FORNICE - Decherrek has a proposition

"So, you are all here again! Quickly now, I have SPECIAL DEAL just for you! Must act soon. One time offer. You will like it, promise promise!

"Meet you at 1500. That place LC knows. OK?

"The Monastary. You remember it, unforgettable! Have already talked to Smugg Orney and back room reserved. Let us go there, meet and talk. Hurry Hurry!"

LC is happy with the outcome and that Fins is happy with the outcome.
Sipping on sweet Kaffe LC looks at the others when the comes through.
"I think that is the first time I hsve heard Decgerrek all excited..."
LC looks at the others around the table
"Ahhh, who is answering the call?"
LC then looks at Bronz and Said Ma for their reaction

Bronz raises an eyebrow, leaning back slightly in his chair. Things had been going surprisingly well with the new crew—maybe a little too well. But that kind of thinking belonged to a different life. Maybe this is just how it’s supposed to be.

"Sure," he says with a quiet nod. "Let’s hear what the offer is."

Bronz glances around at the others, his voice even. "I appreciate the offer, but truth is, I didn’t do much—just glad for the ride." He pauses, then adds with a small nod, "That said, if we're thinking about getting a ship, I have bit of credits put aside and be willing to put up my fair share."

"LC,"Mama pipes up, " You know I'm in... But you still owe me that date.". Mama gives him a friendly wink and gathers her things for the meeting .

LC blinks at her, caught a little off guard:


he quickly recovers, flashing a roguish smile.
"You're right — I do," he says, smoothing his jacket. "And hey, this place looks decent enough for a meal and a glass of synth-wine. Call it even?"


LC waves casually to flag down a server, then turns back to Said Ma with an easy, lopsided grin, waiting to see if she'd call his bluff — or hold him to it.

<waiting on Said Ma's reaction>

LC looks at Bronz after he makes the statement about the future, which makes LC turn serious;
"I agree, I don't have much and was expecting to put the combined ship's fund towards the ship. I thought Decherrek was going to 'assist' in getting a good deal on the 'Athelstone'.
LC makes hand motions of air quotes, when he says 'assist'.

"Didn't want to say, but I was kind of wondering about the Athelstone as well."

LC grins back at Said Ma;
"There are some lovely dark corner's all around here.
LC smiles with his devilish grin of non commitment.
Outside this fine establishment I would not vouch for our safety. Better to stay here and hear what Decherrek has to say first, then see what is next."

The Droyne bursts into the back room, wings all aflutter. Their reptilian-looking features don't give anything away, but the wing rustling is about the best sign that Decherrek is excited that you can discern.

"Ah ha! I must be Crazy! Crazy! Such good deals..."

Decherrek's wings stop fluttering and he leans up against the table which you are seated around. His voice is its usual flat-tone with a hint of hiss to it.

"Have much to learn, still... Human economy very strange. Have learned much from you, perhaps more too.

"Bank say ship Athelstone have modifications. Things that make for hard selling. Ah, I think having hidden cargo space a good thing! But bank say that..., and the added staterooms..., and the scoops and fuel purifiers..., well all add up to ship being difficult property.

"Standard Free Trader have 82-ton cargo capacity. Athelstone have 61. Counting the hidden. So harder to make profit. Harder to sell.

"Thus they tell me..., after I make a case, a hard case, that they cut you special price. Short time only. Not available to everyone. This weekend only.

"No down payment. Ship have 30 years left on 40-year loan. You make monthly payments. 183,334cr. Month, every month. Not too much! Very fair deal.

"Ship start with yearly maintenance done. Full fuel tanks. Replenishment complete.

"And that's not all. Special bonus; I go with you. Pay regular High Passage. Make 3, 4..., maybe more jumps with you. Work on special project as we go.

"We go tomorrow morning to First Bank headquarters. Sign Papers. Take over ship day later.

"Don't delay, this offer expire soon."

Bronz folds his arms, his expression unreadable as he looks at the others. He doesn’t know if this is a good deal or not—but this is the path he’s chosen, and he’s determined to see it through.

The bank might not appreciate the ship’s "modifications," but Bronz knows their worth all too well. Value of a hidden compartment is obvious regardless the reason it is used for and perhaps more staterooms have some financial benefit. It's a ship he knows and it is much easier to work as ship you know than a new one with unforeseen problems.

He’ll back the proposal if the others agree, but he’s not about to be the first to speak. For now, he waits.

LC replies "shares is the only way to make this happen and we" he looks at Said Ma, Bronze and T-Jive, " could use another investor. Unless someone has a rich aunt that wants to be separated, er wants to invest into a great opportunity. "
LC says with a smile

"We may have enough to also acquire some valuable cargo, if you can see your way to act as a Broker this one last time Delores?"

Bronz finally cracks a rare smile as it looks like they’re going to buy the Athelstone. "I’m in," he says. "Though it looks like we’re down at least one crew member. Might be a venture like this needs more hands anyway. Any idea where we’d find someone?"

