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LACUNA: Beginning - Fire and Ice Entertainment Lounge (TAG Anyone Creative)

Posted Sept. 17, 2019, 2:56 a.m. by Civilian Joseph Karlson (Head of Police Force) (Hjortur Ingi)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Nicholas James (Chief Intelligence Officer) in LACUNA: Beginning - Fire and Ice Entertainment Lounge (TAG Anyone Creative)

Posted by Civilian Jóhann Karlson (Business Owner) in LACUNA: Beginning - Fire and Ice Entertainment Lounge (TAG Anyone Creative)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Nicholas James (Chief Intelligence Officer) in LACUNA: Beginning - Fire and Ice Entertainment Lounge (TAG Anyone Creative)
Posted by… suppressed (13) by the Post Ghost! 👻
snip

Daimon Verk

Noticing Verk in the reflection of her flask, Ekaterinburg continued before her companion could speak, “After all, all the people around us would kill for our looks.” She very obviously waggled her eyes at Nicholas while subtly turning a fork on the table to point at the ferengi. “We risk a fist fight every time we approach a person with a jealous significant other. I know that I’ve been kicked out of a fair share of bars for the fights I’ve started.”

Ekaterina Artemovich (Merc)

A message appeared on Nicholas’ mini PaDD from Lawrence.
}Daimon Verk
Nicholas stared down at the Ferengi. “Daimon Verk, If you would take your intelligence gathering elsewhere, I’m sure the rest of the patronage won’t notice.” He leaned down closer. “While I will be planning where to dispose of you so that you are never found. Dead men make no profit.”

-Nicholas James

Daimon Verk laughed out loud so everyone could hear. “Oh! That is precious! Do you have your own comedy act? But I will amuse you this time as I am tired. I will see you both around. ” He winked at them both and left still laughing.

Daimon Verk

“If there is anything in this universe that I truly cannot stand, it’s people. If only he knew.” He sent a message to Daimon-Ress Fer’lak.
}Verk sold information about your company’s dealings while he was assigned to be assessing the crowd.]
“Now. Back to business. Professional killer. In my jurisdiction. I take it your current contract was just carried out. I don’t care who or why. There’s something you can help me with. And I can and will pay for these services.”

-Nicholas James, Section 31

“Interesting. I have to say that this is one of the more interesting meetings that lead to an offer.” Ekaterina leaned slightly forward. “But I need to know a few details about the job before I can commit to anything such as if there would be civilian casualties and such if I went through with it. A lady does have to have some morals after all.”

Ekaterina Artemovich (Merc)

“No collateral damage. There’s something coming OED’s way. I’m still gathering intelligence on what it is. A civilian passenger and cargo carrier, the Black Sparrow, was held in orbit with no reason logged. An intelligence detachment led by former Section 31 is en route. I need you on retainer. I know the lead agent. She’s good. To the point that sending her is a sign that we’re in deep. So, you get a deposit. Half of your usual fee. The other half if I call you in. If it proves particularly dangerous to you, I’ll throw hazard pay on top of that. Saving lives isn’t what you usually do, but the hit here is extremely guilty.”

-Nicholas James, Section 31

Johann monitored the action with great interest although he kept up with the conversation and celebration well enough, his party knew better than to try and draw him into deeper conversation so the pair had started playing a game of dice which incurred heavy penalties in the form of shots. They stopped however when the older man started to speak “Now that was an interesting display” He said with a half-smile. The young man looked around the room not seeing what was being talked about, the woman, however, noticed immediately what he was referring to. “The Ferengi had some words with that grifter, I only managed to read a word or two but I’m certain it was regarding us” He explained. The young man had given up looking for whatever he was supposed to see and was trying to listen to his boss through the noise, not helped by the fact that Johann was speaking quite softly “Then that silver-haired Warrior came in.” His head twitched slightly and he paused for a moment “Artemovich… Interesting” He said the name slowly as his eyes narrowed. He smiled as he watched the two people converse “As soon as she sat down he entered the room. He walks like a fleeter but different, fitting a man of his credentials” His gaze turned to the woman at his left “Lieutenant Commander Nicholas James, Starfleet Intelligence. His file is more redacted than your brothers” She stated returning her bosses gaze “Indeed. So here’s my question, was he waiting for her specifically or is their meeting a happy coincidence” His smile widened “Or is it true love at first sight” He giggled at the frown he got from his left.

