Operation Grievance: The Negotiation of Chance

Cast of Characters (I-Con Squad):

Icond (INIS Squad Leader)
-Character Reactions (SOLO 2E p.36): Ignores Col. Janice Middleton.

Janice Mehlberg (Imperium Marine Colonel-Retired)
-Character Reactions (SOLO 2E p.36): Rival of Icond.

Chance Morgenstern (INIS Agent-Retired)
-Character Reactions (SOLO 2E p.36): Admires Dr. Slager.

Dr. Merrick Slager (Scholar/Team Doctor-Retired)
-Character Reactions (SOLO 2E p.36): Secretly hates Col. Janice.

Ritch Duhart (INIS Agent-Retired)
-Character Reactions (SOLO 2E p.36): Inseparable buddy of Chance.
…..............

Operation Grievance: The Negotiation of Chance

345-1122

System: Abin

Setting: A vehicle on the streets of Dakala

The Mission: Chance attempts to acquire the medallion

Story Narrative:
Chance is told to put on a hooded blindfold before Sarosh takes him to the seller. Chance complies. The conversation between the two is just small talk, but this eventually stops after about five minutes. Chance listens carefully for any background sounds that might help him to get his bearings on his possible location.

As the vehicle slows and comes to a stop, Chance hears a familiar sound that is made by a particular machine used in the manufacturing process of starship hulls. A sound he has heard often near the starport located on his home world. Sarosh leads the blindfolded Chance inside a building where he is told to sit in the chair behind him. He complies and the blindfold is removed.

Chance finds himself in a large and abandoned warehouse. The familiar sound of the machine drones on in the distance, while he observes a group of armed individuals standing around a couple of luxury vehicles parked within the empty warehouse. There is just enough light to see faces, but the fading dusky sunlight limits his ability to see much else within the warehouse. A rather large and muscular man opens the vehicle door and out steps a tall and slender man dressed in a designer suit. His appearance and swagger as he approaches the seated Chance indicates his confidence and elite status.

GM Notes:
Boss Character Introduction: Enki Zen (aka Seral Olmhelnan)
Title: CEO - Zollo Biotech (Subsector Level Megacorp)
Hobby: Collector and seller of rare Antiquities

The Megacorp CEO exiting the vehicle is in fact, Seral Olmhelnan, a former Krax Confederation diplomat and fanatic supporter of the 3FT. He now works as the head of the 3FT Secret Service and is currently working undercover in the Sosie Subsector. His mission is to bring Abin back into 3FT control by undermining the current independent government through subversion. This Megacorp CEO role is one he wields with deadly efficiency. He was able to locate and recover the medallion shortly before the spy was caught by Abin authorities. The captured 3FT agent eagerly volunteered for this assignment in order to plant false intelligence with Abin security. She has given some accurate information to string Abin officials along, but this is only to give them a false sense of security. She is willing to suicide herself when her usefulness expires. A true fanatic, just like Seral. Seral is aware that someone is approaching to make a deal for the medallion; however, he is not aware of the Icond Squad yet. The medallion is a genuine ancient artifact, but an added feature has seriously diminished its value. There is a hidden compartment carved into the medallion. It's damaged ever so slightly. A real antiquities expert would spot the defect while assessing the medallion's authenticity. Seral has altered it in order to see if the approaching customer spots the defect. A genuine buyer would walk away, but someone looking for the medallion, like an Abin agent, will offer top dollar. If the latter happens, then the following nefarious plans of Seral will be implemented. The real encryption/decoder chip has been removed and replaced with a replica device. This device will encrypt/decode 3FT code, but the coded information will be fake intelligence designed to mislead the Abin Intelligence Service. This disinformation, if believed, will more than likely destabilize the current government, and compromise the military with potential catastrophic consequences.

Chance has absolutely no idea who this distinguished gentleman is in this current situation. He has been briefed about Seral Olmhelnan, but does not recognize Seral due to his current appearance looking nothing like Seral’s dossier image. Chance does recognize a female bodyguard standing nearby. She was present at the local tavern where the Icond Squad started their investigation with the undercover cop. Chance controls his reaction as to not betray his recognition of the bodyguard.

