Chapter Three: North Pole City

[Stirling]

Tiberius

Rises early, never finding a sofa the best of mattresses. He turns on the local news over a bowl of flakes and coffee, almost spitting a mouthful out with the revelation on the morning broadcast that the dead body on the ship is that of Jusu Saffa.

He wakes Noor with a coffee and the bad news.

"You think yesterday was bad? This whole drama has got lot more complicated for you!"

He unconsciously checks the revolver in his chest holster, glad he made a choice to take a more covert address to stay.

"So I can arrange for you to stay here and you have a safe space to investigate your chip. Just as long as you don't make any calls or do any comms which gives your location away.

The Queen ship is still in a state of disrepair and not sure what police involvement will be. Especially in the light of the deceased being known. I would not think that a good place to be recognised. I have another option in Sparks if you prefer.

Maybe you should consider what is personally best for you at this time. Your 'representative ' Mr Bewoor could still negotiate your preferences at a shareholder meeting in your absence. You could take Cloud Bank meagre offer and sell up or choose to follow any data trail which links your mother's murder and the raid to this scientist and uncover all the 'reasons why' that would bring you some comfort and disclosure.

As for me. My former employers asked me to shadow you for your personal safety as we have a connection via being joint shareholders. Their interest is due to the massacre being in Touchdown and a concern for your welfare.

I don't think they have any reveations regarding the reasons your family was attacked and just informed me that you may be followed by factions concerned in the raid. I am fine with carrying that forward though I expect in return you to be open with me so that I can protect you as best I can.

So how do you want to use the day?""

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor aka Sam

The day starts so wonderfully. She could almost pretend she was on vacation somewhere.

The news that Jusu was on the ship, and is now dead, honestly doesn't surprise her. She doesn't believe in coincidences anymore. "My guess is that the same people who murdered my mother killed Jusu. The revelation that he was on the ship will only be news to others, and therefore doesn't change my situation at all." She looks at Tiberius and sighs.

"Thanks for finding me this place, it's nice." She pauses for a moment, then continues. "So I guess either your former employers don't know where you are, or they've somehow managed to keep it quiet. This whole fiasco keeps getting bigger and I'm glad I can trust someone."

"Although, with the news of Jusu, I'm betting that you'll be contacted soon. Even if nobody there is currently involved with this, they'll want to be."

Noor moves to find breakfast. "I can't walk away. You didn't see my mom... I just can't." She finds herself staring at foods without seeing them, and finally picks some fruit and juice.

"Call the captain. Tell her that I will be in touch from a burner, I want on that ship. I can't be locked up and expect to find anything." Noor seems focused and all business, but smiles. "Sorry. You're not staff, you're a friend. Let's work through this together."

She shares the information she found, especially the account numbers. "Whose are these? This whole list looks like someone was outfitting an expedition." She looks at him once more. "Again, what happened on the Queen? Was Jusu a passenger?"

[Stirling]

Tiberius

So I guess either your former employers don't know where you are, or they've somehow managed to keep it quiet

"Let us just say that 'I managed to keep it quiet'. There are three people who know you are here. You, me and old Mama Montalto.

As for any maternal links to Jusu. That could be a spider web of intrigue. Apparently he has been dead two years so if he was killed disclosing information, perhaps your family may have been targeted earlier. It could be the same corporation or government entity that perpetrated both murders or seperate factions, all eager to get their hands on advancing Jusu's scientific technologies.

Personally I would let them get on with it but it impacts me as it may affect the ship, which I have a major shareholding in. I also have a loyalty to you and would like you to get the justice you seek. At least be clear of any personal threats or dangers.

My ex-employers remain my ex-employers.

I am not sure our ship situation is as basic as 'release it, repair it, trade with it'. The smuggling background of the ship is more than a disputed shadow on its reputation. Of all the galatic hideouts, billionaire fugitive Jusu turns up dead on our ship. Links to his endeavours dangle around your neck. I am convinced certain elements involved in the ship know more than they passively admit. One reason I want to meet those navy reps later.

I also need to be present at the police briefing at Midday.

The ship is not liveable at the moment. Probably still crawling with police and forensics. I think you would be much better served staying here. Whoever killed Jusu at the ship can kill you there too. And you presume being on the ship will lead you to whoever killed your mother. The ship is a trader hauling ore, cargo and high class between planetoids not some crew of private investigators seeking assasins and 'Eureka' moments of Jusu's scientific quantum mechanics. Unless I am mistaken.

Perhaps Indrani can use your skills in some way from here."

He gives Noor his mobile comms so that she can chat with Indrani.

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor aka Sam

She nods along as Tib lays out the situation until his categorization of the ship. "Ah, but all the links keep pointing to the Queen. She's the focal point, at least right now. But I don't think we're talking about research, I think we're talking about an FTL engine. And who knows, but from what I can gather there may be a prototype of that engine somewhere. Or at least a small version of it. Having that would be a profitable goal, I believe."

"Even if the crew isn't a band of investigators, maybe our interests could be the same. Find this longjump engine, which will lead me to where I want to go."

