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Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
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Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#1Chapter two starts in a cantina aboard a space station orbiting the relic planet Sindar, home to miners, scavengers and raiders vying for the planet's riches.
An employer has negotiated a contract with Irina, by which you will gain a useful sum for your trouble - and there may be opportunity to ditch other wares as well, and follow up on the conspiracy that led to the explosion aboard the Prize. Ah, the wonder's of civilization!
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Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#2Shadows rested in the corners of the Rascal Reaver in undisturbed layers. The brass-and-wood bar with scarlet pillows sought to resurrect the atmosphere of ages past and to provide a discreet ambiente to patrons regardless of their occupation.
The structure was a convoluted assembly of narrow rooms and curtained alcoves, spreading akin to the web of a bar-tending spider through the depths of Argus station. It was impossible to overlook the entirety of the winding establishment from any point inside, and the countless exits allowed patrons to come and go as they would.
The most imposing figure was certainly Thronstahl, who kept the pawnshop and private bank associated with the bar; the Bjorndahl towered even behind his massive wooden desk, as you would expect of a saber-tooth bear.
The proprietor was an entirely different entity. Madame Jacqueline was a worldly woman of a peculiar presence, the sort of charm that a cask of priceless whiskey exudes. Legs long as the endless light years between suns, she wore gowns of red and black upon her white fur, the long rabbit ears adorned with a small fortune in gold. The most striking feature were her eyes, deep and dangerous and conspiring at the same time, giving the impression that she didn't care for the world, but you were the one person to receive special treatment. It was her who made the Reaver a neutral ground on the fringe of space. No one dreamed of starting violence at her bar - the crime syndicates and warlords of the Fringe would make sure he suffered.
A purple-haired waitress in a black-blue jumpsuit that flattered her tight figure placed drinks and proper food upon their table, real pork and real beer, courtesy of the extensive agricultural complexes of the frontier station. You had to be self-sufficient in these parts; even the tax collectors didn't come every year. It might have something to do with the natives' tendency to space them, though.
"Miss Eleanor sends her regards; she will arrive within the hour" she chirped, batting her silver-shadowed eyes, and proceeding further.
Below on stage, on classical instruments, a quartet plied its trade, the young women engrossed in the performance, the soft notes wiping away the murmur drifting between the tables, bestowing privacy and a wistful note.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tABGeAcga-M
The erstwhile crew of the Hollen's paged through what they had pulled from Yulo's and Cherenkov's logs, while waiting for their contact. Their niche was cozy, hidden from sight, perfect for clandestine talk.
"I'd bet, not money but just being right, that Cherenkov's contact for the Spice is on Skyline. Look, this mister Flow plays pretty secretive, while the way his messages are misphrased speaks volumes about a Spice habit. A sordid tale of a man eating his merchandize. The goods are late, the mob will be nervous, but the money may be good" Quan assessed confidently, grinning from ear to ear.
"While less adventurous, old Cherenkov had a route to deliver the mundane merchandise planned out, one of them is a group of miners here on Sindar, a short trip down the gravity well."
Irina pondered, then finally opened up about her thoughts: "Cherenkov has been tracking someone from Sindar to the Desdemona; I have reason to believe it was the Daedalus. She figures in some travel logs on his file. There's also quite the file on some Dr. Kraljevic, and that's too professionally compiled to be the work of old Cherry. A xenoarcheologist of some kind, with a penchant for expeditions to the Fringe."
Jerome poked the touchscreen with a frown: "And what about this Carter character? He pops up in both Yulo's and Cherenkov's logs, and sent Yulo two messages recently. One's holds the coordinates to Severus, and one, more recent, is Sindar here, a spot on the northern hemisphere. I detest the shady bastard already."
"I hope you will find me more to your liking" a red haired, slender woman of almost feline grace with sparking silver eyes interjected. The natural human beauty, symmetrical features, milky skin and large sensitive eye (the other had a patch) re-kindled old memories in Jerome. He smiled, for the young woman did not display any attempts at extravagant body modification, well aware of the generosity of nature towards her.
"I took the liberty of discussing an engagement with your captain. You see, someone has taken what is mine, and I would have it back."
