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oZoneRanger · (This post was last modified: 05-10-2015, 03:16 PM by oZoneRanger.)

Frank Gambit had had a pretty good week. He was makiing some decent scratch, and would soon be able to dedicate a fair amount of time and resourses to revamping his bar.

While he had not had any luck sealing a deal with Olsen at Tinkers Haven, he had made a positive impresion with the guys of the AFC by taking care of a few errands here and there..

He was glad to have that feeling that people had his back. Going it alone was costly. But he had played it smart, always stopping off at Alcatraz and getting some of the Rouges there to run interference for him while he ran his load of synth weed into Manhattan. Guys like LR-The Stranger and LR-The Delivery Man and one or two others, had make good credits for doing next to nothing.

He had undocked from Detroit Munitions, with a load of contraband amo, when he got a call from {AFC}Banshe.Slaver[B] to head toAmes Research Stationand hook up with him for a run . He was on the last leg of the trade lane to Ames, when it suddenly went bust.

The Zoners have run it as a Freeport since DSE gave them control, and he half expected Xenos at the end of the lane. He relaxed a bit when he saw it was Rogue frequencies and Banshee Slaver, waiting in Orbit close to Ames.

He switched on his comms.

[20.04.2015 17:50:17] Frank.Gambit[V]: Sup Dudes

He set his controls to fall into formation on the Banshee Slaver.

[20.04.2015 17:50:25] LR-Shared.Bride: Chilling.

Once his ship was in position, he looked out his cockpit and nodded to Banshee.

[20.04.2015 17:50:26] Frank.Gambit[V]: Hey Boss...
[20.04.2015 17:50:33] Frank.Gambit[V]: How goes it

He checked his systems, and was getting ready to drop his shields and dock on Ames, positive that Banshe.Slaver had a plan already cooked up.

His comms unit came alive.
[20.04.2015 17:50:45] LR-Armchair.Traveller: Yo buddy.
[20.04.2015 17:50:54] LR-Armchair.Traveller: You ever think about joining up with the Rogues?

Frank looked over at the Rogues, wondering why the hell would they be so close to him and the station at the same time. He clicked his Mic.

[20.04.2015 17:51:20] Frank.Gambit[V]: Na.....I got a gig....*Tips his hat* but thanks..

Over his headset he heard Banshe come on the line.

[20.04.2015 17:51:29] {AFC}-Banshe.Slaver[B]: Banshe: he is with me BACK OFF

[20.04.2015 17:51:31] LR-Shared.Bride: That was not a question.
[20.04.2015 17:51:33] LR-Shared.Bride: That is a demand.
[20.04.2015 17:51:45] LR-Shared.Bride: You are going to join up with us or you will crash and burn.

Suddenly Frank wondered what was going on. He had been on good terms with the Roques, and supposed the Club was as well, at least he expected that they would honor the Freeport NFZ, and not risk getting their access codes denied there.

He clicked his Mic, explaining the situation to the two ships in front off him.

[20.04.2015 17:52:06] Frank.Gambit[V]: Yea....bro...I roll with the AFC...but no disrespect

[20.04.2015 17:52:15] LR-Shared.Bride: This guy?
[20.04.2015 17:52:23] LR-Shared.Bride: We just shot his gun off for being a tard.
[20.04.2015 17:52:39] LR-Shared.Bride: You run with the Rogues.
[20.04.2015 17:52:43] LR-Shared.Bride: Got it?

A secure com line came through his headset.

[20.04.2015 17:53:11] {AFC}-Banshe.Slaver[B]: land and get consumer goods.

Frank heard Banshees order and was setting up his ship to dock at Ames. He hit his mic again.

[20.04.2015 17:53:12] Frank.Gambit[V]: Dude...that aint up to me....

He swithced back over to the secure line with Banshee, and his headphones came back to life.

[20.04.2015 17:53:17] LR-Shared.Bride: Well, too bad.

He hit his mic to let Banshee know he had heard him.

[20.04.2015 17:53:19] Frank.Gambit[V]: copy that

[20.04.2015 17:53:21] LR-Shared.Bride: snaps fingers

Frank Gambit saw the first flash of fire come his way and miss his cockpit window by less than two meters. He instinctively slamed his fist on the Ejection Pod button, and was almost knocked out by the blast from the seperation between his cockpit capsule and his Voyager. Off to the left he could see his ship explode into a thousand pieces and bouch off of the station, causing some damage to the outer Hull of Ames.

[20.04.2015 17:53:26] Death: Frank.Gambit[V] was put out of action by LR-Shared.Bride (Gun).

The docking bay doors on Ames had already opened waiting for his approach, and he was lucky his Pod was ejected in the the right direction. He floated past the doors, and saw them shut behind him. The stations artificial gravity coming back online, his pod slammed to the hanger floor, and the docking bay pressurized. He could see dock workers start to gather around his cockpit window peeking in to see if he had survived.

"Will someone please get me frack out of here...." He yelled.

ShadowWalker · 04-21-2015, 04:06 PM,

Incoming com... He had just gotten the report from Banshe and he was going to have to have a talk with him after this. Cutting and running was all fine and good when the guy was not family but this was different. He moored on Ames in more point 6 and shuttled down to the corresponding bay. An announcement was then sent out to Frank Gambit to please come to bay 6 for pick-up.

oZoneRanger · 04-21-2015, 04:28 PM,

Gambit heard the message over the stations comms. He realized he had walked into the wrong Bar by the looks he got, but no one wanted to say anything to him, he looked like he just been shot up and podded. He paid his tab, and left.

As he made his way to the docking bay, he wondered how this was all gona play out. He hoped they brought the weed.

He walked out on to the docking bay and saw his ride. He walked towards the ship and he got the signal to say nothing till they were on the ship. Even so, he threw his hands up into the air as if to say "WTH Bro."

ShadowWalker · 04-21-2015, 04:46 PM,

On board the shuttle Burning looks at gambit and just shakes his head. As the shuttle docks with the Dragon he salutes his XO and orders the ship to prepare to break from Moore he tells Gambit to go to his Quarters and wait. As the Dragon roars off to home Burning gives the XO the con. The crew echoes back the command and he tells the XO he will be in his quarters with are “guest” and to Moore as usual at Black Port.

oZoneRanger · (This post was last modified: 04-25-2015, 07:27 PM by oZoneRanger.)

First Time In

(RP taken from Skype Chat at BlackPort66 a big thank you to ****** ******* and ***** you know who you are. You both made this chapter happen for Frank.)

...A few hours later the Dragon's engines come roaring back into Blackports66. This time with a "guest", the AFC's new virgin fresh from his escape pod. Burning walks in to the bar with Frank Gambit, they both check their guns at metal lockers by the door.

Two steps behind Burning, Frank Gambit was hoping someone would pass him some Synth soon. He stopped and stood there, waiting to be introduced.

Just after checking his gun Burning decides he has had enough of being nice. He turns to Gambit and gut punches him. "Welcome to the club you little wench, cant even stay alive for a week?...Seriously....What the Frack do I know...could be it is not your fault." Burning poked Gambit and held his index finger on Gambits chest. "But that had to be done."

Gambit was taken back for a second. He decided to keep his cool. He was waiting for the rest of the story from Banshee and what happened after he got podded. He did not have a patch, he was not even in yet. He best keep his mouth shut until someone asks him something. He was not going to point fingers, not just yet.

The purple haired girl walked into the bar and sat down at the far end, she was hooded and had a long dress.

"That punch means I like you" Burning smiles, pulls his hand away from Gambits chest.
"If i did not.." He shows him a massive knife hidden on his leg. "Now here is what Banshee told me."

He puts his arm around Gambits neck and draws him in close so that no one could hear. "It was the most loyal thing he has ever seen and he wants you to go to room 305 and put in the cords to planet Harris. Inside you will find the keys to a new ship and a comm unit."

Gambit looked at Burning, with a hard and cold stare. "Weed" he said, "That is all I want, a joint." He let silence end his sentence.

"What are you on about now?" The purple haired girl asked.

Burning released Gambit from his neck hold. He shouts at the bartender "Get this man some weed and not the swag but the good stuff." He passed Gambit a lighter. Inscribed on it was a picture of his ship.

Gambit looked over at the broad with the purple hair. "Mam.." he said and tipped his hat. "I just got podded, excuse me if I seem a bit off the rails."

"Now I was serious about what I said, it is Banshe´s form of an apology

"Well if you don't touch me then I don't care what you do..." The girl with the purple hair spoke up again.

"Would not even think of it Mam.."

"My cranky, are we not Matilda" Burning says looking over at her.

"I am fine, just had a bad's nights sleep..." she replied.

"It is a shame you don´t smoke a bit of weed, it would put you right out, or at least clam you down." responded Burning.

