Iron Stars - vasiliy

There is a small alert on the terminal in the home of Vasiliey Timourovich, stating that mail has been placed in the box outside his small apartment building for him. It’s midday on Pelasgon, and in the capital city the air is more clear than on the rest of the planet. Outside, two of the neighbors are fighting again, love gone sour a long time ago but neither with the good sense to move on. For now, until they wise up you and the rest of your building mates are forced to hear it.

5

At the sound of the mail alert, Vasiliy awakens with a start, groggy from his third consecutive late night out on the main drag... or was it the fourth? There hasn't been much to track the days by recently. He rises with several loud cracks and drags himself to the front door, pausing as he suddenly hears the neighbors going at it again outside. Every day with this... Why can't they yell at each other indoors? They must have an apartment somewhere... But alas, the mail won't retrieve itself, so Vasiliy steels himself for the possible crossfire and opens the door to head downstairs.

You're only glanced at as the door opens- their fight too important to include the likes of you right now. Heading down the stairs you pass the smoke blackened front door. There is new graffiti across the street again. The "Easy Livin Pigs" are at it again, this time with a stylized pig humping the hammer and sickle of the party emblem. Some other artists have made tags around it but respected the work itself. You get to your post box and open it, inside a small package in brown paper. The sending address is the Party Headquarters here on the planet.

A package from HQ? For me? Vasiliy stares at the address line, still a bit hazy from sleeping in and wondering what they could want with him. He considers heading back inside to open it privately, but curiosity gets the better of him. He activates his wrist-mounted metatool, prompting a small hinge-blade to extend and reach towards the seam of the box, before suddenly jerking around and spinning wildly. Startled, Vasiliy smacks the device with his free hand, halting the rotation of the tiny letter-opener. Could have sworn I fixed that... Still standing in front of his mailbox, he proceeds to open the package manually. (edited)

The paper opens, revealing a small box underneath and once the tape is opened you can see a semi-automatic pistol, a box of 20 rounds of ammunition, a badge in its case, and a letter from the chairman's office inside

"Oh... Oh!" Vasiliy instinctively shuts the box again as he spots the gun and does a quick scan of his surroundings to see if anyone else noticed. If the coast is clear, he'll remove the letter and rest the package in his mailbox, the compartment door hanging open. Noticing the chairman's seal, he opens it hastily and reads its contents. (edited)

22:10

(Is the seal an identifying image, or is it text?)

(It would be the party symbol with his initials but he’s the only one with the stamp to make it. You’d know it’s authentic )

03:22

this letter empowers one Vasiliy Timurovich as a lawman and bounty hunter of the CBSS. You are charged with bringing crime to an end and enforcing the will of the party here and on the frontier. You are invited to speak with the chairman tomorrow night personally, for your first assignment.

03:22

please arrive in formal dress , with the badge.

Vasiliy chokes up with pride upon reading. At last... Maybe they finally saw all my emails... Or have the nodes divined some promise in my future? He holds his new badge up to the light, admiring it for a moment before replacing everything inside the box and racing back upstairs. Vasiliy's father taught him better than to ignore opportunity knocking on your door, much less an opportunity bearing the party seal. Catching sight of himself in a reflective window nearby, Vasiliy pauses at his own appearance, more than a little disheveled after such a long... sabbatical from the workforce. He resolves to spend the day grooming himself, washing his clothes, tuning up his equipment, and otherwise preparing so as not to waste his first impression on the chairman tomorrow. (edited)

The couple stops fighting close to dinner time, perhaps too busy eating to continue picking at one another. It is a blessed relief for now. A night of restless sleep has you waking up, gear packed and clothes picked out. As you finish getting ready there is a shrill horn blast from out in the street, as a party staff car has arrived to pick you up. The building is silent.