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Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#3"Cherenkov has been tracking someone from Sindar to the Desdemona; I have reason to believe it was the Daedalus. She figures in some travel logs on his file. There's also quite the file on some Dr. Kraljevic, and that's too professionally compiled to be the work of old Cherry. A xenoarcheologist of some kind, with a penchant for expeditions to the Fringe."
Autumn nodded, "No doubt he's the one that sponsored the expedition to the Kotiri home world, then hired Yulo to find out what went wrong when they failed to report back in." She leaned back slightly thinking. "It be a worthy investment of time to track him down and impress upon him the need to remove the Kotiri home world from his data banks and forget it ever existed."
Autumn turned as the woman approached the table, her nose catching her scent a half second before she spoke. "Sit and tell us what has been taken and by whom, then we can discuss what help or leverage we can provide to see its expedient return." -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#4Jerome paused a second. "Yes, please, Let's hear your story Miss Eleanor."
Jerome was wearing his 'civiy' legs. Articulated feet, fully fleshed and even heated to normal body temperature.
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Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#5With a pleased smile she settled to the near by vacant seat, warmly offering a "Thanks" Before speaking, her voice like liquid silk. "What was taken from me is a simple piece of jewelry, a broach of sun platinum and encrusted with star rubies, a picture of my birth mother lays within." She closed her eyes momentarily, as if remembering its image before continuing.
"It was... Taken from me, during a.. altercation between myself and an opposing party, the Archdeacon corporation, you may have heard of them? One of it's subsidiaries to be more precise, Spartacus Company, little more than hired thugs posing as legitimate mercenaries." She waved a hand dismissively at the clarification, pausing to sip at a glass of wine and let the pulse of dramatic silence take hold.
"The specifics of how it was lost really aren't that important, what matters is the locket is within their possession, and I require your aid in recovering it." She smiled and make momentary eye contact with each of them, holding Jerome's gaze a second longer than the others, her eyes twinkling with a spark of interest. "Think of this as your audition, impress on this task and a more complicated, and much higher paying job will be yours for the undertaking after." She leaned back in her seat and awaited the expected barrage of questions with an air of confidence, an unspoken certainty in her body language the people surrounding her was without a doubt the perfect, nay, the only ones for the job in question. -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#6Seemed a whole lotta bother for a piece of jewelry, however sentimental. Certainly it held additional value, and the rival knew that. What would be worth getting kinetic over?
"Any reason why they won't have melted it down and sold the jewels separately?"
The whys lead to hows. Tactical details would come eventually, but Jerome wanted to know what they were getting into. -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#7Sunny smiled and nodded at Jerome's comment, her red mane slipping forward to come to rest upon her chest, unbraided, held together just by her head-tendrils. Her thoughts had followed a similar course. "It might be wise to tell us any special needs regarding the handling of the jewel - such as 'do not expose to EMP', honey." The doctor then paused briefly, noting: "I guess my old CDAs no longer apply? Regardless, I know of Archdeacon - we have designed some bioroids for them. Very focused on kalokagathia, callipygean as well, but not too subtle."
The doctor shrugged then, leaning back and unfurling the tendrils, and giving others space in the discussion.
The bouquet of perfume, incense and heavy red wine gave the air a peculiar note, and Eleanor examined the captain in the dimmed light.
They had met, officially, when she had been with the Rust Scorpions, and Irina Cherenkov's first mate. The erstwhile captain knew well how to fence alien artifacts and 'ancient native art' - any piece of junk which was too badly beaten up to earn solid coin otherwise.
While the Lilarcor was definitely Cherenkov's ship, none of the original crew save Irina were around. She made a mental note, for smuggler crews don't just vanish for no good reason.
What Irina didn't know was that Eleanor had seen her before, during a corporate reception. It was quite a steep drop from diplomatic attache of the Republic of Arkona to smuggler, but Eleanor knew well of highs and lows herself. It paid well though, it seemed - Irina had been of a more slender frame back then, and the mods to turn her into this amazon couldn't have been cheap.
The captain then spoke, her face inscrutable: "Eleanor and I go some time back; we haven't ever had any conflict regarding payments. For this introductory job, she has promised us a thousand two hundred Nuyen - enough to fill the Lila up, and run minor repairs. But, I am certain that she wouldn't have contacted me without something more substantial being in the works."
