The Camaleon Chronicals

[oZoneRanger]

DeLaFontain was in a rage, he had been having a shouting match with his new head of Corporate Security Leroy Brown.

This man from the Texas system, well known for how tall he was, how far he could spit chaw, and his capacity for never getting nervous. The only ship he could fit in and be comfortable was a Spacial with a tricked out cockpit.

"But I want to know, right now, how is it you feel you can spend 30million credits an armor upgrade" demanded DeLaFontain.

"Hey...why don't ya just simmer down now.... that extra .2 could be the difference between life and death out here in space." replied Brown in his slow deliberate drawl.

"But it takes up 170 units of cargo, what can you haul now?" exasperated at having given Leroy a free check to get the ship of his choice and all the bells and whistles. But good help was hard to find and so like with Maria, he took what he could get. He was starting to regret having hired him.

"How bout my Aiiss...that good nuff for ya...This over sized coffin with wings is gonna Hawl ma Aiiss all over Liberty for ya...deal with nasty old people..keepin ya tuned to the pulse of space, try and keep ya transports safe, least you could do is...." Brown laying it on heavy.

"Ohh..please...please." almost begging him to stop. "What are you doing now?" DeLafontain almost afraid to ask.
"Right now?" answered Brown with a slight hint of evasion.
"Ya..right now...what are you doing with my ship?"

"ah..well...sir....I'm buying a Junker some smokes." ducking his head away from the comms speaker.

DeLaFontain fell back into his chair, "Brown, this intersystem comm link-up is expensive. You are telling me that you are spending my Hfuel, my ships time on buying some Junker cigarettes....YOU do know they are known to pirate outside of house space..you know that don't you?"

"Hey, yea..I tell ya wut Mr DelaFuente...I'm about to givum 5million of your credits to"

"DELAFONTAIN...TAIN" He banged on his table in a fit or rage. Will you people get it right...FONTAIN...DELA FRAKEN FONTAIN...got it?"

Silence over the coms, then the static of a lost connection. "Did he just hang up on me?..MARIA, get him back on the line." he was going into his chicken without a head mode.

From his desk he could see Maria's shadow get up from hers. It was the slowness and deliberateness of the motion that told DeLaFontain he was in trouble. She turned the corner, and her displeasure was evident.

"If you ever dare," walking over to him "Talk to me dis way again Mr.LaFontaiiin, I will make sure that somehow you cojones are set on fire, Mr.Brown only trying to help you and all you do you is yell at him" she turned back around and left the office in a tirade of other things he didn't understand.

"Help me? how the hell is buying a Junker some cigarettes going to help me?"

"What, you know knotting? Junkers knows everything, or part of it, Mister Brown he know this, he live in Texas many years, best way to a junker is by fattening his wallet and putting the cash up front and bargirls, they really like bargirls."

"Cash up front for what?" DeLaFontain still not understanding the moment.

Chirpiiiit**this is the Toronto station communications operator we have a call collect transmission from a Leroy Brown will you accept** a robotic voice coming over the comms. With out hesitation Maria said "Yes" before DelaFontain could say no.

**Thank you, Mr.Brown, go a head please.** "Hey bowass, I done give that Junker the smokes and 5mill, but the new Armour install must have damaged my comms. I couldn't seal the deal, with him, but I think the part about makin contact in a hour got thourgh to him. I'm headed back to Baltimore ship yard and get tha antennae refitted...."

"Cut Transmission.." DeLafontain had had enough, and the voice recognition software kicking in and obeying the highest ranked voice on the hierarchy tree, in this case Fontains.

"You some silly silly man Mr. LaFuantina" Changing up how she pronounced his name, just to add a little more venom to the mix.

"How you gonna find out how to go to Gallia ..you so stupido sometimes boss" All the work this man put into his job, he was still just a number cruncher, she thought. He don't know how space work.

"You want to do business out in space you got to be out in space boss, you spend your time typing up your fancy letters, drinking behind your desk and waiting for something to happen and its driving us all crazy." said Maria admonishing his behavior.