Yes Yes. Many Free Trader organize with shares. Common to give one share in lieu of salary for each crewmember. Then allow purchase of additional shares to generate operating fund. Some go to bank or sophonts like Smugg for additional backing, but gets complicated and then must file corporation papers. LC can do that? But best to avoid. Tomorrow we go then and sign the papers. Ship yours to take possession on April 8, though last refurbishing still in progress. Bank pays for all that.

Can start researching next port. To get Freight and passengers must declare a destination. For speculative trade is good to know destination port, too. Know what might sell at profit.

Ah, my Economics thesis is almost writing itself. Soon I will be able to say I am Doctor Recherrek, PhD.

LC, the former lawyer and starport customs officer now Navigator, folds his arms and gives the crew a look that suggests they’re about to get a masterclass in legal wizardry. He flashes a grin at the crew, then with a calm, almost predatory smile.

"Sure, I can draft everything you need," LC says, with the easy confidence of someone who once got paid by the word.
"But for the complexity involved, I’ll require an additional half share. We're not just talking about basic paperwork here. I’ll have to engineer a multi-jurisdictional limited liability framework, complete with interstellar asset shielding, cross-sector incorporation redundancy, and dynamic fiduciary bypass protocols."
<br> He leans forward, voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur.
"I'll structure the ship under a layered trust-LLC hybrid entity to obfuscate ownership chains, create non-domiciled corporate residencies to take advantage of favorable insolvency statutes, and file shell registrations across at least three star systems to avoid centralized lien exposure. Plus, we'll need embedded defensive equity clauses, quantum lien nullification riders, and hostile funding quarantine triggers to make sure no entity —"
LC gives a loud, theatrical cough,
"Smugg"
— can exercise voting control or asset foreclosure rights without triggering a cascade of nullification events."
<br>LC taps a stylus against the console, finishing with a razor-sharp grin.
"Long story short: when I’m done, they’ll need a full interstellar legal task force just to figure out who owns the coffee machine, let alone the ship."
LC leans back, hands behind his head, looking deeply pleased with himself.
[b]"Worth every credit, I promise."

The Droyne gives LC the Reptilian equivilant of 'side-eye'.

"Unless you have outside investors, a simple Merchant Charter will suffice."

Memories of his old life—where uneven deals often ended in blood—flash through Bronz’s mind. He’s relieved someone brought it up before things turned sour.

"Yeah," he says, voice steady. "I was thinking the same thing. If this is legit, why hide who owns what on paper? Start splitting it uneven, and sooner or later it’s gonna cause trouble. We’ve all got reasons we could argue for more if we wanted to. Easier to just call it even shares from the start. Otherwise... might not be worth it." He shrugs lightly. "Just my two credits—I'm in either way. Just saying."

LC reads the room quickly and sees his proposition is not accepted. He smiles at everyone;
"Okay"
shrugging his shoulders and then relaxing and smiling again
"A simple Merchant Charter like Decherrek outlines. Now that is settled, who are the share holders and who is replacing Delores Bing as our Broker?"

And perhaps you should consider adding to the crew. I noticed that the work load was heavy during our prior journey. And this time I will excuse myself from doing what I did before. So it will all be up to you to handle. You understand that?

So perhaps you give each of yourselves two shares. Offer one share to new hires. Plus the opportunity to raise operating funds through the sale of additional shares.

But it is your own enterprise, so consider this a mere suggestion.

To Said MA
"Thanks we can sure use your Broker skills."
Then after Decherrek speaks about the two share for current crew and one for new...LC asks
"While that maybe fair, to us, we are short a Steward, Mechanic and Broker. Did T-Jive say he was staying with the crew?"

BIC
LC says to the others
"Unless Decherrek put a advert on the Guild hall message boards (readit or 'saidso'...or maybe twitter/cheeper) We need to get our crew adverts out!"

LC taps out on his Hand Comp on his cheeper message app but before he hits send he flicks with a forefinger and sends it to everyone
"Let me know what you think of the Crew Advert
------Begin Message--------
🚀 Help Wanted – Crew for Athelstone 🚀
Seeking sharp, reliable, and somewhat daring individuals to join the crew of the Athelstone — a 200-ton Far Trader, Beowulf-class lineage, customized for versatility and long-haul independent operations.

We’re a working ship: profit-driven, opportunity-savvy, and aiming to keep flying no matter what the void throws at us. If you know your trade, can keep your head, and don’t mind a little gray around the edges of the law now and then, we want you aboard.

Positions Available:
-Steward – Keep passengers happy, manage supplies, handle small crises before they become big ones. Bonus points for a steady hand with a tray in zero-G.

-Broker – We need someone who can find deals, negotiate cargo contracts, and occasionally talk our way out of a bad port fee.

-Mechanic – Systems maintenance, jury-rigging miracles, and a willingness to get very greasy. Must be able to swear creatively at stubborn drives.

-Pilot – Precision flying essential. "Close enough" won't cut it on a grav assist or a dodgy docking maneuver.