There was something unfamiliar in Irina's gaze however, as if she studied Eleanor intensely, albeit with strange detachment. To what purpose, she could not tell, but she briefly felt as a hare in an open field.
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Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#8The hound listened to the sales pitch with curiosity, leaning forward to scent the woman, and getting only nostrils full of perfume for her efforts, the offered amount promising either a so called milk run, or a test of their business acumen. "I trust that pay is twelve hundred nuyen a piece, given mercenary companies usually require more leverage than a kind word and drawn pistol." She smiled and gestured to her comrades, "We are not opposed to risk, but prefer the reward be worth weighing our lives against, not to mention the jewel in question is no doubt worth ten or a hundred times the offered fee." -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#9"I didn't ask my question in concerns with payment. I asked to get a feel for how earnest our opposition would be. And I would still like an answer." Jerome smiled. -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#10Elanor closed her eyes briefly and smiled, the body language of the group and line of questions indicating interest, suspicion, and the expected haggling that only a confident group would attempt. Perfect. "You are every bit as keen as Irina assured me, although I did find her old crew had a certain mercantile drive that made them more easy motivated, but they lacked your sense of... Panache." She smiled again favoring the captain with a piercing gaze as she referenced her former crew, such spacers didn't vanish quietly into the black without a fight, and often left behind loose ends and questions in their wake.
She took a breath and leaned forward, lowering her voice slightly and slowly tracing a pattern on the tablecloth with an index finger as she spoke. "The locket in question is, as you have surmised, more than a simple chunk of jewelry, it also contains a genetic sample of my mother, ironclad proof I am indeed her daughter, but also the bio coded access to my personal vault out in the dust wastes." She gestured behind the table and to the left indicating the untamed expanse beyond the starport.
"Spartacus knows well what they have, and it's value exceeds that of the stones that accent it's surface, it's both a key to my personal rainy day funds, and proof of my claim to a family inheritance, one that could purchase the vessel you call home a hundred thousand times over, at least." She shrugged and leaned back again, calmer as if the allure of a fortune was one she had long grown accustomed to having dangled before her. "Expect them to use every means at their disposal to remain in possession of the locket, and reacquire it once we have removed it from their clutches."
"I admit, the locket alone isn't sufficient proof to secure my claim, but it is a key piece of the evidence, and once I have it back in my possession I will be hunting for the other bits of proof necessary, a hunt that will require a ship, and a crew, and offer payment equitable to the risk, and a generous reward once my inheritance is properly reclaimed."
She tilted her head to fix the hyena with a piercing stare, cutting her off before she could again mention fees and haggle for hazard payment. "The payment is a lump sum." She held up a hand to forestall and protests on the groups part, her voice holding a warmer tone than before and she continued. "Further rewards will be made available from my personal vault, I have many trinkets, weapons, even a few starship components stored there, I am certain you will find something among my belongings that will serve as adequate compensation."
She let out a relaxed sigh as she topped off her wine glass in practiced grace. "I will also be willing to offer my personal services, as an information broker and slicer* to all of you at a significant discount should you have need of them for private purposes."
*Slicer, a spacer term for computer hacker.
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Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#11The hound lowered her ears in displeasure, the nebulous reward offered too uncertain for her liking, but seeing little alternative but acceptance, the promise of farther riches tantalizing, the brief hope of quality starship components making her pant slightly.
"It sounds like a fair enough offer, we can also scavenge from any of this mercenary company we trade gunfire with once the dust clears." She paused as another thought struck her. "This planet is known for alien ruins correct? Perhaps you may be able to direct us towards a site with some easy to excavate piece of technology? It would help off set ammo and medical expenses." She found herself warming to the woman, despite the obvious attempts at winning them over there was just something.. Trustworthy about her, an odd feeling that made Autumn briefly question her readiness to accept the woman terms before giving a satisfied nod and gazing over at her pack mates for confirmation. -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#12Jerome left further issues of payment with the captain, and Autumn on local digs. "We'll need to see everything you have on the opposition and potential defenses. I assume they are unaware of its secondary purpose in securing part of your personal fortune."
"Also, is there any reason they have not moved against you directly? With whats at stake, that seems surprising." -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#13Quan was busy winking at Eleanor and flashing her a smile and a thumbs up when the attention of the others was focused on their charming client.
