Captain Lei here at this location in one hour," Bill used his ocular implant and the stations uplink to send the data, the crews terminals all chiming simultaneously, "it is a warehouse for one of my subsidiary companies, we will not be disturbed there...also, I do not believe we have been formally introduced..." He extended his hand to the man, "William Buttersworth, Captain of the Revenge."
     
    #9 William Buttersworth, Dec 20, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2018
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  10. Henry Noam

    Henry Noam XO/Pilot of The Kanyari

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    Noam


    “Captain Damian Ivanovich Slavko,” he heard his captain say as he shook Buttersworth’s hand. “Of the Durango. This is my business partner and XO, Henry Noam, and my chief engineer, Yamato Makiyama.”
    “Call me Mack,” said Mack. They all shook hands. Lei and Buttersworth nodded at the bartender who gestured that their drinks were on him. Damian tried to pay the Durango's tab, but the barman waved him away as well. “Our new connection is already paying off,” he thought. “Wonder what other ‘benefits’ there are to working with the bosmang. Probably a whole lot of bad publicity. Dammit, Dame.”
    As he thought this, Damian appeared beside him.
    Keting to pensa?” he said.
    “Mi pensa we need to vote next time. What you got us into? He said it was too hot for the Saxon, it's fosho too hot for us. You don't rémbera last ti-”
    “Calm down,” said Slavko, firmly. “It's just another job, this time for a more reputable employer. We've got to take bigger jobs if we want to make bigger money. But I guess you wanya play it safe, keya? Just like little Henry to get scared of a small change of plans.”
    Mack finished his drink as they walked outside and tossed the bulb at the ground. It bounced awkwardly and floated up.
    “You're both right and you're both wrong. Again. We do need bigger money and we do need bigger jobs to get it. But we also need to be smart. Let's go back to the ship and tell Malik about the job. I could use some grub anyway.”

    Malik dropped the mushrooms he had just chopped into a pot and began adding spices. He had worked as the Cook on the Durango for three years. It was the first job he'd ever had where he didn't have to change his recipes--Belters enjoy Belter food. He had begun chopping onions when his shipmates returned.
    “What's for dinner?” called Mack.
    “Not leftovers,” he responded.
    Bekedabush.” The four sat down to dinner and Damian explained the condition of the Saxon, the death of Captain Buttersworth, the refugees from Ganymede, and the job from Bill.
    “Any place for me?” asked Malik.
    “We might need some muscle,” said Henry, looking at the captain. Damian thought for a moment.
    “If you behave,” he said. Malik put his hands above his head in a circle.
    “Perfect angel, me.”
    When the time came, they put their dishes in the recycler and headed out.

    The crew moved together through the narrow halls of new providence. After taking a train to the Industrial Sector, they inched past groups of workers in mechs and on foot to arrive at the address in Buttersworth's message. The crew looked to Damian, who breathed deeply once and knocked on the door.
     
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  11. Rachel Lei

    Rachel Lei Gunner on the NPS Kanyari

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    Rachel sat on a nearby shipping crate, one of her feet dangling off the edge. She had a small grubby cloth in one hand and her hand cannon in the other, she the material along the metal of the weapon until it shone in the harsh LED floodlights suspended from the ceiling above.

    Her and Bill has been in the warehouse for not over five minutes, Bill busied himself with other matters, standing in the middle of a pool of light rather unsettlingly as he used his various cybernetic implants to carry out tasks that one would normally perform on a handheld terminal.

    They didn’t speak, she figured she’d find out about whatever was going on soon enough, she was curious as to why Bill had insisted she come along however. There was a knock on the small, human sized door next to the enormous cargo doors, at the sound Bill sprung back to life. “Our associates have arrived. I’d recommend hostering that sidearm of yours Rachel.”

    “No disrespect Bill, but I don’t take orders from you.” She holstered it all the same though, no need to pointlessly intimidate people, especially when they had come down into the depths of the station, to a shady warehouse, with no means of escape.

    With a twitch, Bill unlocked the door and allowed it to swing slowly inwards. The crew of the Durango were outside, looking rather uncertain, but after catching sight of Bill standing in the pool of light, and Rachel sitting nearby in the half shadows, they entered one by one.

    “Gentlemen, welcome. Thank you for agreeing to meet with myself and Captain Lei in such a location, but as I’m sure you understand, some dealings are best left out of sight of the general population,” he rummaged around in his pocket before withdrawing from it a disc the size of an old Earther hockey puck and tossed it onto the floor in front of him. After a moment it sprang to life, projecting a holographic display of the solar system in the space between them.

