Blinov pulls out his compad and starts researching Nia to see if she left any online clues as to where her money's coming from.

Quote from: Mr. Kent;749985Blinov and Jolene:
Dolly turns to Jolene. "Speaking of broke, saw you speaking to poor Gordy Shane," she says, saddened. "I hope he gets what he needs from the banks on Clio, else that farm just might go under!"

"I hope so too, Dolly. He's too proud to tell an ol' friend like me how hard he has it, so thank you for sharing." Jolene withdraws back into exhausted wistfulness, "No idea how much he needs, no idea how can I help, and no idea how many more like him out there."

Looks at Dolly imploringly, "If you could keep me abreast with the doin's of farmers like him, I'd be much obliged. At some point we on Qetesh need to see ourselves as family, or we'll be all lost and forgotten in the big guy's shuffle for money." Sucks at her teeth a 'tsk', shakes her head while glancing back down at the table before returning attention to the conversation.

Quote from: Mr. Kent;749992Aleksandr:
Spanner smacks his lips, eager for another drink. The taste of that alien stuff lingers, and not in a good way...

Iijima seems delighted and relieved to change the subject from money. "Ah, there's nothing like Kazo's snowswept mountain cities. The Iijima Clan has lived there for ten generations. You've never been? Oh, but you must someday. The planet's outside Protectorate jurisdiction, but our system is close enough to engage in trade, and join the 'cultural conversation' of the Core Worlds." As she speaks, she scans the room with a dismissive look. "You'll find there are many wonderful places outside the Core Worlds' grasp. Dealing with the Protectorate is merely a necessity of our survival...unfortunately."

She then remembers Aleksandr's other question. "The Forbidden City is actually anything but forbidden--now, at least. There was a time where its doors were closed, true. But it is a grand center of learning and...and technological advancement." She grows melancholy speaking of her home, and is suddenly reminded of the unbearable heat. "Bah!" She picks up her delicate fan and takes a deep breath.

"You know, Commander Turov, Newsun-Matsuri is always looking for men such as yourself--experienced, yet surprisingly open-minded!" She nods approvingly. "You could hand-pick your own crew, escort NME as we expand into new worlds, new frontiers. Think about it would you? You wouldn't be the first Perimeter Agent to cross over to us, you know."

A genuinely surprised look crosses Alexsandr's face as he says, "thank you, that is a tremendous offer.  I give it serious thought and attention."

He raises his glass and takes a drink before deflecting the subject matter, "it is simply a delight to meet someone with such an established familial history.  I am sure that your clan's holding must be exquisite to see.  Will your term here be temporary?"

============================================

OOC:  At this point, Alexsandr is going to continue to engage her in banal conversation.  He's laid out his line as much as he's going to in this encounter, and he's learned a few interesting things as well.  He considers he job here a success and is not going to push it.

Aleksandr:
"Ah, yes," Iijima says proudly. "The Iijima's manse is the pride of the planet Kazo!"

"As for my assignment? Well, my term here is...indefinite. When our current project reaches a certain level of development, I may update the Board with our progress, and perhaps I will receive a transfer." She sighs hopefully as she fans herself. "But new assignments arrive all the time. You will learn this if you sign on with us..."

After the conversation, Iijima bids you adieu and retires for the night. By then , the Orb's lounge is quite empty, the lone soul present being the mustached bartender, who doesn't pay much attention to you as he cleans up.

(OOC: Let's timeskip to the meeting at Dolly Q's then. Aleksandr, do you have orders for Spanner? Tag along or otherwise?)
(also, -15 credits total for the rounds of drinks)

Blinov and Jolene:
Nia's online trail is very sparse. You can't seem to find anything that would lead you to her source of income.

(-5 credits each for the food)

Once Iijima leaves and Spanner and Alexsandr are alone, he asks him, "do you know who or what she was talking about when she mentioned that I wouldn't be 'the Perimeter Agent to cross over' to NME?"

