Trade Era 1235, Day 137. 18:45 UTC
Engineering, Celestial Voyager
Corbin stood in the control room of the starship, his hands hovering over the activation panel for the Synths. He knew he needed their assistance to complete the repairs and cleanup, but he hesitated. Synths were not just tools; they were intricate creations with their own thoughts and feelings, albeit programmed.
Taking a deep breath, Corbin pressed the activation sequence, and one by one, the Synths powered up, their humanoid forms coming to life with a subtle hum.
The Synths, with their metallic sheen and precise movements, turned their attention to Corbin. "How may we assist you, sir?" one of them asked, its voice smooth and melodic.
Trade Era 1235, Day 137. 19:05 UTC
Communications room, Celestial Voyager
Hank sat in the cramped communication room of the Celestial Voyager, facing a hologram of Julia, a rep from a salvage company Valeria knew. She had a steely gaze that spoke of years of negotiation.
"
We've heard about the incident involving your passenger shuttle," she stated, her voice tinged with a hint of sympathy. "
Security reports indicate sabotage while docked at the station. So we have a proposition for you," she declared, her tone businesslike yet tinged with a hint of intrigue.
Hank leaned forward, his interest piqued. "
Go on."
"
We have a vessel in our possession—the Solaris," she continued, her holographic image flickering with anticipation. "
It's a passenger shuttle as well. It's been through its fair share of challenges, but it's still spaceworthy. We're willing to offer it to you in exchange for the wreckage of your previous shuttle."
Hank considered her offer carefully. The Solaris could be a valuable asset, especially if they could negotiate additional benefits.
"
What condition is the Solaris in?" Hank inquired, keeping his expression neutral.
The representative's eyes gleamed with determination. "
It needs some refurbishment, of course," she admitted. "
But with the right investment, it could serve you well. And in return, we'll take the wreckage off your hands."
Hank nodded thoughtfully, formulating a counteroffer. "
We'll accept your offer for the Solaris," he began, "
but we'll need more than just a vessel. We require repair parts for our shuttle bay."
The representative studied him for a moment before nodding in agreement. "
Very well," she conceded. "
We can provide the repair parts you need with a discount, but that wreckage is not worth that much."
Hank assessed the terms, recognizing the opportunity for mutual benefit. "
Agreed, we will sell you our Lifeboats."
"
Were they damaged in the incident?" - she asked.
Hank shook his head, relieved to provide some positive news amidst the grim circumstances. "
No, fortunately, the lifeboats remained unscathed," he replied, his voice steady. "
They are fully functional and available for you."
The representative's demeanor softened slightly at the news. "
Good to hear," she remarked, a hint of approval in her voice. "
Okay, we can trade that. This is our contract." she sent a digital document to Hank's holographic display.
OOC:
No need to sell the food and I have changed my mind, I won't let you sell just a quarter of the Ship’s Locker. It will be a headache to keep track.
But I'm using your 14 trade result to get you a new shuttle (Solaris) and your repair supplies in exchange for the wreckage and the lifeboats.
So no need to sell anything else you don't want nor spend credits. I will give you the Solaris character sheet later. When you get to another starport you can even retrofit or modify it. Shuttles are cheaper to mess around with.
"
Deal," he replied, after reading the document, pressing some buttons and moving some levers to seal the deal.
As the holographic projection faded, Hank allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. The negotiations had been challenging, but they had secured not only a replacement vessel but also vital resources to repair their own ship. With a new task ahead, Hank left the room. Spotting Mariella in the corridors, he hurried to catch up.
Trade Era 1235, Day 137. 19:45 UTC
Surveillance room, Postal Authority orbital station, Draco III
Minutes turned into hours as they painstakingly sifted through the footage, their eyes glued to the monitors as they scrutinized every frame for any sign of Ryan's presence. The task was daunting, but
Slaine and Erin remained undeterred, their resolve unwavering in the face of adversity.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of searching, Slaine's sharp eyes caught a flicker of movement on one of the screens. They leaned forward, their pulse quickening as they zoomed in on the footage, their heart pounding in anticipation.
"
There," Slaine exclaimed, pointing to the screen. "
That's him. Ryan, leaving the Celestial Voyager and heading towards the station's docking bays."
Erin's eyes widened in excitement as she watched the recording alongside Slaine, their efforts finally bearing fruit.
In the recording, Ryan moved through the bustling docking bays of the orbital station with purpose, his eyes scanning the crowds as he searched for someone specific. Amidst the throngs of travelers and workers, he navigated with ease, his movements calculated and deliberate.
After half an hour of searching, Ryan's persistence paid off as he spotted a man pushing a gravsled laden with cargo. With a quickened pace, he approached the man, his expression unreadable as he engaged him in conversation.
Slaine watched intently from the surveillance recording, their eyes narrowed in concentration as they observed Ryan's interaction with the man. Though they couldn't hear their conversation, they could discern from their body language that it was tense.
As the discussion between Ryan and the man pushing the gravsled continued, there where moments of whispered conversation and furtive glances exchanged between the two.
After something clearly looking like a threat from Ryan, the man finally relented, nodding in agreement as he gestured for Ryan to follow him. With a sense of urgency, they made their way through the bustling crowds of the docking bays, disappearing from view as they entered a private warehouse.
Inside the warehouse, the absence of surveillance cameras meant that Slaine's watchful gaze could no longer track Ryan's movements.
As Slaine put the surveillance footage in fast forward, their keen eyes caught the subtle movements within the private warehouse where Ryan had disappeared. Hours seemed to pass in mere moments as they scrutinized every frame, searching for any sign of his departure.
To their dismay, there was no trace of Ryan exiting the warehouse. Instead, in the last hour, a group of people entered the area, their presence raising Slaine's suspicions.
As they observed the newcomers, Slaine noted the urgency in their movements, the sense of purpose evident in their demeanor. They appeared to be engaged in a clandestine operation, their actions suggesting that they were there for a specific purpose.
As the surveillance footage played out before them, Slaine's mind raced with possibilities. Who were these people, and what were they doing in the warehouse? And most importantly, how did their presence relate to Ryan's?
