Prelude: Rocking the Cradle [COMPLETE]

[Mister-Kent]

Raquel and Killdozer
"We work in live shows presently," Augmentine croaks. "If only inter-system broadcast was possible, then we'd really be in business!" she sighs wistfully.

"I manage a few of the entertainers here, and am always looking for more clients, so don't be shy! At least come see our show tonight, and then decide!" She still remains fixated on Killdozer's unique countenance--that is, until she becomes quite unsettled by Raquel's intense stare.

Raquel
Save vs Empathy: [1d20] = 14
Your readings often begin like a dim static channel. Once the channel is turned on, Augmentine's feelings hammer your fore-brain with intense clarity. The woman radiates an aura of confidence with an underlying craving for attention, desperate and lonely. Her surface thoughts insist she find clients, find fans, find people who love her. She thinks you're kind of scary at the moment, and thinks Killdozer's rather attractive--though of course she could never let her friends know--

The feelings leave you, and you are no longer connected to Augmentine Layva's self.

Malachi and Nikodemos
Shefelbine looks up at Nikodemos wearily and sniffs. "Yeah well, between you and me, 'scholar to scholar', I need a new job. Basic engineering classes to inbred spacers barely keep the collectors at bay. If you guys are fellow eggheads, you know what I mean!" he grunts.

Leaning on the bar, Shefelbine takes a long contemplative pause before answering Malachi's cloning inquiries. "Ah-hmm. So…you've read my work?" he suddenly says eagerly. From how his face lights up, it's clear that his work means a great deal to him, his financial situation notwithstanding. "Which did you prefer--'You/Them/Us: A History of Cloning', or 'The Manifold Self: Branch-Biology and the Future of Medicine'…?"

Guy the Savage
Booty shakes his head, your questions pulling away from the young lady's dance. "No word out of Raboud about the flasgship just yet," he says, slowly exhaling smoke. "By how slow news travels, it could be months before we find out. But…ah, I may have heard something about the new Twelve."

"Now, I don't want to make any waves, but one of our casino patrons was in that system five months ago. Said all the local buzz was about Castellano. No, not the old man--he's dead, we were both there for that. No, the new La Capitán is his daughter, Estrella. You know she's been gunning for her dad's spot in the Twelve since before she could walk. My source says she's about to get her chance."

He refocuses his gaze upon the nubile dancer. "Anyhow--about Amir. The Amiri don't often share their tech, but if one could finagle an acquisition of even a single seeder machine, I have a list of guaranteed interested parties. The Amiri are turning their icy hell of a planet into a tropical paradise…there's lots of people want in on that action."

He checks his datapad.

"Damn. The Floor Show's about to begin. You've always been the daring sort--care to make a quick wager?"

On the floor, the dancer finishes her performance and walks to the DJ booth at the back of the lounge. The DJ--an alien of some rare form--gladly offers the girl a choice between a long, glittering staff, and a double-edged dagger. The dancer accepts the dagger and lingers at the edge of the floor.

Madoshi
The maintenance bot's cleaning duties now done, it follows you a few steps, gently humming.

The idle humming grows louder, accompanied by a convulsive vibration.

A little spout of steam rises from the bot's intake hose…

[explosiveghast]

Madoshi, Post-Human Scavenger (Technician/Mentor)

The old scavenger turns toward the bot and kneels again, back erect. He reaches toward the machine, spins it about and powers it down. He draws it toward his chest and rises, hauling the machine to his workshop. It looks like his venture outside the ship may have to wait unless he needs a part for this bot. Madoshi arrives at his bench and unlatches the shroud revealing the hose assembly.

Tech Postech [2d6+1] = 8+1 = 9

He works quickly and steadily to repair the seal, reinforcing it with a section cut from slack length from the intake hose. Lucky this time, he knows he could use more parts, let alone a fabber. He powers up the robot and gently sets it on the deck to reboot. With a ritualistic reverence, he cleans and replaces his tools as he peers out of his bulbous bulkhead windows at the surrounding dock. Confident of the fix, he steps out. He really should have a quick look around.

[Mister-Kent]

Madoshi
Stepping out onto the dock, a flurry of activity greets you. Many of casino patrons mill about, with casino security posted along the walls at regular intervals.

As a scavenger, you're keenly aware of the Fallen Angel Casino's technical history. As salvagers have enthusiastically discussed with you on various maintenance stopovers, the Fallen Angel is a hallmark in repurposing. As you look around, you can imagine this carrier as the great death-bringer of ages long past. It destroyed stations, razed moons, all in the service of a long-fallen regime. It is now a glorified pleasure yacht.

[Enoch]

Nikodemos snaps in sudden recognition. "You wrote that paper on neural degeneration in clones and historic methods of mitigating it, didn't you? That paper revolutionized manipulation of the Papez circuit in telepathy."

