Mona and Kincaid met Sorenson near Springwell’s box. When Sorenson flicked a firestick across the hard wooden surface that framed the box, she lit a cigarillo and offered the burning tip to either member to light their own. Mona shook her head, while Kincaid drew his own and nodded his thanks to Captain Sorenson, always appreciative that she could have a casual attitude with her crew. Sorenson had gone over her meeting with Booker.
“Normally I’d assume this would be a simple transport job, but something about a figure who is transporting Stoverleaf Blanc and wanting little to no questions asked, it’s got my hairs on end.”
“Not just from the cold either, huh?” Mona joked, chuckling as Sorenson rolled her eyes, “Hopefully we can get into space soon after we receive the cargo and go our separate ways at the Rock.”
Kincaid said nothing, smoking quietly before he heard the soft padding of footsteps and he turned to see Springwell’s short, stout figure side step around the larger Goliath’s pant covered leg. Sorenson had a pointed quip, even if her tone remained casual, “Took you that long to slip away?”
“Poke your boyfriend and remind him that we do not need to ask so many questions before washing out a guy.” It was Springwell that confirmed Jake, Bucky, and Zebart would join the crew. Reaching the door into the purser’s box, Springwell’s hand slid along the surface before removing a false top that exposed a lever that he could pull, causing the door to disengage and slide in. Springwell stepped in first, replacing the false top and revealing the line of racks and strong boxes that contained goods ranging from emergency funds, a few ‘gray market’ items in case the ship needed to make a quick deal that was outside the trade regulations of the major factions. Along one of the walls was a metal of various weapons, many of them tagged for the owner.
“One warhammer of Thunderclap assigned to Kincaid,” Springwell gestured to the spot, which the goliath obliged by hefting the weapon, nodding at the weight, “Not even a scratch.” Kincaid noted.
Springwell continued, “One cutlass of keenness and dagger set…” Springwell checked off his private pad before stepping aside for Mona, “You also want a crossbow?”
“Are we really expecting a fight?” Mona asked, looking at her captain. At the same time, Kincaid had removed his shirt, revealing a broad figure that could easily heft such a powerful weapon as a warhammer. He was fitting on a chainshirt at least to protect his torso
“I’m not sure what to expect, but I think sidearms will be fine,” Sorenson said before accepting her favored tulwar. When it came to arms, especially on ship, Sorenson generally went armed with a pistol and a short blade, such as a long knife, or a cutlass. On land, her weapon of choice was the long tulwar with a silver colored hilt and a diamond colored gem on the pommel for both decoration and for cracking skulls, the pommel’s gem was beveled with a fine point in case the Captain had to slam it into the face or head of a disagreeable individual.
Backing up Caroline’s tulwar as a single pistol that rested at the front of her waist, below her angular navel. A small ammo pouch rested against her hip with paper cartridges of powder and shot. Hanging from her chest, besides her emblem to one of the Goddesses of fortune was a triplet set of powder flasks that made it easy to dump a charge into the pan of her pistol. Caroline also had a knife touched into the cuff of her boot, but that was a universal trait for everyone on board. Even if there was a no-weapons policy, almost every spacesea sailor carried a knife.
“Better give me a hand crossbow,” Mona finally said as she saw Caroline strap on a pistol. Mona could not shake the feeling that Kincaid would need more than a quick blade, he would need someone with range supporting him as they made this pick up.
Springwell did not bother looking up, he stepped down from his box behind the counter and shuffled over the racks. When he appeared, a dark wood hand crossbow with fine tension springs that secured the bows into the frame, so that the weapon could be carried similar to a pistol. Working a small latch built into the bottom of the frame would cause the bows to spring out with a click. Reed would not have the same range as a proper crossbow, but the weapon was inconspicuous while walking through town. There would be plenty of sideways looks from people staring at the bluish green goliath that would be walking with her bearing a warhammer strapped to his back.
“We’re meeting Booker and his client at a tavern to size him up and formally take the job, from there I want you two to secure the shipment and get it moved to the Katherine,” Caroline said before turning to Springwell, “Finally, about Folsom and the ice machine, have Edmonton go with him so we can buy good parts. Maybe send one of the new people to escort them.”
“Like the gnome?” Springwell asked, “I’m sure Zebart would like to help fix our ice machine.”
Sorenson made a face at the prospect, she leaned forward and asked quietly, “He is a tinker gnome isn’t he?”
Springwell nodded and said, “The genuine article. He even jumbles up the words if you don’t get him to slow down. I already put word to Folsom to pair him with Normandy Stotch so that Norm can show him the ropes, and act as his translator.” Caroline nodded. The Grey Katherine already had one gnome on the ship from Lantan, where the technological devices seemed to work better and the tinker gnomes there seemed to have a calm, collected attitude compared to the Krynnish gnomes that Zebart had hailed from. Despite being calmer, there was some innate connection that allowed Illusionist and Lantanese gnomes to understand and communicate effectively with their cousins. Still, even paired…
“Don’t let this new gnome work on my ice machine. Not with everything riding on it,” Caroline said, “Send the beaverfolk since he’s a local to go with Eddie and Folsom and get people off my back.”
“Very well,” Springwell said, he checked off the gear the crew had signed up before saying brightly: “Happy hunting.”
No comments:
Post a Comment