Two men walk down the road towards the site of a construction zone on a hillside with a Huegenot cruiser parked nearby. The cruiser sits on a flat piece of land, bordered on one side by a wooded valley, the sounds of birds and falling water disturbed by the sounds of yelling and shrill beeping coming from inside the cruiser.
"Look you idiot. Don't touch that or you might set off the defense turrets!"
"Beep, breep boop!"
"No I told you not to...", the peaceful valley is disturbed by the deafening roar of 8 defense turrets firing into the air.
"Look! How do you expect to get the automated systems...oh I see. That was a testfire?"
Disgusted sounding beeping dwindles into the distance.
The dark haired, bespectacled man who appears to be in his mid 40's, looks up to see the two figures approaching.
"Oh hello there. Didn't see you coming. Mal is it? Or Pops? And a friend? I'm not very good with names. You live down the road anyway?...maybe? Sorry, I'm a bit distracted at the moment.
Any friend of yours is welcome here of course.
Have you come to enjoy the peaceful...er...relaxing...er...I guess you came to visit anyway. Want a beer?
Perhaps you can show me around your Veranda place sometime if you have time?
I found that disembodied voice rather intriguing. It wasn't that floating droid was it?"
A dapper man clad in a long duster rises from his chair
"Ah, Pops Waverly, good to see you again. I'd been dreaming of those bushes, or trees. I'll be setting out after the Yuletide Celebration to find some, but for the moment, I think I'll indulge in a little Blue Sapphire. I've developed quite the taste for it. Shamus took my hookah away though... said I was 'Developing a Habit.' Lousy Shamus..."
He kicks at the ground morosely
"But enough of that! 'Tis Yuletide, and all the stars are alight with Profit. Squiggles! Start unloading those crates of Johnnie Talker, Mcintosh will be here soon. And fix your hat, it looks silly."
A short, very broad man nods slowly, and rises from his chair on the Veranda.
"Certainly Mr. Kingpin, I'll be on that right away."
He trudges towards a lumpy spacecraft sitting on the nearby launch pad
Jack Handey Wrote:I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.
Pops pushed away from the table set for breakfast on the Veranda. He looked down at the decimated spread, and then over to the gentlemen who has shared the meal.
"Mr. Kell. Mr. Kingpin. I'm glad you accepted my offer to lay over for the evening, and join me for breakfast this morning. I've quite enjoyed our visit. Perhaps you can both return again, either for a pleasant visit, or in your case, Kingpin, when those previous negotiations resume. I'm looking forward to seeing Shamus again as well. He seems rather taken by some of the things he's learned about the Church of Eris. We do seem to find our converts in the oddest places.
"Gentlemen, I must take my leave. I have a hot load for Manhattan, and must be there before noon. Please take your time, and enjoy the amenities before you move on. The exit code is "Tanstaafl", and I suggest you remember it, or Mr. Kingpin may have a matching hole in that nice duster.
"Mr Kell, I do believe it will be your turn to host for the New Year. Please let me know if I can provide anything. Good Morning, gentlemen."
Message recieved. I hope your property and your person have not been harmed prior to your new equipment installation.
My energies are being spent in a possible restructuring of our government and military at the moment so it may be some time before we meet again. The Gods have blessed us with more survivers that we must put to work on our terraforming project. We have recieved word that Captain Dunn and the Pannonia have been found with nothing more serious than a fried avionics package, thank The Gods. Any in-system transactions can be held with him until I return. Contact Hyperion or the Croatica and they should be able to get a hold of the Pannonia.
We will be starting our plans for the next blockade run on Harris some time in the next 2 weeks. We'll be contacting you regarding that soon.
Message to: Gemenon_Traveler
Comm ID: [FSFP]Daddy_Warbucks
Ambassador Gideon,
I can imagine that your life has become a bit hectic. I appreciate greatly that you found the time to drop a message to a simple trader such as myself. Thank you.
I have indeed caught sight of the Panonnia recently on the Net. I've really had no problems trading thru 31 or 23 lately. The warring Navies seem much too involved to worry about the odd trading vessel. So, I haven't had occasion to speak with them.
In reference to the "third party" contractor that was discussed at the last meeting with Mal and Chancellor Aeon. I've noticed some activity in Edinburgh. I met the head cheese of the contractees this weekend, and he mentioned that they were in process of doing a "feasiblilty study" on the proposed contract. He indicated to me that they should have no problems at all in fulfilling the contract, if awarded. The keyword from their point of view is "exclusivity".