[Mister-Kent]

Nikodemos

"Ah...well...shucks," Shefelbine stammers. "Yeah, that was me. I didn't know my work was so...er, favorably reviewed. Would've been nice to hear at the time, but better late than never. Thanks. I appreciate it, Mister--I'm sorry, I didn't catch the names."

He studies your faces. "So you're interested in cloning then, huh? Not a lot of places have the tech to maintain proper cloning facilities. Some can manage custom organ-farms, but that's about it."

"I...may know of some places that really have a handle on the process."

[explosiveghast]

Madoshi, Scrounger Monk

Securing the ship from his dataslab as he exits, the scavenger wanders forth. The old man casually meanders around the dock with his chin held high, as if peering through the bottom of nonexistent bifocal lenses. He looks for signs of repair activity such as techs shuttling tool carts or movements in the dock maintenance area. He strolls about without temptation of the vices and pleasures contained just within the ship although the rattle of casino markers in gaming machines and perfumed scents of cigar smoke and alluring hostess girls do not escape him.

Madoshi appears to most as an elderly dignitary in modest and ancient robes yet his calm bearing and demeanor allow him to pass as somewhat fashionable. He winds around the different docked ships, inspecting them through viewports for hull damage or fittings in need of upgrades. Often he checks the status of the ships on the local net via his dataslab. Though the identity of the crews and the names of the ships are confidential, he gleans a bit of background here and there from the services that are offered to each of the visitors. Some of the patrons have unguarded social networks that advertise their needs outright and some post to boards in other instances. As he takes in the sights, he sifts through the data, looking for a quick opportunity to hawk his trade.

Computer [2d6+1] = 5+1 = 6

[Pulpatoon]

Killdozer to Raquel: "I'd suggest y'eat that card. No other use of it is gonna do nobody no good. But..."

The mutant stares hard at Raquel, his eyes bright with anxiety, "If'n you do sign up with 'er, you bring me along. It's a bad life, she's offerin', but I'm good at it, and you'd need someone t' watcher back."

Killdozer turns and heaves a shuddering sigh. "I'm gonna need something with alotta butter sauce." He calls a server over slightly too aggressively, and barks an order, "I want Escargot Beignet, Grenouilles a la Provencal—extra capers, and, uh... Veau Braise a la Provencale. Ana bottle a' wine, ana potta coffee f'r after."

"Raquel, you gettin' anything?"

[kmbll]

Guy "The Savage," Bounty Hunter

"Daring is such a simplification.." Guy looks intently around the room now that the situation has some real weight - he first intently examines the DJ to see a) what game he's playing at and b) the weapons being proffered, and any details of the dancer taking the floor. Guy grins big at Booty, "I'm not flush on credits these days, what are you thinking?"

I feel like there's at least one perception check there. Let me know and I'll roll them.

[Mister-Kent]

Each of your Culture skills (Spacer, Criminal) would yield different relevant intel here.

explosiveghast, I'll have results for Madoshi in the next post!

[kmbll]

Nothing from the perception check? It was so good!

Culture/Criminal = 7

Culture/Spacer=6

[Mister-Kent]

Hey now, I'm not done yet! All will be revealed

[Marullus]

Malachi Lykos

Malachi delves into some of the specifics with Shefelbine, directing the conversation to elicit those areas of science which might result in acquisition jobs while satisfying his need for intelligent conversation. He keeps an eye on the room, pausing as he sees the weapons come out on the stage, his trained eye casing the place due to the proximity of Guy and the others to the pending show.

Adding rolls, it is a trend!

Science evaluation of ideas [2d6] = 9
Observations of pleasure ship culture (Traveller) [2d6] = 12
those are straight rolls: add +1 for INT (so, 10 and 13), and any other modifiers.

[Glintwine]

Raquel von Seelenfreund

"Raquel, you gettin' anything?"

Blinking somewhat blearily as the mental link to the strange woman ends, Raquel can't help but crack a smile at her mutant friend's strange capriciousness. One minute paranoid and addled, the next surprisingly supportive, and the next infatuated with the prospect of good food. She had to respect that at least he always seemed to know exactly what he wanted. "I may pick at your eskargot, mein freund, but ozervise I sink I'll just enjoy a glass of vine."

Turning back to Augmentine, the noblewoman's expression sweetens to one of pleasant invitation. Tasting of the strange woman's mind had changed the Raquel's opinion of her slightly, as doing so so often did with strangers."I vould be happy to see your show, madam Augmentine! As vould mein freund Killdozer as vell, I'm sure." She indicates her dual-mouthed companion with an elegant wave.

