Ceres City
Capella
November 8, 3053, Evening
More than a score of groups between 6 and 8 Rangers plus appropriate security details departed for various points in Ceres City. Kronwall and Breisacher convinced Kato to join them in a craft brewery tour broken up by some walks through different green spaces. Kronwall joking referred to it as the “Drunken Master Pub Crawl.” Mechanic Ciara D'Eyncourt, Administrator Jannet Birnie, Crusher pilot Nancy Pascha, and Ice Tech Peggy Sen rounds out the group with room for another.
The Apocalypse Rising crowd including Cherikov, Brightsword, Moon, Malthus and Wilhem along with two other Rangers were heading out to a restaurant and then to a bar. Others nearby could hear the friendly smack talk exchanged with Vlad taunting his opponents that it was already early 2780 and he was still ensconced on Earth. While the participants traded jabs over things that went better for their side than history, it paused when Nicolas told Vlad, “That’s nice, I’m coming for you.” While the Rim World Forces were generally doing better than Amaris’ force had historically, the battles against Nicolas’ forces spearheaded by the 2nd Army were another matter. He was crushing the RWR forces battle after battle after battle. Had the others kept better pace Malthus’ forces would have reached Earth around the time that Kerensky did, but like Kerensky he was ensuring the other thrusts were keeping pace. The noose was tightening and Vlad’s options rapidly dwindling.
Responding to Vlad, Will tells him, “Sometimes your luck turns. Favor better used for another day. Better a game and roll average than running out on the battlefield."
While meant as a quip, it brings to mind the seventeen individuals who died during the last contract sobering things a bit. Jake sensing an opportunity to prevent the comment from killing the evening raises his glass in toast to the Rangers who have fallen. It is a toast all the people present can get behind. He then turns to Heinrich. "Hey Wilhem! Can you imagine what Wyat would have done with the 16th Army if we'd've given it to him? He'd've been like, 'Caspar, Caspar, Caspar. See? There's no such thing as bad...'," Jake did a lousy impression of Heinrich's XO who had died just a few months prior, but it was funny, "and that would have stopped right at the point when the drones would have blown up his Potemkin!" Jake's horrible impression and amusing comment are enough to turn the corner and get things back on a more positive track.
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Mudd and Hitzig along with Dancer Pilots Chastity Wolf and Teri MacInnit, Dragon pilot Jason Gato, Battle Armor Tech Rich Boerth and Administrator Soon-Hee Yu had plans as well. Chastity had been talking to Klaus who told her about a great game bar with excellent microbrews. She had challenged the good Colonel to a game of chess and wouldn’t stop the smack talk until he relented and agreed to the game. Loser would buy a couple of rounds not for just the winner, but the other Rangers in their group. It’s almost certain that Rich heard the term “free beer” and decided to tag along with them, though the men to women ratio probably didn’t hurt either. Soon-Hee was along for the fun being friends with Chastity and used her logistics expertise to secure them a prime location and reserved table. That however was for later. There was a restaurant and a couple of bars to hit on the way to the main event.
The evening progressed well with different groups of Rangers spotting each other moving about from time to time. It seemed to work out that no more than two groups ever patronized the same establishment at the same time. Typically, the group that had been there longer was encouraged to move on to another location. While the groups weren’t all tightly packed into the same few blocks, their arrival was noticed. The Rangers varied appearance and discussions in languages other than Mandarin or Cantonese set them apart from the locals, who are polite and largely stay out of their way. Their unfamiliar looks cause them to be eyed by various members of the populace, some with frowns, some with curiosity and some with something more. It’s clear that many of them are being sized up, the more attractive Rangers drawing more scrutiny, though the majority drawing at least some interest as “exotic.” Hitzig’s alertness which had relaxed a bit at the estate over the past couple of weeks is at full attention, spotting and mentally cataloguing the various reactions to her group. She notices one woman in particular seems particularly interested in Mudd having followed the group to its various locations.
Arriving at their final destination, the group gets settled at a few tables, Mudd and Wolf at the middle table as their match is the main attraction. Mudd buys a round of drinks and others order food and appetizers as this is where the group intends to spend the bulk of the night. Wolf teases Mudd that it’s good he’s getting used to paying for the drinks now, to which he tells her that it’s the only round he’ll have to buy tonight. The proverbial gauntlet is thrown and picked up. Piles of C-bills, Eagles, Pounds and even Yuan start forming as different bets are finalized. The bar itself is lively and busy with a variety of games being played. While the Rangers get a bit of initial attention when they arrive there’s enough noise and focus on other patrons’ own games to leave the newcomers largely alone. The two-person security detail has taken a nearby table with clear lines of sight on the exits.