I will await your return, with fresh-picked mint,
Waverly
Message to: Malaclypse, aboard Mal's Menagerie
Comm ID: Waverly, Veranda Incognita
Hey, Pardner,
I am very impressed with our acquaintance Ambassador Gideon. It is amazing to me that he, along with Adama and Warhammer, have so quickly managed to come to terms regarding a merger of their two "rag tag fleets". (I knew that "Nick" was tied up with negotiations last night, as Sophie had briefly contacted the Gemenon Traveler regarding a Gaian prisoner exchange). Sophie passed the word that her (and our) business could wait until a more opportune time.
Nick seems very able at "rolling with the punches", so to speak. With all the recent political changes and new arrivals, he has proven his worth. You made an excellent seat-of-the-pants call when you named him Ambassador to Fernando Poo! I certainly hope that he is still considering the postion of Colonial President as well, altho there now seems to be some mystery as to whether there has already been an interim appointment made for the Office. Of course, if Nick becomes President, we will most likely have to work with him to choose a new Ambassador. Our great advantage will still be that he has taken the time to study our Discordian teachings and history, and understands that our ties may stretch back into the dim Terran (and Sothian) past.
Awaiting further developments with great interest,
Pops
Sakes alive, this new President is a task master! We're at a somewhat more civilized state of organisation now so I can spare a few moments to chat-in private. No need to drop by the estate my friend, your neighborhood has become a bit dangerous for us lately so we can just keep this on encrypted channels!
Message to: Waverly, Veranda Incognita
Comm ID: Mal, Mal's Menagerie
Hey, old friend,
Keep your appointments booklet open, and air out the spare rooms.
Things are coming to a head. Expect visitors within the week.
We may have to pull a few strings locally again to get our guests safe passage.
Appreciate the use of the Veranda. I love the smell of those punky, skunky fields as we chat.
Regards to Sophie. Haven't seen much of her lately. Are you driving her too hard on 1st Flax business?
Oh, and you'll love my new personal flitter! No wonder you still keep your hand in with the Epsilon Wing! I've forgotten how much fun it is to pilot a light fighter. Perhaps we should take em out and ring each other's bells a bit just for drill.
Message to: Malaclypse 666
Comm ID: Daddy Warbucks
Mal, you tosser. Still playing both " 'odges" against the middle, I see. Whatever it takes to balance that bloody Sacred Chao, I suppose.
I hope your Creches' training comes with a guarantee. One of your graduates swears he's seen the Fnords, and I'm taking the risk of putting him to work for the Bank. The gent has both marketing and sales experience, albeit in a rather shady business. He'll be starting as a Courier and Minor Accts. Rep. He comes well-equiped, and is awaiting new registry as the [FSFP]Flaxrunner. He was honest enough to divulge that he is still involved with another Firm as well, as you are well aware from those preliminary contract talks a while back. We shall see if he can keep his apples and oranges separated, as he guaranteed.
You'll also be happy to learn that those mouthy "Fnordettes" have once again proven their worth. Sophie Noir has done such a stellar job for 1st Flax, that I'm promoting her to General Manager, effective immediately. the rubes may be able to sweet-talk a "primate", as they call us; but they'll play Thud getting anything past my Sophie.
So, we're putting our "earnest money" down on a little plot for Fernando Poo, eh? May as well invest the Flax.. can't take it with us. Don't forget to include a nice, strong station for the Bank. We'll still tether 1st Flax at Newark, or perhaps move it to Curacao, just to make the "application" process a little more challenging for loan seekers. I am surprised that there have been so few applications for the "Q" Memorial Trader's Fund grants. Good Lord, if someone had wanted to give me a grant for 10 Million with a minimal amount of paperwork when I first started, we'd be well into our 2nd Billion Tons by now.
As always, I am leaving all Spiritual and diplomatic matters in your Episky hands. If your Pineal says we need a Hodge neighbor and friend to compliment our Podge, then so be it. Just keep all the receipts, eh?
Hey pops, mal, yer welcome to head over my way sometime if ya like. Drop in for a visit, I didnt bother equipping my estates with sonic blasters and the like... just dont take any of the priceless art items.
Anyways, we've got some nice hiking opportunites with 75,000 acres of prime mountain real-estate.
![[Image: malsig_alt1.png]](http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o108/Shamus_FL/malsig_alt1.png)
![[Image: Tex3.jpg]](http://free-sk.t-com.hr/Freelancer/Tex3.jpg)