"Fancy letters,," His jaw dropped. what did she think, going around getting her nails done all the time and dressing nice and flirting was going to get the job done? "I tell ya what Maria, if you think you can do better, have at it, use any resource we have except credits.."

"OK boss" she cut him off to quick, he immediately regretted what he said but was not quite sure why. She walked out to her desk. He sat back down and unlocked the desk safe where he kept his best stock of wine and pulled one out he had been saving for a rare occasion.

He was going to take his ship out on a test run and he wanted some of his private stock for the trip. He placed the bottle his desk and went to his private washroom. He would hop into the sonic shower and defoliate some dead skin cells off and relax before heading to the Lady Luck. He thought he heard the comm notification activate, as he stepped into the shower stall.

"who is it Maria "

"No one sir...wrong transmit codes" she said with her head around the corner. Then back at the speak on her desk.

"Go ahead" static briefly and then

"icT office this is the captain of the Lucky Hauler 01..Ma'am I gots a Junker on the other line says he was talking to Mr. Brown about.."

Maria cut him off " Captain, tell him we will contact him from the Lady Luck over a secure channel..send me his contact information to my data pad and make sure you encrypt it, after that return to your normal schedule icT office out"

She was somewhat proud of how official she had just sounded, it was a voice tone worth practicing she decided. "BeebBeeb" Her data pad coming alive, notifying her of the transmitted codes arriving unhacked.

By the time she turned the corner of the office door, she had a plan together. "Boss, I gonna take the rest of the Morning off and I be back after lunch"

DeLaFontain now in the sonic shower, poked his head out from under the streams and said " Oh yea...sure....go ahead...do whatever...this company seems to run itself,"

He pulled his head back under the streams and set the programing to high, vowing to relax a bit before he took the LadyLuck out on her maiden voyage.

Maria heard the sarcasm in his voice. She saw the bottle of wine, picked it up and took it with her as she headed down to the docks.

"One day pendejo you will learn to keep you mouth shut " she though to herself with a big grin on her face. He had said any resource besides credits.

She walked out and passed Mr.Fife and Barney. They both had been on their best behavior since the incident on the lower decks bar.

Fife out of fear of his pension, and Barney because he had witnessed the unimaginable. Their roles had reversed some a bit, with Barney taking the lead, and automatically calling the elevator when he saw her. It would be there when she got to the lobby and therefore just walk on by and into the elevator and forgo any scanning hassles. Maria was somewhat proud of the turn in his attitude.

"Good morning Boys" she said in passing, with out glancing at them.
"Good Morning to you Maria " they said in unison, "Everything OK with you today Maria?" Barney had very recently drawn up the courage to address her directly.

"Well..." she turned around inside the elevator. "Mister DeLafuente he is being very mean to Maria today" in that child needing help tone Mr.Fife liked so much.

"I think maybe he wants to fire me..aii.." She gave Barney a wink. Rather proud of how she was helping shape the boy up into something.

Barney nodding his eternal complicity. "I'm sure it will be OK Maria, I would not worry to much, I'm sure he will change his mind."

She smiled at him as the doors closed and then punched in the codes she had put to memory from the night of the bar fight. The elevator sped non stop to the walkway to the docks. "Very handy for a girl in a hurry" she thought.

Phillip DeLaFontain was maybe seven minutes behind her at the most. He was upset at the bottle of wine missing off his desk. Fuming, he stormed out the door promising that this time he would fire her. He reached the two security guards as he was finishing his tirade of threats against her, within their earshot.

"Problems Mr.DeLaFontain?" asked Barney, who for some reason had a scowl on his face and was blocking the elevator control buttons.

"Ah no, no officer Barney, just my secretary Maria is a nitwit is all.."

"Turn around and Face the wall sir " Barney had become Barneynator.

"What ??" astonished at the change in attitude in this normally quiet boy. "why?"

"Routine spot check for contraband Sir, please comply..." Barneys voice had lost its *snorts*

"But I'm on my way to take my new Ship out.."

Before he could get out one syllable more, Barney who was surprised at how easy it had been to do, put his hands on Mr.DeLaFontains shoulders and spun him around and pushed him up against the wall and started to frisk him thoroughly.

