“Well, Kakera,” Carnifex said cheerily as he stood from his spot at the bar, “First step is to find like-minded hunters here on Deshima; we’ll need as many supporters as possible. I’ll circulate some messages through some people I can trust. Once we have the hunters rallied we’ll declare our intention to the rest of the Hunters Guild, and anyone who wants to stick with the old ways,” Carnifex, speaking with determination, paused, “Should leave.”
“Sounds like you plan on doing things in true bounty hunter fashion,” the serious comment made in a subtle joking tone by Kakera.
“I hope that not enough hunters will resist change for that but if it does come down to it we may need some back up, so to speak. Walk with me.” Carnifex motioned to the door. “Do you have any contacts in Kusari...” he asked as they both stepped out the door.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
#11 by Mens Rea
"That's an interesting proposition. With the way things are going, I think it might just be the most...prudent approach. For the moment, I'll accept your offer."
The Kusarian extends her hand.
"Callsign is Kakera. You'll have to earn the name."
She smiles what appears for once to be a genuine smile, but it is gone quickly, replaced by an intent look.
"So what do you have in mind?"
The Kusarian extends her hand.
"Callsign is Kakera. You'll have to earn the name."
She smiles what appears for once to be a genuine smile, but it is gone quickly, replaced by an intent look.
"So what do you have in mind?"
#10 by Carnifex
“And you’re not going to tell me?” Carnifex pressed.
“Well you still haven’t answered my question.”
“Ah, yes,” Carnifex’s mind worked visibly, “It’s time to start playing by different rules, the game has changed and we either change with it or die. There is no reason you and I, or any hunter on Deshima, should be bound to regulations from a different side of the sector. We should be making our own way.” Carnifex’s gaze had wondered across the bar but now he turned sharply to the Kusarian woman, “What do you say, want to go into business for ourselves?”
“Well you still haven’t answered my question.”
“Ah, yes,” Carnifex’s mind worked visibly, “It’s time to start playing by different rules, the game has changed and we either change with it or die. There is no reason you and I, or any hunter on Deshima, should be bound to regulations from a different side of the sector. We should be making our own way.” Carnifex’s gaze had wondered across the bar but now he turned sharply to the Kusarian woman, “What do you say, want to go into business for ourselves?”
#9 by Mens Rea
The Kusarian smiles. "The battleships can come. They won't catch me. Yes, that's right. Don't expect I would stay and fight to the death to defend this station. I'm not interested in politics."
And I have other business to take care of, she thought.
"How about you? Are you going to stick around and be the big hero? Maybe twenty years from now, it'll be your wreck the wannabe pilots are looting."
Carnifex laughed at the woman's aggressive remarks. She was trying to be offensive, but he could tell it was just an act. The ones who could act well were the ones who lived the longest around here.
"You got a name?" He asked her.
"I do," she replied smiling.
And I have other business to take care of, she thought.
"How about you? Are you going to stick around and be the big hero? Maybe twenty years from now, it'll be your wreck the wannabe pilots are looting."
Carnifex laughed at the woman's aggressive remarks. She was trying to be offensive, but he could tell it was just an act. The ones who could act well were the ones who lived the longest around here.
"You got a name?" He asked her.
"I do," she replied smiling.
#8 by Carnifex
Carnifex continued to stare for a few moments, his expression becoming more quizzical, not feeling in any hurry to answer the question.
“My name is Roy,” he said slowly, “But everyone calls me Carnifex. And my problem,” he paused, “Is your problem.”
The Kusarian woman broke out laughing, attracting glares from the rest of the room and nearly spilling her drink which hadn’t made it to her mouth yet, “What makes you think you understand my problems?” She made the remark as cutting as possible.
“Well everyone in Sirius is aware of the tense state of the houses, and how bounties have dropped as they start to reinforce their militaries and train them more. Some hunters are starting to take any bounty they can get. I was just talking to my friend here,” he motioned to the bar tender, “about the... negative... effects that could have on the Hunters Guild.”
The Kusarian hunter scoffed, “That doesn’t help my kills.”
