Gone Fishing (Open)

[cibohowell]

Cibo stuck out. She was easily the only person reclined in a beach chair dressed conservatively dawning khaki dress pants with a matching blazer topped over a cerulean blouse, black sensible shoes, and a pair of golden wired shades. She might have almost looked attractive had her arms not been crossed over her chest and a scowl across her face. Who went to the beach in a foul mood? Cibo did.

Cibo hopped a ship where she spotted three out of seven members coughing and hacking up a storm. With her medical kit in hand, she approached them and offered treatment in exchange for a ride. They readily accepted. Treating them was the easy part, and the other four members eventually caught the contagion, making it easy to eradicate the illness off the ship once everyone was infected and brought up a new immunity to the pathogen. Cibo essentially gambled that it would spread, and the captain caught on to this. He thanked her for her treatment and curing them, but “Chui se, and get off my ship.” They left her in Newhall. Normally, this would be paradise. Beach, miles of ocean and job opportunities. But, Cibo hated being stuck on planets.

Perhaps her uneasiness spread of the fact that Newhall’s water was distributed everywhere, and naturally this would bring Alliance attention. Cibo wanted to avoid that. Maybe, it was also that she knew a gunslinger when she saw one. One man, some feet away from her, dawned a scar from his left brow. Cibo thought it matched one that was earned during a brawl. Hm. Perhaps. She eyed the man carefully, her sunglasses hid the fact she was staring at him directly.

[Roger Davis]

It always felt good to be back out on some random world, some place away from home. Roger had just finished a week long visit with the folks and as much as he enjoyed seeing them it was never too soon to leave. He hopped the first ship he could off world and now found himself on Newhall. It's not exactly the best place to start off looking for new work but it's certainly better than sitting around in a place where he feels unwanted. Roger never was one for the beach... or even the water for that matter.

Today, as he often was, Roger wasn't exactly inconspicuous. Trudging forward nearly oblivious to the scenery but attentive to the crowds, his holster was not so much a bulge but fairly visible under his open and clearly brown coat... not the most popular color nowadays. One might think it a cry for attention in anyone else but for Roger it was just who he is. Subtly flashing a piece also never hurt a gunhand's chances of getting work.

It was then that Roger saw it, the first sign of a potential threat... or a potential job? Who could say for sure but it raised a flag. A woman seemingly dressed for business was looking in his direction. She looked Alliance in that outfit but then again men Roger had served with during the war now looked like Alliance. A fight or the threat of arresting an obvious veteran for some trumped up charge always rose to his mind first but of course it could be a job opportunity or even just simple curiosity. Her exact gaze was hidden by glasses but it was clear that she was looking at something and was doing it for a considerable period of time, more than just a once over glance that Roger expected from most others but a concentrated look that seemed to ever so slightly follow him for those last few seconds. Best to play it safe and refrain from getting in a fight just this once.

Roger slowed to a stop and stared back expecting some kind of response from the interested party whether that be a call over to talk or quickly looking away after having been caught staring. Slowly looking elsewhere as if just watching the scenery was an alternate possibility but one Roger didn't expect. Either way he'd have his answer.

[cibohowell]

Cibo watched the gent carefully. Long brown coat, visible gun holster. Cibo stayed away from the color brown, it wasn’t logical to wear when there was still tension in the air about the Independent veterans. Was this man a veteran or just an idiot? He looked to be within his thirities, so it was a flip of the coin. Cibo watched the man, his gait, his mannerisms. She calculated his movements, trying to determine if he was an impending threat or not. Cibo kept a knife on her, always. Though, this man had a gun. They would have to be inches apart from each other for her to cut him. Cibo sighed, thinking of mutilating a person and she had no idea who he was. Her paranoia was getting the better of her, at times.

For now, she made no attempt to change her line of vision, moving away would let him know that she was definitely eyeing him, and that if he was a threat, removing her eyes from him could prove… detrimental. After a few moments, Cibo laughed, aware they were staring each other down and trying to read the other’s motives and potential movements. This amused her. Though, he could be Alliance, dressed in brown to attract the Independent rebels. Again, with that paranoia. She should probably do something about it. Later.

Cibo swung her feet to the side, and stood in a single, graceful movement. She looked at her left wrist, dawning a wrist watch. Looking at the sky, then her wrist, and then back at the stranger. She was wasting time, contemplating if she wanted to exchange words with this gentleman or simply continue this awkward staring contest. A brown leather bag was at her heels. She stooped to pick it up, and straightened to begin walking away. Through crowds of people, around the hotel building she was staying at, towards the service entrance. She walked without looking behind her. If words were to be exchanged, and they were equally curious about one another, he would follow. If it was a man simply staring at a woman, she would have simply walked away. No harm done. If this man was a former Independent or current Alliance, words would have to be exchanged privately.