"Officer Fife, is this really necessary.?" DeLaFontain looking for an ally in the old floor guard.

"Hell, I'd just do what he says, Barney here is a fairly dangerous man, took out a guy the other day in the lower decks bar, that was three times his size." replied the future retiree.

Barney leaned into Mr. Delafontain, and whispered in his ear. "If it had not been for Maria and her knife Mr.DeLaFontain, you would not be alive right now Sir, if you want to have problems with me everyday, you go ahead and fire her." and then in a more official volume and tone

"Well all in order....no contraband, you may go now" and spun DeLaFontain back around and gave him a small push to the now open elevator.

Before the doors closed, Barney stuck his head into the elevator. "Here, let me help you make up some time." He punched some codes into the keypad. "Have a nice day Mr.DeLaFontain." Barney would not stand for anyone talking bad about Maria.

Mr.Fife was more than amazed at the change in Barney over the last few days, and he was somewhat worried about something he could not quite put his finger on. But Maria and her effect over Barney was odd at the very least.

15 minutes later DeLaFontain finally reached the passage level to the docks. "Some time saver that was," he though to himself. While the elevator went up and down 10 times past his floor without stopping he wondered about what Barney had said.

Was someone trying to kill him? Was Maria trying to kill him. Why did she have a knife? Where did she keep it? He decided that what ever it was, giving her the boot would be the worst thing he could do. He would have to have a talk with her when he returned from his little cruise to Planet Cortez and back.

He moved passed the control post and headed to the birth assigned to the Lady Luck. He was just in time to see it leave the dock from behind the heavy blast glass in the air lock doors. "What the Hell? That's my ship...hey where are they going with my ship..."

He started to sprint back to the elevators to his office, someone was stealing his ship.

When Maria reached the Lady Luck, she asked the captain how long it would take to get space born. "less than 5 minutes ma'am. We have had her warming up for a bit, Mr. DeLaFontain is taking her out for her maiden voyage."

"We leave as soon as possible, Mr. DeLaFontain, he put me in charge of a trade delegation, and this is a top priority assignment, if he is not here we leave anyway." she pushed passed him, and sat her self down in the custom Altimenise leather chairs.

She made herself look as official as possible. She had plenty of time to get to the Gate to California. From there a direct transmission between ships would be easier.

The Captain was put off my her manner. "But ma'am..."

"Send me someone to open this bottle Captain" she snapped tossing the bottle at him like a missile, he, almost dropping it on the floor, "and a glass, and once we clear the lanes and are near the Cali gate, put in a request for a secure line to the ship identification on this data pad, its encrypted so do it right.." He stood there. He knew who was she, but not what she was capable. Before he could react any more to her.

"After you make contact, deny all other request for secure links, even from Toronto Station...Vamos...andale Captain, we cannot be late." He nodded and move off to the bridge. Dropping off the wine with the head steward in the ships galley on his way to the bridge.

The stewards response was one off astonishment "Oh my....this is rare, she must be very cultured" The excitement of waiting on some one of such refined taste overpowered his being able to hear the captain say "Yea...she's a real dame that one.."

She wondered what her boss would think to hear her with out the heavy accent. "Different people need different ways of being talked to her mother used to say." It had been one of the most used tools in her skill set.

She sat back and relaxed in the comfortable leather chair. It was the first time she had been on a "Democritus" class ship and she was overwhelmed by the plushness and extravagance.

Impressed, but she could not let anyone see this or notice that it was her first time amongst such nice things.

A few moments later the steward came back with the open Bottle of wine and a glass on a platter made of platinum. "Excellent choice for a Maiden voyage ma'am, it shows you have much class and taste"

The stewart, was admiring his own compliment with an obvious smugness. It was after all a very rare vintage, very few like it, almost a museum piece, not something that someone would drink unless it was a special occasion. It deserved to be mentioned in high regards, and he was an expert.

"Bah, swill as far as I'm concerned" she said, enjoying the look of horror flash over the cabin sweethearts face. He said nothing else as he poured just a bit into the glass for her to taste and give approval.

"Fill it up " she said with an annoyed motion of her hands. "I have already told you what I think about it."

