Parcopresis

After eventually finding the Veteran's Rest bar down near the polluted riverside, the travellers eventually found Colonel Thane Eriksson and introduced themselves to the Iron Tide. The Colonel made it clear that he needed to find out about how the Waterfront Syndicate were managing to carry out their smuggling operation up to the highport before gunning them down, and to this end he asked them to spy on Ozegin, the leader of the Waterfront who seemed to have made a habit of visiting the Lucky Star casino and it was likely not to gamble. He showed them all a photo as intel.

Tex and Halfnir outfitted themselves in the finer clothes of Tareneii before heading in, followed by Zhil and Ernie, but Kaelan was unlucky enough to have his cyberarms rumbled by one of the guard's metal detector wands. Once inside, the group familiarised themselves with the games available, Jubargi and Golback. Although Ozegin was not in attendance, a wealthy aslan called Waokh and his paramour were, throwing down Cr1,000 a hand at Golback. Zhil took some creds and joined the highstakes table and got to know the aslan, discovering that he was the son of Yaorairla, the city's Matriarch and although lady luck wasn't present at the table, all left on friendly terms.

Ozegin eventually arrived and began gambling at a table, chatting to the other gamblers. Tex joined the table and made small talk, but was interupted by a note passed to Ozegin by Zhil, which seemed to arouse his suspicions. Zhil then bribed a waiter to add a laxative to Ozegin's drink and when he excused himself to the toilet, Zhil was waiting, stunner in hand. Under the stall, Zhil grabbed the smuggler and interrogated him about his operation and discovered that it was a simple matter of bribing the starport staff. Zhil arranged to meet Ozegin the next day at nearby alleyway then, with some mess from the toilet, Zhil left the casino. It wasn't long before Ozegin left too.

The next day, Halfnir contacted Inador, his veteran friend, to watch the alleyway, but all seemed quiet. Tex decided to follow a member of the local militia who went to where a group of them were waiting outside a factory and before long, the aslan Captain Hiiraol Eakhau came from the factory counting a number of creds.

Zhil then went to visit Kaffe Poldaro, his contact from the previous day about meeting with the Waterfront, and she took Tex, Halfnir and Ernie down to the riverside where a number of locals were trading small items on blankets and introduced them to one of them. Tex then outlined how he was having trouble with a shipment, and the contact asked him to come aboard a nearby barge alone, but Tex declined. Zhil then came forward and accepted the offer, but as soon as the barge was out on the river, Ozegin emerged from belowdecks and vengefully pushed Zhil into the polluted river.

With much to mull over, the group went for showers at the hotel and found the Colonel awaiting them to discuss next steps. It seemed he knew of a trade that the Waterfront would be making the next morning at Underbridge market...