The Great Diamond Operation

[Joni]

Display

ah... doesn't matter to me. I don't think CiCi factors into that decision at all. I do think the mechanics should have to convince the captain beyond any doubt that Lily sent them.

[Muskrat]

Display

OK, then, so from now on, we'll try to look for excuses to keep the much reduced party together. Right now, Amelia is still awaiting a reply from the mechanics, trying to determine if they really are from Lily.

[Cattywumpus]

"The Lady called us from some phone.", says the confused mechanic, "She come ta us- 'cause of reputation she says. We already got the funds tranfered to our account. Makes no difference ta me if ya don't want it but it is top of the line!"

[Muskrat]

Amelia looks at the autopilot speculatively. "Spart, how much do you know about these things? Could you go over it to make sure it's not booby-trapped and install it yourself?"

[Hayabusa]

"Ah'm sorry, captain, but Ah know almost nothin' 'bout this stuff," Spart says with a hint of apology in his voice. "When you mean booby-trapped like 'no explosives', then yeah, Ah could do that, but if you mean it like if the programmin' and else is fine, then, no. Ah don't know much about electronics, only a little. The stuff you need to know when you want to build a sensitive trigger for a smart mine, that's what Ah know. Ah have no idea how they want to install it. 'Cause it'd have to control the whole cockpit."

[Muskrat]

Amelia thinks for a moment, then says to the mechanics, "I don't mean any offense to you guys, but I can't let you install the autopilot without say-so from the ship's owner. You're probably all honest fellows, but I know of at least one person without any scruples who might be out to get us, so I don't want to take any chances. If you want to leave the autopilot with us though, we'll take it. I can always hire someone I trust with the requisite expertise to look it over and make it's safe and then install it."

[Hayabusa]

"Yeah," Spart agrees with the captain. "Or we could sell it and make a huge amount of money. But Ah don't think Miss Chen'd like that."

He waits for the men to leave.

[Cattywumpus]

The mechanics nod and walk away from the ship saying, "Evenin' ma'am."

OOC

I will give you all a bit to sort out the logistics of your new uninstalled equipment.

[Muskrat]

The captain looks dubiously down at the complicated electronic device the mechanics have left behind, then says to Spart, "Please see if you can find some place safe to store this. We don't have time to worry about it right now. Once we're safely away from Ariel, we can see about finding someone trustworthy to go over this thing and properly install it, maybe when we reach Bellerophon."

She turns to the Companion and says, trying to keep her voice light, "So, CiCi, how was your night?"

[Hayabusa]

"Got it," Spart says and inspects the autopilot. Then he just moves the thing to the cargo hold and straps it down.

OOC

How big is that thing?