The Stewart appalled, did as she asked. They noticed the ship start to move. The Stewart turned and headed back to the galley.

Normally he would stand off to one side, ready to serve hand and foot, But he dared not, out of fear of what else might come out of her vile mouth.

"I could have fun establishing my residence here" she thought, lots of things to amuse herself with.

A few moments later, The LadyLuck had cleared the station. and was heading to the trade lanes. The captain came over the comms. "Ma'am be just a few minutes and we will be at the California gate."

DeLaFontain was back in the elevator, and heading to his office. He wanted to contact the Lady Luck directly, not wanting to let the whole station know someone had stolen his ship. The elevator door opened and there was Barney blocking his path.

"Problem Sir?"

"Ah No..no Officer Barney no problems at all, just forgot something" He said calmly, wanting to avoid any conflicts. Barney moved out of the way. At once, he turned back around and faced Barney "ahhh...Barney, what you said earlier."

"You want to know more you talk to Mr Brown Sir" replied Barney "Now move along sir, clear the area," herding him away as if he were cattle.

DeLaFontain walked off to his office and the secure comms transmitter for company use. "Talk to Brown? why should I..talk with him about Maria?" his thoughts lost in Barneys cryptic comments.

On board the Lady Luck, they felt the ship come out of the Lanes and warp to a crawl, setting up over Hamilton station using its guns for cover just in case.

Maria got up and made her way to the bridge. The captain pulled up the Secure comms interface and typed in the following target ship:

.:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: **icT-Lady Luck|requestingsecurechannel|**

The Captain recognized the codes. "no way...Junkers? what the hell.."

"Yes Captain, Junkers, do we have a link?" Maria appearing behind him. Glass of wine in one hand, bottle in the other. Treating the relic vintage like trash.

"Faint but its there Ma'am" replied the Captain with obvious disinterest.

"Cut any other transmissions from coming in." Her boss would be calling the ship right about now, she thought, I can't have him ordering the captain to return to Toronto. she smiled.

"Done Ma'am.." replied the captain, wondering what would come next. Over the speakers a voice through the static

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Greetings there.

The transmission fading out. No one really doing anything.

"Tune that signal in Captain." She said to him sternly. The Captain was not to thrilled about what was about to happen and was dragging his feet.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Pardon me just have some problems here..

The message garbled again."Fix it now Captain" she realize a compromise was needed, "and put a send only feed to the icT offices, Target the speaker on Mr. DeLaFontains desk

"He will monitor the negotiations from there" She took a drink of the wine, which she thought of course was the most delicious she had ever tasted and she bent her left leg and set her foot up on his left arm rest giving the captain one more thing to think about.

The captain looked up at her from his chair, and decided he would just have to go along with it. If the Boss is monitoring it from office, who cares right? He fined tuned the signal and filtered out the static and a stable link was established.

"Somehow the leg thing always seems to work" she thought noticing that the wine was having an effect on her in a most pleasant way.



DeLaFontain reached his office door and punched in the proper keys. He got to his office and before he could sit down

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: I have to take a trip to New York, after that I will call you via Private Channel

...came over the speaker on his desk. He jumped almost out of his skin, scared half to death at a strange voice coming over the comms.

"Identify yourself" He shouted at the speaker

"Not a problema Mister....you call me...anytime...you have the time?" Maria back on the Lady Luck was trying hard to reel in the junker.

"Maria? what the is hell is going on" DeLaFontain staring at the speaker on his desk. His world upside down and at the mercy of his secretary.

"Our Comms are opeeen..for you" She hoped she got this right the first time.

"Maria, will you tell me what the hell is going on" pressing the transmit button, not realizing they could not hear him.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Thanks for the patience darling

"DARLING, I'm not anybodies darling bub now who the hell are you?" DeLaFontain was close, very close to loosing it.

"*Sigh* aiii " Maria, on board the Lady Luck took a sip and knew the hook was set. Darling, was a good word to start off with.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: and apologies...Vincent Here

Maria though she heard a hint of flirtatiousness in his voice, and a first name, she ran through the aliases she had not used recently just in case.