Johann Karlson

Lawrence started to feel uncomfortable. He noticed the party looking at him and then at Nicholas.
{It’s time to bug out. Cover’s blown.]
}No. We’re not done here. I can handle Karlson.]
{So what do we do for now?]
}I have a deal to finalise. You- use the bank account I gave you. Contact this man [Jacob Summers]. Take out a 2 million credit short position on his company. He should be duly notified when a massive short is taken out against him.]
{Ok…]
Lawrence was deeply uncertain. He didn’t even know where the money was going to come from, but he knew asking was going to be pointless. He tapped the contact name.
{I would like to carry out a transaction on behalf of Nicholas James.]
}Drop the formal talk. Shoot.]
{2 million credit short - Hekla Corporation.]
}Nick’s insane. He’s gonna lose everything.]
{Maybe not…]
}I don’t want to know. I keep forgetting, the less I know, the better.]
A few moments passed.
}Alright. 2mil against Hekla. Hope y’all know what you’re doing.]

Karlson would get a message. The company’s CFO. [Bad news. Some lunatic just took out a short against us. It’s not much money, but this nut bet the farm on it, so everyone is watching.]

Nicholas put away his PaDD. “Business. Such a distraction. So? Do we have a deal?”

-Lawrence Collier, Nicholas James

Johann looked at the message then back at the table, raised a glass and inclined his head to the massive crowd gaining a generous reaction of amusement although it was clear to some that the message wasn’t for the group. He then tapped a message [Wake the CEO, CFO, and the COO. Have them do the job I gave them] He lowered the messenger then grabbed a small cylindrical object from his chest pocket =^=Trace the short transaction, find out where it came from=^= Whilst this was happening the young man on his right seemed to be panicking as he read the information coming in, he looked at the calm face of his boss and said something inaudible “Relax my boy, Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc. It’s probably just someone trying to shake down some trees see what falls out, some competitor trying to scare us out of some bidding contract or whatnot.” He explained calmly alleviating some of the worries on the young boys face “We’re celebrating your success, this is the worry of other people.”

Just moments ago the arrival of the Intelligence chief was just a curiosity, something to gossip about during breakfast. Now he wasn’t so sure. Yet he recalled the words of his Economics professor, the Latin phrase Johann had uttered to the boy ‘after, therefore because of it’. Although tonight’s events were suspect indeed he wasn’t sure if they were suspect enough. The three Hocs as it were, were the Grifter, Ferengi and Spy. Or perhaps the multitudes of Enemies he had gathered throughout his lifetime. Then, of course, most of those were either dead or worked for him. He took another sip. What an interesting night.

Johann Karlson

The short could be traced back to a small hedge fund owned by a man named Steven Goldblum. His fund, Infinity Investments, had made 7,000,000 credits out of 110,000 since it had started two years before- all based on short selling positions on large companies about to go bust. A small financial news station was now requesting a statement from the top executives and the owner of Hekla, wanting to know if Goldblum was making another blockbuster trade.

-Nicholas James, Section 31

A company Spokesman gave the news station a personal response as was commonplace for Hekla “We have weathered some of the toughest financial upheavals the Federation has seen in this century. I’m afraid that Mr. Goldblum has made an erroneous bet this time. We reported unprecedented growths last quarter due in no small part to our expansion in shipping. We now have lanes going from Earth all the way out as far as the Oed Colony. We expect to continue our growth despite the shortcomings of these bets.

In Hekla’s headquarters on the planet of New Scandinavia the Companies leadership worked tirelessly to make sure nothing would come of it. Now that someone had leaked the news they decided to counter with a leak of their own. Sending their favored unaffiliated Financial News Organization on the Planet information that they were unveiling a new Civilian Runabout inspired Shuttle, a long-awaited project in the sector, something that would surely give a boost of confidence if there was ever lacking.

In a different part of the Quadrant, a rather unremarkable man sat in front of a computer terminal and traced the origin of the Two Million Credit transfer. The Conclave Data Miner expertly sifted through the information and in doing so would trip alarm bells of anyone monitoring said data flows. It was uncertain if it was done on purpose or not.

Johann Karlson

OOC: Just to be clear, although Johann is the owner of said company all financials are handled by his board of directors and all that and they are also handled on another planet. Also to clarify he hasn’t made any connections between Nicholas and Lawrence, he only noticed that Lawrence looked fishy and noticed when Nicholas entered the room. The knowing stare was simply to say that he saw something in the criminal, nothing more. I don’t want to overreach but Johann is a very “reachy” character.
- Hjortur

OOC: I figured, but I’m RPing it as Lawrence is very jumpy and Nicholas trusts no one. It just seemed like Nicholas is an ‘eliminate the threat’ type.

IC:
The 2 million could be traced to a bank in New Scandinavia. Goldblum had ordered an employee, Jacob Summers, to wire the money immediately. Nicholas had covered his tracks well. The fact that Section 31 operated in the financial sector as well was on a need to know basis. The CIO’s only focus now was the mercenary in front of him.

