17. Lewison's Station

[Dome]

Flip smiles and tries to drink from his empty glass, "I could take people up and show them how to slingshot around a planet in a cargo ship, or we can do something like that," he says putting the empty glass down. "I mean flying is fun isn't it?"

[Renekin Skywalker]

The Local Watering Hole ^tm

"Sure," Tawfeek answered. "When the pilot's sober. I thought you were sleeping."

[Dome]

"Yeah I was sleep. It didn't work out so well, so now I'm not. The alcohol helps though," he says shrugging, "and I'm not drunk, just relaxed. Hehe, I wouldn't try another satellite recovery like this, but I bet I could still fly rings around the Pooh Jihad's pilot if I had to," He says again staring at the inside of his cup, "so how long do you think we will be on station?"

[kurff]

"I can. Not all negotiations have large parties. I'm thinking more like small parties wanting to meet on international waters type." he grinned, "one or two people from each party is all needed. Corporate and military types might appreciate flying into a place where the is no jurisdiction and there on the move." he shrugged, "If were lucky might be able to space a lawyer or two as well. Jessica is the security officer and I'm guessing she's got a few ideas."

[dakota]

"long enough you'll be sober before I board with you behind the controls." McKenna scoffed, sipping on her own drink. " Relaxed my butt. Mengsk is right, Captain. We just need to start looking outside the box a bit and take the jobs our competitors wouldn't think of."

[Mierin]

Jessica listens to the conversation going on around her and nods, "I agree with the idea of taking passengers, but I think we need to be careful about who we select for passengers. When McKenna mentions they need to think outside of the box, Jessica looks curious and asks "Do you have any type of jobs in mind?"

[kurff]

Other than avoiding less than legal missions we have the obvious transport, Martian and asteroid Mining operators may have need of our services whether to transport people or goods." Mengsk spoke up. "Several corporations still have sats in orbit we can help with maintenance on, Might be a few moon-based interests looking for help."

[Renekin Skywalker]

The Local Watering Hole^tm

"All great idea," Tawfeek said. "Except we need a certain level of business to make ends meet. We would need to spend as much time arranging charters as running them. And no-one mentions milk runs, or they're out. Anyone that can afford a satellite probably doesn't need t spend money on us. Likewise, with the colonies becoming larger and more independent, small charters are less common in the face of the big freighters and larger corporations."

Tawfeek took a drink as a dramatic pause.

"Thanks for the help," he continued. "I have no intention of throwing towels or giving up. Just saying that, until we do get further from the red line, we make due with what we have."

[kurff]

"We will need something if you can find something other than 'milk runs'...Please mention them." he looked at the captain. "as it is maintenance and transport runs are what your ship was designed for and you have the right skills to do them.otherwise its is want ads we need for available, low cost work." Mengsk paused.

"I could get some non-space work to make some cash if you wanted...then park the ship to reduce costs. and I'm not joking..a ship's Maintenance is where most the cost is." he typed up a few new searches for work on stations or earth as well he might qualify for.

"For the moment I'll check my contacts for anything in our price range. Unless I'm needed here I'd like to see what there doing to my system on the Galaxy." he stood up to go to bar to pay for the drink.

[dakota]

"Well, if it helps any, you can hold back my pay until we find work, Captain." McKenna shrugged. " You give me place to stay and put food on my plate, so that's enough until things get better. I could find work off the Galaxy pretty easy like Mengsk, but I don't want to if I have any choice."

[Renekin Skywalker]

The Local Watering Hole^tm

"That's the spirit!"Tawfeek said. "Who else wants to give up their pay? And Mensk, sit back down. You'll have time for an inspection of the cleaning later. I didn't give them enough money to actually do anything else to the ship."

He turned to Jessica. "Does that make me cheap, do you think?"

[Dome]

Flip says, "we get paid? Cause I don't think I have had a chance to check my bank account let alone spend any money may be in there. So if we are really hard up, I can loan you some Cap," his grin bit and toothy.

[kurff]

"I need to look up consultancy work so I can still be there to fix the ship...seeing as we have a a need for cash. such work may also get proper contacts as well. Hopefully work not needing our ship to reduce cost." he sat back down and started to look up the online want ads. He even considered a website to offer consultant work a a freelancer to further boost his income with out leaving the galaxy.

[dakota]

"You suck up."McKenna kidded Flip, taking another sip from her juicebox. Her attentiion turned to Mengsk, " What you need is a couple drinks to loosen you up, Mengsk. Captain, there is another option. Some of the outlying systems are a little..., wilder than here, maybe we can find some work that wouldn't exactly be on the level here? I've heard that there are even places out there that smuggling in water for settlers makes easy credïts", McKenna shrugged, " a doctor visit is a big deal out there too, but then we're back to the needing extra supplies again."

[Renekin Skywalker]

"Also," Tawfeek added. "I don't want people taking on jobs that distract them from, you know, their jobs. Now, relax, since we've got a few days, and this counts as vacation time. There are other things to do on this station."