The bartender came back, and passed over the spliff. Gambit took the lighter that Burning had passed him and lit it. He took one long drag, and let the smoke leave his lungs slowly. "Can I grab bar stool and take a drink?...I could use one."

"After you go get those keys..." Burning turned to him, "Do care to remember you place Gambit. It is just up the stairs and to your left."

"yep...." He shuffled out of the bar and headed out into the hallway. He found a station schematics in front of the Black Cherry and found his way to room 305.
He got the room and lifted the key pad guard. He typed in, "Tau31-4b.5" and waited for something to happen.

The door clicked and swung open. A speaker came to life, it said "Welcome back Banshe" Gambit stuck his head in the door cautiously, and reached around for a light switch and turned them on.

There turned out to be a massive stash of weapons and the keys and a comm unit on a table. It was Banshe's emergency stash. Gambit saw what looked like to be a passed out woman on the bed. She raised her head. "Banshee?"

"No Mam...I´m here for the keys to the Voyager." She grunted and flopped back down on the bed, and pointed to the table next to all the guns. He picked up the keys and the comm unit and turned off the lights. "Have a good night Mam.." He said as he closed the door. "Frack you virgin." She yelled from the other side.

The comm unit rang in his pocket, he pulled it out, on the screen it read Banshe.

He held the comm unit to his ear. "Sup Bro...you all good?" He asks with the joint hanging out of his mouth. He made his way back to the bar as he talked.

"Ya, I would like to apologize for ditching you and congrats you passed my little test. If you had taken any thing other than what Dragon sent you for, that would have set off a station wide alarm"

"Dude...I thought you had some class Bro." he said with a sly grin.

"I do but as the old earth saying goes trust but ...."

Gambit cut him off in mid-sentence. "That girl in your bed, is pretty ah....ehehhehe" he hit the joint again. "I was more afraid of her than your alarm system, I might have caught something slow and deadly" He had made his way back to the bar, the weed taking effect. He walked straight up to and sat down at the bar with out asking for permission this time. "I need you to tell the Bartender to pour me a drink please."

"You look like you need a good night hmm?" asked the purple haired girl.

Gambit holds the comm unit out at arms length towards the bartender. "It is on my tab tonight." Banshe could be heard saying out loud. Burning took the comm unit out of Gambits hand, and walked off to the side.

The bartender reached under the bar for a bottle. "No..uh-uh..not the swill, the stuff I brought in last week, the whiskey." Gambit said. The bartender thinks better than to wait for a nod, and reaches for the top self.

"Mam, I just got blown out of space, and I´m damn lucky to be here, and honestly, I would not be worth much in the sack, but I would like to buy you a drink if you fancy one." Offered Gambit.

Off to the side Burning spoke into the comm unit. "He is ready." Burning turns and walks back to the bar.

"I could do with a gin..." she said.

Gambit takes another long drag off his joint. "Gin for the Misses please barkeep." He looked at the ship keys he had in his hand, and saw it had a Cheetah Thruster emblem on the key chain. Burning came over and handed him the comm unit.

"Yep?" Gambit put the unit up to his ear.

"You are welcome now go to the hangar bay and get to work. It will be ready to fly in about two hours. If you work hard you make it, o and take the back way out of Black Port...pick up consumer goods at nearest base and get to Planet Harris... be careful... "watcher" protocols are in effect some one is trying to find our base.. the back way is through the Galileo Jump Hole."

"Got it covered Boss." Gambit turned off the comm unit and slid it into his vest. He grabbed his drink, and turned to the purple haired girl, offering his drink in a cheers. "Duty calls Mam,"

The purple haired girl sighs. "Guess this is only drink then..." They touched glasses and for a second caught each others eye. He downed his drink and set the glass on the table. "Now, if you will excuse me, shizzel I got to go deal with."

"Whatever..." The back of her dress moves slightly. "Everyone is too busy..." She sighs.

"Nothing personal Mam," He reached into his pockets and pulled out 10K credit card, and threw it on the bar. He looked at the bartender. "There is a tip, and what ever she wants, hit her with it will ya.?" "Mam" he said once more "Boss". Gambit left the bar, collected his Garner614 blaster and headed to the docking bay.

"Wait.. " She nods."Hmm..." The purple girl sighs before she moves over to the hanger waiting area.

"What am i chopped liver?" Burning gets up and heads for the door, he collects his gun and moves off to His Dragon. He thinks to himself "I`m so tired, and I don`t feel like climbing all those stairs." He passes the bay the Voyager is in and sees Gambit giving the ship the once over. "We will make a member of him yet." He thought to himself.

Gambit walked off his new Voyager, and gave it one last walk around, checking all the thruster vents and landing gear hatches. Off to the side he sees the purple haired girl again. She waves a little.

Gambit walks over to her and and takes another drag of the spliff. He makes a gesture as if to pass it to her. "You partake?" almost chocking on the smoke in his lungs.

"As long as it is pure..."

"Pure as pure can be." He exhaled and passed her the joint. "It would be a shame to mix this primo with Tobaco, or anything else for that matter."

"Hmm..." She lights it and takes a puff. "That will help the back..."

"It is doing wonders for me, considering i got ejected earlier today, I`m surprised I can feel my toes." He takes a flask a whiskey he found in the cockpit of his new Voyager. He twist the top off. "Its whiskey, but it is really helping kick in the indica effect." he takes a drink and offers her some.

"I only drink Gin..." She sighs and looks at him with green and red eyes.

"Suit yourself" He grins and takes another swig. He places the cap back on, and puts the flask in his back pocket. He stands there for a second longer than he should have. Looking at her. He decides its best he go, and take care of club business. "See ya around Mam." he turns and starts to walks towards his ship.

"You just got back?"

"Hell, I aint´t even left yet." He said walking up to the door hatch of his ship. "I was kinda waiting around to catch another glimpse of you." He winked at her, closed the hatch and moved into his cockpit. He strapped himself in and started to warm up the engines. Through cockpit glass he could see her moving off behind the blast wall. He wondered if she would turn around.

She turns and waves at him.

He flashes his landing lights, engaged his engines, turned the ship towards the air locks. He pushed his thrust forward and left BP66. He was numb all over, but it was a good kinda numb. He would get some sleep in between Jump holes.

She would return to the bar sighing.

oZoneRanger · 04-25-2015, 07:30 PM,

Frank Gambit was back in New York, about to land on Manhattan and trade some software for some new barstools, table and chairs for the Bullseye Lounge. Soon he would be able to open it up for business, he was going to need lots of red and white paint, but once the work was done, he would be set up on easy street. At least that was the plan.

Approaching the docking ring, He spoted an officer of the law. --Shizzel-- He thought to himself. He knew he was busted if he tried to dock on the planet.
Gambit hit the button on his Mic, and opened up a line to the agent.

[25.04.2015 01:21:57] Frank.Gambit[V]: Howdy officer
[25.04.2015 01:22:05] Frank.Gambit[V]: You need something?
[25.04.2015 01:22:08] Frank.Gambit[V]: I got it
[25.04.2015 01:22:14] Frank.Gambit[V]: girls....drinks

The LPI were known for taking bribes, letting things slide. he figured this guy would be no different.

[25.04.2015 01:22:19] Dekker: Freelancer - Frank Gambit, I am conducting a cargo scan..

"Son of a dog in heat" He mumbled to himself as he hit the cruise button on his Freighter. -This guy was a legit cop...go figure-. He sped off thinking that there was little chance of the Fuzz catching him.

[25.04.2015 01:23:40] Dekker: cut your cruise or i will fire this is your first warning
[25.04.2015 01:23:50] Frank.Gambit[V]: cant do it
[25.04.2015 01:25:11] Frank.Gambit[V]: Cya buddy....

Gambit lost his confidence in the speed of his ship, the cop must be in a light fighter, cause he was not making any distance between him and the cop. He took the cop on his tail into the Badlands, thinking he would never follow him in there. But it was all bad news today. He heard Navy comm frequencies come alive in his head set.

[25.04.2015 01:28:00] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Alright, what's the problem?
[25.04.2015 01:28:12] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Freelancer, cut your engines.
[25.04.2015 01:28:34] 5th|Jim.Schofield: We want to talk.
[25.04.2015 01:28:40] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Noone will hurt you.
[25.04.2015 01:28:43] Dekker: he is refusing a cargo scan
[25.04.2015 01:28:52] 5th|Jim.Schofield: That is not good.

Gambit saw he was outnumbered three to one. Nothing to do but try and talk his way out of this situation now. Limit the damage to his rep. The last thing he wanted was to have his landing codes denied in Liberty.

[25.04.2015 01:28:53] Frank.Gambit[V]: you might...but this guys been shooting at me for hours now
[25.04.2015 01:29:01] Frank.Gambit[V]: cant trust a cop...