She takes the comm and thanks him. "I agree. Someone knows more than they're saying. Those Navy guys at the hotel didn't react very strongly to a shotgun going off, did they?"

"I'm going to talk to Pranit and the Captain. I don't plan on going anywhere right now, but let's see how this goes."

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor aka Sam

After she sends the messages, she tries to dig deeper into the list of leads. She's trying to determine when some of the transactions took place, specifically the employment agencies and the smelting companies.

"Hey Tibbs, you any good with encryption or that stuff? Want to take a look at the chip to see if you find anything hidden?"

[BackworldTraveller]

Noor
It takes a while but her reliance on Researchers starts to show. She knows where the information she's after should be (Admin) but finds getting it frustrating (Computer)...
An Admin Roll (+4 for INT and Skill) for direction followed by a a Cautious Computer task (+2 for EDU, Lack of Skill and Cautious +support bonus from Admin roll) treating the list as a Boon on the computer roll so roll three dice and take the best two for that one.
...It looks like an all-morning job.

[Stirling]

Tiberius

Listens to Noor as he showers in the adjoining room. Fresh water, clean and hot. A rare treat on some craft more suited to recycling human waste back to clean product. He dries himself on a towel from the rack, noticing the basket of 'washing to do'. He puts them in a nearby machine, remembering the lacy outfits and improved 'D' cup latest ladies fashionware.

A thought strikes him.

"Noor, do you have any implants?"

Is the chip from the necklace the only chip you carry? It strikes him as a possibility, certainly a way to conceal vital information. Maybe even the En Sabah estate raiders came to the same conclusion. Failing to locate the information they wanted which Amina En Sabah had. Realising she may have had a subcutaneous implant and therefore blazed the house as she lay in state. The second attack on the house was described as 'to destroy evidence'. Not evidence of a botched raid perhaps, maybe destroy a chip to make sure the info contained does not reach the recipient?

Another reason 'The Majestic' was hijacking en route to Sapphire. The pirates anticipating Noor would be aboard.

His head spins with more theories and conspiracy. The morning caffeine obviously having an effect on his reasoning.

"You could have an implant. Even one you don't know about. Maybe you need scanning?"

He will also try to investigate any encryption on the chip using Noor's handheld within the Faraday cage. I am still convinced that though the chip contains data, it may need to download additional data but doing so reveals location.

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor aka Sam

Admin: [2d6] = 7 + 4 = 11
Computer: [_3d6] = (4+5+1)=10 Drop the 1, so 9 + 2 = 11 plus any support bonus

She smiles slyly as Tibbs asks a personal question. "No, they're real and they're spectacular."

I need to ask BT about implants.

[BackworldTraveller]

Noor & Tiberius

Noor settles down for a long slog trawling the networks for information - At least until lunchtime. Tiberius realises that if they stay for a while more food is going to be needed - otherwise Tansu is going to be miffed. And while on the Asteroid, real food is possible: Does Noor have a taste for anything but real food?

[Stirling]

Tiberius

Grins at Noor. "Yes I know. I remember your sister's."

He can nip out and get a few supplies or takeaways. Actually by midday I want to be present at the police briefing into Jusu Saffa's death. Is that held at the police HQ or in situ at the bay?

[BackworldTraveller]

Police HQ

[Stirling]

Tiberius

Will attend. Don't think it wise for Noor to accompany me. Police may still want further questions and their offer of 'safer custody' or 'witness protection' has a recently poor record.

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor aka Sam

She laughs and almost sprays water over everything. "Oh my god, I forgot about that movie. It was almost tasteful, right? You won't believe what goes on during those love scenes, it's wild."

"Since I may be staying here for a bit, thank you again, we need some food. Maybe some fish and salad? I'm always interested in local foods, so whatever is fine with me."

"And tea. Tea would be good."

Noor continues working on running down the information.

[Stirling]

Tiberius

Will find a local store, picking up a few extras in food. Contacting Tansu to let her know he will be present at the press conference and try to meet other obligations before returning to the apartment later. He includes that the Touchdown guest will still need diplomatic immunity, at least until the solar flare dies down.

After dropping the supplies off for Noor, he cabs it to the police HQ. Reminding her to stay here and hack as much info out of the chip.

[BackworldTraveller]

Tiberius

The Police HQ is a complex group of tunnels - entry to which requires you leave all weapons in a locker and then submit to a scan by the police themselves.

Having got past their security, the public statement is made in a room off the main foyer which is laid out as a long bench for the Police and Chairs in the body of the room for the press and visitors.

The Police Chief reads out a prepared statement saying things about how this fortuitous discovery will yield valuable clues to the Starflight Inc fraud and how the case will be given additional resources to follow up leads.

Questions yield the fact that the cause of death is unknown. The injuries on the body do not appear to have been life-threatening. The identity under which Mr Saffir was travelling is unknown. How the body came to be left for two years is unknown and what the relationship is between the Jusu Saffir murder, and that of the drugs-grower is also unclear. They utter various reassuring statements about "and now we have located his person, this should give clues as to his location in the mean time - and hopefully allow some of the assets that he had taken to be recovered."

