Jammers Summary: Chapter 3, Turn 1

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

On the STAR:

Holland sits on the helm, using his expanded vision to watch the scene between the wreckship and the GHOST. Holland blinks and then calls up the voice tube for Leera to quickly come down to the Bridge.

Leera hurries below, wondering aloud if Holland is experiencing the same effect that caused 'Pate to lose control of the ship.

Holland says, "Warn those on deck and shout a quick warning over to the GHOST, for everyone NOT to talk about the pirate cove. If asked, we took the pirate ship GHOST in combat above Shipwrecker. Hurry!!"

Leera listens, nods, and takes off at a run, heading above decks.

Holland tries to move the STAR so it is close enough for Leera's warnings to be heard on the GHOST but the Bral wreckship approaches too fast.

After leaving Holland in the helmroom, Leera dashes up on deck. Seeing that the wreckboats will arrive at the GHOST and the dragonfly first, she stops and sighs. Trooping over to the speaking tube, she calls down to Holland "Holland, I can't get the message across in time. Sorry."

Leera then moves out of sight of the wreckboat, shrugs, and transforms her appearance. Her features soften, her hair becomes more lustrous, and her figure becomes slightly more curvaceous. Her robes cling more tightly, and seem cleaner and in better repair. All in all, she looks lovely. After looking herself over, Leera moves back into sight of the wreckboat and awaits the boarders.

Italapate grins as he watches the wreckboat close on the GHOST. He munches deliberately on a hard biscuit, one of the last remaining such item in the ship's stores. He leans against the fore gunwale to watch the show.

Nilaroo continues to work the sails as the three ships close on Bral.

As the STAR approaches the Rock, Kain makes sure that all the lines are tended to, then steps away and makes his way to the stairs leading belowdecks. "I've.. ah.. got to get our books for the authorities," Kain says as he pauses at the top of the stairs.

Heading straight for the bridge, Kain quickly opens the chest where the ledger is stored, giving Holland a faint smile. "Time to, well, deal with the honest Bralian bureaucracy," he sighs. Tucking the company ledger under his belt, Kain hurries topside, taking the steps two at a time. He gets back in time, as the wreckboat hasn't finished it's approach of the STAR.

As Seguld watches the customs inspection begin aboard the FLOW GHOST, Seguld decides to go below and gather up his paperwork as well. It takes him longer than Kain, but soon he returns to the deck, his inventory documents in his hand, and the length of rope which Jamila had tied him to the ballista over his other shoulder. As he leans against the railing a double clunking noise is heard. Two maces are softly settling against the rail themselves - one is the mace Seguld has been carrying, the second is the mace which Holland and Leera identified earlier on the journey.

On the GHOST:

Deigatt stands forward as the wreckboat approaches, the shaft of his axe parallel to the deck beneath his feet.

The wreckboat pulls alongside and a bored looking man wearing chainmail with a grey tabard bearing the Bralian coat of arms climbs out of the wreckship onto its deck. One of the two soldiers (who wear similar outfits) standing next to the ballista straightens up. "Ahoy the ship! Name and last port!"

"This vessel his the FLOWGHOST," Deigatt bellows. "Hin from Shipwrecker."

"Prepare for Customs inspection, FLOW GHOST!" the man says as he and one of the guards jumps the short distance across to the GHOST's deck.

Talus lets Deigatt and Ferric do the talking and shouting. The young half-elf stays on deck keeping an eye on the wreckboat, absentmindedly recoiling the same rope three times while the inspection goes on.

"Whose the captain?" the man says, glancing about the decks at the damage apparent. "Ownership papers, please."

Deigatt stares down at the man silently. Then he turns his head and calls out, "Agent Ferric! Hon deck!"

Ferric comes up from the helm room and walks over to the customs inspector. "Good day sir, I am Ferric Gundson and this ship is under my command for the time being. We do not have any papers as this ship was crewed by a group of pirates who attacked us. We, the Company of the Silent Star, have claimed this vessel after defeating the pirates who tried to board us.

"Excellent. Do you have any cargo to declare?" He nods and notes things down. "Your air's clean, so the air tax will be 64 silver. Please show me below." The officer exudes a sort of professional boredom.

Ferric leads the customs inspector belowdecks. "Holland, captain of the SILENT STAR there will pay the fee for both ships."

"I'm afraid that's not possible." The officer follows Ferric through the ship, looking about in a half-hearted manner. "64 silver for air tax, 32 silver for 1 day's dock fees, after the first day you'll have to pay your dock fee at the harbormaster's office. No cargo, but she is a prize ship. You won't be able to depart until you've gotten a prize court seal indicating you've paid the 20% prize tax."

Looking meaningfully at the hold he just gave a very cursory inspection, the Customs' Bureau officer says, "I'm sure you're anxious to get ashore. How's about you just give me the tax in 3 platinum coins and we'll call it even."