 

Story Narrative:

Following the aristocratic fellow is a much shorter and portly individual in a cheap business suit. The suit appears to be a couple of sizes too small for the rotund man's frame. In his hand is a metal case which he sets down on the ground and opens it. He lifts out an object that immediately sparkles as the limited light glints off its surface. The medallion! The round and now sweaty little man proceeds to bring the medallion to Chance, but before allowing him to touch it, the fat man says, "What's your offer?" Chance speaks up, "Whose asking?" The fat man's face betrays his concern about the question, but as turns toward his boss, the stately gentleman responds, "That's the least of your concerns. I suggest you make your offer before one of my associates loses his patience and control of his trigger finger." The muscular and beautiful female that Chance recognized moments ago steps forward with her weapon drawn. The distinguished gentleman replies with a sinister smile, "or HER patience!"

"Let me examine it FIRST!" Chance's defiant reply has visibly upset the bodyguards, and the portly associate’s facial expression betrays his fear. The little fat man turns toward his boss, and the gentleman nods his approval. Instant relief is visible on the fat associate’s face, and Chance is relieved as well although his demeanor does not betray his hidden fear with his bold and reckless response.

Chance examines the medallion. He is confident the medallion is the one the group is looking for, but he cannot find the hidden compartment. He decides to improvise to buy a little time. While continuing to examine the medallion, Chance reaches within his pocket. The gentleman seller's bodyguards instantly cock their weapons. Chance quickly replies, "Relax, I need my loupe to take a closer look.” Chance grimaces and exclaims, "Damn, not on me. Does anyone have a jeweler's loupe handy?" "You're trying my patience," was the gentleman dealer’s acidic response to Chance’s demand. "Hey, I want to make a sound decision, which means top money for YOU, so I think it is a reasonable request." Chance takes a bold step with the tone of his response.

"You have 5 seconds to make an offer, 5...4...3." Chance interrupts the Gentleman Antiquities Dealer, "Fine, fifty thousand credits is my best offer. Take it or leave it." Chance's reply is extremely dangerous, but he feels he’s out of options. The gentleman dealer’s patience is exhausted, and offering top dollar without being 100% sure is too risky. Chance hopes for the best, but is ready for what awaits, including death.

The gentleman dealer declines Chance's offer. "Well, if that's your final offer, then we have nothing further to discuss. Take him back to where you found him." The gentleman turns and enters his vehicle. The bodyguards holster their weapons and enter the remaining vehicles. Sarosh places the hooded blindfold over Chance's head and leads him back to his vehicle for the return trip back to the social club. Chance is thankful for the hooded blindfold that now hides the visible sign of relief on his face.

GM Notes:
I utilized the SOLO 2E and OPSE tools along with Cepheus Light Skill checks to resolve the negotiation process. Chance was not able to make his skill checks with locating the hidden compartment, but did manage to make critical skill checks to survive the failed negotiation. Chance deciding to make a low-ball offer actually prevented this situation from going from bad to worse. Seral was not able to make his skill checks and therefore believes Chance is just a buyer and not an Abin spy. Chance’s brash and bold courage was respected by Seral, but Chance’s limited negotiation abilities were not. Seral agrees it was wise to make a low-ball offer, but thinks Chance is absolutely terrible as an appraiser.

Story Narrative:

The ride back to the social club is quiet. Sarosh is fuming about the failed negotiation and the evaporation of an opportunity to turn a profit from a successful deal. The hood is yanked off of Chance as the vehicle pulls up to the social club. Sarosh’s tone is deadly serious as he informs Chance about his finder's fee. “You owe me ten percent of your 50kCR offer. That comes out to a Finder’s Fee of 5kCR payable whether a deal is made or not.” Four huge dudes approach the parked vehicle. Chance knows these guys are TKs and his failure to pay is going to hurt. Sarosh instructs Chance to stay in the vehicle and think about his options. Sarosh and the TKs have a quick conversation, and Sarosh returns to the vehicle. Sarosh explains, “Here’s your options. You pay me my fee, and I will drive you back to Veiled Vices where your friends are waiting. Don’t pay, and learn how to walk again after your broken legs have fully healed. Your choice!” Chance fully understands the nature of the threat, and does not doubt that Sarosh and his four friends will make good on that threat. With a sarcastic tone, Chance replies “Oh, my ABSOLUTE pleasure” as he hands over 5k credit bills to Sarosh. Sarosh gives him a big grin and says, “a pleasure doing business with you. Sit back and enjoy the ride!” Needless to say, the ride back was more pleasurable for Sarosh than it was for Chance.

Up Next: Where Do We Go From Here?

***AI images generated through https://perchance.org/generators