IC: Chapter 1

[cybersavant]

Alix Conzweth


"Just load everything."

[shaidar]

Alix Conzweth


"Just load everything."

Jonas

"You're right, that extra crate looks legit, and we don't have time to mess around any more"

[Faanku]

Shion Kuznetsov

"It's settled then." Shion sees the extraneous pallet loaded, then fixes Bisharah with a firm gaze once she's ready to depart. "This gets an even split, after your finder's fee. Understood?"

[The_Wanderer]

Shion Kuznetsov

"It's settled then." Shion sees the extraneous pallet loaded, then fixes Bisharah with a firm gaze once she's ready to depart. "This gets an even split, after your finder's fee. Understood?"

The big woman smiles at Shion. "Don't worry, Honey. COR-beau is taking care of me."

Mechanically I'll just rule that she gets 1/2 share. I don't think we specified up front what the pay would be and I'd prefer to avoid negotiating with her as long as you guys don't stiff her.

=====================
All 11 crates are loaded onto the truck and the group splits into the two vehicles to depart.

Feel free to post/retcon anything you do prior to departure.

The truck lurches away on its pre-programmed route. Looking out the window, you see the warehouse receding into the distance behind you, still blacked out. Judging by the Nav system, the truck looks to be pointed at Dock 12 of the Spaceyard at New Hope. The trip should take about an hour.

A few minutes into the drive you are all networked into a call that is identified as coming from Lou. His face fills the screens of your compads and he begins talking in his usual brief, clipped style, "I see movement from the truck. Does that mean everything went off ok? No surprises?

It looks like you'll be at the spaceyard in about 50 minutes. The transport just landed and they have paid the export taxes already on the shipment. That will allow you to enter the Dock area and unload without anybody checking your cargo. They will only be checking you when the truck leaves but by that time, your load will be empty. Any other questions?"

[NJWilliam]

Disston

Disston sends a text to the others, so Lou doesn’t hear or see,

It seems we will need to get rid of that extra pallet immediately as well. Should we see about selling it to Lou?
Or is there room in this truck to hide the pallet of whiskey and sneak it past whoever checks the truck?

Disston the. looks about the truck for cubbyholes and compartments that might make due.

[cybersavant]

Alix Conzweth "We have your crates. I was surprised at the lack of surveillance systems on the premises."

[shaidar]

Jonas replies to the text

"Or, if they are only checking on the way out, we find a friend in the space-port who can hide it for us for now."

Having studied maps of the area and probable routes before the job, Jonas tries to remember if he saw anywhere we could stop to hide the whiskey.

ooc: Although without a fork-lift I guess it would be difficult to unload the pallet from the lorry?

[Samwell Turleton]

Corbeau Boucher

Why don’t we call for some transportation at the port? If we break up the 11th palette we can divide it among ourselves or load it into a third vehicle.

Hey Bisharah, can you get a buyer to meet us at the port?

[The_Wanderer]

Disston

Disston sends a text to the others, so Lou doesn’t hear or see,

It seems we will need to get rid of that extra pallet immediately as well. Should we see about selling it to Lou?
Or is there room in this truck to hide the pallet of whiskey and sneak it past whoever checks the truck?

Disston looks about the truck for cubbyholes and compartments that might make due.

Jonas replies to the text

"Or, if they are only checking on the way out, we find a friend in the space-port who can hide it for us for now."

Having studied maps of the area and probable routes before the job, Jonas tries to remember if he saw anywhere we could stop to hide the whiskey.

ooc: Although without a fork-lift I guess it would be difficult to unload the pallet from the lorry?

This truck is pretty standard issue. It's definitely not unheard of for a customized vehicle to have a smuggler's hold in place but this truck does not look to have been modified. Jonas thinks back to the route to the port. There are plenty of warehouses and other industrial buildings - it's not inconceivable you could find an abandoned space to unload the cargo. Leaving the pallet outside, covered up by a bush or something seems unlikely. You also remembered that Lou told you that you could take a pallet jack with you to help load the ship at the port. You're pretty sure somebody remembered that right?

Lou responds to Alix and says, "Oh yeah, I had a man on the inside, said he was gonna make it easy for you. Glad that worked out. Back when I ran the show we were a 24 hour establishment so effectively we always had people on site."

Corbeau Boucher

Why don’t we call for some transportation at the port? If we break up the 11th palette we can divide it among ourselves or load it into a third vehicle.

Hey Bisharah, can you get a buyer to meet us at the port?

