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Good evening, crew. I have a few announcements to make on behalf of myself and the other captains.

First. I would like to thank our Morale Officer for doing her job to the best of her ability as we have noticed a positive increase in mood through the reports sent to the ship via your MID devices. Thank you for your service.

[Better vitals and increased levels of endorphins show that the crew, as a whole, will start to feel less stressed, happier, and some will be abundantly happy.]

We would also like to thank everyone for their good service. Supplies are being gathered rather swiftly, and we should have everything we need within a few weeks. Now that we are all well on our way to having completed a successful trip, I need to ask for assistance.

Each transporter holds six passengers, and we don't require a large party, so I need five volunteers to go on a small planetary excursion with me.

Thank you again.

[ Closed To Thán's Group ]

[The five volunteers will be asked, via their MIDs, to be on the transporter on the morning of the eighth. They will be strapped in, and the events will be explained as follows by their Captain Thán. The group will be landing a few miles outside of where the Marketplace will be discovered during the first exploratory excursion. They will be taken to a no longer used mining facility, their captain stating that this planet's main resource, Exuo, is a priceless mineral found nowhere else in the universe.

It is mined by the natives and sold in varying forms, rock (natural state), powder, liquid, and its applications are endless; foods, drinks, etc. As the transporter descends slowly to their destination, Thán will tell them that they are here to find some Exuo of their own and that they will not leave until each member of the group has some to take back. He will mention, offhandedly, that Exuo is a tradeable resource that is of high value and can be kept for personal use or traded for almost anything.

As the transporter doors finally open, Thán will lead them out and into the mine, a large and rusty door opening, their only light source the devices on their wrists.]

[ OOC ]

[All members of Thán's group may comment to this log at any time. Here is a top level comment for anyone that wants to thread this excursion out with Thán. It starts on the eighth, but threading can begin whenever.]

[The sign-up list is here, just respond to the first comment if you want your character to go on this NPC guided planet excursion (then hit this post up if you are one of the group). The transporters have room for six, so the first five will be going with their captain. Direct questions here. We would like people to sign up that will relay this information on to other crew members.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Thán isn't fussed in the slightest to have the man on his lap. He isn't heavy, not that he'd mind if he were, and he's not uncomfortable with having him there. It's not something that bothers him, typically. He gives the man a soft smile, blinking slowly as he watches him straighten his uniform.]

We won't be able to mine it. We will just take what is ready.

[Whatever might be lying around. He tells everyone to exit the transporter, Miles included, and it takes several of them to push open the door to the mine. Which is unlocked.

Then he comes up next to the man who had just recently been warming his legs, and the two of them lead the group inside.]

If there is anything.

What, you mean just...with our hands?

[ it's not plaintive, just genuine befuddlement. although admittedly, thán's unshakable cool is a little...not unsettling, exactly, because miles has encountered his fair share of unreadable, totally unrufflable types, but usually he hasn't just been sitting in their laps. if anything about thán that unnerves miles, it's that smile. miles has a feeling it'll be some time before he has thán completely figured out.

miles follows him into the mine, squinting as the light gradually falls away behind them. he doesn't have trouble keeping stride with thán, being used to walking at the speed of much taller people. he glances upward at his new captain, trying to read his face, but it's even harder in the dark. ]

Uh...you aren't sure if there is any of the stuff down here? You didn't do scans?

Of course. If there is anything to take, we'll carry it or place it in our pockets.

[Though one brought a bag to carry things in, which was resourceful.]

This planet is unique, like all other planets. The mineral is present everywhere. It's all around and in and on everything. It throws off the scanners. Our ship tells us it is here, but also everywhere else.

[Thán steps over something, a noticeable change in his step, but he doesn't stop to examine what might by lying in the hallway.]

That's why we are checking for ourselves.

[ miles casts a quick backward glance at whatever thán stepped over, but it's too dark to tel. he hustles an extra step or two to keep in stride with the captain. ]

Right, so -- this exuo stuff, it's fairly important, isn't it? I mean, the applications alone. [ their food, for instance. ] If that's the case, why not a larger mining expedition? Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we...need it?

