IC: Striding the Soul's Edge Options

[Buddha72]

Iblis cracks a lop-sided smile. "I got your fuzzy-bunny right here." She turns to the rented talent for the job. "Uhm, I can't remember your name so let's just say it's Bob the rigger. So Bob, how many people do we need for this thing?"

[Fenris]

A chuckle comes back over the comms.

Schnell, but Bob works. You're going to need at least 15. If you're rigger's any good, she can handle the actual driving, but you're going to need people working comms and navigation and engineering. You'll also need a few people in the engine room that know at least something about diesel engines and know how to take orders.

[Buddha72]

Switching to her comm system Iblis relies the rigger's information. Did you get all that boss man?

[BishopMcQ]

"Got it. Just need numbers in case the first mate wants to try something."

Jake flexes his powerful upper body to stretch it in the cold air, waiting for the Russian to decide how many men he is keeping and who he is sending to their salvation.

[Fenris]

The man stumbles back below decks, fearfully glancing over his shoulder each time he pauses, waiting for the next door in his path to unlock itself.

About 15 minutes later Geoff calls out again from the hold.

"I have the command crew seperated, they'll come out first, and we've picked those to stay behind."

[BishopMcQ]

"Understood. We'll bring out your command staff and then the crew that is remaining behind. Once they are separated from the rest, we will allow your men to disembark."

After being assured that the ship was clean of anyone else, the shaman gives the command to begin the process of extracting the command staff. From his position on the bridge, Jake can't help but stand in awe at the immensity of the ship and how small it is compared to the vast ocean and sky around him.

"Diesel once we have the Captain and his men pulled out, pat them down for weapons and escort them to the second deck that Nameless is patrolling. Short stuff I need you and Schnell to arrange how you want the men spread out and where the two of you are going to be to get this lady moving again. I'll need all guns on deck when we start moving the crew off, but until then we have a few minutes to rest."

[Fenris]

The command crew looks like the rest of the crew, as far as anyone on board can tell. There's five of them, and they quietly stand off to one side as the 5 men Geoff indicates as the 'left behind' crew members pile out of the holds. All glance around fearfully at Steel and Diesel, nudging ribs and nodding heads towards Iblis. Loki assists with the search of each man amid cries of missing credsticks and watches, quickly silenced by a look from Diesel.

Geoff, apparently somewhere in the middle of the command chain from the way he seems to defer to two other men in the command crew, nods to the command crew and the 5 men.

"These are the commanders of each department. Captain, Navigation, Engineering, Accomadations, and Company Man." The last man is a slim Asian gentleman, considerably better dressed then the rest. He gives Geoff a murderous glance as the Russian points him out, and then spits in Jake's direction.

"These men can help you take the boat where ever you need it to go." He points to the other group of 5, huddled near the hatch.

[Buddha72]

Iblis starts singing soflty. "Which one of these things is not like the others...." She strolls over, both heavily modified pistols out and primed. She places both guns firmly on the back of the head of the Asian gentleman. "Look J-J, we got a side of rice with our meal."

[Fenris]

The Asian starts as he feels the pistols pressed to the back of his head, and he gives Geoff a murderous glare.

In Russian, Your family and your families family are dead, hung by their entrails and left for rats to feast upon!

[Buddha72]

Iblis taps not-so-gently with the barrel of one gun to his head. "Don't be rude now, speak English or start picking up your teeth from the floor."

[Fenris]

The Asian man grimaces, and half turns his head back to address the furry little elf standing behind him.

"I simply stated," he speaks with slightly accented English, "that our mutual business associate would be unhappy with his complicity with your demands." He grins very widely in the dim light of pre-dawn.

"We value loyalty very highly."

[BishopMcQ]

"And I value obedience. Geoff please translate for me. Will those of you who agree with the Company Man, that you should sacrifice your lives and fight against us please raise your hands. I don't have enough to poll the entire crew so I will allow your choices to speak for them."

There is a quiet hiss through the night air as Jake's sword clears its sheath.

[Fenris]

Geoff translates, the stammering obvious even in the other language. The command crew briefly glance among each other and then to Jake, and stand quietly, not a single hand raised.