Cibo was gambling the idea that she could also be a woman leading a man on. But a man who found a woman appealing did not simply walk around with their guns out in Newhall. No, they would be half naked with a sculpted, tan body to show. This man wore as much clothes as she did, making them both conspicuous. The situation was a gamble. Cibo didn’t like gambling.

[Roger Davis]

'No fool' he thought to himself as she chose the unexpected third option. At first the woman gave no clear hint of being found out until seemingly finding the whole thing amusing, collecting her bag, and walking off. Odd to put on the charade and then break character like that but instead of talking she chose to leave. Very curious. No, this was not just a dismissal but perhaps an invitation to follow. With no pressing business, Roger just couldn't bring himself to walk away. If her intentions were just to talk he had nothing to fear. If there were no intentions then he'd just be wasting a few minutes. If it was a trap, well, he wasn't going to let that possibility stop him.

Allowing her a solid lead, Roger fell in step and shadowed her. As is his normal style, he did not hide but simply gave her space as she walked through the crowds. He followed her to a hotel, expected in such a place, and then around to a service entrance. The entire situation screamed trap but Roger was not to be stopped. He slowed, scanned his surroundings for anyone or anything lurking about, and then tried to recall the image of the woman back during the staring contest. He doubted she could have a weapon on her person. Maybe there could be something in that bag or concealed somewhere but there's no way she could get the drop on him if the proverbial were to hit the fan. Fiddling through a bag or clothes when he had his weapon in near plan sight? Roger wouldn't exactly hesitate or wait to make it fair or sporting.

Reaching the end of the line, Roger closed the distance between them to just two dozen paces. "Ma'am. Can I help you with somethin'?" he asked. "Pardon for staring but I believe you started it."

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Sidney had just picked up a new cook for the crew only a few days prior and now was looking to round off the crew just a little bit more. He had set up a big job for the crew for Duke Rider. It was going to keep them busy for quite a while he figured but it all when well it would pay out even better. He just needed a few extra hands no the ship to make sure they would be able to pull it all off.

He had taken the mule over the bridge from the station to the near by island where there were open beachs. For the last few hours he had been roaming the local bars and gathering places looking for a former browncoat or two to join the crew. Finally the day had been growing later and he was ready to give up his search when on one of the beachs he noticed a man it the in the signature brown coat talking to a young lady.

He dismounted the mule and walked over a short distance fromt he pair and watched for a moment as they began a conversation. He may have already been to late a gaining him as a crew memeber but he figured he would get a bit close and catch a workd of what they were talking about before he gave up for the day.

[Roger Davis]

(OOC: Diverting away from Dr. Cibo due to inactivity and the need to try and RP this out before the missions with Trinity actually start. Will obviously return to the main focus if the good doctor returns.)

(IC:) As Roger waited for a reply his attention was drawn behind him as a vehicle which he had previously associated with background noise cut its engine. Sensing this to be that potential trap, Roger instinctively drew his pistol and turned to face the direction of the (lack of) noise. It only took him a second to zero in on and aim at a man behind him who was watching the encounter.

"What's your business?" Roger asked in a slightly demanding tone. As he spoke, he moved to the side so as to create a triangle between the three leaving no one at his back.

Roger feared that he was perhaps over reacting here. He had no idea the intentions of the women and certainly had no evidence she and this man were connected. If either of them was jut an innocent bystander even if nothing went down here then this could end badly for the veteran. Well, he hadn't gotten this far in life by gambling that everyone wanted to be his friend. At least until he was out of the semi-secluded location he'd keep his guard as high as he could.

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Sidney found himself at the recieving end of a gun barrle not the first time in his history it happened infact he has had a few encounters that ended up with him getting shot. This time wouldn't end up being one of those times though.

He let his hand of the grip of his revolver and raised his hands half way up to show he wasn't a threat. "Easy there browncoat. Nothing to worry about. Is this the way you great all your former brothers in arms or did i make a special cut." Sidney said with a chuckle. He took a few steps close with his hands still raised taking them nice and slow as to offer plenty of time for the man to tell him to stop.

"I'm no threat. Actually just the opposite, I'm in need of someone of your like fer a job. I got a ship in need of a few extra hands." The mans twitchy responce is exactly what they needed someone to be voerly paranoid on this next mission. It seemed simple enough but the pay was to high for simple and though he had a fair group of gunhands one more was always welcome. Sidney belived in overkill when the option was there. "if your interested you can atleast point that thing away from my chest. Keep it in hand if you like but I think it would be a great trust building step for the weapon to be lower."