The captain though studied her during her explanation, and likewise her reactions to the crew's interjections, with a faint smile, infinite patience, and unreadable features. Finally, she interjected, postulating more than asking:
"I am certain she did not offer more for the job because she is strapped for cash. For all the potential assets that might be hers, Eleanor cannot access any of them now. Given that she is looking for mercenaries, I understand that the Rust Scorpions will not help either. Is that right, my dear?"
She did not really need to wait for an answer, and proceeded: "Why they haven't moved against her may have two reasons: she's a difficult bird to catch, and they may not really know what they have - or where the vault is located. But we can be certain that they will be looking for her to shed a light into the mystery of the amulet - and looking to get vengeance for their fellows. What, do you want to tell me you haven't roughed up a single of their fellows? That would be a disappointment."
"Regardless, we will take the job - and we have preliminary interest in the second part. Just keep one in mind: I know that the richest people are usually the ones most reluctant to pay up. So, I advise against forgetting us when you become wealthy - I, for one, will not let any of my charges go... hungry."
Relaxed, the captain leaned forward, smiling cordially, her muscular arm stretched out across the table towards Eleanor. "Deal?" -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#14She smiled back at Quan, the desiring stare one she had long since grown used to from single, and sometimes not so single individuals over the years, Irina's commentary and extended hand forestalling her reply to Jerome's questions.
With a curt nod she reached out and took Irina's hand, gripping it a good deal more firmly than was really necessary, the uncalled for dig about her available funds, loss of allies, and further threat of payment slights she made a mental note to repay in full when the opportunity presented itself.
Outwardly she smiled, a colder more predatory acknowledgement, meeting the woman's gaze directly, "Rather an interesting crew you're running with these days, quite the leap from being Captain Cherenkov's sophomoric subordinate to commander of the entire vessel, minus the entirety of its original crew I might add." She paused to let the observation sink in for a moment. "Now here you are with new companions and a host of pricey gene enhancements; everything mother nature skimped on is yours now is it?"
She shot a glance at the rest of the crew, her silken smile returning. "I do hope your own reputations and personal integrity are better than your captains former shipmates, they weren't the most reliable, or upstanding sorts, you might say, the types you wouldn't trust to have at your back when the proverbial fecal matter hits the propellers."
She turned to lock gazes with Jerome once more, he seemed more focused, and deliberate in his choice of words, a professional, she could respect that. "I will have the files transferred to your data slate within the hour," She promised him, leaning back calmly. "As for what they do or do not know about my locket, that really is of little importance, and they have already began to move against me, my residence is under surveillance, and my vehicle wired with a tracker, they are still likely following it as it meanders aimlessly through downtown traffic." She waved a hand dismissively."
"In short they are a small mercenary company, roughly 300 members at most, and spread out across the planet, and near by moons running multiple contracts. My suggested course of action is for us to pick one of their strongholds and infiltrate it, acquire com frequency and decryption codes as well as slice their systems and find where they are keeping the locket, then move to acquire it, but I leave the specifics in your capable hands, it is what I am paying you for after all." -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#15"I look forward to reviewing your data. Your initial suggestion sounds like a good start. Are there any critical times we should be aware of - I understand you want this done ASAP, but I would like to know about any real deadlines. Like, for example, our Spartacus friends expecting a new contingent of reinforcements in three days or something like that. I don't like to go into things half-cocked, but I also need to know when you may simply have to."
Another thought, "Can we get a list of establishments, etc, currently under Spartacus' protection - or have done business recently with them added to the data dump? " -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#16The captain laughed heartily at Eleanor's outburst, the kid had spirit.
"And there I was, trying to explain to the crew why you are so skimpy on the payment in a mission where we're risking our hides, and attempting to add a modicum of honesty into this session of scoundrels."
Irina seemed more relaxed outwardly, but the cunning observer would notice that she still vivily recalled the day she lost her dastardly crew.
She studied Eleanor briefly. The way she walked, the posture, speech and vocabulary, but especially the self-confident pride were not the marks of a fringer, and that refined fascinating note was uncommon in these backwaters. The talk of inheritance hinted at an origin in more civilized worlds. This they had in common - Irina yearned for her home on Arkona with an intensity that made her gaze out into the black, looking for the one speck that shone that most beautiful tone of gold.
