Chapter 34

Vlondril sits patiently in the crew lounge on the port side of the Void Star on deck 2. Sipping on her frosted wine slowly while in deep thought. She had brought many bottles of wine with her, a reminder of her house back home with its extensive vineyards and fine wine making tradition. Iridian Frost berries made rather smooth, crisp, and light wines that went rather well with human cuisine, specifically spicier varieties like curry or cajun dishes.

As she swirls her glass around pensively, dressed in a slinky one-piece dress - she did like to dress up from time to time, after all. It made her feel good about herself and a finely dressed woman exudes confidence.

Her mind wanders to thoughts of Kara. A rather… interesting woman for certain but a bit rough around the edges. She folds a leg tightly over the opposite thigh and smiles to herself. Observing the view of the sun out of the observation viewer.

***

I spent the previous hour reviewing the data Vlondril and I recovered from the Vasivich residence. Now, with that knowledge in hand, I stand over the TOD table reviewing a plan. A rather simple plan. with leverage against Makorovo and Karrina Vasivich, we could coerce them into giving up their organization, or acting as a figurehead. Jay Fossik, whom we met earlier when visiting the city, is our ticket in.

"Oi, wha's all that hemmin' n'hawin o'er lassy?" comes a familiar voice. I whirl around, tapping the display power button to shut the TOD off. "Mister Fossik, surprising to see you on my ship." I deadpan.

"Ach, I just wan'ed ta' talk ta' ye!" He grins toothily. "Way I see i' lass? My ole bones jus' aint cut out for this place." he rounds the TOD and puts a foot up on the top of the console. My eyebrow twitches at his audacity. Already making this place his home. "By tha'way, a rather beautiful ship ya 'ave here! 'Wealth designed 'er?" he raises an inquisitive eyebrow at me. I smile at him thinly. 

While yes it is designed with the Systems Commonwealth's fleet yards it was built but never procured by their Navy. Instead it found its way onto the market where Farsa picked the ship up for quite a small fortune. The woman had the creds to burn on a ship like this, so her resources are likely rather plentiful. 

Jay blinks and takes his foot off from atop the TOD. "Sorry, lass. Force o' habit." he clears his throat. "I take it tha' you ain't too keen on talkin' bou' your ship? Tha'l be fine." Jay smiles before looking around. "Still, compliments to your tastes. A fine ship for a fine woman! Ahem.."

He takes a moment, pausing to choose his words carefully. "I heard ye 'ave a plan ta' stick i'to th'big whigs lassy" Jay smiles sheepishly as I double-take at him. "I have no idea what you are talking about." I smile at him thinly. All I can do is play dumb. But I did have a question about How the old man figured this out.

"Bah! Rather simple, lass! Nothin' a bit o' eavesdroppin' cannae' fix." he smirks smugly "Look, I do not have a qualm abou' it, the Vasivich outfit had forgo'to pay me for tha past... oh.. Five weeks?" He clears his throat "tha' said, if ye need ta know anything abou' the ole russkies' operations, I'd be happy to oblige ye" I stare at Jay for a moment in thought after listening to his words. His thick accent making it hard to understand him at times.

While an unknown quantity, this bum-legged old man likely knew the Vasivich operation inside and out. Being an informant and errand boy means he knows their layout. The perks of being a smuggler also means he will know their stockpile locations as well as how well guarded they are. Granted, our goal is not to touch the assets of mob, but to coerce Makarovo to step down so we can replace him.

I smile coyly at the old smuggler. "Very well, tell me what you know." I fish in my jacket for a cigarette case, an engraved. stainless steel box about the size of two decks of playing cards. Inside I keep Artisian hand-rolled cigars and a flip-lighter. Owing to my physiology, cigarettes are not a detriment to my respiratory system thanks to my regenerative healing ability. As I thought about that, I rub my right shoulder. This action makes me aware that the scar from the glass shard that sank in that part of my body during the close encounter with that other Chimera from last year was completely gone.

After flipping open the case, slipping a cig out of one of the felt loops and flipping open the lid of the lighter to light the cigarette with a puff, I take a long drag of my smoke as Jay begins. "Well, Makarovo keeps large quantities o' money in a warehouse on the outskirts o' the city. I dunno your thinkin' lass, but if I were you, i'd grab the money first. Oh! Makarovo's wife has a routine of visiting a spot downtown. I think she is double-dipping on ole Makarovo." Jay smiles before departing. He pauses and looks back "if ye don' mind, I will take my leave to find a spot to lay my head on ye ship, lass."

After a slow drag of my cig, I nod to Jay, going into a trance of deep thought. If it is true that Karrina Vasivich is unfaithful, it will be useful leverage in our coercion effort. After tapping ashes off the smoldering cigarette, I take a drag slowly before I exhale a wisp of white smoke from my lips. Which form into a wry smile as a plan starts to take shape in my mind.

***

After my discussion with Jay, I called a meeting of the entire crew. At the current moment, We were deciding on a course of action. There is a current split between two options; The first option is to dispose of the Vasivichs in a coup d'etat, which carries significantly more uncertainties and can backfire if there is an underestimation of their organizations' loyalty.

The second option is to blackmail the Vasivichs, particularly Makarovo. His wife is unfaithful, and that can prove to serve as valuable information that Mararovo will act upon impulsively. Another part of the equation is that the same intel can be used against his wife so she is forces to do our bidding, as her husband finding out will be rather unpleasant. It may even cost Mrs. Vasivich her life.

I stop the rather heated debate with a hand raised. "I am calling for a vote." I look around at the crew gathered around the impromptu conference room I had a few crewmen set up in the empty spaces in the aft portion of deck 1. "All in favor of disposal of the Vasivichs, raise your hand."

Vlondril, Jay, B'Nan, and Reina raise a hand. I raise a brow at Reina, a bit surprised by her lack of hesitation at spilling blood. I clear my throat. "All in favor of blackmailing the Vasivichs, raise your hand now."

Vlondril, Midea, Helm officer Wesley, and Jay. I look at Vlondril and Jay with an inquisitive eyebrow. "What, lass? I can't make up me mind abou' which one I wan' to see more!" Vlondril shrugs "either of the two will be interesting." She smirks coquettishly. I pinch the bridge of my nose. "So you are both abstaining. Meaning that I am the tie breaking vote.."

I think on the matter for a few moments, humming to myself in quiet contemplation. While yes, blackmailing the Vasivichs would be a fruitful endeavor, it does leave the risk of betrayal. Which disposing of them does not bring. On the other hand, disposal means that we may suffer a backlash from their criminal syndication.

As I hem and haw over these considerations, I also overhear the discussion at the meeting table as a muffled thrum. While yes there is a lot more risk involved with retaining the Vasivichs through blackmail, there are also many benefits to this approach.

"I'll sleep on it." I smile at everyone around the table. "Meeting adjourned."