Freshly shaved--mustache perfectly coifed--Vasiliy affixes the badge to his chest, dons his weapon holster, and checks himself one last time in the mirror before heading out. He doesn't own any legitimate formal attire, but he is wearing his nicest track suit--the only one without blaster holes or engine burns in it. With any luck, the badge will make up for it... Feeling more than a little dandy, he heads downstairs and waves to the car with a friendly smile as he approaches. "Hail, comrade! Headed my way?" (edited)

16:00

(Is open weapon carry legal on Pelasgon? I imagine the badge allows some leeway if not)

16:02

(Also just noticed the channel name--no E in my spelling of Vasiliy, as randomly generated by the internet

)

(fixed. Probably my Dyslexia hard at work. You are empowered by the party so you can, but its a civilized area so concealed or nothing generally)

(got it, coolcool, thanks)

"You're expected at dinner with the Chairman, Comrade Timurovich. Please, step in and make yourself comfortable"

Vasiliy gives an appreciative nod and gets in the car. (edited)

The car begins moving off through the city proper- heading toward the Chairman's compound- a large building closed off from the street by a tall metal fence and guards. Inside are several buildings but the car is pulling up to the most impressive- the party office proper. Four soldiers in power armor stand spread out at the top of a wide flight of stone steps. They salute as the car comes to a halt, and your door is opened- allowing you to walk up the steps on your own. Two of those soldiers hold the front doors open for you.

A slight chill runs up his spine as Vasiliy passes the metal fence. He's been aware of such barriers around the city for a long time, but he's never been on the inside before. Vasiliy thanks the driver and goes where he is led, politely--if a bit casually--returning the salutes he receives along the way. Never had the best grasp on military protocols... Just keep saluting and maybe they won't notice... "Very kind of you, gents," he says, smiling at the soldiers who open the door for him. He tries not to gawk at their power armor, but the engineer in him can't help eyeing the suits with curiosity as passes them by. Still not sure what this job will entail but maybe, if I perform well and ask nicely, they'll let me take one for a test drive... (edited)

You're led into a dining room where a short table with only two chairs has been prepared. The main lights remain on, and ther eis nothing on the table yet aside from the actual table settings and a glass of water. The chairman is also not here yet, but the majordomo that greets you informs you to make yourself comfortable and he will be along shortly to explain why you have been summoned

Vasiliy salutes the majordomo clumsily. "Ah, thank you, comrade. For a moment I worried I might be unfashionably early!" Vasiliy paces the room while he waits, taking in the architecture and decor, hoping perhaps to absorb the formality and grace of his surroundings through osmosis. He does a final spot check of his own appearance as well, mostly checking to make sure his new badge and gun haven't gotten scraped on the way over--more out of neurotic paranoia than anything else.

Evverything seems in order, and there is a small chime. You hear the large double doors boom open, as the Chairman enters, steam hissing from a few vents near the shoulder as the oversized mechanical musculature moves back into place. "Please sit" he says, and signals the waiter who arrives with him to begin serving

"Mr. Chairman! An honor to finally meet you in person, comrade sir," Vasiliy replies, saluting momentarily and hustling to his chair. Don't stare at his machine parts, don't ask how they work, don't stare at his machine parts, don't ask how they work... (edited)

"Drink?" he asks, moving over to the decanter and handling it with a level of care you wouldnt expect "And apologies for the short notice comrade. This decision was last minute. More last minute than I would have wanted"

Vasiliy accepts the drink politely and says, "No need for apologies! I have waited a long time for my chance to aid the Brotherhood. Before he passed, my father served in the revolution." ((if the historical timing of that possibly works)) "I was very young then, but he taught me the importance of doing my part for our interstellar community. My hands and my tools are yours, Mr. Chairman, such as they are. Though, I must admit I am very eager to learn what you intend for me, as well as why I was chosen."

(it works!) "We're beginning a new program. One I feel to which you are well suited, and one that exists outside normal bureaucracy. Simply put, some issues are too sensitive to wait for the local resource officers and the other branches of the party to handle. We're empowering a small group of people as...we haven't decided on a name yet, but as hunters. of men, and of materials, essentially"

00:04

"You'll be sent to places where the party is failing, or where the party has yet to go as vanguards"

"You honor me with such a position, Mr. Chairman. I understand well the need to sometimes explore tactics outside our standard 'toolbox,' so to speak." Vasiliy is beaming. "You can count on me, comrade sir. I will not fail the party. What is my first directive?"

“Problem right here under our own feet. Organized crime activity. Ripping off party warehouses and some grocers and other merchants fencing the goods. Need to know who’s in on it

12:55

Merchants don’t need to necessarily be dealt with harshly. Theyre symptoms. I’m looking at their suppliers more than anything”

"It will be done. Do you have any threads I can start pulling on, or should I just head to the warehouses and keep an eye out?"

