Silk_Road hovered out of the way in the vicinity of the jump gate to Pennsylvania. ShadowJunker had its scanners pointed at the ruins of Ithaca Station. The New York Baxter Anomaly could be seen in the distance.
Alestone didn't actually know the name of the captain of ShadowJunker, but he knew the type; loyalty repaid in loyalty, and anything else in kind. When it turned out that Ithaca was not worth it, it was not surprising that the Junker had an alternative to offer up.
Chuck had never heard of the Kansas system, but he wasn't as familiar with the non-House backlands as the outer loop of the sector. They settled on 10M for escort/guide service and headed to Kansas by way of Magellan. No ship runs for free, and Alestone was out on a business venture, not a personal errand. A routine run out to the Magellan jump hole brought them to, for Alestone anyway, virgin territory.
Once through the Kansas wormhole, they proceeded to the wreck while discussing the what made the system a likely candidate for a research station; not least of which, in Alestone's mind was the fact that the system was undeveloped which would reduce the potential for loss of life should something become spectacular when it went wrong.
The biggest concern ended up being whether the base was going to end up with territory disputes the way that the Star Port had. Hopefully, that could be prevented by engaging the appropriate players before things got started.
[28.02.2015 14:30:52] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: So, this is the hulk I was talking about earlier. What do you think?
[28.02.2015 14:34:54] ShadowJunker: Captain: you dragged me out here for this?
[28.02.2015 14:36:10] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: Look, I happen to be pretty damn good as a Naval Architect, but salvage is a different batch of work.
[28.02.2015 14:37:34] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: If you got problems with this, tell me. I wanted your opinion for a reason.
[28.02.2015 14:38:04] ShadowJunker: Captain: this hunk of junk is not worth my time to salvage.
[28.02.2015 14:38:41] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: OK, I can live with that. That anomaly over there was the big draw, and I can look at it without the base.
[28.02.2015 14:38:54] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: You got any other suggestions?
[28.02.2015 14:39:30] ShadowJunker: Captain: yes there is a wreck in the Kansas system I could show you, if you’re interested?
[28.02.2015 14:42:14] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: Kansas? Earth? What are you talking about?
[28.02.2015 14:42:59] ShadowJunker: Captain: no it is a back channel system only a few know about.
[28.02.2015 14:46:12] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: OK, stupid question, is it an "Interesting" back road, or just out of the way?
[28.02.2015 14:48:32] ShadowJunker: Captain: no, its pretty well protected by the Junker Congress.
[28.02.2015 14:49:41] ShadowJunker: Captain: before you ask it’s the back entrance to Puerto Rico our home system.
[28.02.2015 14:49:42] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: So, travelled, but not by a lot of people...
[28.02.2015 14:50:00] ShadowJunker: Captain: exactly
[28.02.2015 14:50:08] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: You got time?
[28.02.2015 14:50:31] ShadowJunker: Captain: normally no but for you yes
[28.02.2015 14:50:57] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: >nods< OK, we're on the clock. 10M sound good?
[28.02.2015 14:51:14] ShadowJunker: ok
[28.02.2015 14:51:32] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: I'll form on you, lead on.
[28.02.2015 14:51:45] You have sent 10.000.000 credits to ShadowJunker
[28.02.2015 15:07:15] ShadowJunker: Captain: how is this?
[28.02.2015 15:07:25] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: Bigger than Ithaca.
[28.02.2015 15:07:40] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: Two stars is good.
[28.02.2015 15:07:52] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: Anything else?
[28.02.2015 15:10:27] ShadowJunker: Captain: this is probably been classified but there is a dark mater field here.
[28.02.2015 15:10:36] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: Oh??!
[28.02.2015 15:10:53] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: That could be... interesting.
[28.02.2015 15:11:34] ShadowJunker: Captain: if this looks like home we can make it yours.
[28.02.2015 15:11:36] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: Who owns the system?
[28.02.2015 15:12:59] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: Well, we can check into it. I think it will be harder to refurb because of distance, but probably better for location.
[28.02.2015 15:14:14] ShadowJunker: Captain: did I not mention are home system is two jumps from here.
[28.02.2015 15:14:30] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: You mentioned being on the route, but not specifics.
[28.02.2015 15:15:42] ShadowJunker: Captain: well since we are partners, as I said before, within reason and a little past I can do things for you.
[28.02.2015 15:16:19] Silk_Road: Chuck Alestone: Sounds like a plan. First, we make sure the Congress is not going to take offense.