The Commander relays his take on things...

Quote from: Aleksandr;752203"Spanner and I observed Iijima...I approached her socially and spoke with her at length.  I brought the owed royalties for the last month and set up a meeting today to speak about the accounting error.  It went well."

(OOC: From the how the meeting went, Iijima seemed to agree that credits were owed, but the accounting error could not be corrected until morning, normal business hours.)

The line of police in front of the Orb are turning people away from the hotel. They clear the way as an ambulance from the Q-Town Clinic, the small local hospital, arrives. The medics move with little urgency, but their expressions are grave.

With urchin stealth, Blinov inconspicuously positions himself to overhear the chatter around the hotel and ambulance and possibly catch a clue as to the identity of the victim.

A broad-shouldered soldier commands the other police officers. As Blinov creeps up, he spots the medics somberly loading a hovering gurney into the ambulance.

"He's a vet, all right," the commander discreetly says to his second-in-command. "A Marine. Just like the ones on the Capitol Planet..."

The second officer nods. "We'll bring up surveillance--"

"No--already tried that," the commander sighs with frustration. "Something killed all cameras yesterday afternoon. Footage stops with our vic standing in the lobby. But surely someone had to see something..."

The second officer begins to step away. "I'll put out the call for witnesses, sir!" As he leaves, the ambulance's engine starts, and the vehicle prepares to pull away.

Blinov gets a feeling that they're talking about the marine he saw meeting the woman with a briefcase the other day. He tells the others what he just found out and ponders out loud if he should answer the call for witnesses. On the one hand he might learn something useful from the process and it would be the honest thing to do, but on the other it might just get him into all kinds of trouble.

[OOC: If I can Mr. Kent after the call for witnesses I'd like to go all the way to the police station and the moment before I volunteer I'll spend a psi point to sense if it's a safe thing to do.]

The Municipal Building is a round, egg-like structure, a mini-dome in the center of Q-Town. The Protectorate's local Marshall is posted here, as are his hand-picked local troopers and the occasional soldier imported from offworld. On the second floor of the structure is the Mayor's Office. The Governor has an office in each city-dome, but when she is in Q-Town she's based here.

A recognizable line-up is amassed at the Municipal Building--the Orb's bartender, the front desk clerk, those Vestry women with the face veils. Even that super-pregnant Ssath is here! She is very wide now, with an odd crease down the center of her face and body.

Blinov:
You contemplate telling what you know about the late Marine's meeting with the young blonde. As you start to focus on your options, you feel a little throb in your temples. A pulsing sensation radiates from each temple, converging at your forehead.

Seconds later, you are standing in what looks like a control room--there are surveillance screens all around you, overseeing ships docked at the spaceyard. The Marshall--the same commander you eavesdropped on previously--is standing with you watching surveillance footage of yesterday's flight leaving for Atlas.

The Marshall turns to you. "Well now--I guess you've earned this..."

The throbbing in your brain dissipates as the vision leaves you.

(OOC: 1 Psi point spend for your Omen! 1 left)

Denny Watches Blinov as he spaces out...and looks like he's getting a migraine

"Blinov, are you ok?"

 "I guess we now know that this isn't the 5:00 somewhere gathering for the QPP. Who would do such a thing to a veteran, and if a veteran why not a couple of scientists and farmhand..." Denny places his hand where his holster usually is, and begins feeling vulnerable

"I wish I had something to ...screw right now...."

"Don't force me to hose you down, Denny, like a dog in heat." Jolene slings her retort with a confident cool, hoping to simmer things down. "I'm sure Blinov got a gut instinct that it's better to not mess with stills other than your own."

Turning to Blinov, "Why don't we finish up this collection business, refill our O2 tanks just in case, and then go to lunch? Besides, if Alexsandr's right, things should be all ready for us anyhow. This'll all give us some time to clear our heads and maybe we can go back to the good doctor to get ready for tonight."

"What'd y'all say?" Starts walking to NME and beckons the rest with a nod. {Ooh lordy, best they get no religion on me now. Last thing we wanna do is chat up the QPP when they start with a bad day. We've been too close as it is, and nothin' good'll come from linger here, let alone helpin', especially if any of my boys has a lip on them.}

Denny start's walking with JoJo

"...money, always pays at the end of the day...even if it isn't mine, Plus most Police departments are open all the time...so we can stop by whenever we feel like it....

"Uh, actually, when I get the opportunity I'd like to do my civic duty and report what I saw. It's the right thing to do." (and the profitable thing to do...)

The mustached bartender from the Golden Orb emerges from the station, beads of sweat dripping gently down his forehead. He looks at your group with recognition--except for Denny, whom hasn't met. "Hey! Are you guys here about what happened last night at the hotel?"

He shakes his head. "They're seriously frazzled, not that the QPP would let on. I heard something about a reward for info...too bad I didn't see a thing!"

Denny approaches "The Mustache", nodding his head

..I'm Dennis Plowman, from Jessup yonder, and you are? What did the Police Say to you? Did they Question you?

"Magnus Marston," the man says with a proud twist of his mustache, and shakes Denny's hand. "Barmaster at the Golden Orb!"

"The Marshall simply asked if I had seen the dead guy with anyone, and truly I hadn't. Once he stepped out of the lounge area he was none of my concern!"

Denny quanders his new acquaintance, and wonder's if he saw Magnus, anywhere in his childhood..his hand's begin to stir as he realizes he is engaging in a conversation...don't get nervous, ....i think I'm nuts...I am nuts...bolts and nuts

"What time did they get here this morning?"

OOC: Also going to do a check on general knowledge about crime rates/murder rates in Q-town. Is this a common occurrence/not unheard/or very rare never happens...

"Jessupfolk, eh?" Magnus asks, and politely cuts the handshake short. "Hmm. I wouldn't have guessed, er, based on clothing and all." Denny can't place Magnus from anywhere before--judging by his reaction to the mention of Jessup he probably doesn't get out that way often.

Crime in QTown is not unheard of. Because of its rustic atmosphere and folksy locals it is quite easy to forget QTown is a fairly large city and the planetary capitol. However, any murders are usually reported near the Prairie Dog and the shady neighborhood surrounding it. Death at the Orb is a distinct rarity.

[ooc: I feel conflicted because I feel like I should say or do something to maintain momentum, but it doesn't seem like the right moment for my character to be leading the action either.]