Episode 46 - Sand In The Wrong Places

Episode Description
The Crew meet go to pick up olive boi but things aren't as easy as they seem...

Summary
Martle hangs up on Eric and tells him no phone calls, so he texts her his coordinates. He's on Sonka in the Reegor system, a penal colony controlled by the Coalition of Planets of Humanity.

They head to the ship, which has been refueled, and go to Eric's coordinates. Rell knows not only is there no policing on the colony, but it's extremely hot, with a daytime temperature ranging from 105-555 F. The planet has four continents, so Eric tells Martle he's on Kuvah, in the Oasis tavern in the Sun village. Rell manages to find the one spot where there are no harbor fees. Despite the name, the Sun village is very large, closer to a city. Some of the buildings appear to be made of converted ships. It's primarily populated by humans, but there are various other races here and there.

They make their way to the tavern, and Zarial attempts to manipulate some people into a fight with each other by pickpocketing them. He's immediately caught by a man wearing an exoskeleton helmet, service weapons, and desert armor. The man asks who his captain is, and Zarial points to Z at the bar. Martle recognizes the man as Eric, though he doesn't see her. He asks Zarial where Martle is, and she texts him that she doesn't like being stood up. Zarial grabs his ass as he turns, but Eric blows him off.

Eric reveals his face, wearing an expression of furious resolve. He seems torn between anger with Martle and wanting the job. Martle tells him her sister is alive, and that she wants him to help her take down the Inquisition. Z comes over and annoys them. Martle tells her to go away, but Z is immediately replaced by Zarial, so she hauls Eric out of the bar, telling Theran and Rell to babysit. Eric has apparently been working as a constable here since losing his job as captain. He's still angry with Martle, but she's not in his jurisdiction anymore, and he doesn't like what the Inquisition does. He agrees to help, but in return wants her help with a job on this planet: a man who owns half the village has kidnapped the tavern owner's daughter, so he needs some outside help. They agree to meet tonight, when everyone is trying to stay warm - it gets very cold at night.

Martle takes a moment, then returns to the tavern, where Theran had been talking to the tavern owner, Edmund, another heretic elf. They talk about family and Theran's village, Thalbel. He mentions his daughter just as Martle reenters. Martle tells him of their job, and he tells them more about his daughter, Ardrial. She's 77, gorgeous, with four piercings on her forehead. The dwarf who kidnapped her, Iverson, wanted to buy her. Edmund kicked him out at the suggestion, and later she was kidnapped.

Z and Zarial plot how to split up Martle and Eric, Z wanting him dead so she can get with Martle, Zarial wanting Eric.

They go over the plan to rescue Ardrial. The gate is made of a mithril-tungsten alloy, and there are ~15 guards in teams of two, on a recurring patrol every 15 minutes. Ardrial is in the center of the compound, in the "harem" room. Iverson might also have drones from Abaddon systems.

Martle assigns everyone jobs: Theran unlocks the door, "new boy" takes care of drones with Rell as backup, and everyone else sticks with Theran. Theran asks about another entrance, and Eric says there probably is one, but the blueprints aren't reliable, making going over a wall probably the best option.

New Information

 * Martle and Theran are from Thalbel.
 * Sonka is a jump away from Parliament.
 * Edmund used to be a merchant specializing in wine, and Thalbel made the best.

Memorable Quotes
Jason: You're gonna go pickpocket someone terribly, dressed in a uniform that no one wants to see you in. Mitch: That's cool, yes I'm doin' it.

Martle: I have seen hell, and it destroyed me, so it can't again.

Rebecca: Crimes! Ben: But, legal crime. Rebecca: Crime!

Trivia

 * Mitch's original plan was for Zarial to go after Theran, but he's latched onto Eric now.
 * This is the first episode featuring Edmund, and the first episode mentioning Ardrial and Iverson.