Shipyards (Open)

[Tanis]

"Now this is what I think you're looking for. One of Core Galaxy System's budget freighters. Ugly thing, though, with those solar energy panels on it....pretty fast, though, and well armed for fighting off pirates." The salesman said as he chewed on a rolled leaf of T'bac, walking Jaerikk through the docking bays that composed Concord Dawn's cheapest shipyard.

Jaerikk walked behind, his limp lessened, having had a dew days to recover. He wore his armor, as always, but walked without his helmet on, red tattoos standing out against his flesh, long dark hair behind him. His eyes darted from the various ships and back to the salesman as he blathered on about their capabilities and manufacturers. Jaerikk lost track of the myriad of wrecks he had been shown, but stopped at this latest one.

"How well armed?" He asked, even toned.

"Well...it's got a pair of Concussion Missile launchers and laser cannons. About as maneuverable as the old Dynamic Class, if a bit slower in the hyperspace department. Cargo bay is big enough you could make good money transporting goods between worlds. Them solar panels help out a pair of big plasma energy reactors, these damn things will run forever if you're only have awake. Uglier than a Toydarian's ass crack, though. I got some nicer ones down this way, good, big ones that'll m-" The salesman said, but was quickly cut off.

"I'll take it."

"You'll tak- what? I thought you were looking for something bigger?"

"I'll take it." Jaerikk repeated as he pulled out his credstick.

"Well...it was used by a freighter pilot for a season or two before he traded up...so...17."

"14, and you can take the wreck of my old ship for parts." Jaerikk countered.

The salesman rubbed his chin.

"15." He responded.

Jaerikk handed the man his credstick and the salesman swiped it through a handheld computer device. Jaerikk took his stick back and checked his balance...hrmm. He wasn't broke yet, but it wouldn't be too long before he was there. No matter. He had a new ship, now all he needed was a crew. Jaerikk turned to the salesman and nodded.

"Be a day or two before I leave. The wreck is in bay 28."

The salesman walked away, and Jaerikk slammed a button on the command console outside the ship. Her landing ramp lowered, and Jaerikk climbed aboard, carrying his rucksack that had the only thinks he could salvage from his old ship...the last memories of his family. Just inside the landing ramp was the cargo bay, fairly spacious and wide, and directly across the bay was a corridor. Following this, Jaerikk came to the dorms.

Three on each side of the corridor, all the same size, all the same make. He tossed his sack down in the first room on the right, and headed down the corridor which lead to the bridge. Out over the cockpit, the sensor booms extended, solar panels raised. He flicked a few switches on the command console and the cockpit was filled with lights and soft beeping. It worked. He turned and headed back down the corridor to the cargo bay. A staircase to his left coming out of the corridor lead up.

He followed this and found the engine compartment, where the two reactors lay silent. In this upper deck, there was also a small infirmary, a similarly small kitchen and commons area, and the magazines for the concussion missile tubes. They were empty. Well, it looks like he found where the rest of his funds was going. He sighed and headed to the commons, where the holonet projector stood. He fired it up and put out an advertisement. He paused when it got to the portion he filled in the ship's name. He typed it out and sent it.

-------
Docking Bay 78, Concord Dawn Shipyard
Kite-Class Light Freighter Astral Fury looking for crew
Jaerikk Kotaer, Captain.
-------

[Mara]

He had just come from his hotel down the street, well rested and fed. Without much else to do for the next couple of days, the man had left most of things in his room, preferring to go mostly unarmed except for the heavy blaster at his side. The holster was attached to a belt setting loosely around the waist of his light trousers that were tucked into some well-worn nerf-hide boots. He wore a loose-fitting tunic untucked with a dark nerf-leather vest over top. Not trying to be fashionable but merely comfortable. He had no need to wear much else since he knew his muscular and tall appearance was more than able to complete the rest of his ensemble.

Before he decided to grab another meal, for the one in his hotel was not as satisfying now an hour later than he had previously thought, Ean Stenner wandered into the shipyard. He wasn't particular thinking about buying a ship, since he had no skill as a pilot, but he merely wanted to browse. And if the right ship caught his eye, and be bought it, there were plenty of potential pilots here landside.

He walked easily, casually into the yard, trying to be nonchalant about his interest. A salesman came over right away to intercept Ean, but he waved the man off, saying he was only browsing. Though, the salesman, always waiting for a deal, hovering around nearby just in case as Ean walked around the various lines of ships.