Spanner scratches his chin. "Huh. I think that was long before my time," he says slowly. "Like, back in '86, when the Agency discovered that Ushan ship on Cradle--well I've seen the pics from back then. At the time Nadir had a whole bunch of agents who musta left him at some point. I don't know who went to NME specifically, but it's not surprising. I don't doubt that some left for government work, too. People always lookin' for opportunities, I guess."

"We can take a look at the old rosters when we get home, if you're curious. Modia holds the access to personnel files. In fact, I gotta speak with her anyway--I got some new planetary data for the Orrery!" He adds this last bit with enthusiasm.

[Holding tight until Aleksandr gets to Dolly Q's.]

Alexsandr nods affirmatively to Spanner and says, "would you please ask her when you get back?  I have to meet up with Blinov and Jolene now.  Please inform Dr. Nadir that I will check in with him tomorrow."

Alexsandr gives Spanner the rest of the bottle of vodka that he bought earlier in the day when they part ways.  He will then head over to Dolly Q's to meet up with Blinov and Jolene.

Spanner's eyes light up and he eagerly packs the vodka into his backpack. "Good stuff--thanks! Yeah, I'll ask Modia about it. And I'll have those souvenirs from Adonis for you guys when you get home!" He then heads back to pick up the Agency's ship and fly it back to Perimeter Base.

The streets of Q-Town are quiet as Aleksandr makes his way to Dolly's. When he arrives at the diner, he catches Dolly staring wistfully out the window. The old Qotah isn't looking at him, but at the starlight glimmering through the great dome. When Aleksandr joins Blinov and Jolene at their booth, Dolly greets him politely and excuses herself to the back room.

Blinov briefs Aleksandr on all the information they've gathered so far and looks at him expectantly, hoping a brilliant low-risk plan of action is forthcoming.

"Where were you, sunshine? Off reconnoitering the belly of the beast, through underground steam tunnels and air ducts, knife between your teeth?" Jolene whips a wry smile to Alexsandr, goading him to spill any derring-do.

Secretly she respects his type of skills, but worries all the same. Got used to be defensively chiding as the men in her life too often put themselves in harms way to make ends meet. "You'll be around for my flapjacks this morning at least, right?"

In a wistful tone, and with a faraway look in his eye, Alexsandr replies, "I wish."

He sighs and says, "truth be told, I miss the juice."

He shakes his head and puts on a smile as he changes the conversation, "nyet, Golubushka, I did not go caving today.  I went to the spaceport and ran into Spanner.  He was returning from his mission.  However, we did observe a convoy of trucks enter the NME facility there.  It's fairly obvious that there is an underground complex beneath the NME structure above ground."

He pauses for dramatic effect and then says, "I also had a drink and pleasant conversation with Ran Iijima the Golden Orb.  She emerged with a Synthetic from the NME warehouse at the spaceport and we followed her there.  I initiated a conversation with her and told her that I was there on behalf of Dr. Nadir to speak about an accounting error on the last month's royalty check.  She agreed to meet with me today to sort that out.  All in all, it went well.  It appears that NME is planning something big here and is working secretly on it in an underground base.  I didn't push my luck and we parted on a good note."

Looking to Jolene and Blinov with a satisfied smile, he asks, "how did your day go?"

Blinov has tied the paper wrapper of his straw into a bowtie. "I suspect the local underworld information network isn't as, err, 'independent' as it used to be. I'm debating investigating that further, unless you think we have enough to go on and set a course of action."

Alexsandr shakes his head negatively as he says, "well, I have set up a meeting to get the royalties owed to Dr. Nadir.  I will ask for the original prototype back in the meeting.  Other than those two items of business for Dr. Nadir, I am not sure what else we should be doing here."

He shrugs as he continues, "if continue doing any more serious investigations into NME's business we may cross the line legally, and we may cross NME's Security which is capable."

" ладно, so let's just play it mostly straight and see what happens. Do you want us close by when you're having the meeting, just in case things get strange?"