Requirements:
Moderate experience preferred — but talent, good instincts, and loyalty mean more than paperwork.

No outstanding warrants that would cause serious diplomatic incidents.

Must be willing to work as part of a tight crew. Divas and loners need not apply (unless you're very good).

Perks:
-Fair shares in profits.
-Room, board, and a ship that’ll treat you better than most ports.
-Travel across the Spinward Main and beyond.
-Occasional hazard pay (negotiable).

Interested?
Message the Athelstone's crew manifest office on comms band 5147.AV or Look for the Athelstone dockside at Bay 14 or hail Comm ID ATHEL-719.
-------------End of Message------------

LC looks at the others for feedback and input
"Well what do you think?"

"Or I have this to post on a Guild wall"

Bronz leans over, giving LC’s comm a quick glance. "Sure, looks good to me," he says with a shrug.

He glances to see if T-Jive is still around and adds, "Won’t hurt to double up on a few roles. Depends who shows up—and if we get more than we need, we just tell 'em the position’s filled."

LC seeing that everyone agrees;
"Great"
LC hit hits send on his hand comp to send the message to the Merchant Guild Hiring boards and other hiring boards.

LC Rains sets down his glass with a satisfied clink and dabs at his mouth with the corner of a napkin — all lawyerly poise and polished charm.

"Well, this meal’s been a delightful dance of good company and marginally digestible bar fusion, but if you’ll excuse me—I've got to step away for a few moments. Something’s come up."

He stands, smoothing out the creases in his jacket, then adds with a slight conspiratorial grin:

"Let’s call it... an off-ledger investment opportunity. You know how it is—one minute you're enjoying a synth-prawn curry, the next, opportunity knocks wearing cheap cologne and carrying a briefcase full of high-interest dreams."

He winks at Said Ma.

He gestures reassuringly toward the table.

"Don’t wait on me — I’ll be back before Bronz finishes sorting the bill by mass displacement, or before Decherrek files another memo to the bank reminding them we exist."

He turns, casual but purposeful, heading toward the back of the establishment with the smooth confidence. Heading to a roped off area with two very imposing strongmen-types that look they mean business...and there business is to keep the riff-raff out.

LC pushes through the swinging kitchen door of the establishment, the hum of conversation fading behind him as he enters a corridor that smells faintly of synth-oil, overcooked meat, and quiet threats.

Two guards loom near a heavy curtain at the back — one broad and square-jawed, the other narrow-eyed and wired tight like a coiled spring in a cheap suit. Neither smiles.

LC pauses, straightens his cuffs, and smiles anyway.

"Gentlemen," he says smoothly, "I'm here to see Mr. Smugg on a... contractual matter. Standard mutual interest. Section 9, subclause 3 of the informal-underworld agreements act — you know the one."

The big one doesn’t blink. The skinny one scowls.

"Did he invite you?"

LC tilts his head just slightly, as if calculating the precise amount of truth legally required.

"Let’s say... he expects me. Whether he knows it yet or not is simply a matter of timing. I'm the kind of guest who brings opportunity in one hand and repayment schedules in the other."

He reaches into his coat pocket, slow and deliberate, and pulls out a sleek data chit — marked with a stylized mollusk embossed in gold.

"Besides," he adds, handing it over, "you can scan that. Or we can stand here debating the finer points of plausible deniability and missed profits while your boss waits for someone who actually reads the fine print."

A long pause. The guards exchange a glance. Then the curtain shifts.

The big one steps aside without a word. The skinny one just mutters, "He's in a mood. Don't get clever."

LC smiles again, already walking past.

"Wouldn’t dream of it. Just here to grease a few gears... maybe a few tentacles."

LC is use to the wait, but still this was long. a couple of time he pulled at his collar, then Smugg came in

LC Rains clears his throat, straightens his collar, and slides into the dimly lit booth opposite Smugg — careful not to wrinkle the contract folder he's brought along.

"Smugg, my friend... esteemed associate of opportunity... I’m here today not just wearing my hat as ship’s legal counsel, but as a shareholder with vision. Now, I won’t insult your intelligence — you already know the Athelstone is a rugged little Far Trader with potential. What she lacks, however, is liquidity."

He taps the folder and opens it with the practiced flair of a man who used to file customs seizures for a living.

"I need an advance — let's call it a short-term strategic investment — to secure my full share in the vessel. We're talking buy-in capital, plus initial float for three to five months of ops. At an estimated monthly burn of 250,334 Imperial credits, we’d be looking at just under 1.3 million in total."

He smiles tightly, like a man selling umbrellas just before a monsoon.

"In return, I’d appreciate a few tips on high-yield cargo opportunities. Legitimate, semi-legitimate — I’m flexible. The crew’s green, but hungry, and I can keep them from doing anything too stupid. With a solid route and your backing, we can move quick, earn quicker, and pay back your kindness with interest — in both credits and ongoing business."

He pauses, then adds more quietly, with a knowing glance:

"And if anyone asks, we’ll say it was a friendly line of credit from a logistics enthusiast with excellent taste."