"Also, vile vee are on zee subject of business - zee two of us are crew aboard a free merchant ship called zee 'Cat's Cradle', a vessel in zee business of, shall vee say, 'private shipping'." Raquel's brow curls at those words to really hammer in the implication. "If zere is anysink vee can do to aid zee Lavya-Combine in its efforts to bring culture and entertainment to zis bleak Sector, I hope you vill consider callink on us."

Raquel will attempt to give Augmentine her own contact information, or that of the ship's, as appropriate, with the hopes of scoring a possible job contact for the future. Will happily roll Persuasion or any other skill that is called for.

"Vee are discrete, professional, and most of all, not picky ven it comes to our contracts." She flashes that winning, almost unnaturally perfect smile.

[Mister-Kent]

Reposted all your rolls for convenient reference.

Madoshi
Besides the Cradle, there are currently two-dozen vessels in dock on this side of the Fallen Angel:

• 8 private craft - Just private citizens of the TL Sector, looking for a good time. They're not too concerned about hiding their ship IDs, apparently. One is registered to a "Dr. Idomeneus Shefelbine"--isn't that the pretech guru whose works some of your coworkers have been reading?
• 5 tourist cruisers - Three are with Leidich Org, a transportation conglomerate operating out of the Solar Republic worlds. The other two are local, and run cruise circuits to Parra, in the nearby Tiresias System. That world is a hotbed of tourist activity lately!
• 2 salvagers - The Pixie and The Plumber are docked on opposite ends of the casino.
• 9 unknown - These could be anyone, from discreet visitors to the owners and staff's private ships. Some of them have IDs that are obvious fakes. Others are just encrypted, and will push back if one attempts to pry.

Computer [2d6+1] = 5+1 = 6

Guy the Savage
The alien DJ pauses his music duties to distribute weaponry. He looks like a pale humanoid with a wide flat face, and four arms with slight creases of extra skin hanging from them. You recognize him as a Hi'Ho, a generally peaceful species, long ago displaced from their homeworld.

You recognize the sparkling stick as a stunner, but the dancer doesn't choose that. She's gone with the dagger, which means there will be blood tonight. You've of course seen these gladiatorial displays before--you know you have crewmembers who are intimately familiar with them, as well. On the more "polite" worlds these things are underground. For example, you wouldn't see such fights in the Solar Republic. But out here? Who cares!

Attendant Lucie with the cyber-tail steps up and gladly takes the stunner, twirling it like an old-pro. She winks at Guy from the floor, and goes to her corner to prepare.

Big Booty Ho clears his throat."A simple wager on the outcome of tonight's Floor Show. Derinoe, the young lass in the bandage-bikini over there, versus Miss Lucie, whom I believe you've met. If credits won't do as winnings…perhaps a favor?" He smiles. You've seen that damn smile before! Big Booty's feeling feisty. "Maybe if you win I'll hook you up with my friend on Bittori, eh?"

Perception check [2d6] = 11
Culture/Criminal = 7
Culture/Spacer=6

Malachi
Now knowing you're fellow pretech-enthusiasts, Shefelbine lets loose--but it could also be the alcohol in his system. He talks a little more about cloning, and some of the other finds of which he's heard stories, all the while continuing do drink heavily.

• "Hey…so there are people on Bittori, real religious types, who once offered to send me on a paid excursion to the Daksha System to trade live specimens. I considered it, y'know…but, ah, Daksha? That places changes you. I've had colleagues come back that…well, I swear they were different people altogether."
• "Oh, man, so then the Dean of the Academy has the balls to tell me--and this is the best part!--He tells me there ain't no such thing as the 'Highshine'! And I says, Yeah? Well then someone tell the folks on Dynamene, because they're willing to pay quite a lot for something that don't exist!"
• "Say...weren't we *hic* talkn' b'bout clon'sh? Err, clones? Y'wanna...y'wanna know what I know 'bout *hic* clones? There's a ship...sship that does that. Urr *hic*..." He waves his fingers dizzily in front of your face. "They always movin', but if ya pay 'em...an' they like you...they can does that thing..."

From what you see of the casino patrons, the weapons are a welcome sight--there are hoots and hollers when the dancer grabs the dagger. The Floor Show is one of the big draws on the Fallen Angel--people leave the slots and tables when the ladies hit the stage, and start placing bets on the champion.

Science evaluation of ideas [2d6] = 9
Observations of pleasure ship culture (Traveller) [2d6] = 12
those are straight rolls: add +1 for INT (so, 10 and 13), and any other modifiers.

Raquel
Augmentine gladly takes your contact info."Oh…how interesting. Layva-Combine Entertainments contracts all sorts of ships for the transport of our talent. Why, we just might have a passenger for you shortly, depending on the outcome of our next match!"