Gambit exagerated the situation just a bit. There had been no shots fired, but what the Navy did not know would not hurt him
.
[25.04.2015 01:29:12] 5th|John.Armada: Do we look like cops?
[25.04.2015 01:29:14] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Alright, Dekker, establish a 5k distance.
[25.04.2015 01:29:21] Dekker: roger
[25.04.2015 01:29:31] 5th|Jim.Schofield: He will go off range.
[25.04.2015 01:29:34] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Satisfied?

Gambit cut his engines, and got ready to eject himself into space. Not a good idea to stop in the middle of the badlands.

[25.04.2015 01:29:54] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Alright.
[25.04.2015 01:30:00] Frank.Gambit[V]: alright...so what is the problem boys...
[25.04.2015 01:30:05] 5th|Jim.Schofield: What's your problem with the officer?
[25.04.2015 01:30:22] Frank.Gambit[V]: you navy folks doing cops work...what is up with that?
[25.04.2015 01:30:36] 5th|John.Armada: Just call it flexiblity.
[25.04.2015 01:30:40] 5th|Jim.Schofield: We've been called by said officer for assistance.

Gambit kept the lies flowing, no point in changing his story now.

[25.04.2015 01:30:54] Frank.Gambit[V]: Dunno....he was wanting some booze and some hookers....and ...didnt like the price I gave him...
[25.04.2015 01:30:59] Frank.Gambit[V]: started shooting at me..
[25.04.2015 01:31:09] 5th|John.Armada: Interesting.
[25.04.2015 01:31:14] 5th|Jim.Schofield: "booze" and "hookers"?
[25.04.2015 01:31:19] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Are you serious?
[25.04.2015 01:31:24] Frank.Gambit[V]: Yep...you need some....
[25.04.2015 01:31:27] Frank.Gambit[V]: I got some
[25.04.2015 01:31:36] 5th|Jim.Schofield: By the way, let me check the law for that Counterfeit Software... *beeping*

"Shizzel, double damn, tripple damn....Hell" He muttered again to himself, this was not going to turn out well...

[25.04.2015 01:31:39] 5th|John.Armada: Nah thanks. On duty, and girlfriend.
[25.04.2015 01:31:50] Frank.Gambit[V]: Counterfit....uh?
[25.04.2015 01:32:00] Frank.Gambit[V]: they told me that stuff was legit

One more Lie was not going to make matters worse than they were.

[25.04.2015 01:32:06] 5th|John.Armada: Counterfeit software is a contraband regarding to the Liberty Law.
[25.04.2015 01:32:07] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Bad news.
[25.04.2015 01:32:13] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Also Stabiline.
[25.04.2015 01:32:19] Frank.Gambit[V]: Well...I can let it go for ya....

Gambit hit some buttons on his ship console and got ready to punch the cargo eject button.

[25.04.2015 01:32:19] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Only Cryer can haul that stuff.
[25.04.2015 01:32:28] 5th|Jim.Schofield: That would be the first step, yes.
[25.04.2015 01:32:30] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Please do.

[25.04.2015 01:32:38] Frank.Gambit[V]: what my Parakeet?

He tried to sound as confused as he could as to what the navy was wanting him to eject.

[25.04.2015 01:32:39] 5th|John.Armada: Also please hand over the criminal.
[25.04.2015 01:32:43] 5th|Jim.Schofield: All of the software packs and stabiline as well.

He saw his play was not working, but he had already step through a bad door, and there was no way back.

[25.04.2015 01:32:53] Frank.Gambit[V]: What my Bird?....dude..had that bird for ages...
[25.04.2015 01:33:15] 5th|John.Armada: I doubt my scanners detect a "Bird" as criminal.
[25.04.2015 01:33:16] Frank.Gambit[V]: Dude...I am the criminal...got an ankle bracelety
[25.04.2015 01:33:33] 5th|John.Armada: *he quirks a brow*
[25.04.2015 01:33:45] Frank.Gambit[V]: Yea...did some time ya know...nothing major...
[25.04.2015 01:33:52] Frank.Gambit[V]: slept with some cops wife....
[25.04.2015 01:33:57] Frank.Gambit[V]: you know how it goes
[25.04.2015 01:34:03] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Are you admitting that you commited crimes before?

Time to switch it up again. There was a shot they would take a bribe.

[25.04.2015 01:34:04] Frank.Gambit[V]: so...what is the damage
[25.04.2015 01:34:33] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Alright, the cargo.

He ejected 200k worth of untraceable credit cards into space. Credits he had been saving for opening his Bar. He watched as the Navy officer hauled them in. It might just be over, he thought to himself. At least he might be able to play the blackmail card.

[25.04.2015 01:34:44] Frank.Gambit[V]: Ok....good deal.....nice to see you folks take sirius credit cards...
[25.04.2015 01:34:45] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Drop it now, please. The software and stabiline.
[25.04.2015 01:34:52] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Ah, that was accident.
[25.04.2015 01:34:55] Frank.Gambit[V]: Dude...you just took a birbe
[25.04.2015 01:35:07] Frank.Gambit[V]: i got it all on my recorder...?
[25.04.2015 01:35:16] 5th|John.Armada: So do I.
[25.04.2015 01:35:19] 5th|John.Armada: Now comply.
[25.04.2015 01:35:20] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Take it back, tractored accidentaly.
[25.04.2015 01:35:25] Frank.Gambit[V]: So...lets make a deal...I dont wann make you loose rank or nothing...
[25.04.2015 01:35:36] 5th|Jim.Schofield: You won't go anywhere with this, freelancer.

Gambit knew it was a dead end. These guys were sticklers for detail. Money did not work, blackmail just pissed them off even more. It was a question of getting out alive, with his ship undamaged.

[25.04.2015 01:35:42] 5th|John.Armada: I could also make you lose your ship.
[25.04.2015 01:35:43] Frank.Gambit[V]: I dont see no cards....this fog eating up my scanners..

He could not resist himself in pushing it just one more time with these guys.

[25.04.2015 01:35:44] Astrium: Greetings there
[25.04.2015 01:36:01] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Stop playing these games.
[25.04.2015 01:36:08] 5th|Jim.Schofield: I've seen it before. I won' go for it.
[25.04.2015 01:36:16] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Drop the cargo for the third and last time.
[25.04.2015 01:36:18] Frank.Gambit[V]: Games....? Dude....that is what this universe is about...

It was game over, time to give them what they wanted. He ejected the software, and his one pill of Stabaline. He could say just about anythig now and get away with it, having complied with the orders given.

[25.04.2015 01:36:30] 5th|Jim.Schofield: This is your first warning.
[25.04.2015 01:37:07] Frank.Gambit[V]: We all done?
[25.04.2015 01:37:15] Frank.Gambit[V]: Hey...yall robbed me
[25.04.2015 01:37:20] Frank.Gambit[V]: Where is my cash
[25.04.2015 01:37:27] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Just follow the law, citizen.
[25.04.2015 01:37:31] 5th|John.Armada: Thank you for your cooperation.
[25.04.2015 01:37:34] 5th|Jim.Schofield: What cash?
[25.04.2015 01:37:41] Frank.Gambit[V]: My credit cards...
[25.04.2015 01:37:46] 5th|Jim.Schofield: I don't see no cash...this fog eating up my scanners.

"Cheap mother..." he mumbled to himself, the guy was gona use his own words against him. He pushed just a bit more.

[25.04.2015 01:37:48] Frank.Gambit[V]: you MUST have taken them...
[25.04.2015 01:37:52] Frank.Gambit[V]: they aint here...
[25.04.2015 01:37:59] Frank.Gambit[V]: Man...gona have to report this...
[25.04.2015 01:38:00] 5th|Jim.Schofield: It's the fog.
[25.04.2015 01:38:06] 5th|Jim.Schofield: We're in Badlands.
[25.04.2015 01:38:07] 5th|John.Armada: Can't see anything.
[25.04.2015 01:38:08] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Now.
[25.04.2015 01:38:10] Frank.Gambit[V]: cause the Stabaline was for personal consumption...
[25.04.2015 01:38:15] 5th|Jim.Schofield: You may go. But this is your first warning.
[25.04.2015 01:38:15] 5th|John.Armada: Bad things happen in Badlands.
[25.04.2015 01:38:24] Frank.Gambit[V]: and the Software...I swear they told me it was legit
[25.04.2015 01:38:30] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Next time we catch you with that counterfeit stuff, you'll pay.
[25.04.2015 01:38:36] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Well, it wasn't.
[25.04.2015 01:38:50] 5th|John.Armada: Check it twice next time and buy it from trustworthy merchants
[25.04.2015 01:38:51] 5th|Jim.Schofield: And we don't inspect where it is from.
[25.04.2015 01:38:54] Frank.Gambit[V]: 2ooK...give it back
[25.04.2015 01:39:06] 5th|Jim.Schofield: You dropped the cards into this fog.
[25.04.2015 01:39:09] 5th|Jim.Schofield: You search for them.
[25.04.2015 01:39:12] Frank.Gambit[V]: My girls work hard for that cash ...
[25.04.2015 01:39:17] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Now, we return to West Point.
[25.04.2015 01:39:18] Frank.Gambit[V]: I work harder to spent it
[25.04.2015 01:39:32] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Officer Dekker, you may return on your patrol route.
[25.04.2015 01:39:34] Frank.Gambit[V]: dude....I got you putting it your hold...
[25.04.2015 01:39:45] Frank.Gambit[V]: So...wink....I know where it went
[25.04.2015 01:39:48] Dekker: Thank you, happy hunting
[25.04.2015 01:39:51] 5th|Jim.Schofield: I've got no cards, freelancer.
[25.04.2015 01:40:00] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Look around and find them yourself.