Carnifex straightened, “No but it might make things worse for hunters in general, and like you said, it’s hard enough to get a job as it is these days.” Carnifex paused to allow a change of tack, “What is the Bounty Hunters Guild?” all he got in response was a look suggesting she regretted beginning the conversation. “A bunch of mostly unorganised hunters and ex-criminals who’s only common skill is shooting stuff? That might be what gets us the job but what keeps us in business is our reputation. Bounty Hunters are more brutal and more uncompromising then an ordinary soldier, we go further and don’t do things half-assed. We’re also supposed to be reliable, trustworthy to an extent. I mean we are hardened killers, it doesn’t matter how good at our job we are, if the houses don’t trust us to point our guns in the right direction then they won’t be giving us work. At Sheffield in Manchester it’s not as big a problem, the hunters there don’t have the same issues that those at Deshima do.”
“Maybe we should all move there then,” joked the woman sceptically.
Carnifex knew he was pushing this girl’s patience and sounding stupid, “The SDN is already posting reduced numbers of bounties and pooling resources to strengthen their hold on their space. If hunters continue to work for criminals then the SDN might cut off bounties all together. What makes it a critical problem is that The Empire is becoming stronger, exerting more control over a ravished Kusari. They’re a house in their own right now, why should we shun business from them? Add to that the fact that the BHG still does a lot of work against the Outcasts and the...”
“What’s your point hunter?!” her patience for the story had run out.
Carnifex continued without worrying who else would be listening, “If nothing changes then the Empire will start targeting hunters and the SDN will likely trust us less and less. When the Empire decides to exact revenge for the deaths in its ranks Deshima will be the first target and the Hunters Guild has nothing that can match the battleships the Empire can field and the SDN won’t support us until they’re ready for an all out war which could take a year.”
“My name is Roy,” he said slowly, “But everyone calls me Carnifex. And my problem,” he paused, “Is your problem.”
The Kusarian woman broke out laughing, attracting glares from the rest of the room and nearly spilling her drink which hadn’t made it to her mouth yet, “What makes you think you understand my problems?” She made the remark as cutting as possible.
“Well everyone in Sirius is aware of the tense state of the houses, and how bounties have dropped as they start to reinforce their militaries and train them more. Some hunters are starting to take any bounty they can get. I was just talking to my friend here,” he motioned to the bar tender, “about the... negative... effects that could have on the Hunters Guild.”
The Kusarian hunter scoffed, “That doesn’t help my kills.”
Carnifex straightened, “No but it might make things worse for hunters in general, and like you said, it’s hard enough to get a job as it is these days.” Carnifex paused to allow a change of tack, “What is the Bounty Hunters Guild?” all he got in response was a look suggesting she regretted beginning the conversation. “A bunch of mostly unorganised hunters and ex-criminals who’s only common skill is shooting stuff? That might be what gets us the job but what keeps us in business is our reputation. Bounty Hunters are more brutal and more uncompromising then an ordinary soldier, we go further and don’t do things half-assed. We’re also supposed to be reliable, trustworthy to an extent. I mean we are hardened killers, it doesn’t matter how good at our job we are, if the houses don’t trust us to point our guns in the right direction then they won’t be giving us work. At Sheffield in Manchester it’s not as big a problem, the hunters there don’t have the same issues that those at Deshima do.”
“Maybe we should all move there then,” joked the woman sceptically.
Carnifex knew he was pushing this girl’s patience and sounding stupid, “The SDN is already posting reduced numbers of bounties and pooling resources to strengthen their hold on their space. If hunters continue to work for criminals then the SDN might cut off bounties all together. What makes it a critical problem is that The Empire is becoming stronger, exerting more control over a ravished Kusari. They’re a house in their own right now, why should we shun business from them? Add to that the fact that the BHG still does a lot of work against the Outcasts and the...”
“What’s your point hunter?!” her patience for the story had run out.
Carnifex continued without worrying who else would be listening, “If nothing changes then the Empire will start targeting hunters and the SDN will likely trust us less and less. When the Empire decides to exact revenge for the deaths in its ranks Deshima will be the first target and the Hunters Guild has nothing that can match the battleships the Empire can field and the SDN won’t support us until they’re ready for an all out war which could take a year.”
