Carth's magical adventure, ROUND TWO, MOTHERFUCKERS!

[Anastasia]

Rachel nods. "First, we have to deal with the Slicing Gale, before we can hope to do anything else." Flipping back over onto her back, Rachel closes her eyes. "But...We have a few days yet to discuss that.

Goodnight, Carthrat."

[Carthrat]

Carthrat sighs, retreating to his own cot to ponder his next moves.

The immediate priority was, really, to run away. Slicing Gale was far stronger than he was at the moment; they had the advantage of numbers and firepower, and heaven be damned, they probably had a couple more elite soldiers to throw at him.

As it stood, he estimated he could lose them in the Paxis nebula. But they weren't stupid. They would probably guess where he was heading, and send scouts to the various stations. Thankfully, they only had three capital ships, if he remembered correctly. If they wanted to guard each landing point, they could only do so with a couple ships at each at most.

If there was a firefight over the dock, Carthrat reflected that he may get into some trouble.

Then again, there was a chance that the enemy ships wouldn't recognize him after doctoring all the ident signiatures. He may be able to sneak through any blockade; assuming there was one.

Given that, Carthrat estimated he had maybe up to four or five days before Slicing Gale caught up with him. He'd have to secure the purchase of a ship and new equipment pronto; the large purchases he intended to make would draw attention.

He could presumably escape Paxis, which left him enough time to plan his next move.

Carthrat returns to the database screen and starts searching far and wide around the Paxis nebula for nearby planetary systems, looking for something promising.

An anarchistic or feudal-based society would be best, he reflected. Perhaps he should begin his search by looking for systems with no established government.

[Anastasia]

Tucked away nearby the Paxian nebula, you find something that makes you smile. The star Lesser Paxis 2 has four planets in orbit, the middle two supporting of life. The second planet is uninhabited, only lush and extremely toxic plant there.

The third planet, Atwight, is a temperate planets, with decent living near the Equator and arctic conditions on the extreme thirds of the planet. There are natives, but they're only at the level of about 1850s industrial England, or thereabouts.

The people of Atwight are largely human-like - a colony of humans integrated 200 years ago into an already human like race, furthering the simliarities -and quite compatabile with you.

[Carthrat]

Carthrat runs a search slightly farther afield; Atwight might be a good place to hide out for a few weeks, however; it's not good form for a prestigious mercenary group to barge in on undeveloped natives in search of a single target.

Besides, he can't actually accomplish anything on Atwight; he searches slightly farther afield for something more suitable; feudal or anarchistic, technological worlds.

[Anastasia]

After a bit of work, you find one. It's at the edge of the cluster, at least a week away. Heil 3, a small planet with space capable technology, but with a savage, brutal government split by civil war after civil war. Technology does abound there, though. and it's considered a 'hazard zone'.

[Carthrat]

In short, Heli 3 sounded like Carthrat's kind of place. In his mind, there was nothing wrong with taking things from people who try to do the same to you, and he felt sure such attempts would occur rather frequently there.

However, it was no place for just three people. The beginnings of a plan began to form in his mind.. but he would have to wait until tomorrow to explain it to everyone.

With his research done, Carthrat turns in for the night..

[Anastasia]

Sleeping deeply this night, Carthrat has faint, fleeting dreams warmth against his chest...

Stirring in the morning and after going through his absolutions and breakfast, Carthrat can find Rachel in bunk room and Tir at the front. Both are still rather avoiding each other, it seems.

[Carthrat]

"You two! Get over here!" barks Carthrat, making his way to the Command Bridge. "I've put together a plan of action, and I'll need both of you to carry it out properly.

Needless to say, it's hideously dangerous, life-threatening, and if you weren't with me, it would be impossible."

[Anastasia]

Already there, Tir snorts as you enter, but stays quiet as Rachel comes in. He then peers at Carthrat, amused. "So? Planning on some great mission, oh Fearless one?"

Rachel scowls at Tir for that, a bit darkly. "Hush. Carthrat, what do you have in mind?"

[Carthrat]

"Absolutely," replies Carthrat to Tir. "The first step of our dangerous mission is, of course, to safely get lost in the Paxian nebula. With your excellent navigational skills, Tir, we shouldn't have much trouble doing that."

Not a hint of sarcasm finds it's way over Carthrat's voice; he's obviously taking what he has to say very seriously.

"First, we're going to go to the Merchant space station and restock ourselves," he begins, simply. "Tir, you'll be shopping for a new ship. I'll be shopping for equipment. Rachel will be shopping for idealistic young men and women who can be suitably convinced to come along.

Remember, Tir, we need something with a *Cloaking Device* and with *Powerful Engines*. With regard to firepower, I'm looking at missiles; the sort doesn't really matter. Swarm, dumbfire, homing, nuclear, it's all the same to me.

Rachel.. we'll be spending three or four days on the station. I don't want mercenaries who'll fight for money. I don't have any money. I need people with ideals; remember, we're aiming to build a freaking interdimensional gateway. It'll be, without a doubt, the biggest technological masterpiece this galaxy has seen since someone came up with the bloody warp drive. You're better with people than I am. You should find a couple of people.

After we're done shopping, we're going to Heli 3, presuming we can evade the clutches of the Slicing Gale. The exact specifics of that are situational based. We may hide out on Atwight for a time. Maybe not.

When we're on Heli 3, I'm going to be doing something ambitious. So ambitious, in fact, that I'm not going to tell you what it is until we get there."

Carthrat glances at Tir and Rachel. "I'll explain further as we go on. Any questions so far?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes, I do, actually," Tir raises his hand up, one non obscene finger raised, no sign of sarcasm, or at least not any more than usual. "I'm going to assume that this ship will be our source of capital? If you expect me to buy another ship from scratch, I'm going to drag you back down to sanity right here and now."

Rachel nods as well. "You mean...like preaching," she asks, suddenly a touch uncomfortable.

[Carthrat]

"Preaching? That's not how I would put it," replies Carthrat, shrugging. "But why not? If you can help people while convincing them to follow us, more good is done."

He turns to Tir, waggling a finger. "Yes, we'll be selling this ship, certainly. But I intend to do some linear trading at the guild, which should ramp up our credit limit considerably."

[Anastasia]

Rachel nods, but looks slightly uncertain. "Alright, Carthrat, I should be able to do that....Selena help me..." that last part is a on the embers of a breath, barely audible.

Tir twitches just a bit at that, then chuckles, shaking his head. "Fine. Missles and speed, gotcha. What do you have in mind after we plop funds down on the next SS Galactia?"

[Carthrat]

"We get out," replies Carthrat, simply. "The Merchant Guild isn't going to make our location a secret if Slicing Gale decides to ask them. Didn't I already say we'd head for either Atwight or Heli, depending on what the 'Gale is doing?"

[Anastasia]

He nods, letting it drop for now. "It's...three more days to the station," he notes, glancing at a control panel. "Anything else you have in mind until then, Rat?"