"Don't be so hard on her" the doctor interjected playfully, amused, yet also with the caring note of a healthcare professional. There might even have been a smidge of motherly concern. "The girl was under substantial duress for an extended period of time; I am surprised she is holding up."
"Fair enough, let's get to the point. Especially considering that New Troy City is not the biggest of hamlets, and your vehicle will confound the pursuers only so long. At least there is a chance that they haven't realised that you're not planetside anymore. Tell us what intel you have gathered on Spartacus, then we shall inquire with our contacts whether they know of a convenient way into a compound of theirs."
The splicer had not wasted time, and knew the rough layout of Spartacus assets.
Most important was their fortress on a plateau overlooking New Troy, a former archaeological compound on the site of the first unearthed ruin.
Another compound of theirs was in Levante; the town was a veritable holiday resort for scum and scoundrels located on the coast of one of the planet's few seas. It had good bars, and excellent pineapples, too (they were genetically modified, but then, what wasn't).
Bands of Spartacus mercs were hired by settlers and raiders alike, for Sindar was a lawless planet with no real government, and a dozen men with guns always came in handy.
Off-world, the mercenary company had also some presence - a compound on the planet's forested moon, and several small stations in the system, from where they offered hyperspace-capable frigates as escorts.
Why they were after Eleanor, she did not know - most likely, they were hired. By whom, that remained a mystery. -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#17Autumn rolled her eyes at the posturing between the captain and their employer, such verbal sparring was a skill she saw little use for, preferring to simply speak plainly and let her sense of honor guide her actions. "We recently liberated the Lilacor and rescued Irina from an... Untenable situation, suffice to say I have every confidence we'll exceed your expectations."
She viewed the provided information eagerly, weighing possibilities. "Is Spartacus led by anyone of particular note, like a retired admiral or washed up decorated combat vet? Knowing the brains behind the outfit may give us insight to their tactics and response protocols." -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#18"Yeah, you need to watch out for those ex-military types. You can't trust 'em any further than you can throw em. With a name of Spartacus, they might have an agenda past simply providing blood and bullets."
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Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#19"Retired admiral, in fact" Eleanor replied.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_tppyBoT3Q
The tablet brought up a fey blonde of youthful mien, hair done in immaculate french locks, somewhat out of place in the blue-and-gold uniform of the Terran Federation, her bosom heavy with brass, her shoulders with pauldrons, ribbons and stars.
"Look, a Crimson Skull. Twenty enemy vessels destroyed by a ship under her command" Jerome wondered. It was difficult to attribute much carnage to a creature of such nonthreatening mien, despite the dauntless spark in her blue eyes.
"Theresia Harfner-Wallenstein, the parents were also top brass. She hails from Augersund, one of the Federation's satellite states. A monarchy, in fact - her proper address is "Dame", actually."
Eleanor was as puzzled as the first time she looked at the data - why would such a person leave the fleet, or why would she be expelled? The fleet's files were classified, but Beamer, one of Eleanor's contacts, managed to pick up some dirt through his sources. There was talk of dishonorable discharge. Apparently, the ex-admiral's trigger finger was too eager; a deserter claimed she had glassed a civilian habitat in violation of direct orders, and even shot one Federate vessel out of the sky.
There was more information, on her second-in-command and bodyguard.
A wiry man, sprouting graying black hair tied back in a ponytail, with an illegible face and penetrating black eyes gazed at them from the tablet, clad in a light combat suit.
"Crichton, Zane. A killer if I ever saw one; excels at wetwork. I tried to find more on him, but the man's zeroed. The name's likely fake. All I got is this tattoo with an "F" rune, and a six-digit code."
Eleanor paused, looking at the band.
The doctor appeared to briefly ponder whether to interject, then she did so: "A Fenrir model, bioroid. The Federates use them in black ops work. How do I know? We made them. They focus on speed and coordination; we managed to wire them to be faster than cybernetically enhanced soldiers. The drawback is a tendency to develop psychiatric disorders; we have therefore engineered a kill-switch, setting a biological self-destruct prior to the predilection age of insanity. In about 0.1%, the death clock does not trigger, as seems to be the case with the gentleman here."
"So, a wild card?" Jerome inquired.
"Yes, dear, very much so."