Just eyeballing it, you think you could break up the 11'th pallet and fit the product in the trunk of the groundcar that you are traveling with...or any groundcar for that matter. Bisharah smiles at Corbeau and says, "Yeah, that could work. If we left the pallet at the port, I could get somebody to come take it. Of course unless they came by ship, they'd have to take it out again past the customs agents. Also it wouldn't happen tonight."

When you are ready for her to start finding a buyer, you can make a Trade roll.

[Faanku]

Shion Kuznetsov

The soldier raises an eyebrow at the prospect of flipping an entire pallet of black market whisky in a matter of hours, but that's not her area of expertise. Some impressive people she'd fallen in with if so. Either way, there wasn't much for her to do until the truck arrived at the starport, so she slips into a state of relaxed cautiousness to better preserve her energy. Old habits died hard.

[cybersavant]

Alix Conzweth

"Well, hypothetically speaking, IF the truck doesn't have a tracker, i should be able to stop it. We could unload the extras into the car, and those in the car can stay outside and wait for us. And, if the extras are missed, we can contact you to bring the car in. Call it precautionary measures, in case of a surprise search. Hypothetically speaking."

[shaidar]

Jonas

"Well the boss knew we were moving, so I'm guessing there is a tracker somewhere. Sounds like we should arrange something at the port"

[The_Wanderer]

You're call on this one - We have one vote for stopping the truck to move the bootleg liquor to the car and keeping it outside of the port and one vote for bringing it all into the port and figuring it out on the inside. The next vote that comes in will determine the direction and my next post will be executing that direction.

[Samwell Turleton]

Corbeau Boucher

Lets do the job that Louie was asking for, keep this truck moving, and move the 11th pallet at the port. We can follow up with Bisharah's contacts or load it into the other car.

[The_Wanderer]

The group discusses what to do with the extra pallet that was picked up, eventually deciding to straighten out the situation at the spaceport. The roads this close to the spaceport are fairly busy and well developed as you approach. Automated driving systems keep traffic moving, despite the density.

As you travel, you hear a news update from one of the planet bound reporters, "...sources within The Blood are telling us tonight that the only way to develop an economy that is free from outside influence is to continue developing new industries, like trans stellar propulsion. When asked to clarify if this was realistic or even feasible given the strength of ICD (Idarete Citadel Drives) in all areas related to starship development, our source pointed out that this is not so much about competition as it is independence. Whatever the case, it is unlikely that such a clear challenge will come to fruition in any timeline under several years nor does The Blood necessarily control all political systems on Mer..."

This is faction news that will occasional pop into the game. It isn't necessarily actionable but does control the things that happen in the universe. I won't always mark it as faction news either. That may be your responsibility to figure out in the future.

The night sky lightens as you approach the spaceport. Not from the approaching dawn but from the extensive light pollution that comes with a 24-7 spaceport. You see several small and medium ships land as you approach. You pass quickly and automatically through Planetary Customs, apparently thanks to your employer and follow the signs to Dock 12. Entering the loading area, you see a small sized transport ship on the pad with several people standing around in coveralls. The truck enters the area and pivots automatically, pointing its loading door toward the loading bay of the shuttle, and then comes to a stop. The group of onlookers begin approaching the back of the truck and a well dressed man steps off the shuttle.

He calls out, "Right on time. Perfect. This is how you start a business relationship. Sorry, where are my manners. My name's Santiago and I help Mr. Antonetti with some of his import/export activities. If you'll give us just a few minutes, the crew here will have the shuttle loaded...

This truck is setup to depart the Spaceport and be returned so you'll want all belongings off it. You can squeeze in the groundcar to head back to your hotel...or where ever it is you'll be going.

When we get the all clear to take off, your payment will be routed to each of your accounts."

[Samwell Turleton]

Corbeau Boucher

Corbeau quietly speaks to the team, weren’t we hired to load the shuttle once we got to the port, who is Santiago?

[cybersavant]

Alix Conzweth types quickly on his compad, sending a message to Lou asking about this Santiago person.

[The_Wanderer]

Alix Conzweth types quickly on his compad, sending a message to Lou asking about this Santiago person.

Lou responds back almost immediately via text. "Thanks for checking. Santiago is my man on the spot. Proceed with loading. He has another job for you when you're done."

[Faanku]

Shion Kuznetsov

Assuming there's no dissent from the rest of the crew, Shion will assist with loading the pallets onto the freighter, making sure the whisky is moved into the groundcar as planned/ "When are you launching?" she asks Santiago.

[NJWilliam]

Disston

Disston also helps with the pallets and breaking down the whiskey for the groundcar.
Grabbing one of the bottles, he says “Wouldn;t it be prudent to make sure this is genuine?’

Diston first takes a close look at the label to see if its anything he recognizes or what he can determine about the bottling.