"Ya damn right ya better apologies.." DeLaFontain slumping into his chair, still very unaware that no one could hear him. "This is Phillip DeLaFontain, general..."

"Vicente...interesting name...I had a lover named Vicente once." Maria decided it was time to give this nice Junker some candy to think about. The Captain and crew were fascinated by the conversation, DeLaFontain was more and more confused.

"Maria will you please shut up and tell me what is going on?"DeLaFontain


:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: "Well Darling, I hope that you will have a lover named Vincent again." Maria was certain he was on the hook now, but a bit to close to fast she thought, maybe a little slam on the breaks for good measure.

"I've never had a Lover named Vincent" screamed DeLaFontain "What the Frack is going on here." Pounding his desk with his fist.

"I don't think so...Hes dead...and now I have a slight aversion to the name, but I will aii" breathing out a sigh of slight disapointment.

"Wait, Wait, Who is dead? What" DeLaFontain, now having the paranoia that Officer Barney had put into his ear, run a lap or two around his frontal lobe.

" make a slight exception with you ...guapo" Maria said finishing of with heat.

DeLaFontain picks up the Speaker and starts Banging it on the table. "Will Someone please tell me what is going on,,," He smashes it and and the sound starts to slowly fade away.

"No..No......" Instantly desperate, he starts hold the speaker at odd angles trying to repair the damage his blind rage has caused. The speaker comes back to life and the conversation bleeds back in. "Maybe they can't hear me..." it suddenly dawned on him.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Sounds nice darling, I wish I could be there. Just a small trip..I will hurry, I promise

"Oh..its my bosses new toy.. he doesn't know I took it out ..."

"OOOHHHH I DO NOW MARIA ...I sure do now.." DeLafontain glad his ship was simply held hostage by his secretary and not stolen.

"You know a ship called "Democritus" or something like that? I don't know, ships are not my specialty."
Maria adding every bit of naivety she could muster into her voice. The Captain of the Lady Luck almost in tears at how surreal this all was becoming.

"I will say...its nice...wine is acceptable" She could just imagine her boss flipping out in his office and it multiplied the enjoyment of the moment. She was going to show him how things are done in space.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Yes Darling....the name Democritus is reminds me of something.. but I dunno really. Could you tell me something about that?"

"Dey call it some kinda Yacht..but I'm just a simple bar girl..what do I know." She felt he was asking to much and not giving enough, she threw a countermeasure into the conversation. Every Junker she ever met was more interested in bar girls than money.

"We are on the other side here at the gate to escort you to the station sir.." Throwing it back to business again. "We would not want you to get lost.."

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Very nice. Apologies for my late, but your friend told me that you will call me just after an hour.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: That's why I made this business until that.


"Yes..but you know women..no patience for things like this.." Maria excused herself, she knew she had called him ahead of time, She needed to make sure he showed up. Keeping him on the line and interested was the best way.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Sure *smiles* Anyways its my fault...so apologies again

Two apologies from a Junker in the same sentence. She smiled and said nothing.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Is there anything what I can get for you from New York Darling?

"Aiii...Nothing I don't already have twice...but ...surprise me..." No need to sound desperate. The captain, crew and Mr.DeLaFontain absorbed in the conversation. Everyone wondering where this was leading.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Yas was right *smiles* You are really a bargirl.
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: And I like them *winks*
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Well then I'll look for something "usefull" a present for you.

"Yes, I have been in a few Bars in my day,,,I do..pretty well you could say" The captain and crew not surprised at all, DeLaFontain speachless in awe.

"Drunks are easier to lift off of.." she added to get a laugh and hoped it worked.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: *laughs* May I ask you about your goals in Gallia darling.
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: As I realized you have a trading company, right?

"Oh me?" he was back to business again, time to deflect she thought "I don't have any..My boss..He does..I don't do the big business things."

"Boss? hey...yea..that's me..." DeLaFontain realizing that he had a part to play and pretty sure where this was going. He dropped the Speaker on the floor, and rushed back to the docks to the LuckyStrikeIII. He had to get them to fire the ship up. She was a genius, he was thinking, finally realizing Maria had a plan after all.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Oh...
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Than I have to ask him...

