Bored, Jileeza only half-listens to the moaning about the cargo. Pulling out a nail file, she works on sharpening up her nails; it's important to maintain a good sharp edge...
Once the deal is done, 'Za blows Silverberg a quick kiss as usual, and boards the ship. Since everyone else appears to be departing the bridge, she does likewise and retreats to the autocannon turret on the off chance that some excitement arises.
Aurelia narrows her eyes and grumbles, half-joking.
"As if I'd let you touch the circuits if they did eat them...I tried to warn them officer, really I did. But noooo. They just said they'd shoot them. So, I fixed myself dinner and left them to their own devices..."
She runs her hands along the side of the ship lovingly. "Anyone else want anything?"
The next few days pass uneventfully for once. Following Silverberg's navigation coordinates, the Chance starts its entry into Gamdoaan's atmosphere. A thick green jungle blankets the planet, broken up by drab plateaus the size of small continents. As the surface nears, sprawling settlements can be seen covering the edges of the plateau/continents. Arnae banks the freighter towards one of the closer ones, designated by Silverberg's datapad as "Greebu's Ranch".
As luck would have it, a series of thumps is heard from the cargo bay, followed by the unmistakable screechings of a caged mynock.
Arnae sets the freighter down as gently as he can, trying to avoid any obvious flower beds or small children. He reaches for the comm panel and sends out a general hail on short-range frequencies:
"This is Captain Maddock of the Second Chance, here with a delivery for Greebu. Silverberg sends her regards."
"Second Chance, we have ya on our scopes," a gruff voice replies. "Move to bearing... nine-oh-seven and hold for landing bay doors." Arnae guides the ship across an expanse of tan grass and rocky outcroppings and into visual range of the so-called ranch. An asymmetric array of rust-colored, stubby, tapered cylindrical buildings rise out of the plateau floor. The Chance passes over the ranch wall - a Rancor screams a greeting in response to the freighter's engine noise. The ranch exterior grounds are divided into zones, much like zoo habitats. The aforementioned Rancor trudges alone through a large rocky zone, littered with bleached bones. Elsewhere, a small herd of nerfs - possibly the last nerfs in the galaxy - graze on the tan grass next to an artificial pond.
The workmanlike buildings are far less impressive as Arnae sails over them, although the presence of anti-air turrets is noted. Landing bay doors set into the ground grind open in the midst of a lush garden in the rear of the compound, admitting the Chance to an underground cavern fitted out as a hangar. Two small shuttles and a yacht share the space with the Second Chance's far larger bulk.
---
As Arnae takes the ship down, Wayde heads into the cargo bay fearing the worst. It is a surprise, then, that only two of the mynocks have come out of their slumber early, and are simply rattling their boxes, unable to break free.
The deck shifts as the ship sets down; the hiss of air circulators kicking in replaces the constant engine hum. Above the ship, the landing bay doors slide shut slowly, culminating with a thoom that reverberates through the hangar.
"Second Chance, welcome to Gamdoaan," comes across the comlink. "We'll take the cargo whenever you're ready."
Quote: from Dieter on 3:14 pm on Sep. 22, 2004
"Anyone not busy, please join me in the cargo room with guns at the ready. Set blasters on stun."
Hearing the ever-so-polite summons over the comm, 'Za leaves her position in the autocannon turret and makes her way aft, checking her weapon as she goes. When she enters the room, she finds no mynocks running around loose.
'Za looks over at Wayde. "A bit jumpy, are we?" She sits down near the cases, her pistol still in hand, and looks bored as she waits for them to land.
She smiles as the Gamdoans announce their readiness to receive the cargo. "This is one cargo I won't mind off-loading," she says to Wayde. She then instructs to droids to begin unloading.
"Oh. Hahaha. Laugh it up. Laugh it up. You two ladies having fun?" snarks Wayde, hammering a crate lid with his fist in a futile attempt to quiet the mynocks.
He walks over to Jileeza, pointing an accusative finger in her green face.
"You're the one that got us this silly job, not me, sweetheart."
Aurelia's comment draws a chuckle from Jileeza, which is only compounded by Wayde's reaction.
"Yes, Wayde. I got us a paying job. Shame on me. And while the mynocks are disturbing your inner harmony by being noisy, they are still locked up."
The transmission from Silverberg gets 'Za's attention in a hurry. "Shit! Arnae! Get us out of here now!" she yells, rescinding the unload order to the droids.
Jileeza then turns to look at Wayde and Aurelia. "Let's get out of the cargo bay! We'll be able to space the mynocks if they get loose." She scrambles toward the hatch, matching deeds to words.
It wouldn't surprise her if the bastards have some kind of auto-release on the mynock cages.
"Judging from the racket that landing bay hatch made on our arrival, it'd take a proton torpedo to blow it open."
(pulling out his comm-link)
"I'm guessing we just got screwed by an acquaintance of Ms. Silverberg. Prepare for a boarding party. I'm guessing this Greebu character has a bone to pick with us. 100 Credits says it's something to do with Gulgo."
As Arnae keeps the voice on the other end occupied ("our cargo hold blew out on reentry, give us a minute to unjam the door" ), Jileeza scans the hangar for any threats.
The hangar, occupied by the Chance, two shuttles, and a yacht, is large enough to accomodate an additional yacht or ship maybe half as big as the tramp freighter. Although carved from the natural stone, metal supports criss-cross the entirety of the hangar, blending into fully metal construction closer to the floor. There is an array of yellow and gunmetal loading droids at the side of the hangar, folded up and ensconced in their recharging bays. A large bay door, big enough to drive a skiff through, is set into the wall closest to where the Chance set down.
The cargo loaders (four of them) in the hangar bay begin to power up and engage, unfolding like forklift/grasshopper hybrids. They lumber towards the rear of the Chance on stubby legs.
Meanwhile, a new cacophony of screeches comes from the cargo hold. Another mynock's woken up and is battering itself against its darkened cell.
The four loaders continue to sit, patiently waiting next to the Chance. 'Za readies the autoblaster, scanning the droids first, then the bay door again. No change.
The commlink blares again. "Ya still there, Chance? Do you need assistance?"
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