Posted by Gamemaster Gamemaster (Gamemaster) in Outskirts of the market

Posted by Lieutenant Kate O’Neill (Chief of Security) in Outskirts of the market

Posted by Commander Solark (Chief Operations Officer / 2nd Officer) in Outskirts of the market
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

SNIP

Don’t like using our stuff is such a strong word.” Kate waggled her head back and forth as she shrugged in a laid back its really not a problem gesture. It was a problem but there was no need to spook the kid and play let’s make the market a track and field event again. “It’s more of I got a boss like you got a boss.” Kate’s tone and posture was more of two people talking about work rather than defending it. “My boss is like O’Neill we lost X pieces of government issued goods go find them. I am pretty sure you have boss that is like Wiz get out there and get me X. The one thing I can guarantee is that neither of us are getting paid enough for our job to move as fast as they might like it.”

As Kate spoke, it was evident from Wiz’s face that he was afraid.

“Are you from Earth,” Kate asked leaning against the tree. “You sound Italian. Love the accent. I’m from West-Penn. That’s short for West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Our family farm straddled the line so a walk around the property had you in a different state.”

At the sound of a location on Earth, the youth relaxed slightly. “Yes, I am from a small town called Orvieto.” Then his eyes seemed to glazed over for just ten seconds before he seemed to shake off what ever he was thinking of and said, “I have not been back to earth for a long time.”

Kate’s laid back tone and nature with Wiz was not an act. Many people had made the mistake that she was naïve, weak, or too innocent to hold her own in a fight when she came at them with the girl next door persona. She could easily take someone’s head off when needed but it was so easier to avoid physical when possible. Hopefully Wiz would realize she and her friends had no intention at the moment of hog tying him and dragging him back to the ship. Maybe he would be a bit more forthcoming with the information they needed is they just tried to talk to him at first. If that didn’t work, hog tying was always an option.

Kate O’Neill COS

“What are you going to do with me?” Wiz asked with more worry than defiance.

GM

Lissi laughed. “Well we aren’t gonna eat you. So relax. Besides,” she glanced around at the group, “I think most of us prefer chocolate and you don’t strike me as being made of that. So you’re safe. I would like to ask if you would be honest in answering some questions, though. She,” she nodded to Kate, “has some things we need to figure out. And something tells me you are the man for the job.” She crossed her arms and cocked her head as if waiting for the guy to deny he knew things.

Lissi
CE

The mention of being eaten caused Wiz to cringe. However, he felt fear again when he heard the Starfleet officer mention that they were going to interrogate him. “Wh.. What do… do you want to … to know?” he stammered.

GM

“I need you to tell me or take me to the guy that is modifying the Starfleet equipment unless that guy is you,” Kate looked at him. “If it is you don’t worry. We are not going to slap cuffs on you or anything. We are not here to bust a small time weapons refurbished. ” She avoided any term that would make the man feel like he might be in trouble. “We are after a larger fish. So can you help us,” she kept her tone calm and relaxed.

Lt. Kate O’Neill COS

Wiz turned to the rest of the officers. “I am the one who repairs and matches different parts and gets them working again. I have some of them in my satchel here. Don’t tell me you’re not going to do anything. I know that Starfleet doesn’t like their equipment modified. It’s against Federation Law but I am now not in Federation Space …”

GM

“Hell no, we don’t like it modified. It’s a good way to get shot or killed if you don’t know what a weapon does or even if it is a weapon because it has been modified so much,” Kate admitted freely. “That being said there are all kinds of levels of dislike when it comes to having stolen goods. If you are the one ripping them off it is grand or petty larceny. If you are selling them for profit you are either a fence or arms dealer.” Kate shrugged it off nonplussed. Her job was taking in people not judging them for what or why they did something. What did always bother her was her conscious. Stealing was wrong, however, her parents had shown her that while it was wrong, sometimes people had no options. The guy didn’t look that much younger than her. Maybe he was here not by his choice but from the hand life dealt him. The other option was that he completely chose to be here and on the other side of the law. Kate needed to find out the answer to this which would help her decide if she would lose sleep over this mission or not give this kid another thought. “So what’s your story. We are here because we were following a ship that was attacked. We met some folks from your planet and walking around the market found our refurbished stuff. What are you doing here besides the obvious.” Kate was careful not to say steal.

Lt. Kate O’Neill COS

On hearing about the ship that was being pursued, Wiz looked visibly paler. “I’m sure I don’t know anything about the ship you were chasing… “

GM

Lissi smiled. “We aren’t worried about the ship. Others are looking into that. We’re wondering how you came by the parts you are refitting for use down here. That’s all.” She smiled and took a step forward. “Look, if there is a crashed ship here, or something like that, we need to know. I’m sure there are families and officials who would be looking for it. If someone you cared about was missing, you’d want to know. Wouldn’t you?” She wasn’t sure why the crashed ship idea popped into her head. But it made sense.

Lissi
CE

Wiz was still as pale when he said, “I can’t tell you. I will be killed!”

GM

“Okay, this is where we can now step in all official-like,” Kate’s semi southern drawl was a bit more pronounced than normal. “I can personally guarantee that you will not be killed. See there is this thing called amnesty. If you ask for it, we can take you on our ship with us. We usually say no questions asked but as Lissi said, if you can give us any help to find what we are looking for it will be appreciated. It will also let us get anyone else away from who you are scared of. If you would rather stay here instead of going with us, I can promise you, Captian Calin is not going to just toss this place over his shoulder like an empty beer can when he has finished his mission. He’s a good man who believes in the principles of the Federation. Regardless of what you might have heard to the contrary, we do believe in sentient freedom and the right for people to not live in fear or oppression. I know it sounds naive and preachy but if any of us didn’t believe in it, we wouldn’t be standing here. So,” Kate asked but made sure it didn’t sound like a demand, “can you help us and we will do what we can to help you? Who are we looking for Will,” she asked gently.

Lt. Kate O’Neill COS

“What happens to me after you do your work? I have a skill which I earn my living. After I help you, no one would want to deal with me. Can you see how I am killing off my own life if I help you?” asked Wiz. He was young but he was really thinking about how he was to continue his life.

GM

Kate raised her eyebrow and nodded her agreement. Wiz was correct and bringing up something few in the Federation ever thought about. What happens when they left? The politicians wanted the populace to think it was all hunky dory roses abs glory but more times than not this was not the case.

“Where’s the bar,” Kate asked the Wiz. “Most town business occurs in bar or the local watering hole instead of a town hall. Can you give me a description of the guy? We can give you a twenty minute head start. Find some reason to make contact with him. Tell him a nosy blonde is asking questions. It’s not like our arrival has been undercover but shows your loyalty to him vs us. hell tell him my name. When we enter one of two things will happen. He will bolt which gives him away or I am ask the bartender and put myself on his radar. Either way the focus is on us and not you.” Kate offered a plan that had the best possible chance of success. The fact the Wiz was even talking to them meant he had no real loyalty to his employer

“Oh and for the record, regardless of how this goes. You can still choose the amnesty route if you want. You and whoever you might not want to leave here. I give you my word. If you want on our boat we won’t shove off before you get on.”

Lt Kate O’Neill. COS