Evervigilant 52

<Vigilant_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Vigilant_GM> Interrogator Kurst's personal cogitator terminal reacts to his rosette, bypassing several security redundancies. Displayed, then, are several options, and input boxes - all seemingly nonsensical in wording.
<Vigilant_GM> Baird, however, is able to navigate the coded cant used by their Master, and recognizes the meaning of the otherwise cryptic words. Listed are a number of data entries, from confessions, to cover-up details, to successes and failures (some labelled "Terminal") of various operations across Desoleum. The input box at the very bottom is an ingress to the Inquisitor's own archives,
<Vigilant_GM> provided the adequate passcode is entered.
<Vigilant_GM> The name of Cardinal Pius Salerio comes up as Interrogator Kurst's mark. Baird also finds the recordings of an administratum informant, discovering regular meetings at Port Gyre with the man.
Thesse , Tony and Almarax travel to the Port Authority. Thesse convinces the workers to allow Almarax to take a look at the security footage of the supposed 'theft' from an associate.
<Thesse> They gathered the information they needed and left afterwards.
<Vigilant_GM> The footage shows Kurst moving towards the location of a load-bearing bridge a kilometer away from the magrail station. He dresses in the clothes of an off-worlder, which explains the strange accent which he puts on in his recorded interactions with his informant.
<Vigilant_GM> Curiously, Kurst appears to walk with a certain gait in the footage, as though leaning into his stride with every right-leg step forward.
<Vigilant_GM> With the next routine meeting four days away, it is the Guljian matter that must next take place in order to leave for Juno as planned.
<Karpath> In his down time between checking on Kurst, Karpath approaches Velam about play some Regicide.
<Velam> Though he is not necessarily busy, he was in the process of organizing some notes. But they can wait, he tells Karpath that he accepts his challenge.
<Karpath> After several rounds, Karpath admins defeat to Velam. His first round was a horrible loss, and he started to come back in the second, but the third Velam fully beat him.
<Velam> "Just some practice, and you'll be much better. I guarantee it my friend."
<Karpath> "Yea, one day I will figure it out, thanks for the game, at least its better then playing against Nitrous."
<Vigilant_GM> The day of the meeting at last arrives, and the Throne Agents make their preparations.
<Vigilant_GM> Tony's unfamiliarity with the upper hive is apparent, and the delay this causes could mean the loss of the meeting altogether. Despite this fact, they arrive at the Sun Dome - a grand open sphere formed out of reinforced Desoleum glass.
<Vigilant_GM> Within it, floors of layered gardens and walkways catch the sun's warming rays; at this height nearly unfiltered by the thick atmosphere of the hive world.
<Vigilant_GM> A relief of Saint Valerius stands some thirty meters tall, along one of the supporting pillars.
* Thesse and Tony make their way towards the meeting spot.
<Vigilant_GM> Automaton butterflies of meter-long wingspans flutter about, soft chimes echo through the sphere, and the soft mist output of the interior climate systems create for a truly calming atmosphere. Here, the nobles walk the gardens, enjoying their idle lifestyles.
<Vigilant_GM> At the base of the Saint's feet, on the crease of the pedestal, is a small paper crane, a crimson G ink-stroked on the wide of its folded body.
* Thesse walks up and gently picks up the paper crane. She carefully examines it.
<Vigilant_GM> Unfolded, it reveals a hand-written note. "Unfortunate."
* Thesse lets out a deep sigh and looks at Tony.
<Thesse> "It might be time to leave."
<Vigilant_GM> "Dorian Guljian," a deep voice speaks from behind you.
<Vigilant_GM> "You must be the pair who kept me waiting."
* Thesse slowly turns around with a look with slight panic.
<Vigilant_GM> The man is tall, and well-built for a noble. He is joined by three men, all in similar attire.
* Thesse takes a slight bow and says "My deepest apologies, Lord Guljian."
<Vigilant_GM> Some 20 meters behind him, you notice a pair of men observing every detail of this interraction, identical optic cybernetics in each.
<Vigilant_GM> "Spare me."
<Thesse> "I guess we should get straight to business then... My Master 'The Reclaimator' wishes to trade with House Guljian with 'unique' devices."
<Vigilant_GM> "And tardy lackeys is how he chooses to express this interest. Have you brought me a sample?"
<Thesse> "A sample? Here? In public? My Master would be displeased showing his collection here with prying eyes. He intends to show his merchandise. Under a few conditions... he will only show it to the Head of House Guljian as it is one of his most prized archeotech. It needs to be a secure location, away from unwanted guests."
<Vigilant_GM> "Lord Guljian will not meet insolent off-worlders!" hisses the elderly accompanying noble, with a wave of his hand.
<Vigilant_GM> Dorian shoots a silencing glance at him, however.
<Vigilant_GM> "Even if such an arrangement were to come through," he begins, turning back to you, "it would require rather more than you assurances of that such a collection exists. Speak pointedly, and with information I can present, or let us not waste time further."
* Thesse looks and nods to Tony.
* Tony walks up to Thesse and passes her the Pict Recording, then takes a step back
* Thesse takes the pict recording and slowly hands it to Dorian.
<Vigilant_GM> He accepts it, and looks it over for a few moments before passing it to the emaciated nobleman to his left.
<Vigilant_GM> This man spends a considerable amount of time looking it over.
<Vigilant_GM> "You can assure that this sample is representative of the collection?" he asks with a whispery voice.
<Thesse> "Yes."
<Vigilant_GM> "And what is it your master wants in return?" Dorian speaks up.
<Thesse> "A simple partnership. My Master needs to trade and surreptitiously transport these 'items' to various planets around the system including Juno. We can work out the details of an agreement that would benefits us both."
<Vigilant_GM> "A partnership," Dorian comments as the lanky nobleman leans over and whispers something in his ear. Above his shoulder, some fifty meters away on one of the layered garen walkways, Nitrous stalks the meeting though the foilage.
<Vigilant_GM> "Very well. Location and timing will be determined by Lord Guljian. How are we to send word to your master?"
<Vigilant_GM> "Dorian, Lord Guljian simply will--
<Vigilant_GM> "Enough."
<Vigilant_GM> The elderly nobleman bows his head in silence after being cut off, though his aggitation is clear.
<Thesse> "A courier service of your choice. Simple, but effective."
<Vigilant_GM> "Primitive."
<Vigilant_GM> "Lord Guljian is a very cautious man. Middlemen are simply out of the question."
<Vigilant_GM> "Where does your Master stay?"
<Thesse> " My Master is also a very cautious man, protecting his prized collection from all sorts of trouble."
<Vigilant_GM> "The Roseburry Hostel. Are you familiar with it?"
<Thesse> "Yes."
<Vigilant_GM> "Third floor villa. It will be registered to a Mr. Obren. Call on him in the next two days, and every day thereafter until you are given your answer."
<Vigilant_GM> "No middlement," he repeats.
<Thesse> "Understood."
<Vigilant_GM> "For your own future prospects," he adds just before parting, "Do not keep Lord Guljian waiting if this opportunity is granted to you."
* Thesse nod and bows.
* Tony and Thesse return to the Autocarrage and head back down to the safehouse as they head down Tony begins to spin a tale to Sister Thesse on the "Safety" Of that area of the hive
* Nitrous follows the Tony back to the safehouse
* Nitrous when he returns he re-equips himself
<Baird> A fully disguised and voice modulated Baird makes the meeting with the Administratum informant, negotiating the correction job for the altered records that was botched a few days prior.
<Vigilant_GM> The Guljian note provides a time, in a week's time, and a place: Serenity- the Guljian family orbital.