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[Dehoffren]

Orthan peered dubiously at the glass, taking accounts some spurious smudges before turning it to its cleanest side and sipping at the liquid “A little ambition is to be admired.” He said nodding slightly “As is your dedication.” He checked again that their seats were not too close together to arouse suspicion that there was anything going on other than an informal chat “Though you seem very at ease here and I assume that it keeps you busy?”

[kropotkin41]

'Oh I am busy' Delaware agrees, 'I keep myself busy because it is easier that way.' Your careful guarding of the distance between yourself and the young woman notwithstanding, she leans in just enough for you to smell her clean clothes and to catch a faint hint of some spice perfume she is wearing, adding quietly 'There are things that go on here that you wouldn't believe, frankly sometimes I think that the ship business is either just a sideline or a cover to the real business of this place.'

With that she gets up and goes back to the bar, coming back with a second round before you have even finished your first.

'How long have you been with your employers?' she asks cheerfully, resuming her position at what you might consider a safe distance.

[Dehoffren]

Orthan had fought the urge to recoil when Delaware had lent forward and was very glad that he had. His interest was piqued and he was eager to find out more. If he had wanted a distraction to keep him occupied then he could not have found anything more satisfying than the intrigue that was unfolding. He waited until the tech sat back down, he knew how this worked, after all he had been a successful merchant for long enough to know that you had to exchange information and build a little trust “To be honest I have only been with the Marquis for a short period of time before that I was in the employ of a rather unstable individual, perhaps the less time we dwell on that particular episode the better. But the Marquis is an exemplary fellow but unfortunately we ran into a little trouble which bought us here” Orthan waved at the bartender and motioned to set up another round of drinks before asking in an interested whisper “So what sort of thing goes on here then? You make it sound very cloak and dagger”

[kropotkin41]

Delaware is evidently a good listener and pays you attention when you talk, but there is no hiding the fact that she has a lot of stuff on her chest about this place she has worked in so hard for two years. With most of her second drink gone she says 'I'll tell Orthan; it'll make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.'

She moves closer to you, close enough to be touching you from her knee to her hip, and then she starts to speak:

'In the first place' she half whispers 'there is a massive protection racket going on here. People talk about insurance, but it's not insurance, it's protection. More than that, I just know that there is a trade of some sort going on here, and this is a shipyard; I don't mean these shops and bars, I mean cargoes, mysterious cargoes that don't go through proper customs. Can you believe it?'

Delaware laughs a little, halfway between bitterness and real mirth at the state of the Universe. She drains her drink and says 'I can tell you understand Orthan, all I want is a good job in a place that doesn't scare me half to death!'

[grenitos]

"Having studied the food outlets here somewhat i feel we should DEFINATELY have a beer first my dear,possibly an entire barrel!"

[Dehoffren]

Orthan flinched as skin touched skin and wiggled just slightly in his chair to create a miniscule gap between them. If Shranael walked in here now, and saw them cosying up there would be trouble, he had no doubt but the gravity of what Delaware was saying was too great to ignore. "I wonder if the Marquis has been approached for erm an insurance premium” he mused out loud before turning towards the woman with concern in his eyes “Have you ever been threatened?” he asked gravely trying to measure his response “What is so special about the consignments are they drugs, illegal minerals ...people even, that they would go to such lengths to keep things secret?” Even as he spoke Orthan made a mental note to ask the Marquis whether there was a position on board for the tech,

[kropotkin41]

Delaware shakes her head, 'No, I have really kept my head down. I have only talked about this with a couple of other people, other people passing through like you. I don't mean to burden you with this, I suppose that you just seem to have an air of honesty.......... oh, I'm sorry I don't want to embarrass you....... anyway, thanks for listening........'

The tech pauses and takes a gulp of beer perhaps to hide her embarrassment a little.

'The cargoes that come in could be anything' she continues, 'I suppose they must be things that are illegal or very valuable or probably both.'

[kropotkin41]

And so the Marquis and Lady Margaret also find themselves promenading on the Main Concourse. Looking into a bar which is not as loud as its competitors, Margaret says 'This one then Rupert? This is nice, it has been a long time since we have just found the time to come out for a beer.'

Entering the bar the Marquis notices that Orthan is in deep conversation with someone at a table; the pilot does not notice you come in, and it is perfectly possible to choose a table out of sight of his......... it is perhaps worth noting that the "someone" Orthan is talking to is a rather pretty young woman who has just moved so as to sit close alongside him........

Margaret has clearly noticed seconds before you and has equally clearly decided that she has in fact not noticed; she is already on her way to a table on the other side of the bar and well hidden behind partition walls and columns.

'I think you better order a pitcher Rupert' Margaret says as she sits down, 'I have a feeling I may be in need of two or three if we are really going for the targ kebab!'

[Dehoffren]

Orthan took a deep breath and visibly plumped up under the tech’s flattery “I’m glad to hear that you haven’t been under any undue pressure but I suggest you are careful, walls have ears and all that. What triggered your suspicions?” He asked craning his neck forward to catch her reply

[kropotkin41]

'Well I work a lot of overtime' Delaware says, as Orthan would expect from someone keen to save up and move on, 'so I am often around whilst one shift is leaving and another one is coming on. Because this yard works on a three shift system, it is only those changeover times that are slow; sometimes the changeovers take longer than they might, if you see what I mean. If you wanted to do something on the quiet, you would do it then. I have seen far too many things to tell you all of them. Anyway, a long time ago now I was sure I had noticed a pattern in the between-shift activities; I did think about starting to pay more attention, but in the end I decided that I would try to make sure I was always somewhere well out of the way at those times; even then, you know, I hear things, see things, I can't help it. One of the reasons I have only talked to travellers is that I have no idea who of my colleagues might be involved in the shady stuff.'

[grenitos]

The Marquis orders the beer and guides Margaret to a table where they can just seee Orthan and he can see them if he looks up.

[Dehoffren]

Orthan nodded his head knowingly “Indeed, that is probably a good policy to employ, but” he said pausing momentarily “Would you be willing to tell my employer what you have told me? He is a very reasonable man and well it may speed your departure from this place.” He pushed aside his glass and shuffled his chair outwards taking take not to scuff her thigh with his as he moved. All the talk of the possibility of other employees being involved made him very aware of his surroundings. His eyes swept the other tables, searching for someone with more than a passing interest in the tech but only found to his astonishment the Marquis and Lady Margaret. “The Marquis is just over there, it would not look out of place if we joined them” He stood and offered his hand to Delaware

[grenitos]

Standing up The Marquis grasps the lady's hand"I am The Marquis Rupet de Sade,pleased to meet you.This is the Lady Margaret,please join us and share a drink or two"

[kropotkin41]

'Oh really? A Marquis? An Imperial Marquis?' Delaware seems a little flustered, but agrees to come with you to meet your employers.

Orthan and the young woman who is in his company approach the table at which the Marquis and Lady Margaret are presently regarding a rather large pitcher of cold frothy beer!

OOC

After all, it is Australia Day!

[Dehoffren]

Orthan eyed the tankard of rusty coloured liquid suspiciously “Perhaps you would prefer a bottle of wine?” asked Orthan hopefully as he didn’t fancy the witch’s brew that he was currently being faced with. “Please let me introduce Delaware, she is a tech here and is working on our sensor counsel” Orthan pulled a chair away from the table and motioned the star struck woman to sit “It seems that all is not what it seems here” he began and outlined Delaware’s suspicions “If this is true I think a speedy departure may be in order” he looked pointed at Delaware, he could not put the Marquis in the position of asking in public if she could join the crew but later in private he would have a word