Into the Black: Season 1

[Adlan]

Season 1, Episode 1:
Train Job

Act 1:
Scene 1:
A Skyplex above Ezra.




"I understand you have worked a train before?"
The soft spoken voice did not seem out of place coming from a small, white haired gentleman. His cultured tone could have belonged to a philosophy professor. His sharp, if old fashioned suit might have made him a banker, which Tina certain clientele, he was.

His audience, nodded.
"Yes Mr Niska, though not with my current crew"

"I think I can trust in your reputation, words has reached my ears, while of course, gossip is gossip, I will hazard that you will not disappoint me."

The additional menace in the tone was as subtle.

"Yes Mr. Niska"

"Crow, meet Mr. Logan" Mr. Niskas' voice is a summons.

A burly fellow with lank, dark Blonde hair and a faced half tattooed appears from the corner of the room to stand behind Mr Niskas' audience. Fred Logan, a mercenary of some repute almost jumps, despite looking like no mean slouch himself, from his slightly battle worn body armour to his well used pistol. His rugged, scarred visage is one hardened and endured to the world of crime. But Crow appears to be a barbarian warrior from Earth that was and dwarfs the contractor by a full heads height.

"My assistant will accompany you to ensure the satisfactory conclusion of our business. He will brief you of the details enroute to Paquin"

Before the mercenary can speak up in protest, or defend his crews ability to do this task.

"If he is unnecessary, your fee will remain as agreed and he will enjoy a brief holiday at the circus".

The dismissal is clear, ask Mr. Niska returns to his paper, idly swiping to the next article on the cortex. He chuckles quietly, reading a scrolling headline on the "Latest affair Scandal about the Educational Elect"

Act 1:
Scene 2:
Evesdown Docks, Persephone.

The docks smell of fuel, and sweat, to anyone not been trapped inside a tin can with other humans. If you've been in the black for a while, it reeks of dirt, livestock and cooking that's not packaged. The stalls selling fried fish, chow mien, bao and hot dog do a roaring trade off the spacers fresh off the ship and hungry for a taste of the land.

Humanity, packed into the docks, constantly seethes, there is no quiet section, with the constant take offs and landings. The unobtrusive is actually to be in one of the busier, cheaper areas and just blend in. Too many transports land everyday for any kind of effective policing.

So Tranquility, former med-evac Firefly MkIII is one of dozens of minor ships sitting dirt side in the area, as the crew stocks up on the food, booze and fuel they need. At least they don't have to worry about finishing work before the bars close. At the Evesdown docks, the Bars never close.


"Hey, This da Tranquility?" Shouts a driver, mounted on a small 6 wheeler tractor. "I gots an order of supplies for a Dr. Gordo of da Tranquility?" His accent is nasal, like he's impersonating a gangster from Osiris, or that classical musical, Guys and Dolls.

There is indeed a small tarp covered heap on the back of the tractor.

Act 1:
Scene 3:
Badgers "set", Evesdown Docks, Persephone.


"And I says to her 'if that don't bleed in' take the biscuit'" The guttural chuckles of Badgers henchmen echo while the grinning Badger looks up as you are allowed past the imposing figure of Harry, who nonchalantly disregards to point his gun and underspent grenade launcher at you for the moment.

Reclining in his chair, Badgers slightly dirtied Bowler hat, his suit with it's collection of pins and badges that would impress any scout and air of scampish mischief is still one of the fixtures of the Evesdowns murky black and very dirty grey markets.

"Ah Doc Gordon, good of you to answer my wave. I've no need of your little black bag. But I know someone that might be."

He finishes peeling his apple, and takes a bite.
"I got a job that's right up your alley".

[LazyNinja]

Badger's "set", Eavesdown Docks, Persephone.

This place stinks, Sinclair thought, as he edged around behind the doc to put a warm body between himself and Harry's grenade launcher. Not that it would matter.

Sinclair only knew Badger by reputation, but that reputation was a shady one. Word was he hated loose ends and sometimes had them tied up himself. He had an ego, too. No great aspirations, mind you—he was happy to be king of the docks—but he defended his position like a dowager doting on her idiot son. Still, his jobs could be lucrative, and his hires didn't get pinched. Usually.

As Badger finished his awful anecdote, Sinclair feigned a guffaw. At the mention of medical treatment, he glanced at the doc's face. Gorram it, we'd better be getting paid for applying these bandages. Or maybe I'll get to play "doctor" with our mark.

Sure, he had a gun trained on him, and the room smelled like sweat and piss, but he wasn't bored. Sinclair thought about the others back on the boat. Poor bastards don't know what they're missing.

[Yawielas]

Act 1, scene 2: Evesdown Docks - Robyn

Robyn catches the small ball she's been bouncing off the walls of the cargo bay, and looks towards the small vehicle approaching. "Say what? Doc Gordons? This the Tranquility, fer sure, but the capn's not here. I'll sign fer it, if you need a signature. Let's see it." She walks over to the man on the six wheeler, to help unload. Pocketing the ball, she reaches over to pull off the tarp, calling to the other crew members left on the ship. "Guys! Supplies!"

[Greymoon]

Act 1, scene 2: Evesdown Docks

Damien looks up from his idle gun twirling, holsters it with a flare, to watch the up coming vehicle. When it stops out side of the Tranquility's hatch he walks out with Robyn (2 steps behind her). When the creates are uncovered he starts to unload the vehicle, but only to the ground.
He turns to Robyn to explain why the extra work. I'll load the ship after I's had a chance to inspect them "supplies". You can't never be to careful.

[Iron Warlord]

Oliver is walking across the catwalk above the cargo bay, considering giving the cockpit another thorough scrubbing, Damn controls are still a little sticky, when he hears the someone down below say something about a delivery. Deciding that helping with loading supplies is a better use of his time he quickly heads down the stairs.

