Chapter Eight-B: Lunch at the Overlook

[BackworldTraveller]

Indrani
Time to prepare for Lunch at the Overlook. Formal or Informal? Warpaint or Plain? Taxi or Pranit's air-car to the roof?
That first impression...Roll SOC DM + a skill of your choice + any help you take from friends, colleagues or professionals...it makes a great difference.

Think an invite to the NYSE dining room in modern terms

[joertexas]

Indrani
Time to prepare for Lunch at the Overlook. Formal or Informal? Warpaint or Plain? Taxi or Pranit's air-car to the roof?
That first impression...Roll SOC DM + a skill of your choice + any help you take from friends, colleagues or professionals...it makes a great difference.

Think an invite to the NYSE dining room in modern terms

Indrani goes with a clean jumpsuit modeled closely on a military undress uniform. She takes a taxi to the restaurant, steps out, and goes inside.

Roll [2d6]=12 + SOC-0 + Leadership-1 = 13

Indrani Civil Uniform.jpg (45.06 KiB) Viewed 721 times

[BackworldTraveller]

Commodore Harare, Union Lines & Indrani
You arrive at the restaurant and are intercepted at the door by the staff. You identify yourself and they confirm that you are expected. You are taken

So, Indrani Carter. Captain of the most talked about ship on Sparks at the moment. I'm surprised a slum-rat from New Montana has done so well. I'd heard the Navy had realised its mistake in giving a rock pedlar's daughter a commission - but I hadn't expected that you'd then turn it on its head and get the Captaincy of a ship. Still, That's the world we now live in.

He offers a seat with a fantastic view over the starport.

The repairs are just about complete out there now. You should have seen it after the Pirate's landing - so much mess and destruction and the old order remained untouched. All memory of the attempted coup has gone in only two years. People are fickle, don't you find? No long term recall - no Loyalty.

[joertexas]

Indrani smiles politely as she sits down. "The Navy, and it's officers, judges their people from the perspective of demonstrated aptitude and ability, not social standing, Commodore." She keeps her tone conversational and her expression neutral. This is hardly the first time she's run into this sort of attitude, after all. "I was elsewhere in the Belt when this attack occurred, but I was called to assist in the aftermath. It is good to see the port repaired."

[BackworldTraveller]

The Commodore
Self-important and overweight the commodore calls over the waiter

What do you make of the Restaurant? It is a handy place for business but not your normal territory. Perhaps you'd like to try a Resach while you are here. Not a beverage that you will be used to I expect. Best sipped.

I must admit, I lied in my invite...I would not usually invite the captain of so small a vessel to this room. But I have been persuaded to do so because of the splash the Queen is making. And some colleagues would prefer the ripples roll onto a more distant shore. There is a cargo for Dragon that is available - departure within the week. Given the current orbital opposition, that should keep you out of mischief for time enough.

[joertexas]

The Commodore
Self-important and overweight the commodore calls over the waiter

What do you make of the Restaurant? It is a handy place for business but not your normal territory. Perhaps you'd like to try a Resach while you are here. Not a beverage that you will be used to I expect. Best sipped.

I must admit, I lied in my invite...I would not usually invite the captain of so small a vessel to this room. But I have been persuaded to do so because of the splash the Queen is making. And some colleagues would prefer the ripples roll onto a more distant shore. There is a cargo for Dragon that is available - departure within the week. Given the current orbital opposition, that should keep you out of mischief for time enough.

Indrani sets the man's attitude aside as much less important than staying in his good graces. An abrasive ally is much more desired than a polite enemy, she thinks. "Thank you for the invitation, and I do regret the circumstances surrounding my command. I have had Resach twice, actually. My former commanding officer would serve it at promotion ceremonies." She smiles. "But, he only gave us a small serving."

To be honest, I am still ascertaining what repairs will be required for us to regain our spaceworthiness certificates. I wholeheartedly agree that we should go elsewhere until some of the attention wanes. I will do my very best to expedite our repairs."

[BackworldTraveller]

The Commodore
Good - Good. I do dislike this kind of thing - It brings the port into disrepute and disturbs the flow of traffic - and we have only just really got the place back on its feet.

He sips the Resach lightly and recommends the Salmon. Farmed right here on this asteroid

He's clearly done his research as he notes the recent changes in ownership and the court cases that seem to be coming and going around the Queen.

Now, What do you make of the new Captain of the Council? He seems to be such a controversial figure and yet no-one can quite put their finger on anything substantive. Do you think he will fall before the end of his term, or that he'll limp along from one crisis to the next without miring himself too obviously and escape before the axe falls?

[joertexas]

The Commodore
Good - Good. I do dislike this kind of thing - It brings the port into disrepute and disturbs the flow of traffic - and we have only just really got the place back on its feet.

He sips the Resach lightly and recommends the Salmon. Farmed right here on this asteroid

He's clearly done his research as he notes the recent changes in ownership and the court cases that seem to be coming and going around the Queen.

Now, What do you make of the new Captain of the Council? He seems to be such a controversial figure and yet no-one can quite put their finger on anything substantive. Do you think he will fall before the end of his term, or that he'll limp along from one crisis to the next without miring himself too obviously and escape before the axe falls?