[ of this he is not entirely certain, but something about all this doesn't quite click. there's something missing, here. ]

We do not.

[He stops a moment, turning the light up so he can see Miles' face better.]

Exuo is... an additive, not a necessity. It makes the food taste better.

[Actually, the mineral causes a person to react in a more positive light, so the food doesn't taste better, you're just happier when you eat it.]

It isn't in our supplies or the food aboard the Moira. Think of it like a spice. It's good to have on hand, but you don't actually require it.

Oh. [ miles takes in this new information thoughtfully, although he senses that thán's being a little cagey with him. he expects that of their captains, though. he's felt he's been dealing in half-truths and lies of omission since they got here.

that shrewd look doesn't fade from his face as he glances around the rough walls of the abandoned mining facility. that raises its own questions, too. he's not sure how many answers thán will give up, but nothing is gained without the attempt, right? ]

So this little mining expedition of ours... It isn't exactly sanctioned by the natives, is it?

[He's purposefully not sharing everything he knows. Thán prefers to open people up page by page and get to know them, he expects that of others as well. No one should immediately know everything, it would be unseemly.]

We didn't ask.

[A short pause, directing his light back in front of him. He sees it then, a small crate which he hopes has Exuo inside.]

Is that a problem?

[ miles feels like this conversation is starting to resemble the image of two dogs slowly circling one another, sizing the other up. he's certainly trying to get the lay of thán here, anyway. he wants to know more about one of his new captains, as much as he can. so far, thán isn't like any commanding officer he's ever had. miles raises an eyebrow. ]

Not to me, it's not. I'm guessing you aren't expecting any trouble from the locals, then.

[ his gaze settles on the crate as well and he tilts his head, moving ahead of thán to get a look at it. ]

Well, I guess if they're not going to miss the stuff, we might as well take it with us. So what kind of quantities is this stuff useful in? [ he bends to inspect the crate, hoping it's full of exuo and not, say, some deadly neurotoxin. he tries to pry the crate open and realizes he doesn't have much in the way of leverage. if he only had his damn knife. ] Give me a hand?

No, we should be in and out before anyone will notice.

[He's not worried, not in the slightest.]

Oh, well that depends.

[Moving closer, he bends forward and helps Miles open the crate. There is more than enough Exuo inside that Miles can take as much as he wants and there would still be some left over.]

Any amount, actually. The mineral can be used for many things, so it is highly valuable. Even the smallest amount can be traded for something of substantial value. The return is very high for this.

[ miles peers into the crate, apparently left unclaimed by some mining expedition. he's not really sure he likes the implications of all this, but he had volunteered. connived, even. he glances back up at thán quickly. ]

So -- if it's so valuable, why let us take some for our own? Do you plan to redistribute it to the rest of the crew, or are we the only lucky few? [ he squints at thán, calculating. ] Are you trying to create a barter economy on the ship?

I plan to share what I take back with anyone that offered to help and couldn't come along.

[He's not selfish, in that regard anyways.]

There is already a barter economy. Nothing set in stone, but it is part of survival in this universe, so it should be utilized on the ship. We don't have currency, so if you want something you have to trade for it.

It's good to practice among the crew.

[ miles rubs at his chin with his elbow while he's still holding the crate open, but he dips a hand inside to retrieve some of the stuff. huh. ]

It's a little fetal yet, but yeah, I suppose there is. You don't think an uneven distribution of something so valuable is going to cause any friction among the crew, though?

I was hoping it wouldn't come to that. I asked for volunteers, and those that accepted will be rewarded.

[He glances at miles.]

I'm sharing what I take back with other members that asked to come along and couldn't.

[He was even taking back a share of it for a crew member that offered their assistance but in now way contributed.]

I've never been much of a fan of something for nothing.

And I suppose that's why we've all signed work contracts here.

[ it isn't a complaint, just a comment. frankly, miles is glad there's something to do -- he'd go stir crazy without something to keep him occupied, although he wouldn't have chosen waste disposal for himself. ]

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