It had been a tough couple of years, ever since the Greenleaf had been impounded by the Bretonia Police Authority. The first 2 years were extremely tough, since he had spend them in a small and stuffy jail cell.
After his release a year ago, Ricky had been working on his old contacts and sources, just to find out the world he once knew was no more. His direct contact with Colonial pilots and even the Colonial leadership was completely frozen. All the pilots he once knew, were all relocated or had been killed in action. Ricky soon learned that the Tau 44 system, which had always been the home system for the Colonials, was annexed by the Gallic government.
Ricky struggled for a good six months before he could afford to buy himself a second hand Starflier. He took to the stars and didn't look back. His journey to find his old contacts and rebuild his, once so great, empire began.
*** 2 Months later, Planet Manhattan, New York System ***
Ricky returned to the New York system to reconnect to his old roots, before everything went south he had a nice home on Manhattan, close to his old flower shop. He rented a small apartment and tried to find family, friends...anyone that even remotely remembered him or his old shop. It took a while, but after roughly 2 weeks, he ran into an old "friend" Maui Wauie, a long time ago, she was one of his more trusted customers and she always had good contacts with his long lost love Amnezia.
Maui: Ricky, is it really you?
Ricky: Yes it is, its been a while hun' how are you doing? How are the Colonials doing? What has happened here?
Maui: Well, I'm doing fine considering the situation, but I don't know how the Colonials are doing. I was almost snuffed out of existence when the Gallic army invaded Tau 44. I was saved by a SaR squad of the IMG, who brought me to Freeport 10. After I recovered I left the border worlds and found myself a place and a job here on Manhattan.
Ricky: What? The Colonials are driven from Tau 44? How is that possible, they had such a organised army and even the Outcasts and Blood dragons together couldn't drive them from that system?
Maui: Well, the Gallic army isn't just a bunch of pirates, terrorists and cardi junkies, they had a plan that they were preparing for years. We just couldn't hold them back, they were too strong.
Ricky: That's.. unbelievable I would have never thought that to be possible, but what now? What happened to my friends, my Amnezia.... my sweet sweet Amnezia....
Maui: I don't know, she was still alive and fighting when I was shot down and the rest, well, I know some got killed in the invasion, but the elite squad was still alive. I haven't heard from them since that day....up until this day, I still pray everyday that they are alright.
Ricky: Yeah, I can understand....but...what now? How can I get back in contact with them? Do you know where I should start my search?
Maui: Well, I don't know, I've heard rumors that they settled somewhere in or close to Liberty space, but I always thought that to be just rumors... Since the Colonials always loved the borderworlds, they belong there, they felt home there.... I felt home there....
Ricky: Thank you Maui, if there is ever anything I can do for you, please let me know, I'll do everything I can to help. Now I have to go, I need to find Amnezia I just have to......
Maui: Good luck Ricky, you know where to find me, please be in touch. And if you find any of the Colonials, please, tell them that I am sorry for everything that happened.....
... WAIT ! Ricky, I have an old ship that I won't use, maybe you can give it a second life. Take it, just talk to the shipdealer and tell him that I send you, I will send him a message that you are coming to pick up my Rhino
Ricky: .... Thank you....thank you thank you thank you, I promise, I will find the Colonials and I will give them your message. Please take this *hands a couple of credits cards to Maui* its all I have right now, I will be back and repay you for everything you have done for me.
Ricky left the bar and headed to the shipdealer, he couldn't believe it, everything changed, everything he once knew is now irrelevant. He had to completely relearn how the Sector worked and how the relations among all the factions were now. He thought back to the early days of his ambitions to build a wonderful liner, and how tough it had been the first time. He couldn't believe he had to go through all that again. But he was resolved to find his love, his Amnezia.
((OOC: I am restarting this story and will rebuild the ship. This will of course take time and the rebuilding will be posted in short intervals))
"War. War never changes. Since the dawn of human kind, when our ancestors first discovered the killing power of rock and bone, blood has been spilled in the name of everything, from God to justice to simple, psychotic rage."
It had been a busy couple of weeks, Ricky had worked his way back into a transport vessel and was making great progress on securing a new foothold back on Manhattan.
Ricky relied on Maui for all the administrative business that came with transporting goods and keeping everything legal. She had been such a great help, that Ricky bought an apartment for Maui so they had a base of operations. It was now time to really start working on procuring funds for a luxury liner and rebuilding his empire. Through Maui, Ricky got in touch with a couple of scientists that specialized in plants and herbs, they were going to need them if they were ever going to get the Golden Greenleaf back in action.
While Ricky was on-route to the New Berlin system, he suddenly realised that the best way to get his hands on some GALEM or any sort of marijuana was to find his old clients.
He opened a communication channel and recorded a loop.
** Opening communication channel **
** Channel acquired **
** Signal 98% **
** Ship/Comm ID Ricky Ross **
** To all open communication lines **
This is Captain Ricky Ross hailing on all channels.
I am currently executing plans to reinstate Luxury Liner The Golden Greenleaf.
To be able to do this, I am in need of samples of all sorts of plant life, especially samples of Kalisti and/or G.A.L.E.M (Grade A Luxurious Earth Marijuana). It does not matter if it is the original GALEM or the crosspolinated one. As long as my scientists get their hands on all possible strands of plant life.
