Date: 1/1/3200
You find yourself in a nondescript conference room in the Polish Prince Hotel in New Hope. Conversation is light and you realize that among the half-dozen or so others in the room, you know none of them. You were invited here to see a presentation on a job from a man known as Louie Antonetti. The lights dim and a screen illuminates in the front of the room.
A man's face fills the screen. He is in his mid 60's, bald with tan skin. His face has a poorly healed scar on his upper lip beneath his nose. He looks short and stocky.
"...is it on? I'm not talking if it's not on. What? It's on?...Good morning. Happy New Year and all that." The man talks in a rapid shot, staccato manner...almost like a machine gun.
"For those of you who don't know me, my name is Lou Antonetti. My company is in the import/export business generally helping planets that don't have...whatever...find the things they need. I have a time sensitive opportunity for you. I used to own a logistics company just outside of New Hope. Unfortunately our contracts with The Blood have dried up and with it, Franklin Logistics has ceased operations. This is where you come in. I need a crew on the ground to pick up a shipment of surplus agricultural equipment that is on the premises and bring it to Dock 12 at the Spaceyard at New Hope. I have a buyer in the Thora system that I need to get it to like yesterday. I know you have questions, so let me answer a few of them up front.
-Why don't I have Franklin Logistics do this work? As I said, unfortunately they have closed their doors.
-How should you go about this? That's up to you but I have arranged for a freight truck and ground car to be available to transport you. I recommend doing this at night.
-Why at night? As I go through the liquidation process, the equipment is being held by the lawyers on site. That won't do! I have a customer that needs this product. If you visit Franklin during the day, there's likely to be some kind of watch on the facility. I don't want you to get slowed down by that.
-Will Franklin be open at night? No. There shouldn't be anyone there. It will be locked but I believe you are resourceful enough to get in.
-What's in the shipment? Pre-scream ag equipment that came out of some bunker. We bought it, fair and square. That's all you need to know.
-What will happen at Dock 12? I have a shuttle coming down to pick up the shipment. I'll just need you to help load the shuttle.
-Payment? 500 credits each. Not bad for a night's work.
-My expectations: Quick work, no snooping. If you can do this for me, I'll have more work ahead."
Louie finally takes a breath. "Now, what else do you want to know?"
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