#7 by Schneider
Silently Point sat in, well not a corner, that would be too obivous on a station like Deshima, where every guy wants to sit in the darkest corner so noone could see him and get informations about his or her next job. He sat in the middle of the bar and observed his drink -Sidewinder Fang- and the barkeeper. he bet he knew more than any spy of bretonia, rheinland and liberty together about the situation here, well it was his job - giving out drinks, chatting a bit and listen, listen, listen.
One year ago, he wouldn't even think about sitting in the middle of a Bounty Hunter Base, well in a prison cell or interogation room, but not in the bar. Well, his bounties were all canceled, since he was a lawful bretonian citizen now, officially amestied by royality for returning "her". "Makes life a lot easier", he thought. And indeed it did, where else could he hide from a wing of Outcasts and Empire fighters following him through half Kursari? Just a bit juking in the cloud, getting out jammer devices and he was here at deshima, a full week visit untill he should reach Kepler for information transfer.
"While I'm here, i might get in contact with one or two BHs to get another source of information (and if it's just to know if somebody set up another bounty on my head)."
"Hey baby, why don't you come over here and get comfortable," "...BHs, no sense for manners towards a la-" he turned his head "-ah, a woman, that woman was not at all something compareable with a lady, sadly, too rough these BHs, just like animals from Gaia, wonderful, wild, beautiful Gaia.
"You - please get me some sake." Sake! Uagh, this terrible kursari stuff? Disgusting liquid, not worth to call a "drink". Shaking his head, Point leans backwards, close his eyes and let his ears do their job, searching for keywords like "Planetform", "Gaian", "Point" and "Codename".
One year ago, he wouldn't even think about sitting in the middle of a Bounty Hunter Base, well in a prison cell or interogation room, but not in the bar. Well, his bounties were all canceled, since he was a lawful bretonian citizen now, officially amestied by royality for returning "her". "Makes life a lot easier", he thought. And indeed it did, where else could he hide from a wing of Outcasts and Empire fighters following him through half Kursari? Just a bit juking in the cloud, getting out jammer devices and he was here at deshima, a full week visit untill he should reach Kepler for information transfer.
"While I'm here, i might get in contact with one or two BHs to get another source of information (and if it's just to know if somebody set up another bounty on my head)."
"Hey baby, why don't you come over here and get comfortable," "...BHs, no sense for manners towards a la-" he turned his head "-ah, a woman, that woman was not at all something compareable with a lady, sadly, too rough these BHs, just like animals from Gaia, wonderful, wild, beautiful Gaia.
"You - please get me some sake." Sake! Uagh, this terrible kursari stuff? Disgusting liquid, not worth to call a "drink". Shaking his head, Point leans backwards, close his eyes and let his ears do their job, searching for keywords like "Planetform", "Gaian", "Point" and "Codename".
#6 by Mens Rea
A careful observer with sensitive instrumentation might have noticed the sudden dip in the background noise of the Gunpowder Regret as the new pilot walked in. She was a short Kusarian woman who could have been anywhere from 20 to 40 years old with a no-nonsense look about her that immediately identified her as a Bounty Hunter. This was lost, however, on several of the bar's more intoxicated patrons, who felt obliged by the situation, to pull the "tough-looking-asshole-annoying-the-girl" routine.
"Hey baby, why don't you come over here and get comfortable," said the tallest one.
The girl, however, was more than happy to play along with the "tough-chick-who-will-kick-your-ass-if-you-dont-get-out-of-my-face" number. With a flourish that seemed to imply some sleight of hand, she pulled out a rugged-looking projectile pistol from the folds of her suit and shoved it in the guy's face. This unmistakable gesture alone sufficed to put an end to the charade. The drunken thugs, sobered up by the sight of the weapon and a glint in the girl's eye that told them she was dying to use it, slinked off toward the furthest corner of the bar.
"You," the girl said to the bartender, using a form of the pronoun so excessively formal that it almost seemed archaic, "please get me some sake. And a cigarette. Thank you."
She turned to the bounty hunter who had been talking to the bartender before the interruption.
"Just another bounty hunter needing a drink. One got away today. As if it wasn't hard enough to get a job," she informed him as calmly and naturally as if his silence and bewildered look had been sufficient to imply the question "Who the hell are you and what is your problem?"