"Your status as a special operative will get you in to see the resource officer. He's someone we're fingering as having a role in this. Maybe he will give you his associates to get himself off the hook"

"Interesting. Well, I'll be sure to start there, then. Is there anything else I need to know?"

"Force is permitted. You won't be tried for using it, but we would like it to be a last resort if you can manage"

"I understand. I'll begin my investigation immediately. Shall I contact you directly with my findings?"

"My office, yes. I'll do my best to review everything coming in personally- it does take time for me to get through things, and all the material coming across the desk is overwhelming at times"

"Of course, Mr. Chairman."

The meal passes with small talk about life and the wider more public affairs of the CBSS, and after a couple hours you’re politely asked to depart and begin your assignment.

Vasiliy salutes the Chairman, as well as everyone else he encounters on the way out of the building. What a pleasant fellow he was... and what a delicious meal! When he's safely back outside the metal gates, he'll get a little distance to make sure he's alone. Then he does a quick excited jig! At last! Vasiliy Timurovich: a party man! If only mother and father could see me now... He holds his badge up high and blows a kiss to the stars. Vasiliy will start making his way towards the warehouse district, hopped up on prideful adrenaline and intending to waste no time proving his worth. (If I can leverage my 'Wanderer' focus here, it should be a relatively simple trip, assuming traffic goes there)

(You're not likely to be attacked in the capital city, We can say you're using it but i dont think its going to net anything either way)

(Haha, fair enough. Thought I'd mention it)

500m from the warehouse district you notice two men on the corner watching you get out of the car. A few blocks over, the fenced and gated in row of storehouses and transport facilities perched at the edge of the city await your attention. Many people are employed there who have nothing to do with the nefarious business occurring, and you;ll have to sort out who might be in on it, and not.

(Several questions, if you don't mind me asking OOC: It's pretty late in the evening now, correct? Does the neighborhood seem busy/lively, or more like most folks have gone home already? Also, does Pelasgon have distinct seasons, and if so, which are we in now?)

(It is late in the evening, the neighborhood around the shipping center here is lively. Pelasgon has seasons, we're in July right now so summer)

Vasiliy searches for the main entrance to the storage/transport complex. He conceals his badge and gun for now, not wanting to draw undue attention to himself.

A guard is falling asleep in a small booth next to an electric gate. A soccer game is on TV, and a cigarette hangs loosely from his mouth

Vasiliy approaches the booth and raps on the window. "Evening, comrade. How's the game?"

He jumps , startled by the noise. “Eh” he says regaining his composure. “Losing. What else is new”

00:54

“Need something?”

"Looking for the resource officer. Do you know if he's in?"

“Lights on in his office trailer. By building 4. Who should I tell him is coming ?”

"Party Officer Timurovich. I'm here to perform a safety inspection of the facility." Vasiliy opens his jacket breast to flash his badge inside, scrutinizing the guard's reaction as he does so.

He stiffens a bit, but some apprehension toward the might of the party and its inspectors is normal, and expected, if anything. "Of course. Of course" THe gate begins to rise, enough to let you pass under it

Vasiliy gives the guard a nod and, without much enthusiasm, says, "Go [insert name of local sports team]," as he ducks under the gate and heads inside. As he heads for the trailer, Vasiliy observes any nearby activity, and also sneaks a peak back over his shoulder to see if the guard's behavior changes at all with some distance between them.

(notice/wis)

(7)

He goes back to watching the game and takes a phone in the booth off the hook -no doubt letting his superiors know there is an inspector on site since you came openly

Vasiliy continues to the aforementioned trailer. Before announcing his presence, he will try to listen at the door for any sounds of panic, or surreptitiously peek through a window if one is easily available. If not, he'll simply knock on the door.

The windows are off ground level, as the trailer is on squat stilts, accessible by a wooden staircase and porch built on after the fact. They're too tall for you to see in. Getting up to the door is going to mean boots on the wooden steps, which will likely be heard from inside

(Knocking it is then, lol)

Your boots sound on the wooden floorboards, and you're face to face with the entry door. A quick set of bangs and you're face to face with someone who looks like a military adjutant, pockets stuffed with data pads and papers

"Evening, comrade. Hope I haven't come at a bad time. May I come in?"

“Commissar. Of course. Please come in”. The younger man is visibly shaking. He is doing his best to not open the door any further than he absolutely needs to- blocking most of your view of the inside (edited)

"We werent expecting an inspection officer, is there..something you needed this late?"