I am also searching for any and all former contacts and clients of the Golden Greenleaf. Please contact me if you fit the discription or if you can deliver samples, so we can make arrangements.
I hope that my message will reach the people that need to read it, but I have no other way of contacting anyone after being incarcerated for 2 years.
** Closing communication channel **
** Channel selected **
** Signal 92% **
** Ship/Comm ID Ricky Ross **
** Communication terminated **
"War. War never changes. Since the dawn of human kind, when our ancestors first discovered the killing power of rock and bone, blood has been spilled in the name of everything, from God to justice to simple, psychotic rage."
***2 weeks later, Somewhere in the Coronado System***
The days became longer and longer, Ricky worked as much as he could and made great progress with his goals.
During his incarceration in the British Police Authory Newgate prison, he developed some form of arthritis that wasn't known to many doctors. While he received decent medical treatment his ailment became worse over time. After being released and getting back in touch with Maui, she arranged a doctor and a nurse to keep the arthritis at bay. When Ricky got his hands on a new Gull, he arranged new crew quarters on board, so his medical staff could be close and he could make longer flights.
The scientists that were called in by Maui had been working around the clock to synthesize some form of organic medicine that was based on medical marijuana. Even though it wasn't the same as his GALEM, Ricky smoked the new medicine just like he always used to do.
Ricky asked the scientists to keep working on combining the base components of synth marijuana with plant-life. While studying the possibility's, the scientists soon realized that their best shot would be to use a strong and fast growing type of plant. While they didn't make much progress yet, they kept digging through all known databases of plants and herbs to find a suitable match. The closest thing they could find that matches the description that Ricky gave them, was the Humulus lupulus or common Hop. The 2 scientists started experiments with the plants lifetime and growing speed and hoped that they could find some useful information and results.
While the scientist we're getting closer and closer to realizing a new type of plant, Ricky was still trying his best to get in contact with anyone that would be able to supply the needed materials. All he could do was hope that people would hear about the unusual requests and would put 2 and 2 together.
"War. War never changes. Since the dawn of human kind, when our ancestors first discovered the killing power of rock and bone, blood has been spilled in the name of everything, from God to justice to simple, psychotic rage."
Times were tough but the credits were coming in at a steady pace. Maui balanced the ship manifests and crunched the numbers, they were at a quarter of the required investment they needed. While this was some very good news to the ears of Ricky, Maui warned that he should not settle, he needed to push the borders and search for further away systems and bases. One of the scientists Ricky had hired, talked about a research station in a system called Sigma 17, the scientist told that the researchers there had made remarkable progress with the alien organisms and a product called FloraGrow.
Having received no new information from the herbal remedy enthusiast Dalilama, Ricky started to become a bit anxious, his hopes of retrieving a real sample of his old plants started to become more and more a wish.
Knowing that he had to keep searching for all possible sources and means to make or recreate his Golden Green, Ricky started to ask around for a job to transport goods to the Sigma 17 system.
*** 6 days layer, Planet Manhattan, New York System ***
Ricky's attempts and calls had no result and he was getting more and more desperated, he felt like his Gods had forsaken him. After a week full of bad news and setbacks, Ricky went to a bar to get completely wasted, right after ordering his 3rd drink, Maui suddenly tapped him on the shoulder.
Maui: I thought I could find you here, pouring liquor in your face.... It's about time you get out of here and quit the drinking completely, it's not good for you and you know it messes with your medicine.
Ricky: Ah fiddlesticks, I want a drink, better yet I NEED a drink, so go home I'll get a hovercab to your place when I'm done here.
Maui: No you're not, you are coming with me, right now! I found a Cryer representative that needs a transport to move some basic supplies to the very research station you are looking for. And you know what happened last time you tried to fly your ship when you were drunk, so we're not going to do that again.
Ricky: Like hell I'm goi.....wait what? You found someone that needs a transporter? Why didn't you start off with that... We could be in space by now... Let's get going
*Ricky stands up, gives Maui a hug and kiss*
Maui: What was that for? I'm just doing my job?!
Ricky winked at her and started walking towards the exit. He knew he had to sober up a bit before he could introduce himself to the Cryer rep.
*** 18 hours later, Atka Research Station, Sigma 17 System ***
This is Captain Ricky Ross, requesting a docking port to offload supplies.
Understood Captain, you are cleared to moor at docking point 2, welcome to Atka Mr Ross
The Cryer rep, went in first and talked to the crew chief, then came back to Ricky
Rep: Thank you for your help Mr Ross, I gave the chief over there permission to do some repairs and upload some information about the Sigma 17 system. You or one of your scientists are also cleared to talk with one of the researchers, but I cannot let more then one person enter the station.
Ricky: Thank you very much, I appreciate all the help and I will take you up on your offer, I will head in myself. If you ever need any new supplies just let me or Miss Maui Wauie know and we'll get right on it.
Rep: Thank you and I will contact you if I ever need anything. Have a fine a healthy day Mr Ross.
The representative walked into a corridor and turn to the left, out of sight, Ricky could hear a very faint hissing sound from doors opening and closing. He took another look into the corridor and headed towards the laboratory.
"War. War never changes. Since the dawn of human kind, when our ancestors first discovered the killing power of rock and bone, blood has been spilled in the name of everything, from God to justice to simple, psychotic rage."