[Roger Davis]

"Fair enough." Roger replied as he lowered the weapon. He wasn't about to holster it just yet.

The job offer was just what he was looking for though perhaps too good to be true and particularly convenient timing coming from this man. It would be pretty easy to guess Roger's skills and his lack of work even for someone who hadn't been planning a trap. A simple work opportunity wouldn't be enough to ease the tensions here. Roger still wasn't exactly going to take the man at his word that he was a fellow Browncoat either though there was something about him that screamed veteran.

"Sorry but it's the way I greet everyone I don't know, especially when they come up from behind me. Davis, Roger Davis. I've got you figured for a captain. Both now and in the war, no?" he said as the man closed the distance.

Roger had no problem with that so long as he stayed arms length away. No sense in letting a man get close enough to disarm or even stab him.

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Though the man didn't holster the weapon it was nice to have the sights off of him. He listened very carefully as the man talked taking in every word, watching every move. Well he seemed to have taken interest in what Sidney had to say and was even willing to take a stab at what he was then and now. A little off but close enough

"Used to be Major Sidney Bainbridge, commander of the 217th Tactical Forward Assault Force of the Independent Army. But yes now days I am the captain of the Trinity atleast for now." He explained himself to the man. Instead of continuing to approch the man he leaned against a support beam to the hotel building they were near. He figured it was a less intrusive position. it allow Roger to keep a position that kept him with the upper hand. Sidney felt no need to gain any sort of upper hand this man had the kind of attatude Sidney needed on his team not as his enemy. "Mr. Davis I don't mind the greeting at all to be honest I would have done the same myself in this situation. What do ou say I explain my offer a bit more then you can decide if you want to take it, walk away or just plain shoot me."

[Roger Davis]

Roger liked what he was hearing and seeing. A story didn't exactly prove anything but the way he told it and the fact that he claimed to be a major instead of taking a yes-man approach as a fictitious captain certainly didn't hurt nor did a quick recitation of a unit. In addition the man, Sidney, was responding in a completely nonthreatening way. Odds were good that this man was legitimate.

Roger gave him a long hard look without responding, almost as if staring into the person within. Then suddenly he holstered his pistol, snapped to attention, and offered a salute. "That would be First Lieutenant Roger Davis, Commander 2nd Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Independent Brigade. How about you explain your offer and we take the option of me shooting you off the table?"

It was all quite a leap of faith but roger trusted Sidney for some reason. Whatever it was, it was probably some misguided desire to connect with a veteran, looking for simple work, and especially looking for a more permanent ship to call home. This could be the answer and it was worth a little trust.

[Sidney Bainbridge]

It seemed Sidney had made the breakthrough he was looking for with his history as an Independent. The man snapped to attention and saluted Sidney apprently he had finally had what he needed. Sidney returned the display.

It seemed now was the time to make his request fully known. "Well Lieutenant it's a pleasure to met you. So it seems it is time to get down to business. As we both have established now I have a ship, along with it I have a crew but I could use another browncoat in that mix." He told Roger.

Sidney walked over a bit closer now he didn't exacly need any ears hearing to much. This mission was one the Duke wanted taken with a bit of discression. "I have a job to go along with that ship and crew as well. It wil require a fairly long trip and a few good men to keep their guns moving faster then anyone we may run it to. It pays well to go with it all."

[Roger Davis]

This was either Roger's lucky day or the most elaborate trap for a lowly veteran he had ever seen. If the later then there was no way he'd get out of it now. To make things better, there was also no way anyone would go through all this effort to trap him. Roger wasn't flagged on the Cortex nor had he ever pissed off anyone who wasn't dead.

Sidney's hushed voice and secretive matter clearly were indicative of a less than legal business adventure, not exactly the completely honest work that he'd been looking for but maybe that's why he'd never been too fortunate with staying employed. So long as a Browncoat officer was in charge, Roger wagered that the jobs would stay as honest as possible under the circumstances. There was no reason to decline.

"When do I start?"

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Sidney had done it, he had finished out the crew he needed. A damned good one, that is as long as they were all exactly what they made themselves out to be. This crew would have quite the capability once they all got to know each other and comfortable with one another. They had plenty of time for that with the Flight to Bellerophon coming up.

"you start right way the ship will be leaving in 48 hours for our job and once we are back on board I can give you the full details." He explained to him. Odds were Roger would travel back to the ship with him to get a look around and claim his quarters on the ship. Most of the crew was out and about exploring while there was time so introductions there would have to wait till later. "I'm heading back to the ship if you would like to ride along and get a chance to start getting to know your new ship."