"Hey baby, why don't you come over here and get comfortable," said the tallest one.
The girl, however, was more than happy to play along with the "tough-chick-who-will-kick-your-ass-if-you-dont-get-out-of-my-face" number. With a flourish that seemed to imply some sleight of hand, she pulled out a rugged-looking projectile pistol from the folds of her suit and shoved it in the guy's face. This unmistakable gesture alone sufficed to put an end to the charade. The drunken thugs, sobered up by the sight of the weapon and a glint in the girl's eye that told them she was dying to use it, slinked off toward the furthest corner of the bar.
"You," the girl said to the bartender, using a form of the pronoun so excessively formal that it almost seemed archaic, "please get me some sake. And a cigarette. Thank you."
She turned to the bounty hunter who had been talking to the bartender before the interruption.
"Just another bounty hunter needing a drink. One got away today. As if it wasn't hard enough to get a job," she informed him as calmly and naturally as if his silence and bewildered look had been sufficient to imply the question "Who the hell are you and what is your problem?"
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
#5 by Carnifex
Carnifex sat in one of the bars on Deshima. A station as large and with as diverse a range of people as Deshima needed all kinds of bars. This one was dark and the air was poorly circulated, an atmosphere well suited to many of its patrons. Whispered conversations at dark corner tables were a staple here at the Gunpowder Regret. The Regret’s operator and bar keep, Charles Morgan, walked up to where Carnifex had sat down on his own at the bar.
“Carnifex, been a while since you came down here, I thought you fancy BN post would have you all tied up,” commented Morgan as he held a glass up questioningly.
Carnifex nodded, “They would have me scouting out LWB in Rheinland but I’m still not used to taking orders,” he explained while watching his drink being poured, “I like to sneak back to where the action is and read up on the bounties. Sheffield is quiet now that the SDN have consolidated ties, except for the odd Hacker who is more likely to blow himself up then let himself get caught.”
“Which explains your coming to Deshima,” said Morgan, “Any interesting bounties you put your eye on?”
“Not one,” Carnifex replied, “Which is what I find interesting. A few months ago the Houses were on the point of destroying each other and now the SDN are sitting behind their border systems as though they were waiting for an excuse to avoid the conflict they banded together to have.”
“The lack of explosions is odd,” said Morgan chuckling, “but the houses will pick up the bounties again eventually. After all, why risk your own life when someone else with do the job for you?” confidence in his words showed on his face.
“You know, I’m not so sure,” said Carnifex thoughtfully, “some of the more experienced and influential hunters are starting to take bounties from criminal organisations outside of house bounds. Normally no one cares but what happens these days if those bounties are from Outcasts? The SDN is already paranoid about them and their cardiforming, if they thought that any hunter they hire could be out to assassinate them then they will stop dealing with us.”
“Oh come on, how many bounties taken from Outcasts did you ever hear about that didn’t end in either the hunter or the cardimine sucker being riddled with holes?”
Carnifex glared at Morgan for a moment, the slur creating mixed emotions, “The Outcasts are pulling the strings of the Empire. Unless you haven’t noticed, Chuck,” his voice momentarily caustic, “we’re currently sitting inside Empire territory,” Carnifex let this sink in, “you’ve been doing business in their space since the fall of New Tokyo, practically. How much longer do you think backstabbing Outcasts will be a good idea, or killing them for that matter?”
Morgan smiled knowingly, “I’m just a bar tender, not going to be my problem.”
“Carnifex, been a while since you came down here, I thought you fancy BN post would have you all tied up,” commented Morgan as he held a glass up questioningly.
Carnifex nodded, “They would have me scouting out LWB in Rheinland but I’m still not used to taking orders,” he explained while watching his drink being poured, “I like to sneak back to where the action is and read up on the bounties. Sheffield is quiet now that the SDN have consolidated ties, except for the odd Hacker who is more likely to blow himself up then let himself get caught.”
“Which explains your coming to Deshima,” said Morgan, “Any interesting bounties you put your eye on?”