Indrani orders the salmon when the time comes, and takes a sip of her Resach. It's not her favorite drink, but she still appreciates the opportunity. "He seems to be an able navigator of hazards, to himself at least. The question is, how much does his self-interest intersect with the interests of those he governs?"

[BackworldTraveller]

The Commodore
Well, I can say that the reaction to the current outbreak of National Competition has been muted to say the least. I don't think we'd have seen anything like the levels of Military activity we now have under Anton. Mind you, Anton did preside over that Taktsang Pirates disaster, although that was a minor clash by comparison. The Belt now has all those ships - I suppose it was inevitable that it would find something for them to do.

The Overlook has almost no view over the Military part of the port, and you table faces such that the main orbital paths don't actually impinge on the view (even if you could see anything).

So, the Salmon? Are the years of effort comparable to the New Earth farms? They have none of the issues with native species of course, but does that lack of competition affect the flavour? It is certainly different somehow...My wife tells me that I am just making a fuss over nothing and yet what we eat, and whom we eat it with, so profoundly affects what we are.

It seems that The Commodore might have wealth of Gourmet-related anecdotes when he moves on

That disturbance at your shareholders meeting. The Hotel was completely at fault - such thugs shouldn't have got past the door. I hope that your shareholders weren't too shaken.

[joertexas]

That disturbance at your shareholders meeting. The Hotel was completely at fault - such thugs shouldn't have got past the door. I hope that your shareholders weren't too shaken.

Indrani pays attention as the Commodore speaks - one never knows what might be useful later. "I think everyone is fine, or at least, no one seemed the worse for it."

[BackworldTraveller]

The Commodore
Which brings me to another item...The Port recognises that the ship has not been....properly secured while in storage. They were wondering what form of recompense you might be seeking for that oversight. After all, a quick settlement will avoid the vultures from the Legal profession and get the police off their backs. They would like to ensure that you are properly provided for before you depart, and that the ship has a fair settlement. If you can suggest a figure then all this noise can just go away and you can get on with the quiet business of trading.

So Desert. Do you have any preference? Their chefs have an excellent selection of ingredients and their list of temptations is fantastic. Not good for the waistline as you can see!

[joertexas]

The Commodore
Which brings me to another item...The Port recognises that the ship has not been....properly secured while in storage. They were wondering what form of recompense you might be seeking for that oversight. After all, a quick settlement will avoid the vultures from the Legal profession and get the police off their backs. They would like to ensure that you are properly provided for before you depart, and that the ship has a fair settlement. If you can suggest a figure then all this noise can just go away and you can get on with the quiet business of trading.

So Desert. Do you have any preference? Their chefs have an excellent selection of ingredients and their list of temptations is fantastic. Not good for the waistline as you can see!

Indrani considers for a moment. "One million would make good our damages and losses. Four hundred fifty thousand of that is to replace our ship's buggy that was stolen. Another three hundred thousand will cover our immediate damages, loss of supplies and equipment, and repairs. The last quarter million will give us an operating budget, and a leg up on some refurbishment that will need to be done to our sensors suite. That last isn't from damage or neglect, I admit, so I will call it our recompense for all the trouble. I adore dark chocolate cake."

[BackworldTraveller]

The Commodore
Well that gives the port some idea of your ambitions - although I suspect that they will be unhappy. I shall pass on that information. A word of advice, don't push too hard, or it will all end up in court and then no-one will get what they want.

The Chocolate Cake! Now that is an excellent choice.

[joertexas]

The Commodore
Well that gives the port some idea of your ambitions - although I suspect that they will be unhappy. I shall pass on that information. A word of advice, don't push too hard, or it will all end up in court and then no-one will get what they want.

The Chocolate Cake! Now that is an excellent choice.

"Thank you, Commodore."

[BackworldTraveller]

The Commodore
The Commodore manages to chatter away as the dessert arrives. It (the dessert, rather than the chatter) is everything you might hope for.

You are about half way through that course when one of the staff approaches the table and whispers to the Commodore that his office has an urgent communication or him.

Ah - I'm sorry - I wouldn't do this but if the office have bothered to call the restaurant, there must be a real panic on.

He steps away from the table to consult his Comms unit - returning a few moments later.

One of our freighters has issued a Mayday and stopped transmitting. I need to organize a search and rescue mission. My apologies, but I must leave. Please finish and take advantage of the menu.

He signals the waiter and reiterates this to them. And then he is whisked off by an aide from the restaurant door.

[joertexas]

The Commodore
The Commodore manages to chatter away as the dessert arrives. It (the dessert, rather than the chatter) is everything you might hope for.

You are about half way through that course when one of the staff approaches the table and whispers to the Commodore that his office has an urgent communication or him.

Ah - I'm sorry - I wouldn't do this but if the office have bothered to call the restaurant, there must be a real panic on.

He steps away from the table to consult his Comms unit - returning a few moments later.

One of our freighters has issued a Mayday and stopped transmitting. I need to organize a search and rescue mission. My apologies, but I must leave. Please finish and take advantage of the menu.

He signals the waiter and reiterates this to them. And then he is whisked off by an aide from the restaurant door.

Indrani nods in understanding as the Commodore takes his leave. She finishes her chocolate cake, and then she returns to the Queen.