2: The Governor of Port Elarion

The Job Offer

Governor's Mansion Security Footage. 4000.03.28 09:03 UniTi

Zev and Juniper walked up toward the Governor's Mansion, you couldn't miss it what with it being the largest building in town aside from the Spaceport, it was a gleaming shade of pearl in a city of otherwise dusty metal.

Upon approach the door opened for them automatically, as if someone were waiting for them... turns out they were.

"Welcome, Captain Kestrel and company. I am Isa - assistant to Governor Salaza. The Governor is expecting you, if you'd come with me?" a smartly dressed young aide greets the pair.

"That was mighty quick," Juniper observes, seeing as they didn't even knock.

"Oh, well yes," Isa brushes a lock of hair behind her ear, "The Governor is the one who approved your obviously fraudulent landing codes when she saw your ship and... oh, sand rippers, I shouldn't've said anything.

Ahem, this way please."

Zev opens his mouth to speak but wisely shuts it for once, as the pair follow Isa up the stairs to the Governor's office.

Governor Salaza is a slender dark skinned woman with bright eyes and a professional-yet-chic outfit that projects elegance and power. She rises to greet them in traditional Elari fashion, which both Zev and Juniper butcher.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both, I'm Valona, Governor of the Port of Elarion and its surrounds. Please have a drink of water - I insist."

Before the two can protest Isa begins decanting water into their crystalline cups.

"Pleasure to meet you," Zev and Juniper respond in unison.

The governor motions for them both to sit, and they do so.

"I'll cut right to the chase, we've got a problem - a big one," she pauses for dramatic effect but Zev takes that as an invitation to speak.

"Oh yeah, what's that?" Zev asks.

"Just the other--" Valona appears to be irked at being interrupted yet she continues, "As I was saying, we're in quite a bind. The Orange Sea Mining Company has partnered with the Government of Elarion--"

"Well that's great news!" Juniper cuts in, cheerily

"Good ground, you space folks really don't know when to hold your tongue do you? The others were the same. Please, let me finish!

You see the OS Mining Co. partnered with us to develop and test a highly experimental mining laser, one specific to Elarion that takes advantage of the unique geologic composition of the planet to more efficiently harvest Elari crystals and, most importantly, all of the energy rich-iums that power orbital lasers, power plants, and yes, even starship reactors such as your own.

We conducted a field test not one standard cycle ago, with SPARKLING results!

...and then we lost word from the crew shortly thereafter. No comms, no check-in, and... no bodies. It's as if they left the site in an instant."

"So this is where we come in?" Zev asks, after a short pause.

"Well no, but we're getting there. Would you let me finish? Gleaming gems! You spacefolk, so impatient! So you see, we sent in a team to retrieve the mining laser and locate the research team," Valona continues at a rapid pace, clearly anxious about the topic at hand, "...and of course we didn't hear back from that team either. 

However, unlike the first team of researchers we did find this second team - quite dead in fact. Tragic. We're not quite sure what killed them but we're well into cycle number two and our prized mining laser is still out there. I'll give you all of the facts straight up since you spacers are always in such a rush.

As Governor of the Port of Elarion I will pay you 8 Unity Credits, equal to approximately 8000 local currency on most planets, to retrieve this mining laser. I only want the laser and you can have anything else you find, though you'll know that most objects of value are DNA encrypted or data linked to their owners, as in most parts of the galaxy. Oh, and you MUST bring at least 6 people with you, I'd prefer a dozen, but I don't reckon that's in the cards."

Zev's eyes might as well have turned into dollar signs he was so smitten by the offer, especially since they had a crew of 6 already!

"Furthermore, we believe we know the exact location of the laser and the prior team we sent to collect it. There's probably a credit or two in that gear of theirs as well - all yours."

"Shoot miss, this is sounding too good to be true, what's the catch?" Juniper wisely asks.

"The catch? It must be completed, TODAY."

"Today?! Hmm... how far out is it?" Zev asks

"About 27 Unity Kilometers," the Governor responds.

"27 Kilos? Sounds doable sir," Juniper quickly crunches the numbers, "Take us about 20 minutes one way in our shuttle and it's, what, ten in the morning? We can make it."