“Not one,” Carnifex replied, “Which is what I find interesting. A few months ago the Houses were on the point of destroying each other and now the SDN are sitting behind their border systems as though they were waiting for an excuse to avoid the conflict they banded together to have.”
“The lack of explosions is odd,” said Morgan chuckling, “but the houses will pick up the bounties again eventually. After all, why risk your own life when someone else with do the job for you?” confidence in his words showed on his face.
“You know, I’m not so sure,” said Carnifex thoughtfully, “some of the more experienced and influential hunters are starting to take bounties from criminal organisations outside of house bounds. Normally no one cares but what happens these days if those bounties are from Outcasts? The SDN is already paranoid about them and their cardiforming, if they thought that any hunter they hire could be out to assassinate them then they will stop dealing with us.”
“Oh come on, how many bounties taken from Outcasts did you ever hear about that didn’t end in either the hunter or the cardimine sucker being riddled with holes?”
Carnifex glared at Morgan for a moment, the slur creating mixed emotions, “The Outcasts are pulling the strings of the Empire. Unless you haven’t noticed, Chuck,” his voice momentarily caustic, “we’re currently sitting inside Empire territory,” Carnifex let this sink in, “you’ve been doing business in their space since the fall of New Tokyo, practically. How much longer do you think backstabbing Outcasts will be a good idea, or killing them for that matter?”
Morgan smiled knowingly, “I’m just a bar tender, not going to be my problem.”
Sunday, September 5, 2010
#4 by Carnifex
Carnifex was once again checking on bounty records. Activity hadn't seemed to have changed much but he was feeling a bit bored so he continued to read bounty files for the entertainment. Then he spotted something strange, a bounty that was secured even in the BHG only records. Carnifex’s curiosity was perked. Drawing on some long disused skills he’d picked up in the Lane Hackers he began to learn as much as possible from the file, the details were vague, obviously a job kept just for a few specific hunters who would know those details already and just needed the existence of the file to set them on course. The file itself was almost devoid of information.
Then Carnifex came across one prominent detail. All bounties that went through official channels had client codes attached, defining system, client and contract number. The system code showed a system that no bounties had come out of before, so it couldn’t have been inside a house, or a system with many stations, at least not corporation or peace keeping ones. The contract number was also interesting. The contract was the first one that the particular client had filed.
“Criminal organisation most likely, not unheard of...” he said entirely to himself.
Then Carnifex came across one prominent detail. All bounties that went through official channels had client codes attached, defining system, client and contract number. The system code showed a system that no bounties had come out of before, so it couldn’t have been inside a house, or a system with many stations, at least not corporation or peace keeping ones. The contract number was also interesting. The contract was the first one that the particular client had filed.
“Criminal organisation most likely, not unheard of...” he said entirely to himself.
#3 by Carnifex
“Grayson Mercenary Service My Ass... they’re in business how long and already they are charging a hell of a lot for bounties; more like Grayson Mercenary Rip Offs...” Carnifex said out loud in his quarters. He’d come across their file earlier while in the restricted area of Deshima.
‘I guess it makes sense,’ he thought, ‘business is good and every man and his panda wants in. We shouldn’t let them do too well, need to maintain our corner on the house market. They won’t last long if they kill house pilots though, in the current political climate there’s no allowance for trouble. We’ll have to use that to our benefit.’
‘In the mean time... I should start looking into this battleship project. I never thought I’d see the day that the Hunters Guild would own a hulking torpedo magnet like a battleship but with the slave liners going as far as the Lane Hackers greedy cardimine lined mits...’ he paused for a moment to think about the irony of that statement, ‘and the Outcasts advanced all the way to a house capital system, there just might be use for one.’
‘I guess it makes sense,’ he thought, ‘business is good and every man and his panda wants in. We shouldn’t let them do too well, need to maintain our corner on the house market. They won’t last long if they kill house pilots though, in the current political climate there’s no allowance for trouble. We’ll have to use that to our benefit.’
‘In the mean time... I should start looking into this battleship project. I never thought I’d see the day that the Hunters Guild would own a hulking torpedo magnet like a battleship but with the slave liners going as far as the Lane Hackers greedy cardimine lined mits...’ he paused for a moment to think about the irony of that statement, ‘and the Outcasts advanced all the way to a house capital system, there just might be use for one.’