-Nicholas James, Section 31

OOC: I justed wanted to be sure I was clear. - Hjortur
IC:

When the information came through the unremarkable computer expert transferred the files to his supervisor then left the small Cafe he’d been working in. His supervisor opened the public files on Jacob Summer and started compiling potential actions under the file name ‘Accidental Deaths’.

The Conclave

Nicholas’ PaDD began buzzing furiously.
}What did you do? Someone is looking into me minutes after I follow your order.]
{You’re planted in a business. These things happen.]
}Unknown User? No location? That’s just business?]
{You’re positive you’re compromised?]
}Only spies and mercs cover their tracks like this.]

Nicholas stood up. “Consider my offer. I’ll be back” He walked over to Karlson’s table. Scanning the other two people, he pulled his Starfleet ID out of his coat pocket. “Official business. Everyone but Karlson leave.” There was a detail only Karlson might notice. His rank and his clearance didn’t match up. He had top level clearance but his ID said Lieutenant Commander.

-Nicholas James, Section 31

The young man to Jam’s right shot Karlson a nervous look as he read the ID, then immediately grabbed a small PaDD shaped device from his pocket and tapped something. The Orion Woman stood up revealing that she was over a head taller than the Intelligence officer “I don’t see no colors on you fleetboy” She growled “This is a civilian establishment and we’re private Citizens, unless you pull a police badge we ain’t going nowhere” Jame’s would note that her footing change slightly as she prepared for combat. Almost the moment she did a slight motion from the seated Icelander stopped her. She looked back and relaxed at his direction

Johann was looking at the young man’s device and smiling “Relax Jaiva” It was common knowledge that the Police Commissioner spoke with a slight Scandinavian Accent but his older Brother spoke with almost no hint of accent. If anything he sounded slightly Earth, East Coast American if nothing else. “I’m perfectly fine over here, take the boy and put some shots in him then find him a playmate for the night” He gave her a wink. The woman growled in a very un-Orion way and practically dragged the young man away, shooting the intelligence officer an extremely dirty look.

When they had passed out of the VIP area Johann indicated next to him “A Seat Commander?” He asked as he poured himself another glass of Champagne, leaned back in his seat and crossed his thin legs. “I’m very curious as to what official Starfleet business I’m involved in, I don’t have any financial dealings with Starfleet in this sector” He said innocently, very convincingly innocently.

Jóhann Karlson

Nicholas sat down and stared at Johann for a moment. “Starfleet has nothing to do with it. My rank just happened to be convenient as a way to clear the area. That seemed preferable to shooting everyone.” His cold, calculating stare was unbroken. False eyes never felt the need to blink. “You and I both work for organisations that don’t officially exist. My business here didn’t relate to you until you very much became a liability. But I can’t kill you. Not here.” He pulled his PaDD out of his pocket and tapped at it for a moment. When he set it on the table, an image of Josef Karlson appeared projected above it. “Your brother. Probably the only reason you’re not in prison given how… blatantly you and your people work. I will say this once and once only. If anyone from my organisation should happen to die soon-“ He deactivated the image “appropriate measures would be taken.”

-Nicholas James, Section 31

Johann took a slow sip from his glass without breaking eye contact. His smile widened slightly “You very much misinterpreted what has been going on” He said calmly lowering his glass and pressing a single button on his watch. When he did a small invisible circle started around the pair shielding them from any potential surveillance, the drawback was that it also blocked communications to and from the same 6-meter circle. “You also overestimate your position” He grabbed the glass once more and took another sip “You made a rash decision and a foolhardy mistake trying to go after my company, you revealed truths about yourself which until then were only conjectures. You also make threats without understanding who or what you’re threatening” His tone was calm yet confident, his eyes never turned from James, rarely blinking, to a lesser man that stare would be extremely unnerving. “You’ll find nothing connecting me to anyone targeting any of your hypothetical people.” His smile widened once more “And you misunderstand my relationship with my brother, he’s not here to protect me, I’m here to protect him… and to protect others from his” He paused dramatically “Wrath” He laughed at the word, some sort of inside joke of his

He didn’t give the man a chance to respond “But since you seem to work for them who shall not be named” He chuckled again “I won’t move further. I’ve enjoyed their work in the past and most definitely worked for them although I doubt they know-how.” It was becoming clear that Jóhann was someone who enjoyed the sound of his own voice “I’ll also do you personally a favour and not inform my Brother of who you are, you definitely won’t survive that” His smile turned sardonic “Now before the veiled threats and innuendo continue can I offer you a drink?” He said gesturing at the table next to them.

Johann Karlson


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