Some of the Corellian light freighters had caught his eye. Even though he hadn't been there in years, he would always have a soft spot for his home planet and its workmanship. But he didn't linger, not wanting to give the salesman the satisfaction of thinking he had a potential buyer. He continued walking slowly, eying the various freighters, from small to large. Ean was beginning to notice that there wasn't a whole lot to choose from here in the way of the fancier ships, but, then again, he wouldn't want some huge sparkling yacht for his...business.

Folding his arms across his large chest, he continued on, poking around all of the ships, in all shapes and forms, pretending to know what he was looking for, though he hadn't the faintest idea of what was good or bad about a ship. Thankfully, when a new customer entered, the salesman stopped shadowing Ean. He resisted a small and turned another corner.

Coming to one particular ship, Ean was about to look closer when he noticed that a big badly-written "SOLD" sign had been posted near it. After walking around it, he shook his head. Even someone like himself without much knowledge of ship types could tell it was junk. Either someone else like him bought it, or someone in dire straits without much credits to his or name needed some transport that wasn't public and didn't care how long it would take for it to get to top speed.

[Tanis]

Jaerikk took a moment to peek out one of the transparisteel view ports into the shipyards around his ship, and noticed a lone stranger taking in his new transport. The stranger was plainly dressed, but clearly armed...with a fine looking pistol too, by the looks of it. Jaerikk finished packing in the dry food stuffs and then walked down the entrance ramp, eying the man as he walked. Jaerikk's red tattoos stood out against his skin as he spoke, much like they always did, but the movement almost made it appear as if they writhed and slithered like snakes in a field.

"I don't suppose you're a chap with enough iron in your belly to take the job posting I listed on the Holonet. If not, best be moving on. This here is my ship."

Jaerikk stood, right foot slightly behind the left as his hand rested on his hip, mere inches from the handle of his own sidearm...although the thought of having to draw quickly brought back some painful and not too distant memories. His reached into a pocket on the belt of his armored waist and pulled a pack of T'bac rolls out, lighting one up and puffing on it once before removing it from his mouth. He blew the smoke upwards, away from Ean's face, so as not to be rude, but Jaerikk knew somewhere deep in his soul that this man probably wouldn't mind the smoke.

"Going out to hunt pirates. Local contracts, big Republic wanteds, and such, so if you're planning to sign on you had better be able to use that shooting iron as well as you wear it. If you're in for one, you're in for all, so be damn sure you've got the balls to see the deal through. Am I unclear?"

Jaerikk puffed again and stared at the stranger, never blinking.

[Mara]

Years of chasing after notorious criminals and other bounties plus looking after the brat Ternia for about the same amount of time had given Ean quite the sabacc face, and he looked at the man who had come down the ramp blandly. He kept his arms crossed, not thinking of the fact that it would make his biceps stand out more underneath his loose tunic.

He hadn't been on Concord Dawn very long, but in his travels, and various recent occupations, he had come into contact with a few. But this was the first one he had seen with these particular facial tattoos. Then again, he hadn't seen too many Mandos without their helmets on. Ean recognized the move the man made shifting his weight with a slight emphasis on his own sidearm. He resisted a smile and kept his face blank, which was easy for him to do most of the time. Just remembering how he struggled while a child would be ammo enough.

Ean couldn't think of what ad on the HoloNet that he mentioned, but he wasn't prone to use things that didn't come easily to him. He would rather just ask someone something, than use something so foolish as the HoloNet. Thinking slowly about his reply and how to formulate it, he stayed quiet a while, just looking the man over.

He really wanted to teach this arrogant man a lesson, standing there all jauntily, thinking that all he needed to defend himself was a little blaster and some smart talk. Ean suppressed another grin when this crossed his mind. Before he even realized it, the man could be laying on the ground in front of his ship with a snapped neck. But, no, that wouldn't resolve anything. And this man looked like he really like this piece of junk ship he had just purchased.

Ean cleared his throat and uncrossed his arms, taking a step closer. "I was just admiring your... pretty ship." He raised an eyebrow and added, just because he was curious, "First time going out for bounties?"

[Tanis]

"Don't play games with me. I'm not an idiot and this ship isn't pretty. It's a piece of crap, but it works and has weapons. First time for bounties, yes, but I'm not a child and I'm no stranger to violence. Mandalorians live by it and it lives by us."

Jaerikk replied as evenly as he could. He didn't much like the look of this man. He was too...what was the word. He was too bland. His face was a mask of apathy when it should be a face of anger, frustration, awe, fear, or some other emotion. He was too calm. Whatever it was he was thinking, it probably wasn't in the best interest of Jaerikk or his mission for justice. He evened up his footing and took another puff on his T'bac.