The gig was up, all done but the crying, But he would remember this uptight "Screw." He could not resist letting him know there one day in the near future, there would be some payback to be had.

[25.04.2015 01:40:01] Frank.Gambit[V]: Dekker...this will cost ya son....
[25.04.2015 01:40:18] 5th|John.Armada: And what will it cost him?
[25.04.2015 01:40:27] 5th|Jim.Schofield: Let's go, Lieutenant.
[25.04.2015 01:40:35] 5th|John.Armada: Roger that.

Frank Gambit set a course for Manhattan, glad at least that it had not cost him his ship.

oZoneRanger · (This post was last modified: 04-26-2015, 06:29 PM by oZoneRanger.)

One Long Day

There he was, with the 5th´s John.Armada 100meters from his cockpit. "I see you remain clean now, after the little accident and incident happening yesterday. Good, Mr. Gambit."

Gambit had one rule above others he tried to live by, -You don´t crap where you eat- He was finding it hard to live by.

"Clean? Hell I ain´t had a bath in weeks...and like I said...then..the Stabline was for personal use...and I swear I did not know the software was bogus" Since he got busted, he decided that he would have to stay out of NY with contraband as much as possible. For a while he had to let the Fuzz get use to seeing him as legit as possible. But it did not leave a good taste in his mouth, having to stroke the pole. "anyways....you have a safe one."

"Unfortunately, not knowing the illegal state of your property does not mean you are freed from the consequences, I am afraid." said Officer Armada.

"Copy that understood," The guy must be studying to be a lawyer mused Gambit as he lined his ship up with the tradelane.

"Good, take care!" He wondered why the navy was doing LIP´s work, but it did not matter, the officer had made his point. Regardless though, he made his way over to Detroit Munitions and picked up another load of contraband ammo from his contact there.

He was on his way to Leeds, when Gambit got a text comm, telling him to meet up with Sonny, it was an honor to do the Prez a favor. They would be making a run to outfit and shakedown some kinda Race Ship Transport the club had purchased. In the excitement, he forgot about his illegal cargo and that it would be best to ditch it. Passing through the California system, he had gotten some very strange readings. Ships with an unknown IFF signal. He was a bit on edge.

The AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P], appeared as a new contact on his text screen. Gambit hit the mic on his transmitter. "Nice name Prez...where you at....Ill head that way.."

He could see the ship from a distance, before it came up on his scanners. "Wow..that is big.. I call dibs on Shotgun.".

"haha!" AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P] flashed on his contacts screen, and came alive over his headset.

Gambit figured he would play a card on the good mood. "So Prez....I know I´m knew and all..but I want the job of being your personal shuttle when you bring that thing out to play."
{AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P] "Ha sure why not hehe. Onwards!"

He fell in behind The Chick Magnet, and they both docked with the lane. They were back around the area he had tracked the UnSigs. He hit the voice activation option on his comm unit. "We had some strange signals on two ship....." Before he could say anything else, D9|Overlord showed up on his contact screen. "...and there they are." Gambit said as he looked out his cockpit window, the trade lane sweeping them past the two ships of unknown origin.

A transmission bleeds through over local frequencies from D9|Overlord "What the hell was that." and was lost. Gambit was not entirely sure if the comment was directed at him and his Prez. Before he could react to anything else.

"nomads?!?!??!"{AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P] Shouted over the comm unit.

"wut the" The lane closed down and both ships fell abruptly out of speed. Gambit was finding it hard to react to all the signals and warnings going off in his cockpit, and he started taking fire.

"GOGOGOOGOGO!!!!!"{AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P] came through loud and clear over his headset. Gambit got as close to the The Chick Magnet as he could, setting his counter measures to auto fire and hitting cruise. The Magnet did the same. Eight seconds later and 60 countermeasures spent, his ships engine went silent. He could see The Chick Magnet speed off ahead of him. He had blocked enough of the incoming disruptors to let The Chick Magnet get away. He started dodging fire and spooling up his engines again. He made it to the Cali gate and managed to get through, but he had lost sight of his Prez.

On the New York side of the California gate, it was more of the same. He caught sight of a Hegemon getting shredded to pieces, and thanks to him he managed to dock with the lanes and head to West Point. He still had no signal on his Prez and the AFCs race ship transport.

He tapped out a message on his text screen. -- did you make it out?-- Before he got an answer, he came within range of WP and the radio chatter was heavy. There were ships of all kinds all exchanging info in the confusion. He was glad to see The Chick Magnet come up on his contact list. He turned the volume down on his headset, and read the comm translations on his text screen.

[25.04.2015 22:20:05] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: Nomad invasion!!!!
[25.04.2015 22:20:26] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: Don´t go to the Cali Gate!!!!
[25.04.2015 22:20:34] Kevin.Arenson: nomads?
[25.04.2015 22:20:43] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: Yeah go see
[25.04.2015 22:20:50] Legate.Lanius: Aye let's get these.
[25.04.2015 22:20:57] Counterfeit.Coin: Green: Time to write the list of damages done by those ships.

Gambit saw The Chick Magnet make its way to the next set of lanes, he moved his ship to follow in behind her. He opened a channel and turned the volume back up on his headset. "They just ate that hegemon like it was lunch"

"yeah" Sunny replied driely. "Onwards!"

"Understood...all clear here." Gambit was more than pissed off now about having lost his stash of stabaline to Officer Armada. He was having problems fighting off the need for sleep. After the encounter at the California gate, he thought for sure they would dock and let things simmer down.

A System advisory transmission flashed on his text screen unit.
".. we have received reports of a large, unknown structure in California..."

Sunny´s voice broke Gambits concentration on reading the advisory notice. "Nomad base!!! Bet that is what it is that is... spawning all the nomads...*kicks the hull of the ship*"

A computerized warning voice came over the his headset.
---Attention! Stand clear. Towing {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]---

Gambit realized that his Prez had to be flying that ship almost solo, with a skeleton crew. He offered a little assistance, "Catching your right fin on the trade lane power ring Prez"

"Light fighters are still better..." Sunny´s voice could be heard bleeding through an open mic, as if he was having a discussion with someone on board. His mood sounded sharp.

At first Gambit thought it was just a lack of sleep. But the got closer to The Chick Magnet he saw something that concerned him. "Sheeeeeeeaaaat...we been running around with no gunz....??." he blurted out not realizing that his mic was hot.

"Yeah man.....I got a shield...but no guns." Sunny´s tone was one of what´s-it-to-ya-got-a-problem? Gambit figured it best to keep his trap shut. He turned off the auto voice transmit option. He fell in behind his Prez and did what a [V] was supposed to do, shut up, stand in the back and bring up the rear. They lined up to take the next set of lanes.

A computerized voice came over his headset.
---Attention! Stand clear. Towing {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]---

"Oh Come ONNNN" Sunny's voice came through again in angry desperation.

--Attention! Stand clear. Towing {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]

Gambit said nothing. Kept silent, but to himself he was slightly amused. The convoy of two made its way towards the Texas system. Where they met up with Silver.Fox, and after some discussion were underway again. Gambit needed sleep badly. But, he knew that for hard core lane racers, setting up and shaking down a transport for the clubs Racing Ships was a must do run. Other club members would be showing up. He set his ship navigation controls to form up on The Chick Magnet, Silver Fox having docked with the the ship, was now on board with the Prez. The lane song put Gambit into a semi sleep trance.

Gambit had drifted off somewhere, when a voice in his headset bleed through the haze.

"Entering Omega 7" It was Sunny, but Gambit was left with the confusion of the moment. Snapping out of it. He reached for the ship controls, and gave a quick look at his contacts list. But it was to late.