    “As you are hopefully aware, we are here,” a small yellow triangle bounced happily above a holographic representation of the station, nestled in the far reaches of the belt. “I need a crew to masquerade as a slingshot racer ship, something your vessel is uniquely suited for, and to perform a slingshot flyby of Io, Jupiters fourth largest moon.”

    The holographic display zoomed in, showing the station at one end and the moon at the Jovian system at the other. “There are certain conditions to this deal however. They can not, under any circumstances be breached, if they are your payment will be forfeited. You are afford one acceleration burn away from New Providence Station, after that you are to fly purely via slingshot and teakettle. No reactor ignition, no Epstein ignition, batteries only,” Bill stopped for a moment at the sound of another critical snort from Rachel.

    She knew that flying back towards Jupiter was a death trap, and judging by their experience with the UNN Jakarta, flying dark was not exactly a perfect tactic, however the Durango was a small, agile ship, and they wouldn’t have the eye of any hostile forces, they would fly right under their noses if they did it right. “Second condition is you are to disable your transponder while still in dock here, you are not to reenable it until you return. I’m sure a crew of your...unique talents can make this happen, what do you say thus far?”
     
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  12. Damian Slavko

    Damian Slavko Captain of The Kanyari

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    “We can do anything,” Damian said. “XO's done crazier things on a dare.”
    At this, Henry looked up as if pleading to God. Damian continued, “And Mack has been talking about getting a new transponder forever. Ours is busted, wont turn off. Maybe we give the old gal a real Belter name this time.”
    “I vote ‘The Flying Koyo,’” chimed Mack with a smile.
    “So, two questions. First, what's the pay and when do we get it?” asked Damian. “Second, what's the real catch?” Bill had to know they were perfect for this. What was he not telling them? This has to be more than a flyover job, he thought.
     
  13. William Buttersworth

    William Buttersworth Director of PS&E, Captain of the Revenge

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    William watched as the crew had their brief back and forth before getting back to business, belters could always be relied upon to do a job if the price was right, something he had taken advantage of numerous times in the past, it had yet to come back to haunt him.

    “Glad to year you are onboard so far. I’m willing to pay you and your crew fifty thousand untraceable gambling chips. Naturally I will not pay you in anything that can be traced back to this station. You will be paid ten of that before you depart and the remainder upon your return...”

    He paused for a moment to let that sink in. Even though New Providence had its own internal currency, gambling chips had become the defacto currency between many stations in the belt, being easily transferable to the currency of whatever station one was on. “The catch...is that Captain Lei here will be accompanying you on this mission, and if she does not return safely, neither will any of you.”

    To Rachel’s credit, her expression did not change in the slightest. She still Wore an expression of mild annoyance and boredom, her hand however, very obviously rested on the butt of her hand cannon. “She will oversee the installation of a small surveillance drone on the outside hull of your ship, once the mission is complete it will be removed. Return Lei and the Drone safely and not only will I pay you in full, as a bonus I will cover the replacement of your transponder.”

    He stared at them for a moment, letting the information sink in, before glancing up at Rachel, who was now sitting upright, also looking at the crew with hard unblinking eyes, Bill had to admit, even though it was to himself, the woman knew how to intimidate people, it was no wonder she had risen through the ranks so quickly.
     
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  14. Henry Noam

    Henry Noam XO/Pilot of The Kanyari

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    Henry was stunned. It was going so well. Damian turned around and gestured the men to a huddle.
    “What we gonya du, beratna?”
    “I don't like to pensa bout im watching milowda,” said Henry. “Or putting anything ere da kapawu.”
    “I think we need the seríp,” said Mack. Malik pointed at him.
    “Fosho,” he said.
    “I don't want nothing on the ship,” said Henry. “What if this is something else? What if he's bombing Io? Or trying to get rid of Lei in case she tries to coup?”
    “Why would im do that?” asked Malik. “Imalowda look close.”
    “Mi na trust.”
    “You said you trusted me, Henry,” said Damian. “Im na da sheng?”
    “No, I--of course mi trust you, its im mi na trust.” Henry got more Belter the more emotional he got.
    Pochuye, fodagut, go milowda bera du cheki da bomb, er, ‘surveillance drone.’”
    “Oké,” said Damian. He went back to the table and lit a cigarette. Bill was silent. Lei still had not looked away. “Kopeng to kang fosho kom wit milowda, amash milowda wanya vedi da ‘drone’ fore.” He sounded serious. Henry felt a bit more at ease. He would be able to tell if there was anything different about the drone, but Damian might just be saying this to appease him.
     
  15. William Buttersworth

    William Buttersworth Director of PS&E, Captain of the Revenge

    Messages:
    27
    Character Biography:
    Bio
    “Be my guest. Captain Lei will be waiting in your docking bay come 1400 tomorrow,” Bill reached out with his right hand, “so does this mean you accept our offer?”

