NationStates Jolt Archive

The small, greasy businessman sat behind his blue plastic desk, breathing heavily as he stroked the device in front of him. Yes, the thing was beautiful, but its beauty was just one of many things that caught his interest and made his heart race. With the right care, he could get so much for it. Billions of dollars, maybe a small planet... the thought made his heart pound ever faster. Like a brick, reality hit him. He couldn't sell it to just anyone, or for anything. He was being paid to get a stargate for that damn demon... of all the foolish things he had ever done, letting Taren help him was the worst. Well, now was as good as any time. A small panel slid away from the front of the ship, revealing a small array of dishes.


To:Northrop Grumman
From: Jangle Jangle Ridge
We believe we have something you might want. We have found an artifact that you may find incredibly useful. However, before you disregard this transmission, know this. It's Indran.

Sarah Tillotson leaned back at her station while reading the Caprica City Times. She was the only person aboard the large Criun System Deep Space Communications Array (CSDSCA) which was the only one that the corporation had built so far. The job had almost no excitement, but that was the main reason she wanted it. The quietness appealed to her after spending most of her life in bustling Caprica City, but she liked to keep up-to-date on the happenings in her hometown. She was about to reach the sports section when the console in front of her started beeping madly. Apparently, there was a message coming in from somewhere on a frequency that only the corporation used. Then the computer downloaded the message onto a backup disk and displayed it on the computer screen. Hmmm… she thought. This sounds important. I’d better send it up to the chairman to see what he thinks of it. She was about to send an encoded message when she remembered that the chairman was away at a wedding and the vice chairman was at an inaugural ball. After thinking about it for a moment, she sent it out to the commander-in-chief of the entire Northrop-Grumman Air Force Space Command (NGAFSC), General William Harris.

-------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, aboard the NGSS Zereul in orbit above Earth, General William Harris had just woken up and was taking a nice warm shower to get ready for the day. While he was in there, a button on the wall started to flash.

Harris pressed it and asked, “What is it?”

The voice of his communications officer was heard. “Sir, there is a message waiting for you from the Communications Array.”

“Alright, send it through.”

The portion of the wall to the opposite of the faucet slid away and a computer screen and keyboard moved out, which was waterproof, of course. The screen lit up and displayed the message.

To: CINCNGAFSC
From: CSDSCA

Mess. received from JJR. Uses our freq. Copy of mess.
follows.

To: Northrop Grumman
From: Jangle Jangle Ridge
We believe we have something you might want. We have found an artifact
that you may find incredibly useful. However, before you disregard this
transmission, know this. It's Indran.

Harris was aggravated at the heavy use of acronyms and abbreviations that the corporation used. He felt that just spelling everything out would be much better, but he was not in the position to make such decisions. After sighing, he typed up a reply to the message and sent it out which would be relayed through the CSDSCA.

To: Jangle Jangle Ridge
From: Northrop-Grumman
We are interested in what you have and wish to
discuss a means, such as an exchange,
to acquire it.

The businessman, Sorreth, sighed to himself as he read the message and readied his response. He couldn't believe he was going through with this... certainly, he could just run away... couldn't he?

"No, asshole. Send the damn message before I plaster you across the dashboard with this powerfist."

No matter how harsh and metallic... robotic even... the voice seemed, it was distinctly female. In fact... yes... recognized that voice. God-damnit.

To: Northrop Grumman
From: Jangle Jangle Ridge

This is meant to be a straight deal. Ship co-ords are {9897x9097}. You may come with a shipped, however armed you feel you need. We know you, and you know us. We trust you to bring whatever firepower you think you will need. As to the description of the item, it seems to be some sort of complex computer... most likely a navigation device.

OOC: Just FYI, the person on the ship is just an old friend who's there to make sure the deal goes through.

General Harris had finished his shower and was getting dressed his uniform when the second message was received. He took a moment to read over it while he was putting on his tie. Well, they’re straight to the point, he thought. I’d better run this by Jack before I go through with it.

After getting dressed, he made his way out of the bathroom to his workstation he had set up on the far side of his quarters. There, he made a private call to the Chairman’s cell phone. As he listened into the receiver, it rang and rang until he heard the aggravating computerized voice speak.

“I’m sorry the cellular phone that you have dialed is not operational at this time. Please try again later. Thank you.”

“Damnit!” he yelled as he slammed the receiver down. “Why does he turn it off when he’s out of the country?! Why?!”

Harris leaned back in his chair for a little to figure out what to do now. After a couple of minutes, he finally decided to make a call to Vice Chairman Shiran Naelthasser. He picked up the receiver once again and dialed the Vice Chairman’s cell phone. After a few seconds of ringing, it was answered with an unfamiliar “Hello.”

“Mr. Vice Chairman?” Unlike the Chairman, whom Harris had known for almost thirty years, he did not know the Vice Chairman all that well so he did not feel it was appropriate to call him by his first name.

“Yes? To whom am I speaking?”

“General William Harris, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force Space Command.”

“Yes, I know who you are. Now, why have you called?”

“Several minutes ago, we received a message from Jangle Jangle Ridge saying that they had an Indran piece of technology, most likely a navigation device of some sorts. They would like to make a trade. They also gave us a set of coordinates to meet them.”

“I see.”

“Now, I’d just like to have your approval to go ahead with this.”

“You have it.” The Vice Chairman thought for a moment. “Reply to their message and tell them that we agree to rendezvous with them at those coordinates. Also, General, you are most likely wondering what you should trade for the device. To this, I am telling you to use your best judgment.”

“Yes, sir and thank you,” Harris replied just before the call was disconnected. He’s a chatty fellow, isn’t he? he thought to himself as he sent out the next message.


To: Jangle Jangle Ridge
From: Northrop-Grumman

We agree to the coordinates specified and
will be sending out a ship ASAP.