"Guten Tag pilot of the ship Frank.Gambit[V], this is Rhineland Federal Polizei, please stop for control!" A husky female voice creating a void in the pit of his stomach.

He was to busy to formulate a sentence, Gambit scrambled to hit the buttons to eject his cargo of BMM´s, something he should have done systems ago, he thought to himself in hindsight.

"Evening Officer." Sunny´s voice, a much smoother silkier voice came across the comms.

"Stop!" The officer said.

"We stopped." Replied Sunny.

Gambit saw his cargo drift way, but it was gonna be hard to play it off. "Sup sir.." He said, forgetting he was talking to a miss and not a man.

"Those black market munitions, that is up." said the Officer.

"Wut Munitions..?" He went into standard not-mine-didnt-do-it-don´t-know-nothing protocols. "That stuff was there when I pulled out of the lane sir" Using sir again, still nervous about the possibility of getting the whole Club busted in Rhineland with contraband.

"Ah, that one which was in your cargo hold just minute before." The officer laughed amusingly. " I have cargo scans which says otherwise."

Gambit kept up the denial. "Probably fell off some transport headed for Leeds.."

"You were too slow my dear. You dumped it late." she said.

Gambit was about to fess up. Before he could say anything else.

"Sooo...... I guess you want a fine?" It was Sunny, asking the question as if a fine were a very dirty game played by two.

"Clever guy. Ja, definitely I want a "FINE." She replied answering Sonny in the same tone.

Gambit spoke up not wanting his Prez to pay for his own mistake. "Well...then...can I interest you in anything I have on board?...or maybe pay the fine...Not admitting they are mine...but..."

"We can pay a fine." Sonny cut him off again. His tone sweet and silky.

"Gut." said the officer. "Let me count it." It was clear to Gambit that Sunny and the lady officer were having a conversation all of their own. "Freighter with 382 cargo units of cardamine..."

"Wut....No cardamine..." Gambit interjected. He hoped she was not going to pin a bum rap on him. The club hated cardi, he could be voided out of an airlock for dealing in it.

"Cardy!??!?!" Sunny dropped the seduction and was back to being all business.

"I don't touch that stuff..." Blurted out Gambit.
"Uhm, I meant contraband." clarified the officer, much to Gambits relief. "I don't know why but these two words somehow mixes from time to time....Anyway, fine is one million credits."

"Alright, Is it ok if i pay?" Offered Sunny.
" Ja, I don't care who of you bunch pays it." Not intimidated by the fact that 3 other AFC members had shown up on the run.

"Mam...could you do a direct transfer or open a link with me?" Gambit realized the voice transmissions where stepping all over each other, and it seems Sunny had it under control. He was sure he would get chewed out later by the club. Busted Twice in two days. Not good he thought to himself. He turned the volume down on the speakers a bit, and started to read the text screen translations of the voice and text traffic between the ships in the area.
[25.04.2015 23:24:38] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: Done.
[25.04.2015 23:24:42] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: You sent two million, I asked for one.
[25.04.2015 23:24:50] {AFC}-Silver.Fox[K]: Just take it...
[25.04.2015 23:24:55] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: Well...... i have a big heart.
[25.04.2015 23:24:58] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: But now you are the one in the light spot.
[25.04.2015 23:25:05] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: So what we have hier...
[25.04.2015 23:25:13] {AFC}-Silver.Fox[K]: A Liner?
[25.04.2015 23:25:19] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: Yeaaap.
[25.04.2015 23:25:45] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: It seems kinda big for a liner.
[25.04.2015 23:26:08] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: Well you know.... big things..... big boys and big toys.
[25.04.2015 23:26:16] {AFC}-Silver.Fox[K]: Torrio: No... they are at the same size as the normal OS&C liners
[25.04.2015 23:26:38] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: Ja, I definitely heard enough about why guys need big...well, everything.
[25.04.2015 23:26:47] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: Yeah.
[25.04.2015 23:26:57] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: Cant get enough of it.
[25.04.2015 23:27:17] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: I guess that is the reason why you named it Chick Magnet...
[25.04.2015 23:27:28] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: Well... you know. *grins* Is it working?
[25.04.2015 23:27:41] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: As you can see, it is.
[25.04.2015 23:27:50] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: Why there are no guns on it?
[25.04.2015 23:28:39] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: And what type of weapons is mounted on this magnet?
[25.04.2015 23:28:47] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: Eerr....
[25.04.2015 23:30:00] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: Oh, another one...
[25.04.2015 23:30:04] {AFC}-Run.For.Love[K]: Henry: Guten tag all!
[25.04.2015 23:30:10] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: Are you going to party or what...
[25.04.2015 23:30:13] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: Guten Tag.
[25.04.2015 23:30:18] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: Party? Always.So... Laura.... can I call you that? Officer Laura.... Are we good?
[25.04.2015 23:31:22] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: Nein, I'm officer Carsten for you.
[25.04.2015 23:31:25] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: Ah Well then Officer Carsten
[25.04.2015 23:32:45] {AFC}-Chick.Magnet[P]: We good?
[25.04.2015 23:32:51] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: You can move. Your big magnet cant.
[25.04.2015 23:33:00] RFP|Pdt.Laura.Carsten: I'm still evaluating it.

Gambit fell asleep again. Exhaustion taking over. He was woken up by the sound of other ships getting ready to spool up their engines.

"ONWARDS GENTLEMEN!" Sunny's voice was faint in his headset, Gambit turned up the volume to better hear what was going on. There was still a discussion going on with the lady officer, but finally they were moving on and continuing the run.

While club waited in 07, the other members had a chance to feel Gambit out. It was the first time any of them had met him.

"Hey Frank!" it was Torrio coming across the comms.
"Yo Boss,.. what ya need?" Gambit snapping to attention.
"Already now which chapter you want to come to?"

Frank had not thought about it. But figured Barrier Gate was more familiar to him than Ames or FP2. "Coronado....most likely...if that doesn't offend anyone."

"Forget Coronado! Come to Kepler! Then you get into the fun of Blackport 66!" Offered Torrio.
"Oh come now, Cor is where it all began..." Countered Antares. Laughing a bit as he did.
"Frank, can your Voyager carry a Nova?" Frank answered them as best he could.

Once the modifications on the clubs Race Ship Transport were done, the club set a course for Liberty, and once there each went their separate ways. Frank was 12k from Barrier Gate. Setting up a docking sequence. Nothing had fazed these guys. Not nomads or RFP. He was going to have to up his game if he wanted to loose his [V] and get patched. He was looking forward to a warm shower, some food and a few hours in the sack.

The chirping sound of his text screen letting him know he had a new message, was unexpected.

"So Leeds run?" It was a message from Sunny.

"Was just about to dock in Coronado..." Gambit tapped into the text unit.

"ha so no?....its ok if you cant" showed up on the screen.

It did not seem to Frank that it would be OK. He was sure it was the club testing his metal. Seeing if he had the endurance needed to be in the FC.

"I'm game if you are Boss..." He tapped back. He turned his ship around and headed back towards Liberty to the rv coordinates.

Once they loaded up on cargo and headed out, there was radio silence for most of the trip. In his state of mind, having slept minutes between hours at a time, Frank became paranoid. His two recent mishaps of getting scanned and busted might count him out.

Gambit had been following the Blazing Angel for two systems with no contacts. "I read a lot of targets in Texas...good we took the Negras." With no return answer.

"Four targets unknown in Berlin." Giving the Blazing Angel any Intel he came across.
Sonny kept radio silence, and to add to Gambits uneasiness he managed to loose Sunnys ship at a trade lane junction.

"You good?" Sunny's voice was all business.
" ahh...lost ya..which way we going" Frank hated saying it.
"Stuttgart"
"Looks like Popos in Stuttgart Bro." advised Frank
"errr.. ok get off the lanes"
"Roger" Gambit had a bad feeling, and it had been a day of bad feelings.
" ok it is just RHA" Sunny sounded calm. "don't worry"
New contacts popped up on his scanners. He hit the record button on his text unit to make sure he had a copy off what was about to go down.
[RHA]Nefarius.Karlen: Mhm...
{AFC}-Blazing.Angel[P]: Oh nooo...
[RHA]Nefarius.Karlen: I'm interested... What's that?
{AFC}-Blazing.Angel[P]: So how much from my pocket do you want?
[RHA]Nefarius.Karlen: Mhm...
[RHA]Nefarius.Karlen: Well...
{AFC}-Blazing.Angel[P]: Well?
[RHA]Nefarius.Karlen: What do you thing herr von Bartels.
{AFC}-Blazing.Angel[P]: How does 5 mill sound?
[RHA]Raoulf.von.Bartels: They are mongrels who dared to pursue us
[RHA]Nefarius.Karlen: I think...
[RHA]Nefarius.Karlen: I think more
[RHA]Raoulf.von.Bartels: And we still need to make even for some of their stupidities...
[RHA]Nefarius.Karlen: As I know... You have hunted Hessians?
{AFC}-Blazing.Angel[P]: *yawn* yeah yeah yeah...
[RHA]Nefarius.Karlen: 10 from each vessel... Ist gut herr Bartels?
{AFC}-Blazing.Angel[P]: Hmmm...
[RHA]Raoulf.von.Bartels: Ja, hessen will have its due.
{AFC}-Blazing.Angel[P]: hmmm welll
{AFC}-Blazing.Angel[P]: Na. Suck it.
[RHA]Nefarius.Karlen: As you wish!
[RHA]Raoulf.von.Bartels: Shed its blood!