After the well-known journalists have done their questioning, others in the hall have a chance to speak...

[BackworldTraveller]

Noor
The first hour of searching has yielded a negative...the five bank accounts are not listed amongst those of Jusu Saffa after the fraud.

It also has gained one positive thing - all the smelters on the list were specialist providers of rare-earth minerals, and one went bust over a decade ago.

Coffee Break and then Onwards...

The list of assets seized included all those of Starflight Inc. The documentation for the incorporation of that company is on the chip (dated 285) along with two others...Minas Ithil Inc and Minas Morgul Inc...

..Heinrich Rowne (HR?) was the listed Company Secretary of Starflight Inc. The other two both have Jerome Shona as the major shareholder and Kiki Masai aka KK Masai as the Company Secretary.

Joe Zuchai

[Stirling]

Tiberius

Not impressed with the police effort so far. Very Keystone Coppish he thinks. He listens to the vague resume, a lot of unknowns.

He recons the room. Is anyone else from the shareholders here or any Navy reps? Either of the two from the hotel? Who is recording the event and perhaps recording those present? Who makes notes, asks questions. Who is the shady character at the back.

I stall in asking questions straight away, giving space for the junior hacks and private investigators to come forward.

Do the police give notice on who will lead their ongoing enquiries? Much as Touchdown did with the new cops detailed over the En Sabah massacre.

Tiberius' main concern is how this exposure will be detrimental to the Queen refit and flight plans and any further investigations into the Queen while it is stationed in the bay.

Is Jinja Busai present or mentioned?

Tiberius will circle the crowd, trying to generate some network contacts. Principally with any Starflight Inc reps and police bureau. He would offer to liase between groups on behalf of the Queen and hope to be kept abreast of any developments.

so tie in the actions with some rolls

Tiberius. Recon check [ 2d6] = 11 Advocate check [2d6+1] = 3+1 = 4 Investigate check [2d6+2] = 6+2 = 8

[BackworldTraveller]

Tiberius

The way the police run things is different to Touchdown - not the way things would have been back home. Slack.

The Investigation is being led by Senior Chief Investigator Ademole Aduna and he is to be aided by a new deputy, Deputy Chief Investigator Zid Umale from Yaoley Crater

The room is noticeably empty. Major news channels mostly here because of the old financial fraud case. The murders seem to be almost secondary. Only Sparks News seems interested in the dead chemist. The use of laser weapons means that there is no physical evidence to tie the injuries to a specific gun, but the use of a laser weapon means that the number of possible candidates is smaller. Lasers are far from ubiquitous.

The assumption in the room is that the two deaths are tied together by the presence of one killer - but not that they are necessarily one thing. But they feel the whole thing is off. Someone should have known what was going on aboard the ship and reported the bodies.

The list of people not in the room is long. But that isn't totally unexpected - why would they be here when they can see the meeting on the news. Your presence is the apparent anomaly.

[Stirling]

Tiberius

During an intermittance, he catches the latest financial news.

QotB Holdings AG has bought the navy's share of the recently released "Queen of the Belt". The Navy's press spokesman said "With the ship having been released by court it is no longer a good use of public funds for the Navy to hold a share in this vessel. We have better things we can do with the monies that were tied up in this civilian vessel. It should be returned to legitimate trade.".

He actually finds this quite disturbing. That the navy shoehorn in a preferred candidate for Captain and then less than a day later sell their shareholding to a corporate?, quasi-hedge fund, para-military enterprise? No mention of this by the navy reps in advance. It also comes after the Navy had agreed to a meeting with Tibbs with Navy shareholding and their continued interest and visiin for opetating the Queen on the agenda, a meeting in an hour's time.

QoTB Holdings AG. Who are they? (Does some web research).

A Holding Company created in 300 on Sparks

They have suddenly become the major shareholder in the Queen and would surely want some influence into how it operates. In the light of this news, Tibbs checks that the next shareholder meeting is going ahead tomorrow.

good use of public funds for the Navy

The Navy acquired the ship through the court seizing assets of Jojo Celisse as part of a 'proceeds of crime award', they never bought the shares. Secondly their acquisition and holding of the shares is still (as far as I am aware) subject of contested litigation. Could they sell up without that being settled? Obviously so.

After musing on the above, Tiberius returns his thoughts to the current press conference. He will try to make contact with Zid Umale, offering any help in Queen related investigations.

He will leave when the press conference concludes.

[BackworldTraveller]

Tiberius

None of the police really mingle with the press - they are hear to make a statement and to avoid answering any question that lets loose information they don't want made public while giving out the message that any information the public can provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

The Police on Sparks do hire in specialists, but they have to be pre-vetted. Casual offers of help by the general public (especially non-belters) are viewed with suspicion!

As you leave, the Police from the conference are in a huddle near the door - but they go quiet and start to move off as you approach. The person they are in a huddle with wasn't in the room earlier and appears to be a well (expensively) dressed Belter. Vaguely recognisable...You'd need to look on the net for a bit to identify who - but they have been in the news recently for some reason.