"Who's the big bloke?" Autumn wondered at the sight of the third photograph. A bearded man, mountain of bronzed muscle, was photographed on the backdrop of the planet's table mountains, carrying an implausibly large firearm.
"There's more on this gentleman, Honza 1889. Honza Aideen, these days, to be correct. What you are looking at is an Atlas series parahuman, with all the bone density and muscle mass genetics can buy. Federates utilize the Atlas where heavy weapon platforms cannot be easily deployed. Mister Aideen left the marine corps after the Veradani war in protest, over what exactly I could not find. It is likely that the Federates have distorted whatever the real cause was - it does not reflect well when a laureated war hero suddenly rejects all you stand for and leaves without pay."
Apparently, the man had found something besides military work to occupy him - there was a distant farmstead on Sindar, to which his shuttle had been tracked by Silke, an overly curious dispatcher on Argus.
"The fort near the dirtside starport in New Troy, it is a fortification in two concentric rings and a dome in the centre, covering the original dig site" Irina noted as Eleanor paged through the orbital photographs.
"That's not all - the most relevant structures are concealed underground, as you can see by the hangars here in the cliffside. They could have re-purposed some of the ruins, as well" the brunette added her own detailed intel.
Eleanor's comm beeped then, displaying a message from Tycho, one of her contacts on planet. Whatever was the little rat up to again? "Hey, Elly, my precious. Remember how you promised to pay for info on the Rusties? They have snagged some nerd, called him doctor, too. He was digging around the place, so I figure they wanted his loot. Just saying. This is worth five nuyen, yes?" -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#20"They also have a warehouse of supplies at the starport, mostly bland base supplies, spare parts, rations and the like, but they may have a shipment schedule on site there if you want to pay it a visit in person," She paused as her comlink beeped, nodding at the message her informant delivered, "I'll make it fifty if you can give me all of the pertinent details with enough accuracy to make it worth my time," She told the snitch warmly, giving the group a wink off camera and hitting the mute button briefly, "One moment please, this may be relevant to our task at hand." With a flick she unmuted the comlink and pressed the record button, for later reference. -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#21Autumn looked over at Jerome with a questioning glance, "How does the name imply a secondary agenda?" -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#22"In ancient earth history, Spartucas was a gladiator that led a slave uprising against the Roman empire. Unless they just snagged that name because it sounded cool.."
He shrugged.
"Her choice of lieutenants might suggest something else. " Jerome shuddered at the thought of the unholy twisting of creation. The doctor had a hand in such things?
Nearly totally different beings like Autumn did not bother him, it was the almost or once-were humans that did. Some form of Uncanny Valley with him. Jerome had long learned to hide this distaste externally, but it still was there. And here there was a reason.
"Sure as shit she'll have a real ship or three stowed somewhere. Once an Admiral, always an Admiral, and I can't imagine she loves having dirt underfeet."
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Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#23"If they're rebels of that sort there may be a bounty on their leaders heads, especially if she's a thorn in some government or others side." She offered, finishing the last of her meal and waiting for Elanor to finish her phone conversation. "The warehouse might be a good place to find out where the supplies are being shipped and when the next shipment is scheduled, intercepting it would give us a way into the base past external security," She suggested to her companions, keeping her voice low so as not to interrupt the woman's phone call. -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#24"I knew you do love me, Elly! Well, I overheard the doctor's name, Kraljevic. I now remember the bugger."
Now you do that I increased the reward? Love does not blossom in such dishonesty, dear Tycho.
"Remember how I told you I worked on Groombridge II?"
Yes, you little rat, you embezzled a serious wad of money from Neogen Corporation, and left the ground team starving for seven days. Then, you had to run for the Fringe lest Neogen enlist you as a test volunteer for their newest NBC warfare program.
"Well, this Kraljevic guy worked there in the third wave of exploration of those ruins Neogen and the military and everybody and their mother are so anal about. And, now he's here, digging again, but without corp support. I guess he went freelance, or he's undercover. Back then, the suits would not even let him speak to the cute waitress at the port cantina. Always in a sandwich between two sleazy agents, he was."
To avoid divulging all the juicy research in post-coital bliss or over a cup of coffee, of course.
Regardless, this may be worth a fifty - if Tycho adds a little more snooping around.