In the long silence between Jaerikk's first question and Ean's answer, the two had no doubt sized each other up. Or at least, Jaerikk was sure he checked over the man. Well built, certainly stronger than the older Mando, but he had the look of a...simpleton. He didn't seem that sharp or quick-witted, but then again, first impressions were never always correct. Jaerikk puffed again on the T'bac before throwing away the butt on the pavement and grinding it into the ground with the heel of his boot.

"My name is Jaerikk, this is my ship, Astral Fury."

[Mara]

At the man's first remark and lack of understanding his sarcasm on the remark of his ship, Ean let himself chuckle this time. Even he understood sardonic remarks from time to time, and he knew he wasn't the brightest star in the galaxy. By watching the man speak, he could tell that something was bothering him, under the surface. He was trying very hard to keep a grip on his emotions. Ean fell back a half pace and relaxed his posture even more.

"I understand the lives you Mandos live. But just being friendly to violence won't help you in all bounty situations. Speaking as someone with knowledge in that area." He added, just trying to give some substance to his advice but also not trying to say too much. Saying a lot usually made him appear less intelligent than he wanted to be portrayed as or as he actually was.

Ean thought about giving his own name, but he wasn't sure what kind of reaction this Jaerikk would have, especially if his reputation had preceded him. However, he thought he needed to reciprocate in order to keep the air friendly. "Jaerikk," he nodded and said simply, "Ean," leaving out his last name for now. It was a fair compromise.

He glanced away for a moment back at the ship Jaerikk had mentioned as the Astral Fury, and with a fair bit of imagination, if he thought hard enough, she would probably be a sturdy ship. Probably never beautiful but for his line of work, and the one this man wanted to get into, she wouldn't have to be.

Something came to Ean's mind, something he should have thought of before, but it never occurred to him. One of the reasons he had strolled into this shipyard in the first place: he had been thinking of getting some personal transportation instead of going public all the time. It had been a long time since he had had any sort of friend or anyone even remotely close to being called one, but Ean saw something in this man. Yes, he seemed to have some personal problems that he held tight to his chest, but who didn't? Ean knew he had a lot of past he didn't particularly like either. Like Ternia. He held back a shudder just thinking about that little girl.

Taking a giant leap, he addressed Jaerikk. "You save me the trouble of buying my own ship and finding a pilot. No current bounty but if you fly, I'll take you under, teach you. And pay you well." Ean reached into a pocket of his vest and pulled out a credit chip and tossed the 100 creds at Jaerikk.

[Mara]

{Moving on...}


Ean was waiting for an answer from the man who called himself Jaerikk when his comm beeped. He tried a friendly smile for the other man and walked off a few paces before answering it. The large man listened for a while with interest, asking a question here and there to clarify details. It seemed there was another possible bounty, and this time the Republic military had an eye out for him. And not in a bad way, either. It seemed they wanted to hire to help out in bringing back a disgraced major or something. Ean didn't really need to know why, just who and where. And how. This job was intriguing to him.

He pocketed the comm and turned to walk back towards Jaerikk. "Seems something has come up. If you still need some pointers, look me up. Ean Stenner, bounty hunter." Unless this man was a complete hermit, he should have heard at least something about him, or would know someone who did. Ean's name was slowly spreading through the galaxy, as evidenced by the Republic's interest in him.

"And spend that credichip wisely." Ean winked and gave a relaxed wave before walking away back up the row of forgotten and diseased ships. As he headed for the exit from the shipyards, he thought more about the coming bounty and the involvement of the Republic. It would be a first for him, for sure, working for the government. All his previous bounties had been posted mainly by people with personal vendettas or angry employers. And obviously this major and her companion were dangerous enough that a simple court martial or search by the military police wouldn't be enough. Yes, this was indeed very intriguing. And Ean was sure that the Republic would pay him well. Not that he needed money, per se, but it was always big plus.

He grinned to himself at the possibilities and opportunities that would come his way after he completed this job as he left the shipyards and headed in the direction of his hotel. Because there was no way he was going to fail. Ean Stenner failed at many things but not hunting down and subduing his prey. The duo wouldn't even know what was coming until it was all over. If everything went right. Sometimes there were always snags, but even so, he still got the job done.

Back in his room, he began to pack up his sparse belongings. Perhaps after this job he would have enough spare credits to relax comfortably for quite some time and on a better planet than Concord Dawn. Maybe he would even have enough time to learn to pilot and buy a nice yacht to go along with the new skills. Ean grinned as he fitted his clothes and weapons into their respective bags and cases.

To Coruscant, he would go, if only because he wanted to know more. He could always say no, but he had a feeling he wouldn't.


[to thread An Intriguing Offer....]