#2 by Carnifex
Deshima, as close to a hotbed of ruffians as anyone could come without committing a crime (and most bounty hunters had). Virtually every gaijin passing through Shikoku would stop at Deshima which was a damn few these days. The station was also a good place to avoid the new Blood Dragon government, for those dealing in things deemed illegal by the outcast pets (which most bounty hunters did). It was an odd ball station in one of the most beautiful parts of Kusari, a system who’s majesty was appreciated by all of its population (of which most bounty hunters did not consider themselves a part).
It had been a long time since Carnifex had been back to the station and he hoped that he would not be needed in Bretonia while he was on his unsanctioned visit. He still couldn’t get used to the strict expectations of the Armed Forces and trying to keep his cardimine addiction under wraps didn’t make it easier.
Walking down a corridor toward the restricted section of Deshima Carnifex was subjected to a multitude of security tests. In an organisation made up of killers and ex-criminals like Carni, whose main clients were house governments with confidential contracts, such security was ubiquitous and often insufficient.
While there Carnifex checked through some bounty records. High profile bounties could gauge the state of Sirius quite well these days, especially since the Cardimine War had become a cold war of posturing and Kusarian targets had become publicly acceptable.
Carni found it was quiet. Most hits were well and truly on the difficult end of the spectrum and it seemed most clients were waiting on their completion.
‘The sooner the houses make their move, the sooner we’ll be able to operate against the Empire without fear of drawing excessive reprisals,’ he thought to himself. A smile crossed his face as he pictured the state the Empire would end up in.
It had been a long time since Carnifex had been back to the station and he hoped that he would not be needed in Bretonia while he was on his unsanctioned visit. He still couldn’t get used to the strict expectations of the Armed Forces and trying to keep his cardimine addiction under wraps didn’t make it easier.
Walking down a corridor toward the restricted section of Deshima Carnifex was subjected to a multitude of security tests. In an organisation made up of killers and ex-criminals like Carni, whose main clients were house governments with confidential contracts, such security was ubiquitous and often insufficient.
While there Carnifex checked through some bounty records. High profile bounties could gauge the state of Sirius quite well these days, especially since the Cardimine War had become a cold war of posturing and Kusarian targets had become publicly acceptable.
Carni found it was quiet. Most hits were well and truly on the difficult end of the spectrum and it seemed most clients were waiting on their completion.
‘The sooner the houses make their move, the sooner we’ll be able to operate against the Empire without fear of drawing excessive reprisals,’ he thought to himself. A smile crossed his face as he pictured the state the Empire would end up in.
#1 by Carnifex
After the SDN penetrated the blockades most of the Blood Empire and Outcast forces were repositioned to planet Kyushu, Nansei Research Station and the jumpgate to Tau 29. The jumpholes were too often used by Outcasts and fugitives to be a viable means of entry for any fleet less than a full scale invasion. A lone bounty hunter on the other hand, or even a small wing, could manage it easily enough.
Working in a war zone, it helped to be ok good terms with both sides. Failing that (of course) receiving ‘special consideration’ from the Bretonian long range patrols and agents was better than nothing. Too much connection to a certain group was like a target painted on your hull though; Carnifex enjoyed the relative freedom of being a bounty hunter. Outcasts would still kill on sight but that was the same for almost everyone, even civilians (sometimes especially civilians).
Carnifex stalked the clouds of Kyushu with a mind to earning more money.
“I’ll have to find something to spend all these credits on,” he mused out loud, “they are no good to me sitting around not being spent... maybe a new ship...”
Working in a war zone, it helped to be ok good terms with both sides. Failing that (of course) receiving ‘special consideration’ from the Bretonian long range patrols and agents was better than nothing. Too much connection to a certain group was like a target painted on your hull though; Carnifex enjoyed the relative freedom of being a bounty hunter. Outcasts would still kill on sight but that was the same for almost everyone, even civilians (sometimes especially civilians).
Carnifex stalked the clouds of Kyushu with a mind to earning more money.
“I’ll have to find something to spend all these credits on,” he mused out loud, “they are no good to me sitting around not being spent... maybe a new ship...”
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