It had happened faster than he could react. Suddenly the Blazing Angel spooled up its engines and made a run for it. Gambit was way out of position this time to block the disruptors, and the guns on his ship were doing little to nothing against the two RHA ships. They were slowly blowing the Blazing Angel to pieces. Gambit got as close as he could to the crippled ship.

"Frank take me and run" Sunny shouted over the comms. "Run Man!!" A computer 2voice warning came over Gambits headset. "Warning!!! Life Pods Ejected."

Gambit came flying in over the now aptly named Blazing Angel, and tractored in the life pod of Sonny and the small crew aboard the soon to be junker scrap ship.

"Alright I´m in *****" Frank could hear Sunny yell from the back of his Voyager. Gambit fired off his cruise engines, and had just enough time to make some distance while the RHA ships killed off what was left of the Blazing Angel.

Frank caught the flash of a ship full of Black Market Munitions blow up and it almost blinded him. He had made some distance, maybe just enough. But the RHA pilots were not about to give up.

"And who'll tractor yours?" said the RHS pilot.

" Just run" Sunny sat down in the co-pilots seat.

"Yea...Ill get away..no problem" Gambit tried to assure the FC Prez, that he had it under control, but he was not to sure about it himself. He kept looking at his scanners and his rear camera screen.

"let me know when you are good" Sunny not sounding convinced Frank had it under control. "20 mills was not worth it."

"Nope, Nope it was not" Frank said agreeing with him. He had the engines maxed out. He dropped the rest of his cargo to lighten up the ships load. He checked his scanner and looked at his camera screens again, they could still catch him, he thought to himself. He was becoming at expert at -When things just didn't feel right-.

[RHA]Raoulf.von.Bartels: Suit yourself
[RHA]Nefarius.Karlen: Understood herr Bartels... Returning to the base.

Gambit heard the comm chatter between the two RHA ships, but was not convinced. He kept the ship moving like a bat out of hell.

"ok...I lost them...now to find a way out." Frank looked over at Sonny, but he became fixated with the ships rear camera. He could almost sware he could see an engine trail off in the distance, but no ship was registering on the his scanners.

"All good" Asked Sunny with a raised eyebrow.

Frank Gambit ignored his Prez..getting as close to the monitor as he could.... finaly he had put it all together. "Fracking cloaker" Frank yelled.

"He cloaked on me...been following me the whole time" He started a series of short fishtales setting off countermeasures at the apex of each turn.

"Just get to the planet." Sunny barked out.

"Man that was nice move" Gambit was impressed with the tactic the RHS had used. He turned and smiled at his Prez.

"Oh wow" Sunny finally taking a look around and to the position they were in. "You are way off plane." He snapped again.

Frank kept smiling at the Prez and said nothing.

"Good luck.." he said menacingly. "HEAD TO THE PLANET....That is your best chance." Sunny put his hand on his gun.

Frank held up his index finger, as if to say wait for it. Seconds later. **Incoming Missile" The Voyagers sensors pickup a set of two disruptors coming at them, but they were to far behind, and his countermeasures were doing their intended job. Sunny took his hand off his gun.

"I had to keep it in a straight line...or he would have got me...any turning cuts down the distance when your only weapon is speed." Frank´s attention was back to flying the ship. He was tired, hungry, sleepy, no smoke, and the Prez almost shot him. If he was gonna catch a bullet, he was gonna say what he thought.
"True" Agreed Sunny,
"We should have planned that better" Frank cut him off. He had no filters anymore. ..."I could have taken one on with a sunslayer at least."

"How are you dodging and talking at the same time?" Snapped Sunny, more out of annoyance than anger.

Frank set a course for Kepler he did not have to ask where Sunny needed to go. They said nothing rest of the trip back.

oZoneRanger · 05-10-2015, 03:08 PM,

Gambit was relaxed. Enjoying the good life for the momemnt. With a little help from some friends, he was able to pass the clubs test and get patched up. It was difficult. Blond Betty, one of the girls that had been thrown on him by the club had been right when she said. "Dude, You shoo is bad at pimpin."

He had never been a big fan of the "Oldest" of businesses. But he realized that up in space, his street charm was non-existant.

Spoiler

He had decided to take Blond Betty´s advice. She suggested that "Runnin Comets" or flying brothels, was something you could not do out of a Voyager. She said over and over again, that what he needed was a "Nice" ship to work out of. So, he pulled out a small loan, with the deed to his not yet opened bar as colateral, and got together enough credits to purchase, outfit, arm and crew-out a nicer larger ship. He had all but 20mill of the loan paid back, in his first week.

So he was relaxed, things were going good. He could watch over the crew, and he let Blond Betty take care of the party. He headed to the AFC clubhouse. He figured he would hand deliver this new business opportunity, maybe get some credit for it.

Spoiler

oZoneRanger · 06-04-2015, 09:56 AM,

The Virgin

Frank Gambit and his crew have been sent down to break in a new club virgin. He stands at the back of the bridge of his newly purchased Democritus Luxury Yacht smoking Synth. His crew at their post.

"Yo Bit, got a ship showing the right frequencies." Johnny the Navigator reaches for some buttons on his navigation console and brings an exterior docking cam to focus on the ship in question and pulls it up on the center monitor. "Yea dude....got to be him man...look at all that Chrome on his Arrow...he must have spent a week polishing that thing."

The crew all gives a chuckle and a head nod. Frank Gambit moves to sit at the fold down sentry chair next to the bridge security doors. After years as a bouncer it was where he felt the most comfortable. "O.k. gents, lets not behave like a pack of wild New London tusk boars...lets give the guy some slack see what he is made of... Open a comm channel to him."

"KKKKaaaaa...Copy....ddddaaat...Opppennigg kkkoms." Communications Chuck turned a nob and a dial and flipped a switch. He was a large man with large fingers and somewhat slow to move, and he had a bad stuttering problem, but he was the only one who knew how to work the communications gear, so the job was his, much to everyone´s amusement. "Chhhhaaannneell...Oooo..oooo...oo"

"Yea...I got it Chuck...I got it.." He reaches for a switch next to a speaker by his head and flips it on.

[13.05.2015 19:45:04] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
Gambit: Sup Bro...Sunny sent me down here....you the new guy?

Frank can see right off the bat, the guy would need a small cargo ship, if he was going to be of any use. A voice comes over the speakers.

[13.05.2015 19:45:14] WildRider[V]:
yepp. nice to see yo broh

{AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
Gambit: Ok...first thing......nice ride...but.....

[13.05.2015 19:46:25] WildRider[V]:
so what can i help with sir.

[13.05.2015 19:46:44] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
you are gonna need a small cargo ship...if you are going to be of any use to us right now..

[13.05.2015 19:46:57] WildRider[V]:
cargoship?

Back on the Rich.Itch, everyone except Frank was silently chuckling. It was normal for virgins to be over eager. Show up on Chromed out rides all aching to raise hell. They did not realize it was more about grinding out the cargo and being sneaky about it. "Transfer him over some credits, enough for a Drommy."

Communications Chuck, slowly taps out some keystrokes and then turns to Gambit and nods that it is done.

[13.05.2015 19:47:04] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
I can spot you some credits...get a cheap Dromedary...

[13.05.2015 19:47:21] WildRider[V]:
like one of these old cowshaped things that... omg

[13.05.2015 19:47:24] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
then we go smuggle some guns....ya digg.?

[13.05.2015 19:47:26] WildRider[V]:
ok

[13.05.2015 19:47:49] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
Bethlehem sells them

The crew watches as the Arrow moves off toward Bethlehem station and lines up to dock. It would take him a while to swap out ships. An RG (racer groupy) shows up at the security doors to the bridge with a round of cold beers, she is let in and passes them out and picks up the empties. She says nothing and no one says anything to her, and as quickly as she came she leaves again.

"Zooooonnnnneeeerrr Gauuurddd haaa..Haiii..."

