Characters: Shiraamer, Gvarokh
NPC: Chuck Strider
Location: Miishakaal, parked at the Larkarda Starport
1125.6.5 - 08:45 / 12:45 local time (18 1/2 hr day)
After the lecture with Chuck, Shiraamer decides to take another shower. It's a
shame he had to go and do something stupid yesterday afternoon. His flirtations
were a welcome break from business as usual. That whole shotgun thing ruined it
though. Disciplining the crew is a dirty job which Shiraamer hates to do, so
taking a shower afterwards will hopefully wash it off. The shower does the
trick. Afterwards Shiraamer feels refreshed and clean. Feeling a need to be more
feminine today, she gets dressed in a silk blouse and a long leather skirt, not
tight but a flowing one. Spacer Shiraamer can have the day off.
Shiraamer leaves her quarters and takes a walk through the ship, inspecting
every bit of it. Shiraamer stays out of the crew's staterooms of course and she
avoids the bridge since that's where Gvarokh will no doubt be doing his search
for freight. Happy to have not found any irregularities inside, Shiraamer
decides to head outside, even if it's just a hangar.
Shiraamer leaves the ship through the cargo hold, pausing long enough at the
cargo from the Aerlay Craver to verify it isn't suspicious. Light filters
through the translucent hangar bay ceiling. Miisha looks good today. The new
hull plates have finally blended in with the older ones.
Just as Shiraamer finishes circumnavigating the exterior of Miisha, she observes
Gvarokh coming down the cargo ramp, looking a bit flustered.
Shirammer almost goes around Miisha to prolong her enjoyment a bit longer but
decides she's postponed the inevitable long enough. She takes a big breath and
stretches one last time and approaches Gvarokh, letting her hands cause her
skirt to flair out a bit, trying to recapture some tiny bit of peace before
reality rears its ugly head again.
Gvarokh spots the captain examining the exterior of the
ship. She's not dressed in her usual spacer outfit. Instead she's wearing a silk
blouse and a long flowing leather skirt. Apparently the captain is in one of
her "I need to be female" moods.
"Now that isn't a good look for you Gvarokh." She grins to show no hard feelings
are delivered with that statement. "You want to talk about whatever is causing
that look on your face?"
Gvarokh pauses momentarily. He gives a rueful grin, and says, "I could. But it
would probably ruin your good mood." He pauses to see if she wants him to spill
the bad news.
Shiraamer give a rueful grin and smiles at him, "Go ahead. I promise not to
kill the messenger. It's all part and parcel of our business."
He replies, "I have run around the transponder issue every way I can think of,
but it looks like there is no way around it. When we enter RVE space, we lose
our transponder and gain a Vilani one. When we return to Imperial space, we
reverse the procedure. No wonder there were all those cargos piling up. At
least on the return trip it is a much quicker process."
Gvarokh pauses again, then says "I think some of the others are checking on the
issue, too. Maybe one of the others has had more luck in their investigations."
Shiraamers sighs softly but smiles anyway, "Well that's a mixed blessing then.
You're right, perhaps the others will find out something. If it can't be helped,
then it can't be helped."
Finally, he brightens somewhat and says, "At least we will leave port with a
full hold. And all of the RVE destined freight will pay for the surcharges for
us."
She replies, "Full hold? That is indeed good news, especially when it will pay
those pesky surcharges for us. So what type of freight are we hauling this
time?"
"We have a bunch of lumber, plus some sulfur crystals and some data crystals.
Its all bound for Hrun, which should put use well along our path."
"Good job on getting cargo. Every bit helps on this." Shiraamer continues,
"After hearing from the others, let's get our final flight plans down and figure
things out from there. Cheer up. We've made it through worse then this before."
Gvarokh replies, "I don't know why, but crossing into the RVE feels like a lot
more than just a simple jump. It's like we will be going through a door that I
am not sure opens both ways." Gvarokh pauses and thinks for a couple of seconds.
He then breaks his melancholy, smiles a bit and says, "But you are right. We
will get through this. We always do."
He pauses again, "The cargo should be along soon, and I called Chuck back to
help load. I was going to take in the sights and fresh air until they both get
here."
And, as if on cue, Chuck comes barreling down the cargo ramp, "I'm not late am
I?"
Shiraamer shakes her head and mutters low to Gvarokh, "Impeccable timing as
always. I know what you mean about that door. This has me worried, but we need
the job. The perils of not being part of a big corporation or something. But
overall, I still like our freedom. I also wanted some fresh air and decided to
'dress up' a bit to cheer me up."
Turning to Chuck, Shiraamer smiles, "You're not late. Gvarokh and I were just
talking about getting fresh air. The cargo hasn't been delivered yet. Did you
find out anything new while you were out?"
Chuck replies, "Why yes cap'n. A couple of dockworkers who were willin' to talk
to me said that ships with vilani transponders come in here often enough but
the authorities don't give 'em any grief. Maybe the same will hold true for us."