Zev smiles roguishly, "You've got yourself a deal ma'am, and the pay - this is gonna be a dangerous job, I want 4 up front as Danger pay."

"Look Captain... Zev, we're in a hurry and we both know that no one pays half upfront. I'll pay you 2 credits, you'll pretend to be disappointed but secretly rejoice and then be on your way to take care of our problem, is that about right?"

Zev grunts before responding, "About right, 2 it is. C'mon Juni, we gotta get the crew!"

"Woo boy, yessir! This is gonna be excitin'!" Juniper responds and then taps a button on her communicator indicating that everyone should return to the ship. 

The pair hurry outside the Manor and are quickly out of range of the Manor's cameras.

Streets of Port Elarion

Sensor feed from Captain Zev's visor. 4000.03.28 09:38 UniTi

"Mr. Kestrel?" a brooding voice calls as the pair rush out of the Governor's Mansion, "Mr. Kestrel! I am Director Cyric Xalr of the Orange Sea Mining Company."

Zev keeps walking.

"The OS Mining Co. will pay you three whole credits to retrieve that laser and even add a generous one credit advance!" Cyric pitches, as if these was some great prize.

Zev keeps walking, pretending not to hear - he hated working with these corporate types.

"Did you hear me you dumb oaf? A whole four credits for doing the same thing you'd already be doing!"

"Now you listen here mister, you'll be showing some respect to my Cap'n or--" Juniper begins, but is cut off by the tall man in the orange business suit.

"Be quiet you stupid wretch! Your betters are speaking! I can ask corporate to raise it to--"

Zev stops and turns on the man so fast he takes a startled step back.

"Now you listen here you sorry excuse for a human being, here's what's going to happen. You're going to apologize to my first mate, Juniper, right this instant. 'Your betters are speaking?' what kind of backwater planet did you grow up on? You think you're better than her because, what? You make more credits? You got a fancier title? That don't mean nothing!" Zev is red in the face, unleashing some pent up frustration, at Cyric, at his codes not working, and most especially of all at the attack on Quintara IV - his home - that killed his father and started this whole mess in the first place. 

"Next, you're going to call corporate and ask them for 8 more credits, and even if they approved it - which they won't - I'd tell you to go shove it where the sun don't shine! Y'HEAR?!"

The tall spindly man seethes, "You'll regret this Captain Zev. That's our laser! OURS! You'll never be safe in Elarion!"

"Look, alls you had to do was approach us, treat my crew with respect, and ask a question in earnest for us to consider your offer. You did no such thing. Now, I believe you've got an apology to get apologizin'?"

Cyric looks between the two and spits on the ground at Zev's feet, then reaches for something in his suit coat.

Before the spit has even hit the dirt Zev's Glare Sword is in his hand, causing a ripple in the air around the blade as particles are disrupted, humming a dangerous warning.

Cyric cringes and raises his hands slowly. Judging by the location he probably wasn't reaching for a weapon after all... probably.

"Think carefully about your next action, Captain," Cyric sneers.

A firm grip restrains Zev's arm at the bicep, "Let it be Cap'n, he ain't worth our time. Plus, I been called worse. We've got a laser to find."

Seeing an opening, Cyric slinks out of arm's reach and begins backing away.

"Yeah, walk away you!" Zev shouts, his anger bubbling over but sword still raised in a challenge.

"I'll be seeing you around, Captain Zev. You haven't heard the last from the Orange Sea Mining Company!" Cyric says when he is a comfortable distance away.

Conscious of the now dozens of onlooker's eyes on them, Zev deactivates his Glare Sword and grumbles.

"C'mon Cap, calm it down. Let's go," Juniper leads Zev away from the scene, as a ranch hand would lead a stubborn horse.

They trudge through the town for a few moments before Juniper breaks the silence, "Say, Cap'n, you called me 'first mate', did I jus' get a promotion?" she asks with a smile as they approach the Starport.

"I guess you did Juni, guess you did. Seems you deserve it too, dealing with me. I just - I hate it when they insult my crew!"

"I know Cap'n, I know. That's what makes you, you. Let's get back."