"I am more of a ...greet the public type of girl." Dropping that line made the Captain and crew bust out in Laughter, to which she gave them a stern admonishment with eyes and a smile, seeing now that they were willing cohorts in this escapade of hers.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Anyway, its a pleasure to talk with you

"And yes ..you can talk to that pendejo, but he is on the station..." Giving him yet another incentive to make the trip to Ontario. "But why you wanna talk with him...business is very boring." adding her own line of interrogation.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Well as you must know, we are Junkers, so we have to find new partners all the time.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Maybe we could deal with him somehow...but dunno really what is this company, so I have to ask him about it.

"Junkers and partners....aiii a very strange combination of words" She was a "Penny" girl, not by birth but by upbringing, she had meet plenty of Junkers of one type or another out on Bethlehem Station.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: *winks* Not always darling, not always.
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Anyway, I'm entering California soon
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: So.. on my way there..

"I'm sure that Mister DeLaFuente will want to talk to you." Maria was hoping that her boss got the play right. Letters and contracts were good, but it was bold action that got things done in space.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: I hope so Darling

"What ..you think i come all the way out here in my best dress because he don't want to talk to you?" Laying on just enough for him to get the point. I'm here to walk you to him. Silly men, she though to herself, always so obtuse and blunt.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: When did you start your duty at the company Darlin?
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: I wish I could be there to see that suit *winks*

She could see he was confused about what he wanted to talk about. To her advantage that his brain was divided between business and Bargirl. A difficult choice for any self respecting Junker. So in her best off the cuff nonchalant tone, Looking at her nails on one hand, glass of wine in the other.

"Oh you know when these IND people always talks about, they left things up in the air, so I slid in here, and I help my boss now.,.6 months..its a nice job...meet nice people" Saying it a way that let him think she was referring to him.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Well, unless I'm just a dirty bastard, i don't know much about the life of a businessman.
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: But I want to show my best face so I got a nice wine for you darling. I hope we can share it.
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: *sighs* Speedrunners

"Aiiiii we can have a taste" She said laying the aiiii on in a way that the entire bridge of the Lady Luck was now hot under the collar.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: I'm Nearly there darling

"Yes, I hear that a lot...but then...Nothing." She *sighed* long and loud.

For the crew it was to much. The Captain briefly muted the microphones. The muted laughter becoming an outburst. They crew had not had a day this interesting in their careers, and this was not their first time around the system.

DeLaFontain reached Lucky Strike. He had gotten no trouble from Barney and Fife. As he was running up to them wildly waving his arms, he shouted for them to call the elevator, "Maria needs my help..." His shirt was out, his hair out of place, He was missing one shoe.

Barney had sprung to action and had the elevator waiting, He was about to punch in the right codes to get him there, but DeLaFontain cut him off. "Thanks Barney, but I want to get there this week son." and he hit the close button, almost catching Barneys arm in the process.

The ride was quick this time. He had little chance to focus, but started to see things comming into place.

When he ran onto the Bridge of the LuckyStrike, the crew was all napping. Several weeks tied up to the docks, waiting wth a cargo full of Neon to go some place they had never heard off. The ship was prepped and ready and the engines were warmed up, but it still had no where to go.

"Wake up ..wake up..." Ramos the Captain of the LuckyStrikeIII was startled by the outburst. "Lets go, get this ship moving.

"What is it boss, something on fire?" Surprised by the way his boss had appeared out of nowhere, missing a shoe, looking like he had just been in a fight with a coop of wild chickens.

"Yea your ass if you don't get these comms up and running right now and get this ship on the move in the next few minutes."

"What? now? To where?" The Captain starting to pull systems online and posting orders of to each individual on the bridge in a check list fashion.

"Gallia, you fool where do you think you are going." Retorted DeLaFontain. Pilots, he though to himself, got to tell them everything.

"Comms are up sir" radio and navigation officer reporting in. "Sir we don't have charts on Gallia. You are sending us up blind?"

"No, with a Junker leading the way." The bridge frozen in disbelief at what they just heard. That is almost worse than going blind with no charts. Ramos had once been pirated by a Junker when he was out side of house space a few months back, and he didn't enjoy the experience.