"I really could use a cup of coffee" the doctor whispered to Autumn on the side. -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#25"Were you by chance friends with the man?" She fixed his image with a pointed gaze, trusting he knew better than to attempt to deceive her by now, "If so send me a info dump of everything relevant about the man, and if not find out what you can, then I'll pay you the rest." With a few quick button presses she transferred 25 of the promised fifty credits, giving him a honeyed smile and ending the call, her false warmth for the snitch vanishing as the screen darkened.
With a satisfied look she set her comlink to speaker and replayed the message for her comrades, leaning forward and lowering her voice as it ended. "So there you have it, a bit more operative intel to work with, I'm open to your suggestions on how we should proceed, but as was mentioned earlier, time is not on our side, and once they realize my car is devoid of its occupant they will start hunting and complicate whatever plans we enact." -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#26"Okay, barring someother type of e-int here, we are going to need to patch physically into one of their systems. And we need to do it without tipping our hands.
I would like to discuss these matters in a place more under our control. I believe our ship would be such a location."
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Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#27Autumn nodded in agreement, "Let us relocate then, for the time being we have plenty of room on our ship so you can stay with us without sacrificing your privacy," She assured Elanor with toothy grin, rising to her hind paws and stretching. "We still need to find a replacement shuttle for our ship too, the fuel costs of flying it around everywhere is a bit much." -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#28And verily, they absconded to their vessel to elaborate and ponder further, but not before paying their tabs like the honest scoundrels they were. -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#29Elanor rose from the table and waved dismissively at the tab, "Covering dinner is the least I can do to show my appreciation." With a warm smile she followed them back to the Lilacor, the few pieces of luggage she had easily transported.
Once onboard she joined the rest of the crew in their lounge, sitting herself at the table and adjusting her holo projector to display any relevant intel in the center of the room. "Physically tapping into their system without arousing interest could be tricky, unless we conceal the action behind another, more obvious one." She smiled, a warm predatory smile of confidence.
"I propose a theft, hitting their warehouse and helping ourselves to the best it has to offer, and while there I can patch in a physical link to their systems, and upload a few tailored programs that should make any follow up actions on our part much easier, even jack us into their communications if it works as planned. Spartacus will notice the theft, and focus on what's been taken and watch the blackmarket for anyone attempting to offload their goods, it's unlikely they will even notice their computers been sliced until longer after were done with them." -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#30Autumn nodded after a moments consideration, the concept of a theft to cover up the computer bypass sounding doable, and the promise of extra stores of luxury goods one she found difficult to pass up. "Acquiring a replacement shuttle along the way would also be advisable, the Lilacor is neither subtle, nor fuel efficient, and using it for an illicit activities will quickly flag it as a vessel of interest, something we should seek to avoid for as long as possible."
She nodded at the captain and waited for input from the rest of her pack mates on the plan, trusting Jerome's keen tactical insight would prove invaluable. -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#31"We have to sell it completely. Any shred of suspicion would have them check their parameter. In fact, if the Admiral has a good hand on day to day operations, they will perform such a check. They know your skills, correct? Then they will be on a lookout for them." Jerome looked thoughtful.
"I'm not in the habit of assuming cooperation from my foe, I prefer to rig things so they have little choice in the matter. I'm not quite sure how to force this the right way though. Assuming they run at least normal checks, are you confident your tap will go unnoticed?"
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Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#32He thought some more.
"Okay, here's the thought. They have your key. What are they expecting will happen or what do they want to do? They apparently need you to find this wealth, since I doubt they are content simply to keep it away from you. And the universe is a big place to hide, you could leave and never come back and they would be stuck with an expensive search over every square meter of this planet.
Or, they can wait for you to come to them. Maybe even _let_ you get the key so they can follow you and grab both you and the treasure at the same time.
So I smell a trap here. How can we turn it about on them, I wonder."
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Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#33Jerome's nose for traps was good - understandably so. Sometimes, all it takes is running over one mine to develop the feeling in the back of your head that tells you something unpleasant is about to get you.
While no tactician, Irina had been a diplomat, sometimes even a spy. She knew a trap when she saw one, too.
"Jerome, your assessment is likely correct - they will be poised to seize Eleanor either before she can reclaim her locket, or when she seeks to retrieve her stash."
Briefly, she listened to the hum of the reactor, thinking.
