Check in with Vesk Prime

We have Bob on the comms when we finally settle in to return to real space. I take a last glance at the big screen and the Drift, that infinite void, the nothingness broken up by floating pink and purple clouds of mysterious energy. We shut everything down to engage the Drift engine for a full minute. The lights dim as I divert all available power to the Drift drive (including engines and shields), then there's a familiar topsy-turvey feeling in my stomach as my inner ear complains a moment, a flash of indescribable color, and then I'm slowly warming the engines back up as the screen shows a field of stars, a green and red globe covered in drifting clouds, and other starship of various sizes.

Bob is immediately on the comms, speaking in his racial language. I quickly cast Comprehend Languages and listen in to his half of the conversation (he has headphones).

“This is Bob,” yes, that's the translation the spell gives me 'Bob' for his name, “of The Gamble, registered as a free trader, ID…” he pauses and reads a long number off his screen, “...in Imperial databases, over.”

He pauses, and continues, “Base Echo Nevada Six, on delivery contract,” again, another long number off his screen, “over.”

Another pause, “If you know enough to ask that question, then you also know the contract says we're not supposed to answer, over.”

This time Bob types out some information as he listens, and Frank's station beeps when he's done, “Thank you ground control, this is the Gamble, over and out.”

Frank gets busy steering the ship as Bob relays the gist of it, “We're cleared to land, window is in two hours. We'll have an escort both ways, I have the callsigns. And…” he looks specifically at me, “...you weren't present when we signed, so we didn't go over this with you, but when we're down there, I'm the only one allowed to leave the ship, and at that, only with an escort… unless anyone wants me to apply a **** tattoo. So…” he shrugs, “I expect this will be very boring.” He glances at Frank, “Please keep it that way, hmm?”

“Can't hear you, busy getting us to the rendezvous point…” the elf laughs in the very quiet control room.

I chuckle, and speak up, “What are we getting paid, exactly?”

Gregory smiles, “We're getting ten grand in UPBs - a share for each of us, plus a share for the ship's fund (for repairs, food, docking fees, and such), so two grand each - plus a boatload of Vesk Imperials… which can only be spent by Vesk citizens, and then only within the Veskarium. Normally, they'd be laughably useless, but…”

Bob picks it up, “I happen to be a Vesk citizen in good standing, we have a Veskarium charter as a free trading vessel, and we're landing in military shipyards with a landing pad with months on the lease.”

Frank finishes the exposition, “So we're going to spend all the Vesk Imperials upgrading the ship.”

…and I'm a munchkin. “A couple questions: One, can I set up the trading lists and handle the installation? Two: Do we want to focus on trading safely, exploration, or bounty hunting going forwards? Three: What's the actual budget?”

Bob crosses his arms and leans back, Frank swivels his head off the screens for a bit, and Gregory purses his lips, “What are your plans, exactly?”

I grin, and we get into the details….