OOC:
Daryen says:
- We sell the Vibroswords and Stun Rifles and take that profit. We hold onto the Grav Plates and Storage Drives and try again at Englene Station.
- Depending on the answer to the question of selling Raw Drugs at Castand, we buy some or don't buy any. We do not buy the Viridian Root Extract.
- This is what the CV, Ship Fund, and Hank do. Mercer and whomever can do what they think is best.
Considering that Mercer is planning to buy around 70 tons, selling more than that in Castand will be a hassle. A couple dozen tons can be sold to pharmaceutical companies using the default rules, but those are licensed or restricted goods, so selling much more than that at once is complicated.
PhoenixScientist totals are correct. That means that the Celestial Voyager's current funds, together with the money that will be available from selling the CV's fittings to the Colonial Division are enough to reach Altairia and pay the wages, repairs and six months maintenance, so…
Celestial Voyager, in orbit of Dianreti III
Valeria Zaytsev leaned back in her chair, gazing through the broad viewport behind her desk. The stars glittered in the distance, distant jewels scattered across the endless black sea of space. The faint hum of the Celestial Voyager’s engines filled the air, a comforting sound she had known for years. Soon, however, it would become a memory—one more thread in the rich tapestry of her life as a trader, cut short as she prepared for the next chapter of her journey.
She sighed and tapped the comm panel on her desk.
"Hank, meet me in my office."
A moment later,
Hank Heron strode in, the door hissing shut behind him.
"
Captain," he greeted, tilting his head with a grin. "
You summoned?"
Valeria smiled as she motioned toward the chair opposite her desk. "
Sit down, Hank."
He dropped into the seat, casual and relaxed, but she could see the flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
"
Big day," she began, her voice soft but laced with satisfaction. "
I just saw that the deal on Dianreti III is complete. We cleared over 600,000 credits. That's enough to fund the trip to Astralon comfortably. And as you know... The governor’s office is waiting. The papers are signed. Once we reach Astralon, the ship will be disassembled. Every bolt, panel, and engine core will be repurposed for the colony."
Her voice softened, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. "
The Celestial Voyager will become homes, workshops, power grids... Everything those settlers need to survive."
The silence stretched between them for a moment, filled with a quiet sense of finality. Hank leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the armrest.
Valeria paused, the weight of years pressing in on her. Memories flooded her mind—her first trade route, the exhilarating leap into the unknown, the intricate negotiations where a single word could mean the difference between fortune and disaster. She remembered the thrill of success and the lessons learned through failure, the faces of countless crew members who had come and gone, each of them leaving their own mark on the Celestial Voyager.
"I never thought I’d make it this far," she finally said, softly. "
When I first got my merchant license at twenty, I thought I was in way over my head. A kid playing at being a trader, just trying not to screw up too badly."
"
Yeah, right," Hank scoffed with a grin. "
I heard that even back then, you were a force to be reckoned with."
Valeria laughed. "
Maybe. But it’s been a long journey since those days. And it’s been a hell of a ride, Hank. I wouldn’t change any of it."
She leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the desk. "
But this is the right time to leave. Astralon needs leadership, and... well, I’ve had my share of the stars. Which is why I wanted to talk to you today. Endings are just new beginnings waiting to happen. And I wanted to talk to you about what’s next for you."
Hank arched a brow. "
Me?"
"
Yes, you." Valeria opened the top drawer of her desk and pulled out a data pad. "
I know you’ve been talking with Mercer and a few of the crew about staying together. About getting a ship."
She reached into the top drawer of her desk and pulled out a sleek datapad, sliding it across to him.
Hank picked it up, eyebrows raised. "
What’s this?"
"
That," Valeria said, her tone light but meaningful,
"is your trader license application. Approved. Fully paid for."
Hank blinked, his eyes widening as the weight of her words sank in. "
You... you paid for my trader license?"
Valeria leaned back, folding her arms with a satisfied smile. "
I know you have been using the Celestial Voyager's and my license in your trades and how hard it is to break into this business. The costs, the red tape—it’s enough to scare off anyone who doesn’t have a fortune or a sponsor. I had my family. I figure it’s the least I can do to thank you for everything you’ve done over the years."
Hank stared at the data pad for a long moment, as if trying to convince himself it was real. "
Val, this... this is too much."
"
Nonsense," she said briskly. "
You’ve earned it, Hank. You’ve been my right hand for a while now. I trusted you with my ship, my crew, and my life. If anyone deserves a shot at building their own legacy, it’s you."
He shook his head, a rare moment of speechlessness overtaking him. "
I don’t know what to say."
"
Just say you’ll use it," Valeria replied with a grin.
"I expect to hear stories about my legendary crew soon enough. You, Mercer, Corbin, Douklan, Erin… You all have got what it takes, Hank. More than you realize."