    Rachel crossed her arms, before rolling her eyes and walking towards the exit. “Make sure Dey clean de ship if mi spending two weeks on im.” She shouted over her shoulder before opening the door with a kick and disappearing down the corridor.
     
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  16. Henry Noam

    Henry Noam XO/Pilot of The Kanyari

    Messages:
    21
    Character Biography:
    Bio
    Damian looked at Henry once again, pleadingly.
    "We accept," Henry replied.
    Damian put his cigarette in his mouth and clapped.
    "Xélixup!" he exclaimed. Henry rolled his eyes and began thinking about flight paths. Just like the good ole days to be slingshotting around Jupiter, albeit in somewhat different circumstances.
    The men shook hands and parted ways.
     
    William Buttersworth likes this.
  17. Makiyama Yamato "Mack"

    Makiyama Yamato "Mack" Chief Engineer of The Kanyari

    Messages:
    6
    Character Biography:
    Bio
    Mack squinted through his visor at the glowing bead of violet plasma at the end of his torch. He ran it along the remaining length of a long seam connecting the pieces of salvage that made up the Durango. A large rectangular shipping container that they used to smuggle contraband floated off before a trio of magnetic tethers caught it, and pulled it gently back toward the ship. Malik, in a mech, disconnected the tethers and took the container in his claw. Turning, he pushed it to another mech behind him.
    “Haven't seen her like this ere sémpere,” he said.
    “Damn ugly, keya?” Mack replied. They continued to work, removing every extraneous amount of mass they could. By the end of the overhaul, the Durango had nearly halved in size. You could even almost see the tiny, pale yellow racing yacht that comprised the heart of the machine, but it was still obscured by tacked-on salvage and decades of rust. It did not look like the same ship. When Mack finally finished the last modification, he headed up to the bridge to speak with Henry.
    “Gútegow,” he said. Henry, without looking up, nodded with his fist. Mack shrugged, turned around, and pulled himself down the ladder to the cabins.
     
  18. Rachel Lei

    Rachel Lei Gunner on the NPS Kanyari

    Messages:
    107
    Character Biography:
    Bio
    Rachel let out a low whistle as the cart squealed to a halt outside the Durango’s docking bay. Windows lined the airlock tube giving her a panoramic view of the vessel, and it was not pretty. Once upon a time maybe, but the ship had seen better days, especially now that it had been stripped back to its basic structure for the upcoming mission. Maybe Bill should have offered to get them a new paint job instead of a transponder...She thought as she climbed out of the cart and unloaded the large container in its cargo tray, manipulating a large box with ease in the low gravity of the docks.

    The cart beeped merrily before turning back down the hallway and disappearing back into the station, off to perform another automated chore for the stations overlord AI. Pulling a terminal out of her pocket she sent a message to to Captain Slavko: I’m at the airlock, permission to come aboard?
     
    Her Manus likes this.
  19. Henry Noam

    Henry Noam XO/Pilot of The Kanyari

    Messages:
    21
    Character Biography:
    Bio
    Henry chewed on his lip with his chin in his palm, punching in numbers with his other hand and watching colorful lines arch across his monitor in different configurations. He pondered how much the drop in mass would affect their delta-V and if they would have enough velocity to escape Jupiter's gravity. It would take quite the push to get all the way there and back. He weighed the importance of speed against that of comfort. He was deep in thought when Damian called down the hatch to him.
    "She's here,"
    "Okay,"
    The pair exited the ship and saw Lei standing as she often did, with her hand on the grip of her sidearm.
    "Oyé!" said Damian.
    "Let's see the drone," said Henry.
     
  20. Rachel Lei

    Rachel Lei Gunner on the NPS Kanyari

    Messages:
    107
    Character Biography:
    Bio
    “Oye lowdas, here it is,” She said with a casual belter wave before unlatching several locks on the lid of the box and kicking the lid off with her boot. Inside, encased in black foam sat the drone.

    It was a relatively small device, a circular base around half a metre in diameter with multiple magnetic clamps for latching onto a ships hill, the top of it was covered in a semi transparent black dome, inside which were multiple sensors and camera lenses. Several of the lenses responded to the sudden flood of light that their apertures automatically contracted, others swiveled to face the crewmen and Rachel.

    “Try not to be creeped out, it’s got a node of de Core AI running inside it, controlling all de surveillance equipment. It shouldn’t take long for mi to attach it to the outer hull,” she said as she pulled a vacuum suit from the second crate, the one containing some of her personal effects.

    “Well? We doing or not?”
     
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