[Marullus]

Malachi catalogs and records the information from Shefelbine in his internal databases, ensuring he gets what they'd need to run the jobs. What live specimens from Daksha? What changes you there? What is Highshine? What's the best lead on it? How do we contact him later, and can I create an in for future study with him? (This is into the mundane, so can be off-camera if that's better. Do we just say, "you got the details" and you'll brief us with it when we go to start that adventure?)

[kmbll]

Guy "the Savage," Bounty Hunter

Guy looks intently at Booty - he's seen this grin before before - but Guy doesn't let his own smile waver. "Booty - do you remember our first mission together? I was all of 16 and piloting a tiny shuttle with just six of us following up on a lead from one of your survey missions. You hadn't broken big yet but you were absolutely adamant that you knew some rare loot to be had in this tiny secluded temple. We landed and raided it - losing two of us for our efforts which soured everybody's mood. You found me in the high priestess chamber pocketing her ceremonial jewelry. The lashes came later but I remember your words best - 'Don't take from the crew - nothing is more valuable than being able to sleep at night.' Booty, we might be businessmen now but we'll always be crewmates. We served together so you give me that contact and I'll do your favor regardless but I'll be compensated for it as well. The Cradle needs fuel to fly and money for repairs. We'll each benefit from this. But as to your machinations? If we must.

Guy takes a long admiring glance and winks back. He feels his own stun baton on his hip and knows the damage that can be done with one. I choose Lucie.

[Mister-Kent]

Marullus - We can leave it at 'you got the details', and I'll give you all you need to know when you choose to pursue the jobs. Dr. Ido Shefelbine exchanges contact info with you, and he says he'd be glad to let you know when he's onto some new breakthrough! He seems completely receptive to the idea of collaboration.

A note about communication in this game: Comm messages are immediate or relatively quick in-system. Inter-system messages are sort of "Age of Sail". You can always send a message to a comm station at the edge of the system, and the next passing commercial vessel will Pony Express those messages to the next satellite, etc. until it reaches its destination. This all takes a long time, of course. You can always send a ping out to see if any of your friendly contacts are in-system, and unless their comm is off or somehow blocked you will know.

[Mister-Kent]

Booty pouts briefly. "Aw, don't be like that, Guy! I don't care about favors--just having a bit of sport is all! It's all that I find joy in these days, you know!" He sighs as he sets his cigar aside into an opalescent ashtray.

"Father Paolo Galino. That's my guy on Bittori--a gentle giant, a real softie. He's made ancient tech his life. Armor? Hm. Don't know if he'd have any of that, but he is quite the collector, so he'd be a good bet."

"He's...from the life," Booty explains. "Galino served on the Chiaroscuro, under Captain deAngelis. So just know that going in. Don't worry about it, though. The way he is now, he wouldn't raise a hand against you, especially if he knows you and I are close."

Lucie stamps her stunner on the ground rhythmically, and the crowd begins to clap along.

Next update: The Floor Show begins!

[Pulpatoon]

When the crowd starts clapping, Killdozer finally notices what is going on over on the dance floor. He turns pale. "Raquel, I don' think it's a good idea for me to be around this. I think I gotta go. It's... uh, counter-productive to my therapy. Tell 'em to wrap my dinner and send it to the ship, huh?"

He stumbles getting up from the table, and begins to make his way towards the exit.

[Mister-Kent]

Killdozer
Augmentine is clearly torn between chasing after you and attending the fight. Twisting her jewel-ringed finger in her blue hair, she clenches her teeth and trails behind you.

"Augie!" her friends call after her, but Augmentine ignores them, and they go to see the fight.

"I'm sorry...are you ill? Is it the food?" she asks in her reptile-like rasp. "The Fallen Angel's medic team is quite good, and as its the night of the show they should be nearby. Should I fetch them for you?" She looks at you searchingly.

The Floor Show
Augmentine's friends take their seats just as Derinoe and Lucie bow to each other, then raise their weapons.

The opening flurry of violence is quite brutal--Derinoe's blade catches Lucie in the upper right arm, but Lucie's stunner leaves a sizzling burn on Derinoe's thigh. It's now clear that this is no ordinary stun-staff, but one modified to do some real damage.

By the final round, both ladies are burned and bleeding, but Lucie has the upper hand. As she is about to claim victory, Derinoe seethes angrily, and in one final defiant move, slashes her blade across Lucie's tail. Lucie screams even as she KOs her opponent, and the diamond-tipped tail goes flying into the audience.

"Whoo! Didn't expect that!" Big Booty cheers to Guy. "You were right, my friend. Luce does it again!"

Madoshi
As you perform your cyber-scrying, you pass the Lounge area. Looking in, you see your crewmate Killdozer approaching, visibly upset, and followed by a wildly-dressed woman.