Before a second round of drinks can be ordered a woman in traditional Chinese garb carries a decorative looking chess set over, pieces already in their places and carefully sets it down with the white pieces in front of Benton and the black in front of Chastity. Offering a slight bow she turns and walks off. Halfway across the room she runs into Kathrin, the collision enough to cause both women to stumble and the server’s wig to get knocked askew revealing short blonde hair. The blonde hair triggers a thought, “Haven’t I seen you before?” which triggers a brusque “Definitely not.” The exchange is in English though it catches Kathrin’s attention that the woman’s accent changes when speaking. While pondering the woman adjusts her wig and heads into the back, the chance for further questions slipping away with her.
At the table an argument has started between the two players. “Move.” Chastity tells Benton.
“Wait. Why am I going first?”
“Well, you’re playing white. If you don’t even know that much, this is going to be a far faster game than I thought.”
“Who said I’m playing white?”
“Well, that’s the way the board is, isn’t it?”
“Shouldn’t you have the opportunity to go first?”
“Take all the advantage you can, old man, I’m taking you down!”
As the argument is going on Soon-hee gets up and squats down next to the table looking at the pieces. They’re some sort of native hardwood, and exceptionally well carved, with a decorate stone base. Cathrin notices the board, the argument and Soon-hee’s interest as she arrives back at the table. “When did that arrive?” she asks Soon-hee, settling in the open chair next to her.
“Just a couple of minutes ago. A server brought it over.”
“Which server?”
“I don’t know, not our usual one.”
“Shouldn’t we pick one of the pieces at random to determine who’s going first?”
“Don’t want to miss an excuse for why things went wrong if you lose?”
“Who said I’m going to lose?”
“What did she look like?”
“Then why won’t you move?”
“Shoulder length straight black hair, green kimono, maybe 5’6”? I don’t know, didn’t get a good look at her.” Soon-hee continues to study the pieces.
“I want to make sure YOU don’t have an excuse for when I beat you.”
Chastity laughs. “Like that will happen.”
Soon-hee reaches out to pick up a piece then pauses, “Can I?”
“Huh? Yeah,” Mudd replies. “Go for it.”
Soon-hee picks up the white queen and pulls it back to her, studying it.
“You want to make a bet on that?”
Soon-hee shifts to sitting on the floor.
“Didn’t we already? Two rounds for everyone.”
Her head starts to shake slightly then droops forward, fingers loosening, the queen falling.
“Add a bottle of top-shelf liquor for the winner.”
“Seriously? Did my birthday come early?”
There’s the sound of stone hitting wood as the base of the queen strikes the floor and rolls under the table.
Soon-hee slumps forward though doesn’t quite seem to be reaching for it.
Mudd spots the piece rolling near his foot. “I got it.”
Kathrin gets a good look at Soon-hee as Mudd reaches for the piece, her hand darting out and grabbing his wrist as he almost has it, “Stop!” she calls. It’s loud enough that it attracts attention, and you realize one of the security detail was already out of his chair and moving towards Soon-hee when Cathrin’s call came.
“Look” Hitzig says to Mudd, pointing to Soon-hee who has tipped over and lay crumpled on the ground. The security guard finishes closing the short distance and checks her. His eyes flicker to his partner who has already stood and is scanning, weapon drawn.
“Poison?” she asks.
The security guard nods. “We’re leaving.”
Mudd looks at Hitzig already having come to both conclusions. “Thank you.”
She nods in response, looking back at the others who are on alert and scanning as well. “Hey,” she calls to get people’s attention. She describes the server she ran into and gets agreement that it was likely her. The second security guard moves quickly but cautiously over to the door to the back. A server exits, startled by the presence of an armed man next to them and in the confusion the guard slips into the back. He’s gone for less than a minute before returning. Bets have already been picked up and money left on the table for food and drinks. The group moved quickly to a small waiting area near the front door that provides limited sight lines and cover.
The guard who’s been with them nods respectfully to Kathrin and it is only a few minutes longer before one of the limos pull up. The guard who checked the back has a rapid conversation in Mandarin with the owner, and the chess board and pieces are dumped into a bag, the queen on the ground picked up using a cloth napkin and plastic as barriers and dropped into the bag. Once gathered, the guard takes the bag in his free hand and covers the rest of the group’s exit.
