Re: Piracy on the Seven Skies (Sky Pirates IC Thread)

[Paper Shadow]

"Well, go on. What's this about then?"

[Espresso]

(Time rolls back about an hour.)

You all exit Prince's chamber, feeling a strange sense of deja vu as though you've experienced this before. However the feeling passes quickly, and the question of the road ahead of you remains. What will you do moving forward?

[Senshuken]

Apollo blinked in confusion for a moment, glancing around at the site of the palace that they had just left. Raising a claw and opening his beak, he felt the need to say something... before closing it again and lowering his claw again to the ground. Ruffling his wings a little as he shook his head, he tried to shove the strange feeling to the side as he asked "So... what are our plans now?"

[AleneShazam]

"Erm..." Trigger hums, considering things over. "Secure transport. Get supplies. Find a contract and earn bits. Something like that, I'd wager."

[Paper Shadow]

"Wouldn't mind leavin' sooner than later. Get back out on open skies." adds Mori, finished from hiding behind Vulcan and adding his share of bits to his satchel, double checking he hadn't already done so, which didn't make sense but he felt like he had. "Long as where we go next ain't got anythin' gigantic."

[Faege]

"Right. I'm quite done with tangling with full warships," Vulcan agrees, shaking off the sense of unease plaguing him to focus on matters at hand. "Sky Prince mentioned a job opening. How do you all feel about that? Or would finding a freelance contract be more desirable?"

He thinks for a moment. "If I'm going to be honest, I'd rather have the backing of the Gold Sky on this. At least we're more liable to get support and transport that way."

[AleneShazam]

"Well, we could see if Brass Sky cred can get us a ride down at the docks, but..." Trigger grimaces, remembering her reputation. "...Yeah, it might be better to go with the Gold Sky offer."

[Paper Shadow]

Mori rubs his chin. "Sure, why not. I trust your judgemen', you're a former captain after all."

[Espresso]

"In that case, I'll take you to fleetmaster Anastacia for a meeting." Hephaestus says, leading the group down the stairs towards a lower level on the sky-city, though still staying in the upper portions. The group passes by many office-looking buildings, desks and offices visible through windows. It's an impressive amount of bureaucracy and administration for what is ostensibly a criminal organization, and Hephaestus idly explains as he walks. "The strength of the Gold Sky has always been its strict organization and hierarchy. Without a system, you get renegade murderers like the Black Sky running about. It's a rat eat rat world out there. But, not in the Gold Sky. Work is distributed according to merit, and pay proportionately given for work done and risk undertaken. Everyone has a place in the Gold Sky, and no one goes hungry."

It sounds suspiciously like a sales pitch.

Eventually the group comes to what looks less like a building and more like a ship embedded into the side of the sky-city, brass hull and mast shining in the mid-day sun. A door is set into the side of the ship, with a sign labeling it as "Offices of the First Fleet". Every so often, couriers scurry in and out of the building, no doubt delivering important documents all over the administrative block of the city.

Hephaestus chuckles as he approaches. "Ah, yes. Haven't had to be here for a while. It's been a while since Anastacia was promoted from captain to fleetmaster, but she still gets antsy unless she's at the helm of a ship... even if it's not a real one. She had the offices completely remodeled upon her assignment..."

A pair of smartly dressed ponies stand guard in front of the doors, but Hephaestus flashes them what looks like a coin, and they nod, standing back and allowing him to enter. Beckoning for the party to follow, he heads inside.

"Anastacia is all about business. Don't bother with pleasantries. Convince her that you're worth her time." Hephaestus says. "Mentioning Sky Prince recommended you should help. Any questions?"

[AleneShazam]

"You say she's the more practical-minded type? I take it she's happier on the field than in an office, then?" Trigger asks as she follows Hephaestus inside. "Any suggestions on convincing her we're the ponies for the job?"

[Senshuken]

"If we're competent enough that Sky Prince was willing to recommend us in the first place is a pretty good way of letting her know that we're the ones for the job." Apollo answered as he followed Hephaetus and Trigger, glancing around the room as he quickly added "Also pretty sure the fact that we've been in the sights of the Black Sky's bloody dragon and lived to tell the tale without getting caught is another point in our favor. I don't believe many can say the same.

[Paper Shadow]

Mori faces Hephaestus and asks "Do you know what kind of job this'll be?"

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