Shiraamer looks over to Gvarokh and smiles, "You go ahead and take that break
you were mentioning. Chuck and I will deal with the cargo when it appears."
Shiraamer gives a slight turn so her skirt twirls out some, "If I can't help
move it, maybe some guy will take pity on this ol' captain and help instead.
We'll get it aboard one way or another." Shiraamer grins at both Chuck and
Gvarokh then make "shooing" motions towards Gvarokh. "Now go, that's an order.
Can't have my first officer be grumpy. That's a captain's privilege."
Gvarokh doesn't look thrilled by this sudden turn of events, but his years of
service to Shiraamer tells him it is pointless to argue with her, particularly
when she thinks she is doing you a favor. With that he says, "Thank you
Captain. Please call me if you need help."
There's the ring of the buzzer from the hangar bay cargo door. A voice emanates
from a speaker, "Larkarda Lumber here with a delivery for the Miishakaal."
Chuck races up the ramp, "I'll go get the forklift."
Gvarokh bids the captain adieu and walks up the cargo ramp.
Shiraamer walks to the hangar bay door to let in the lumber delivery. After
verifying through the security camera that there is in fact a guy from
Larkarda Lumber standing outside the hangar bay door, she lets him in.
Greeting are exchanged with the driver who then downloads the paperwork to
Shiraamer's PDA. After checking the shipment and the paperwork, she signs the
paperwork and gives Chuck the all clear sign to load it. It is at this point
that she receives an incoming message.
"Lakir calling Captain Shiraamer, over."
The captain excuses herself from the truck driver and takes the call,
"Shiraamer here. Go ahead Lakir."
"Hey Cap'n. Got a line on a ship's component supplier that might be able to help
kit the ship out. Only prob is Simrii might not be the best to exploit it. The
technical end of the deal might be facilitated if Mr. Gvarokh or Mr. Trask could
accompany him. I'm heading back to Jum's place to complete my tasking."
Simrii adds, "Ya, basically if you can't point it, shoot it, drive it or steal
it..." Simrii shrugs, "A wise man always admits to his short comings."
To which Lakir adds, "Always know your limitations; it keeps you and your
associates alive for the long haul..."
After a pause, Shiraamer, who seems distracted, says, "I'll send Gvarokh or
Trask over to meet you at Jum's. Gvarokh was just heading out anyway, maybe I
can still catch him. Keep him informed. Our freight just showed up so I'll be
with Miisha taking care of that. Shiraamer out."
Meanwhile, back inside the ship, Gvarokh isn't sure what he's going to do with
his sudden release from duty. He checks his jumpsuit for his bankcard. Realizing
he doesn't have it. He heads to his room. He bumps into
Slade (not literally) in the crew lounge.
"Hi Gvarokh."
"Hi Slade."
"Where's the captain?"
"Out in the hangar bay, why?"
"Got some info on that thing with the transponders."
"Really? Good news I hope. Let's go look, she should still be right outside."
And with that, the two of them head out to the hangar bay.
Unaware that he's heading back to her, Shiraamer calls up Gvarokh, "Gvarokh?
How far have you gotten?"
"Not far. I'm walking down the cargo ramp with Slade to talk to you."
Shiraamer looks over and sure enough, coming down the ramp are Gvarokh and
Slade.
Slade notices that the captain isn't dressed in her usual spacer outfit. Instead
she's wearing a silk blouse and a long leather skirt, not tight, but a flowing
one.
Once you all are close enough to talk without having to raise your voices over
the noise from the forklift Chuck is driving around, Gvarokh says, "Slade's got
something to tell us."
Slade says, "I was next door checking on the Aerlay Craver's progress with the
recalibration of their systems. I happened to ask them if they'd heard of the
vilani transponder bs. McKibben says he doesn't know of the Imperium giving
people grief for running Vilani transponders. I mean, we have to go one way or
the other, or both. We need a Vilani transponder to run in Vilani space, if we
are caught in possession of both we'll be in big trouble. My suggestion is to go
with what McKibben says, and if he's wrong, we claim ignorance and hopefully
work it out."
Gvarokh says, "That jibes with what Chuck just mentioned. It really doesn't
sound like we can get out of the Vilani transponder, though." He pauses for a
moment, then asks, "Captain, did you want me for anything else?"
"Yes. I just got a call from Lakir who needs either your help or Trask's. He
will be at Jum's. Since you were going out, want to combine some business with
pleasure and meet him there?"
"What is it about?" Gvarokh asks.
"Lakir said it had to do with ship components. I believe he was referring to
the transponder but didn't want to say so over an open line."
"All right then," Gvarokh replies.
Gvarokh and Slade head back into the ship. Gvarokh puts on his tailored cloth
armor and grabs his bankcard. The two of them then head to The Bridge to
rendezvous with Lakir and Simrii.
Meanwhile, the captain continues to oversee the loading of the Larkarda
Lumber cargo.
NEXT: Vincent Meets With The Captain