"Its cool Chuck. Put it up on the speakers." Frank opened his beer, Communications Chuck flips a switch turns and nods at Gambit. A voice comes across the speaker

[13.05.2015 19:52:05] ZonerGuard|ShadowBird:
good evenijng pilot

[13.05.2015 19:52:07] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
Greetings Zoner...

[13.05.2015 19:52:24] ZonerGuard|ShadowBird:
everything ok?

[13.05.2015 19:52:27] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
I have a buddy...getting sorted out with a Dromedary.. just waiting for him to get his final check out.

A ship is seen leaving from Bethlehem station docking wing. with the shape and size of a Dromedary. "Virgin undocking from Bethlehem." Sammy Sensors was the youngest of the crew. Smaller with think glasses. It was also known to everyone on board that he had at least 15 different weapons on him at all times. No one that knew him, messed with him. The zoners voice comes back over the speaker.

[13.05.2015 19:52:44] ZonerGuard|ShadowBird:
That is him I quess

Gambit was getting impatient. Sure, it was just a Zoner asking him questions, but they were still questions. Gambit did not like questions. "Open up a private channel to the virgin and lets get the hell out of here." He switches the comms to open local frequencies.

[13.05.2015 19:52:47] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
there he is..

And then switches back to private.

[13.05.2015 19:52:57] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
You ready?

[13.05.2015 19:53:06] WildRider[V]:
yes

Frank Gambit turns his attention to the Zoner. He seemed to be just a bit to interested in them.

[13.05.2015 19:53:17] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
nice day to ya

"Get us to where we need to be gents." The crew noded they understood. Frank hit the private channel again. Time to see what this guy was made off.

[13.05.2015 19:53:23] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
Follow behind Bro.

[13.05.2015 19:54:43] WildRider[V]:
whats a zoner guard doing here?

[13.05.2015 19:54:50] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
Ok...here is the deal....We head to Detroit...pick up some amo from a contact i got...you keep watch...

[13.05.2015 19:54:57] WildRider[V]:
ok

[13.05.2015 19:54:59] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
Gambit: dont worry about him....Bethlehem is a Zoner station...his turf and we dont poopoo on it.. If he is still tailing us at manhattan we hang for a minnute..

[13.05.2015 19:56:40] WildRider[V]:
yeh

The Two ships had made it back in to the NY systems, and a course had been set for Detroit Munitions. The same RGgirl as before appeared and filled everyone back up on beer. Gambit was taking small drags of this Synthweed. He decided to try and take this new guy under his wing, maybe get him to pledge down in the Bering Chapter. The needed new blood.

[13.05.2015 19:57:59] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
Gambit: So Bro...just a tip....like....

[13.05.2015 19:58:14] WildRider[V]:
yeh?

[13.05.2015 19:58:27] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
Gambit: Best when you meet someone new in the club, you tell them your name and where you are from..

They came into range of Detroit Munitions. He had not gotten much of a feel for the new guy yet. He hoped at least he could be a good lookout. He saw that the crew was going about doing what it did. The exchange would be quick, They would be able to roll on the cargo and pay the connection and get out relatively fast.

[13.05.2015 19:59:26] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
Gambit: So....I will dock..you keep watch....got it?

([13.05.2015 19:59:29] 2015-05-13 17:59:40 SMT Traffic control alert: {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B] has requested to dock)

[13.05.2015 19:59:32] WildRider[V]:
understood

The Cargo of Black Market munitions was loaded onto the ship. The Rich Itch with its Virgin in tow had made it out of Liberty and into Colorado. The Mood on the Bridge was tense. Somewhere out in the present sector the were in, was a well reported Xeno Base. It meant burning fuel, but they were currently trying to stay well clear of that part of the Colorado system. Frank continued to feel out this new prospect.

[13.05.2015 20:02:05] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
Gambit: How familiar are you with Bretonia?

[13.05.2015 20:02:20] WildRider[V]:
halfly, but i am a good trade navigator, I know my JH and charts... so where are we going if i may ask?

Frank kept silent. More questions he would rather not answer. He got up off his perch next to the security doors and walk over to Johnny The Navigator and passed him the last couple of hits of his Synthweed. "Make sure you keep us well away from that one bad nasty sector Bro." Johnny took the spliff out of Gambits hand. "I gotcha covered Man...we all good." Frank walked back to the security doors and leaned against the wall next to the comms mike.

[13.05.2015 20:03:11] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]: Gambit:
Ok..here is the deal....we got to get out of Liberty unseen ...see...so...stay with me close...your part of the hard work comes later.. there is a Xeno base somewhere out here...I try and stay well clear of...them damn Xenos are nuts..

[13.05.2015 20:05:26] WildRider[V]:
hmm ok Ontario and Kepler JH coming up but no xenobase hmm

[13.05.2015 20:06:34] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]: Gambit:
yea..I been told about where it is..I stay away from that part of the sector..I dont even have it logged in my nav map

He switched off the comms. And sat back down on the fold down seat. He lit another spliff. "You tell him where hes gotta drop off them Munitions yet Bit?" A curiouse Johnny asked. Frank takes a drag. Blows the smoke out real slow, and puts a little spit on his finger and applies it to the lit end of his spliff, preventing a run. "Na Man... I wanna hear his balls drop to the floor." The crew laughs. Getting ammo to Leeds was no joking matter.

"Comming up on the California Gate Bit. Seems clear." Sammy sensors chimned in with a status report.

"O.K. lets send him through first." He switches the comms unit back on.

[13.05.2015 20:08:32] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]: Gambit:
when we get to the gate...you go first...

[13.05.2015 20:08:37] WildRider[V]:
ok il scout ahead

[13.05.2015 20:08:57] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]: Gambit:
Then we move on to Cortez and then to Manchester..

[13.05.2015 20:09:05] WildRider[V]:
understood

The mini convoy finally made its way to the Manchester system and were a few sectors from the Leeds jump hole. The crew was placing bets. Some for, but most against the V making it out alive. The V´s voice came on over the speakers.

[13.05.2015 20:12:46] WildRider[V]:
all clear in manchester

The crew all turned and looked a Gambit. It was time to lay out the rest of the plan. The V had locked into formation with them and Johnny The Navigator pulled them both through the Leeds jump hole with no warning. Once on the other side, it was going to be all about speed. They set a course to a point 18k away from the planet, still within the smog cloud.

[13.05.2015 20:13:02] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]: Gambit
...Ok...here comes the dicey part....Im gonna drop this ammo..and you are going to take it Planet side...you get it?

[13.05.2015 20:13:22] WildRider[V]:
planetside?

Frank smiled and held back turning the comms back on till his crew at stopped laughing. After a few seconds, and just as Frank was about to open the channel back up.

[13.05.2015 20:14:11] WildRider[V]:
what you mean by planetside broh?

The snarks were now muffuled howls of laughter. The crew now throwing bets as to whether the V had pissed himself. Gambit turned on the comms switch.

[13.05.2015 20:14:13] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]: Gambit:
yea...planetside....be a piece of cake...no worries Bro...

13.05.2015 20:15:42] WildRider[V]:
you want me to enter the planet and sell it?

[13.05.2015 20:16:02] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]: Gambit:
So...when you pop out of the smog cloud.you are gonna see a small station, you ready to do this?

[13.05.2015 20:16:19] WildRider[V]:
sure

[13.05.2015 20:16:41] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]: Gambit:
it is on the back side of planet leeds..

[13.05.2015 20:16:56] WildRider[V]:
understood

[13.05.2015 20:17:12] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]:
Ok...make it fast man, they find me im dead Bro..

He lit another joint, and finished off three fingers of whiskey. He watched as the first transfer of amo to the V was made. "Gents, lets power down everything we don´t need, but the Keep the passive scanner on full, this will take awhile."

The rest of the off load went with out any problems. They stayed well enough within the smog to not show up on anyone´s scanners. The V, considering he was baptized by fire, did well enough. The two ships had make it out of Leeds and were now in the Magellan system, the crew well on its way to alcohol oblivion. They decided they would try and find a party on the Freeport. Frank was wrapping up his after action chat with the V.

{AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]: Gambit:
I know today was a milk run, but other times you are gonna need to be quicker Bro....

[13.05.2015 20:30:23] WildRider[V]:
yes sure soo you need some of the dogh? was around 8 mill.

[13.05.2015 20:31:07] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]: Gambit:
I got some business to attent to on Fp4. You can do this run on your own...Sunny will give you some task soon...

[13.05.2015 20:31:16] WildRider[V]:
ok nice

[13.05.2015 20:31:35] {AFC}-Rich.Itch[B]: Gambit:
keep the credits..you are going to need them....just remember who helped ya out, when you get patched...

[13.05.2015 20:31:55] WildRider[V]:
ofc straight as a knife broh.