[BishopMcQ]

"Very well. Thank you for your frankness and honesty."

"Time to back up honey."

The statement is barely transmitted over the comms when Jake takes two steps forward closing the distance with a low feint and then a high wide arc designed to separate the Japanese man's head from his shoulders.

[Buddha72]

Iblis quickly and quietly jogs back and to the side.

[Fenris]

Jake takes two quick steps forward as he speaks, the sword dipping down and then sweeping up again, and the Company Man barely has time to begin to raise his hands before the heavy bladed sword whistles through the air, cleanly seperating head from neck. The command crew and Jake are covered with a spray of arterial blood, steaming in the cold air.

The body slumps to the ground, a puddle forming at Jake's feet as the last of the man's lifeblood is spilt.

The command crew are aghast, and shouts and comments race through the assembled crew as well. Several of them begin to gesture angrily to the corpse and speak in Russian until they catch sight of Jake, and conversation abruptly falls quiet.

Geoff seems appreciative, if still in shock, and stammers quickly through some English. "I-I w-wouldn't have said to do so, but my f-family thanks you." He glances around at the agitated crew, and turns back to Jake quickly. "I think it would be b-best to r-release the crew. I-If you mean to."

[BishopMcQ]

"Send them off, Loki."

Wiping off the blade and resheathing his sword, Jake bends down and lifts the body with one arm and the head with the other and drops them both overboard.

"You're family is welcome. Now, get this ship moving."

[Fenris]

The small shaman nods, moving towards the crowd and shuffling them along, bright eyes and quick fingers certain to catch every watch, credstick, and occasional wad of nuyen. His ally spirit helps, scampering among legs and pointing out those that were hiding things.

In short order the crew is hustled off of the ship and onto the life rafts, and after a quick pat down, Loki nods the okay to send the command crew along, leaving you with just the 5 men.

The men move quickly split up and head back into the engineering section and bridge. 15-20 minutes later, however, the message comes up that it will take at least another hour before the ship will move again. The saboteur had done his job well.

[BishopMcQ]

"Loki, I need you and Katie to break down what you've got in the bag. Short Stuff, you are with me, we need to get this ship moving. We can give an extra set of hands if they need it. Iblis hit the hold and see what we have down there. Everyone else, keep an eye open and don't let anything else sneak up on us."

[Fenris]

Jake

The diminuitive dwarf hustles down below, and reviews the situation. Quickly enough it becomes apparent that the crew was not exaggerating, and the two of you settle down to take orders in broken English from the 3 men below.

[Buddha72]

Iblis heads to the hold, mildly curious on what this tug boat is shipping.

[BishopMcQ]

Jake hadn't expected to get liquids heavier and darker than blood on his hands tonight, but these things have to happen. He puts in his best effort, knowing that his part down here is to speed the passage of time as much as it is to help the ship get moving.

[Fenris]

The hold is filled with crates marked with various manufacturer's stamps, and prying them open you find, for the most part, that the cargo matches the manifest. Dozen's of brands of cheap knock-off chip players, hundreds, maybe thousands, of sim-games and dubbed sim-flicks. One crate on the bottem of the stack in the middle of the hold yields a slightly different prize, the space inside padded and filled with bags of pills and piles of one use, self activated hypos. You note the manufacturer and find only three crates from the same company, one Hazoikya Holdings. All carry the same sort of products.

[Buddha72]

Patching into the comm system, Iblis begins to sing. "There's a party in my pants....." She begins to look over the pile of drugs. "We've got crates full of drugs down here, I can't tell whether they're part favors or something a litltle more potent." You all hear a long suffering sigh. "Well, I could but no playing while working for this fuzzy elf. I have my happy friend, the guy who keeps the party going long past the music and booze, who might be able to tell us what this is and how much it goes for." She puts the lids back in place. "Everything else looks legit, cheap and crappy electronics mostly."

[BishopMcQ]

Laying on his back with a wrench in hand, tightening down another bolt, Jake hears the call from his favorite decker.

"No time to play now, call your friend and find out what you can. The electronics who knows...maybe we can give them away as parting gifts at the next party you go to. By the way, anyone know the secret for getting industrial strength engine grease out of your hair?"