"What have we got?" He asks as he reaches Robyn and Damien.

[Yawielas]

Act 1, Scene 2, Evesdown Docks: Robyn

Robyn flips through the papers given to her by the driver to check if everything seems on the up and up. She turns to Oliver and shrugs. "Supplies. Haven't had a chance to look through it yet. Wanna help carry?" She looks to the driver again."Thanks, we'll unload. Need a signature or anythin'?"

[Thundercracker]

Act 1, Scene 2, Evesdown Docks: Katherine McAllister

Katie walked back towards the ship humming a merry tune, a large sack slung over her shoulder. She'd just made a purchase of some surveillance equipment, which would let her set up audio or video cameras and observe remotely, something which could definitely come in handy on a job. She arrived as the supplies were being loaded onto the ground.

"Is this it?" she asked, switching the sack into her other hand, "how long is this supposed to last us?"

Spoiler

Show

need to know how much a half-dozen remote small cameras, miniature microphones, and speakers, plus parts to build a signal scrambler, costs.

[Yawielas]

Act 1, Scene 2, Evesdown Docks: Robyn

Robyn glances to Katie when she approaches. "Not sure, you'll have to ask Doc when he gets back. If he gets the job, maybe we can get some more. Lessee what we got here..." She checks out the supplies Damien's unpacked.

[Greymoon]

"Well let's take a looksee. Wees got us some ship parts not of the best condition. Some protein and some good old flavor packs for them eats. All checks good. Lets load and be ready to leave this dust ball when the capt'n gets back with the job. With that Damien lifts the largest of the creates and starts to bring it on board.

[Yawielas]

Act 1. Scene 2, Evesdown Docks: Robyn

Robyn frowns as she compares the papers with what's actually delivered. "Hey, mate...This ain't the entire order. There's stuff missin', like the long life milk cartons, some flavor sachets, and where the heck's our fuel? And these proteins," she holds up a pack of protein accusingly, "they're a little ripe...I won't sign for this before you get the order right." She looks the guy square in the eyes. "We'll hang on to this while you go get the rest, dohn luh mah?"

[Adlan]

Act 1. Scene 2, Evesdown Docks
"Look Lady" The driver spits a jaw of baccy into the dirt. "I ain't dumb enough to fall for that one."

He looks pointedly at Damien hefting one of the crates "You don't want the goods? No skin of my nose, see?"

He adjusts his jacket gripping into with the lapels the creak of his fingerless gloves leather.

"Put 'em back and Call up whoever you ordered from.

He squints at you.

"I ain't the one needin' supplies in a hurry"

[Yawielas]

Act 1, scene 2, Evesdown Docks: Robyn

Robyn straightens her back, glaring back at the driver, shaking the papers at him. "And I'm tellin' ya this ain't everythin' on this 'ere list! Now, we're gonna get our credits worth, make no mistake about that, so go get the rest of it! You ain't gettin' any papers back before you do, and I'm pretty sure your gorram boss' name's on these. You think you can manage? That's fuel, powdered milk and fresh proteins, more flavors would be nice as well." She ticks off each item on her fingers. "If ya want, I'm sure Damien can come with ya. Help you get it right."

[Adlan]

Act 1:
Scene 3:
Badgers "set", Evesdown Docks, Persephone.

"So, once you get to Paquin you rendevouz with this bird on the train. She'll be incognito amongst the passangers. She'll find you, and then you take her… where ever she wants to go.

Badger spread his hands expansively

"I ain't in the need to know, she's tight on security but It's a solid job. I got my finders fee, you take this job, there's a Bai* of Platinum upfront, and the rest negotiable when she gives you her destination"

"I know you need a job Doc, I'm doing you a favour...

He Glanced at Sinclair and Mordred. "Got stuck with a mule dealer tagging along with your Patient have you?" He smiled condescendingly, as two of his goons chuckled as they poked heads through a door way, wuickly returning to grim faced toughs at a look from their bowler hatted boss.

*One Hundred

[Thundercracker]

Katie McAllister

Katie paused and dropped her bag off to one side inside the cargo hold then returned to the loading ramp.

"Again?" she asked at the confrontation at the ramp, "honestly, can't get good help these days."

[LazyNinja]

Sinclair studied their employer as he spoke. Badger seemed a callous and careless man, full of swagger, but looks could be deceiving.

He took a sideways glance at his companions. The doc was considering the offer carefully, probably weighing the pros and cons against some nebulous sense of justice. The big man, Mordred, had a mean streak, but Sinclair counted that a kindness in situations like this. Still, they were well outnumbered. Perfect. Always lose the first hand.

“Not a bad job, doc,” Sinclair opined, tucking his thumbs into his belt. Today, Sinclair was clean-shaven, groomed and composed in a well-fitted three-piece gray suit—not his nicest, but he’d easily pass for a border baron’s wayward son.

“You did say this Badger fellow had good connections,” Sinclair continued. He turned to address Badger directly. “I mean, who doesn’t love a good escort...job, that is.”

“Still, you wouldn’t’a asked the doc to make a housecall if there weren’t the possibility of complications. That’s fine, it’s why we got Mordred here. Crack shot, easy on the eyes, probably sweep your girl off her feet. Plus, you know Tranquility can make delivery faster than most.”

“But bullets for Sam here ain’t cheap, and full burn drains fuel cells something mighty. Two hundred platinum up front will guarantee the job goes off without a hitch—and that you get your fat finder’s fee.”

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Studying Badger to determine best way to ask for more money: Alertness/Intuition/Trustworthy Gut— (1d12+2)[8] + (1d10)[4] = 12
Asking for 200p up front: Willpower/Persuasion: (1d8)[3] + (1d10)[4] = 7