"Raken,, Talus. Would you gentlemen be able to contribute 6 gold pieces each for our 'taxes'?" Ferric digs into his own pouch and pulls out 6 gold coins.

Talus gives Ferric a sour look, "I will be just a moment." The young elf quickly darts below where he grabs the required pieces of gold from his pack.

"Why not," Raken says as he digs out six gold coins and hands them to Ferric. "Anything else you need, don't hesitate to ask."

Taking the coins from the others Ferric says, "I did not catch you name officer. It's good to know who you can work with on Bral and who a ship should ask for if we are in need of future inspections." Ferric hands the man 18 gold.

"We're all equally helpful." the man says smiling, the he gives Ferric a berthing number and returns to his wreckboat. The wreckboat then quickly departs for the STAR.

Talus observes the blatant corruption of the port official with a half-smile on his face. Once they have left the GHOST, the half-elf remarks, "It is nice to see how some things are constant. Bureaucracy is the bane of all trying to make a living, especially when a dose of corruption is added to the mix."

On the STAR:

When the customs officials arrive aboard the STAR, Leera moves forward to greet them. "Well met! This is the SILENT STAR, jointly owned and operated by this company and by House Moune. We're back from a trek to Shipwrecker, as I'm sure you've already heard. We aren't carrying much cargo; most of it was put to use repairing the ship." Leera turns and puts an arm around Kain. "Kain here can show you our manifest." She looks around for Seguld. Spotting him, she continues, "Our enterprising gnome there has his own cargo aboard. He can tell you about it."

Kain blushes furiously as Leera puts her arm around him, but he offers the company ledger to the official with softly spoken, "here sir." He smiles and says, "We.. ah.. also have a pair of ledgers from the FLOW GHOST, in case you were.. ah.. looking to check their.. ah.. books too. They weren't very well kept though," Kain shrugs.

Releasing Kain, she turns back to face the officials. She smiles in an open, friendly manner "Truth to tell, we're pretty banged up. I hope this won't take *too* long."

Kain nods his agreement, "The SILENT STAR and her crew are all fairly tired and ready for a.. ah.. few weeks of calm." Kain stands by the official as he examines the ledger.

The man stares at Leera's cleavage for a moment, obviously enjoying the view. "Well, air tax will be 40 silver, first day's dock fees 20 silver. He glances at the Seguld, then turns back to Leera, "How about you show me below decks?"

Smiling and flirting Leera leads the man through the ship, he barely glances at the various compartments, instead he seems engrossed in her walk.

For the most part, Raken stands around quietly during the inspection. He leans against the main mast, out of the way, and watches the inspection. After the inspectors have headed down into the hold, he sighs and heads to the foredeck to spend a few minutes watching the busy space port of Bral. "Civilization," he mutters as he watches the bustling port.

As the tax collectors go about their inspection, Grigree hangs back out of the way. Most of his time is spent mindlessly straightening out the ships rigging while watching the others over his shoulder.

The Customs Officer finally finishes his inspection, collects his taxes from Seguld and Kain, and then boards his wreckship. The wreckship then turns and heads for the RESPLENDENT.

As the port authorities leave, Billy rubs his hands in anticipation. "It's been a while since my last mug..." He looks down and pinches his waist. In imitation a feminine voice he says, "Why, Billy, you look positively skeletal! You never eat right when you go on your 'adventures'!" Returning back to his regular voice, he says, "I know, I know... I'll fix that soon enough!" Billy smacks his lips in anticipation.

Back on the GHOST:

Heading back down to the helm, Ferric pauses as he notices a thin seam in the back wall of the helmroom for the first time. It looks like it might outline a secret door.

Ferric calls out "Talus, could you come here a moment."

Making sure the men from the Dragonfly are not around, Ferric says quietly, "Take a look at this wall would you. Be careful though, this ship belonged to some unsavory characters and I don't imagine the captain trusted everyone in his crew so it could be trapped." Ferric positions himself so as to block Talus's activities and watches his companion work.

Talus rather quickly finds the secret doors latch and opens it up. Inside is a small room, obviously used for smuggling materials but covered in dust as if it were long disused. Only a single crate, perhaps 5 feet long and 2 feet wide resides in the room. It too is covered in a thick layer of dust.

Talus and Ferric quickly close the door, intending to reexamine the box when the RESPLENDENT's crew have disembarked.

Meanwhile: The GHOST and STAR head for their berths, next to each other and just by the shipyards. The passage through the shipping lanes is without incident and the vessels are soon docked and secured.

The two sailors from the RESPLENDENT walk ashore and disappear into the dockside crowds.

The Company of the Silent Star regroups on the GHOST to distribute spoils and plan their next move. Kain reimburses the 18 gold paid to the Custom's official by Ferric, Talus, and Raken as the crew debates.

Date/time: 1:00 pm 11th day of the 5th Month, 5049 OC