Staring up the mountain
07 Apr 2022Iron Snail
After much toiling, mining, and grinding, I'm ready. And not a moment too soon. My bank balance is safely in the green again, and I'm ready to strike out into the void, but alas I don't yet know where. The galaxy is so vast and the options seem to overwhelm me. And looking at the incredible costs for keeping the Fishburn's Ferry running, most of them would require more credits than I can fathom.
I was stopped at the Terminus system to add more necessary modules to the Carrier, when I stopped at the local station's bar for a drink, to forget my racing thoughts and future anxieties. The bartender was friendly, and I soon found myself venting my current circumstances to them. Apparently louder than I realised...
"Oh, ye wish for adventure to ye matey?" an intoxicated man slurred from the other end of the bar.
"I know many an adventure, but they be for only the strong o' heart!" he continued, until the bartender interjected.
"Pay cap'n here no mind, Jack, he's a scallywag, a pirate, and worst of all he's a fool." explained the bartender, until a hurled bottle of Silver Sea rum skimmed past his head.
"Shut ye trap! *hic*!" slurred Captain. "I may not be a man o' the Empire, the Federation, and your fancy-pants powers, but there's one thing I know well and that thing be credits! I know a place that can get ye rich, get ye adventurin', and even get ye drunk!"
The man seemed hardly the type an imperial citizen would usually associate with, but something about his stare had me think that he had sailed these stars for long enough to know a thing or two.
"Rackham's Peak, matey! The peak's the best view o' the whole seven starry seas! She's highest star o'er the galactic plane! Once er'y month, they be paying top price for *hic* grog! Not the likes o' this tho. They got fancy taste like that blue haired harlot in line for ye throne! I know I *hic* may be un orthodox in me methods, but I know me credits matey!"
I had vaguely heard of Rackham's peak before, but I had never heard of these public holidays before. I checked my datatab, and the pirate knew his stuff! Once per month they'll pay an 11,000% markup minimum for Wine, and similar markups for other alcoholic goods. Looking at the way up there, there's a lot of exploration opportunities en-route too!
"If I were to do such a trip and invite you as a crewman," I began, "What would you be asking for in return?"
"Why, a fair share of the profits of course!" the Captain exclaimed excitedly "Oh, and maybe a free sample o' the...merchandise. Occasionally."
I sighed, but got off my stool and shook his hand.
"They call me Cap'n Rumbarrels Matey"
"Pleasure. Jack Fishburn."
We walked off toward the station elevator, his metal pegleg click clacking on the station floor.