There are six more security guards outside, weapons drawn and looking for any possible vantage point that a shooter would find convenient. Each of the Rangers is screened in the dash to the limo and in just a short time all are safely ensconced. As they start driving, Kathrin realizes that the server is the same woman she spotted on the street that had been Mudd’s admirer, though she’d been dressed differently. She is also certain having gotten a good look at her and seeing the blonde hair that she’d seen her somewhere before, but can’t place where. It bugs her, but she’ll have to to look into it after she gets back.
One of the guards starts questioning everyone in the back to understand what they observed. It’s clear from the questions he asks, he has a lot of experience teasing out details around a scene asking not only about what they saw, but what they heard, smelled and felt if anything. The muffled discussion being held in the front of the limo you expect is covering what’s currently known with their superiors. As the questions end in the back of the limo, he places a call of his own. While you can’t understand the Mandarin he’s speaking. The cadence of delivery is that of delivering a report, one that goes on for quite a while.
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While spending time at the estate Rosk had overheard a few of the Atayde Guard talking with Fletcher about activities and excitement in and around Ceres City. One of the options he was let in on were motorcycle races on dirt just outside the city. It was sponsored "unofficially" by a local manufacturer who provided the bikes ensuring it was left to the skill and daring of the bikers to win or fall behind. While that particular option didn't particularly pique Fletcher's interest, it did Rosk's. Talking to the guardsmen afterwards he was given the information on where to go, who to ask for and how to get involved. At least a couple of them were regulars and could vouch for him at least to get him in the door.
So when the opportunity was presented to cut loose before the lockdown, Rosk bucked the trend of larger groups. He had what he wanted - a drag competition with loud bikes. Dirt bikes races with all the excitement that brings. The ability to throw around money, and pretend to live fast. God help Rosk, because the initial amount of requests was ridiculous. No, there would be a security detail. Bets could be made, but if you were in the race, only on yourself to win. Having let the couple of guys know that he'd be heading out, they asked and he agreed they could join him.
The night was simply planned. A nicer diner for pre food. A bar that pretended to be a dive bar, but was carefully screened by security for safety. The event with a strict leaving time, and Rosk had to agree with a limit of alcohol with the two accompanying him, at least if he wanted them to vouch for them. There'd be plenty of time for drinking later. He was warned up front to bring Yuan or C-bills and not other currency. At least, if he didn't want to pay the exorbitant exchange rates the bookies there would charge.
The night came, with Rosk and Sergeant Park going out with the two guardsmen and the security detail. The diner was fine, drink afterwards nice and overpriced, and then the event. Rosk was having a great time, eating cheap food while dressed in his clothing that fit in and his black wig. Newbies were allowed to arrive a bit early, pay the fees and get to do a few laps to get a feel for both the bikes and the course. Things Rosk certainly took advantage of to even the playing field as much as possible. Park didn't plan to race, but was happy to cheer his CO on. Eyeing the competition and feeling good, he placed some significant bets early on his first few races. It was a bit of a slow night, and the regulars were happy to take some action and hopefully cash from the new guy. Park could have told them it was a bad idea to bet against his boss, but then he wouldn't have been able to cash in on his own bets if he did.
Out of the gate Rosk jockeyed for position staying near the front of the pack, but not in the lead, biding his time to make his move. He almost lost the first race because of it as a couple other bikers had the same idea and almost boxed him out. Not to be outdone he skillfully maneuvered his bike around the competition and managed to pull ahead by a full length by race's end. At that point he'd recovered most of the money he'd put out for dinner, drinks and fees. The second race came with greatly tighter odds. He argued against it but not too hard realizing that if he'd won his argument he might have generated some camaraderie amongst the other bikers to freeze him out. He had to work harder the second time - the better riders weren't going to make the same mistake twice. Still, he managed to win, covering not only the rest of his fees, but all the remaining bets he had that evening. It was on track to be an excellent night before the call came.
He was just rolling his bike over to the field when his security detail materialized and let him know in no uncertain terms that the evening was over. On the one hand he was pissed. He was positioned to make some serious scratch. On the other hand, though he was already by a few hundred on the evening even forfeiting his remaining bets. There were worse ways to end an evening. It was clear that "no" was not an option, so with good grace he and Park allowed themselves to be removed. There was just a bit of the usual taunting for pulling out and the smack talk brought a smirk to Rosk lips. The talk died though when the other biker was stared down by the security detail leaving no doubt who was calling the shots. With a casual shrug at the heckler Rosk left with Park and the group made their way back to the estate.
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Topic: Operation INVESTITURE - "6. One Night in Ceres" (Read 369 times)