"I believe Eleanor is off their radar for now, though they will at least casually be monitoring traffic off-station; we might want to deprive them of the means to do so. Ideally, we should also find a way to disrupt their communications, so that our retrieval of the trinket goes unnoticed."
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Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#34Autumn nodded at the idea, "If we can find a way to spike their coms satellite we could block select frequencies and monitor their movements, perhaps hear of their plans before they put them into action?" She suggested with a nod, "If they're mercs they probably have other rivals and contracts, interfering with those could also keep them preoccupied and divide their attention and forces." -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#35"Any program I inject into their computers will be virtually undetectable for a time, as it exists in fragmentary code cycling through data buffers and will only become noticeable after it has reassembled, after which it's heuristic algorithms should keep it a few steps ahead of security I.C.E (Intrusion Countermeasure Executable) programs long enough for us to do what we need to," Elanor reassured Jerome with a nod, the concept of a trap one that had occurred to her as well.
"We could mislead them once I have the key, and make it appear that I am heading for a near by moon or other location of interest and lay a lethal surprise of our own?" -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#36"If we could spike the satellites before we attempted any physical intrusion, that would be the best - especially if said spiking let us inject the program Elanor mentions. Is that even a possibility? "
At the comment of 'lethal surprise' Jerome's expression hardened slightly. "I think we want to avoid any wetworks. Money is money, and blood is blood. If we can pull this off quietly, you are more likely to ride off into the sunset with a lovely retirement fund. If we mix it up with them, well, they know who you are and likely any allies of them do as well. You would have a hard time enjoying your wealth with those guys having a blood feud with you. "
"So lets be clear here, is this a financial matter, or a matter of blood? Are you at war with these folks?"
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Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#37The approving look on Irina's and Sunny's faces told Jerome that they echoed his notion of not antagonizing the mercenary company beyond petty theft. There was a risk they'd get shot at anyways - and setting lethal booby-traps would increase this risk to a certainty.
Quan looked hence and forth between them, then chimed in: "If we were to lay a trap of our own, I'd go with one that has panache and style, and leaves the victim stranded yet alive - and makes him the butt of jokes, ideally. I know a guy, he nicked the boat of Talos' Falcons, and left them stuck on a backwater colony with dummy ammo. Suffice to say, they couldn't strong-arm the locals into taking care of them, and had to do honest work for three years to put food in their mouths." -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#38Elanor nodded with a smile, this notion of leaving her foes to leave with defeat holding a definite appeal. "I concur, a more detrimental trap would also force them to divert resources to get their companions out of whatever sticky situation we put them in." She paused and grinned as an idea occurred to her.
"I can place a sub routine into the data buffers when we spike their satellites that will trigger self diagnostics on all systems at random intervals until they get it wiped, which will take time, and force them to restore from hard copy backups in some areas, leaving their ships and tactical network largely non functional for a time, which will give us a nice window of opportunity to proceed as you see fit Jerome, perhaps along the way we can see about sabotaging any other targets of opportunity, perhaps venting stockpiles of fuel into space will slow them down, if we could acquire some of their uniforms and make it look as if some of their own people are betraying them, to the public anyway, it woudl darken their reputation and add insult to injury without accruing a body count." -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#39"A sound plan," Autumn agreed, "Killing people also has the unpleasant downside that they often have friends or family that seek revenge or can place sizable bounties on our heads, defeated by still living opponents are less troublesome."
She paused as her comment sparked an idea, "Perhaps some type of false newscast indicating some wanted person or other was visiting the system would spread their forces a bit thinner trying to search them out? I recall our former stowaway had a sizable bounty on her head before that drone blew it off, perhaps she would make a suitable choice for the rumor mill?" -
Re: Legends of the Lilarcor - A Barrel of Bastards
#40"Maybe. They might not care, but it seems a low-cost effort. We wouldn't happen to have any old footage of her on file do we? I'll check what security records I have from the 'Prize."
"We want subtle. If we can shut down their network as you say, than I'd rather hold that off to a more critical point in this job. Lets get in, quietly, put the monitor on their comms and see what we can learn. If we can plant a trigger we can use later to fire off the wide disruption - that would be best."
"As much as a public spectacle could be fun, I really don't want them red alert everywhere when we don't know where we want to really hit them. Once we know our physical target, THEN we fuck em up. Captain?"