"Sir, I'm reading a transmission from the LadyLuck and another signal...dialing it in..Seems the LadyLuck is docking sir, the captain reports that they have just escorted a Junker to out side the base....Sir we have a secure comm link..go ahead"

"Hello..is this thing on...yes?" DeLaFontain not sure of what direction to talk.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Aye Lad...Well is that you finally?

"Yes Greetings..this is Phillip DeLafontain " trying to sound as official and as in control as possible. It was in deep contrast to how he really felt.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Thanks for the present *smiles* that Girl was so nice

Everyone likes Maria, he thought to himself, what is it with her. Then he remembered that he had hired her for just this type of thing. This was all his doing, HE was a genius again.

"You have agreed to take our ship as far as.." He didn't know where or what they had talked about in his run down to the LuckyStrikeIII "..the....Space Port?" Captain Ramos not liking to much what he was hearing. Wondering if his boss just made a flat out guess or if he had finally lost it.


:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Sure feel free..

"What are the cost behind this?" certainly it could not be free. DeLaFontain struggling to stay on top of the situation.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Well, we shall discuss the needed information..
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Anyway, as I heard, you are looking for the enter to Gallia, right?

Phillip DeLafontain breathed a *sigh* of relief. They were all on the same page.

"Correct we have a contract to enter valid for trading Neon. But we have no contacts out that way..."

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Well then I could help you out.

"I just don't want to send an expensive ship like this up blind" adding this to reassure the crew of the LuckyStrikeIII that he would do all he could, to make sure they were looked after, at least till they undocked from Toronto station.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: We have been there so I could show the way for you.

"15mill sound reasonable?" wincing at the thought that maybe that wasn't enough. He didn't want to insult this Junker, so close to sealing the deal. "We want to make sure we are in good hands.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: That wont be an easy trip since the Kusari are at war with Brettonia and we have to pass the war zone.

Damn, he was already angling for more money.

"and I pay for any taxes on the way"

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Well make it to 5million lad, I had a payment from one of your employee before.
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: so I could lead you there for another 5 million.

The next time he saw that tall Texan he was going to kiss his Aiisss as he liked to call it.

"Fair enough ..pay you now Sir or when we arrive.?" ready to spit on his hand and seal the deal.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Just when we will arrive mate

"Ship is ready to go Sir.." Captain Ramos could not believe they had it all online this quick.

"Good, get this ship out there and just follow that Junker" He said to the Captain.

"Sir, you are not wanting to come along on the inaugural trip?" The Captain said baiting him a bit with the comment.

"No..ahh....paperwork...payments....you know..could be gone for weeks.." DeLaFontain was going to be cautious. He headed to the bulkhead door. "Lock it behind me and good trip." He could go see the king, when all the kinks got kicked out of the route.

The captain brought the Maneuvering thrusters online and eased the ship away from the docks.

"This is Captain Ramos ..cleared and undocking from Toronto Station."

*Initiating Group Communications Protocol*

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: At first Lets enter California.
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Thats could be a safe place for the beginning.

Ramos hoped this Junker Captain realized he was in a Stork. "Copy that...remember sir..this thing is large and slow."

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Sure thing lad, that's no problem
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: just form up on me.

"Yea sure thing Junker" Ramos muttered to himself, "Stress it boys, looks like he is gonna try and make us fly this thing like a fighter. Roll us 5degrees port. Full on the port side, gives us a one quarter starboard side and 4 degree down angle on the stern maneuvering.... .."

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Damn rookies.

"Copy that .." Ramos said, letting him know he heard him.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: Well just simple.. form on me and we can enter the lane.\

"Whats this guy think we are flying" he says to the crew. " I know how to get into a trade lane Junker." again not over the comms but more to himself, concentrating on getting his big long ship into the Lane at the proper angle.

This is gonna be one humdinger of a ride he feared.

:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: I just check my map....there is a more dangerous way..but that is more faster..
:j:. Sleazy.Scarabeus: What do you think? Shall we risk it?



//MEGA KUDOS SleazyScarabeus. cheers mate.