Weeks later, Gambit would not be very please to hear that the V had been patched and had chosen the Kepler chapter. He would have to make sure he got the money he fronted him with interest.

oZoneRanger · 06-04-2015, 12:14 PM,

Should have bought the engine

It was starting to happen so frequently that Frank Gambit suspected that his ship was bugged. Every time they got anywhere near Manhattan, navy officer and wannabee cop Armada would arrive on scene. Frank was beginning to see that officer Armada had the mental agility of lead. But the weeks of running clean or semi clean had served a purpose. They had viable intel on LPI and Navy shift changes, it was going to make running contraband into NY easier. Still having to deal with the likes of officer Armada over and over again was testing Gambit´s patience. They did have a stolen blackmarket Cnox they were looking to sell, so Gambit had been on his best behavior.

[22.05.2015 09:21:10] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: We done now?
[22.05.2015 09:21:23] 5th|John.Armada: Yes, move on. Thank you for your cooperation.
[22.05.2015 09:21:36] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: dont get shot up to much

"Get us out of New York Johnny, head to Kepler see if we can dump some of this stuff on BP66" Frank took a hit of his Synth. It was of a different variety, leaving him feeling ambivalent and third personish. Like he was above himself, watching his crew work, but over his own shoulder. He saw Sammy sensors turn toward him.

"Comming up on Ames, Bit...got a Planetform ship in the area"
"Put him on the speakers" Gambit said picking up his Mic.

[22.05.2015 09:27:39] PFI)Barrow:
Greetings
[22.05.2015 09:27:48] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]:
Yea...Sup man...you good?
[22.05.2015 09:28:02] PFI)Barrow:
Allen: Im good. Thanks
[22.05.2015 09:28:23] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit:
How is that ship working out for ya?
[22.05.2015 09:28:44] PFI)Barrow: Allen:
Working out very well.. Wish it had some better shields on it to hold up to the new xeno ships in Alabama.. but other then that...
[22.05.2015 09:29:26] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit:
Ya got to admit thought Bro.... it kinda looks like a Bug.....
[22.05.2015 09:29:49] PFI)Barrow: Allen:
*chuckles* a bug with a bite though.
[22.05.2015 09:30:01] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]:
Gambi: Copy that ..hehe.. Anyways Dude...things to do....stuff to move...ya dig? Im out....
[22.05.2015 09:30:35] PFI)Barrow:Allen:
Safe travels
[22.05.2015 09:30:43] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit:
You to man...

They had the ship moving off to BP66, but were still in range of Ames station. Gambit picked up his mic, he would try to pawn the Cnox off on him, Maybe scrape a few more credits together.

[22.05.2015 09:39:13] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]:
Hey man...I just thought off something...I just scrapped a ship...Hull was to banged up...but I saved the Cnox transport engine. You interested in it ...I was gona junk it...but...it would fit your rig.
[22.05.2015 09:39:59] PFI)Barrow: Allen:
Just what good is that engine anyway?
[22.05.2015 09:41:02] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]:
Well seemed to make my last ship run smoother..
[22.05.2015 09:41:46] PFI)Barrow: Allen:
Thanks for the offer but I think Im good for the moment
[22.05.2015 09:42:20] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit: Ok man....9mill worth of gear your turning down ....keep cool Bro.

Maybe it was the synth, or the fact that they had just been told by BP66 control, that there was no cargo space available to off load the goods they had onboard. Or maybe it was the way the guy dismissed his offer of a Cnox clone at next to nothing in price. Whatever it was, something had changed Franks mood. "damn synth...doing my head in....OK fellas....looks like we hang at BP66 till we can dock and unload this alluminum..someone have some beer sent up." His BWT was not a nice of a ship as Rich.Itch was, but he favored it more. After a few minutes, with no warning, a voice came across the ship´s speakers.

[22.05.2015 10:25:09] Mr.Yoshida*:
Hello.
[22.05.2015 10:25:56] Mr.Yoshida*:
Are you there?

"What the hell is that Chuck?" Gambit blurted out at his communicatins man.
"I ..I....I....Doonn...donnn doont ...know.." Communications Chuck was moving as fast as his limitations allowed.
"Well, bounce it back to him, lets find out who he is" Giving Chuck to clue he needed to act.

[22.05.2015 10:26:12] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]:
**TransmissionUnrecognized** **AuthenticationRequested**

It took only seconds to get a response.

[22.05.2015 10:27:42] Mr.Yoshida*:
Well I don't have time for this. You either respond or I talk to Sunny instead.

"Got to be a Hacker Bit." offered Johnny the Navigator. Sammy on sensors was nodding his head in agreement. "Hackers R the only ones dat can hack a ships comms systems."
"Yea...you guys are probably right...open a channel, throw some static into it, make it seem we are futher away than we could be." With his orders communication chuck tapped out some keys and turned and nodded at Gambit. Frank pick up his Mic and hit the transmit button.

[22.05.2015 10:28:46] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit:
Very ...(Static) weak signal...What is your problem and who are you?
[22.05.2015 10:29:22] Mr.Yoshida*:
There is a transport in Kepler. I need you to find him and tell me where it is heading. You will keep part of the spoils.
[22.05.2015 10:30:34] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]:
Gambit: Buddy....you aint told me who you are..you just givin Orders.. Tell ya what...you talk to Sunny.
[22.05.2015 10:30:52] Mr.Yoshida*:
Pfft. I thought you knew who I am.
[22.05.2015 10:31:03] Mr.Yoshida*:
I am a senior Lane Hacker.

"Told ya boss....hacker, and a senior one at that...not the kinda people you wanna piss off." Johnny was most of the time right, and he never let you forget that he was. Frank walked over to Johnny and took the half smoked joint from his hand. He gave Johnny the funny-but-dont-push-your-luck-look. "Alright, alright....Ill lay off ya some boss". Frank took a hit off the joint and hit the transmitter.

[22.05.2015 10:31:36] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit:
Na man...sorry ...never heard of ya...or met ya....to me...to be honest...was just a voice over the speaker..
[22.05.2015 10:31:46] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit:
What is the target name.?
[22.05.2015 10:32:10] Mr.Yoshida*:
Okay racer. Now if you want to make some money find me that Planetform transport.
[22.05.2015 10:32:14] Mr.Yoshida*:
It's somewhere in Kepler.
[22.05.2015 10:32:57] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit:
Gotcha Hacker....let me loosen up..and Ill take a look see.
[22.05.2015 10:35:43] Mr.Yoshida*:
Check Poena, the Colorado jump hole
[22.05.2015 10:35:48] Mr.Yoshida*:
He might be there

What Gambit liked most about his crew, is that he seldom had to tell them what the next move was. They already had the ship on the move and heading to the search area indicated by the hacker. Running an errand for a hacker, beat waiting in a radiation field to unload your ship. They set up running sectors around Ames reasearch. They would get a read on him and loose him again. Gambit smilled when he realized it was the same ship that turned him down on the Cnox clone. "Looks like Im gonna make some cash off you after all."

[22.05.2015 10:36:55] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit:
Ames was clear...Im reading him as PFI Barrow...I ran across him earlier..i tried to sell him a hot engine, he turned me down....
[22.05.2015 10:38:32] Mr.Yoshida*:
It's okay. I will make him an offer that he can't refuse.
[22.05.2015 10:38:41] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit:
Picked up his signal around Nome..and lost it...
[22.05.2015 10:39:17] Mr.Yoshida*:
So he is not around the jump hole?
[22.05.2015 10:40:39] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit:
No not getting any reading...its thick with rads ...scanners are limited...basicaly have to bumbp into him
[22.05.2015 10:40:56] Mr.Yoshida*:
He must be somewhere in that field
[22.05.2015 10:41:19] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit:
Colorado jump hole is clear..

It was a game of cat and mouse, even if the mouse did not know about it. The hunt was on and it was only a matter of time. And as soon as it had started it ended.

[22.05.2015 10:41:51] Mr.Yoshida*:
Cut your engines now! You do not really wish me to do it for you.
[22.05.2015 10:41:54] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit; got him
[22.05.2015 10:42:03] Mr.Yoshida*: Thank you racer.
[22.05.2015 10:42:31] {AFC}-Hold.Fast[B]: Gambit: Sorry for the misunderstanding hacker...I owe ya a beer..

A few minutes later, as they were heading back to BP66, the ships accounts were hacked and credits added to them.

[22.05.2015 11:11:08] You have received 150.000 credits from Mr.Yoshida*
[22.05.2015 11:11:41] Mr.Yoshida*:
He was empty, yet he paid some cash regardless. Here is half that money.

The Hacker did not sound to happy about having to split such a small cut with him. Frank decided it was best to leave it at that. Soon after, they got notice from BP66 that they could land and unload and have a few hours of rest at the station Bar.

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