The Botched Deal

 Alex Shapiro moved through the crowd of drinkers towards a table set before a semi-circle of plush red velvet seating. In the centre of a group of scantily clad girls sat Gerin Akron- one of Matrix City’s more  dubious characters. He operated just on the grey line between lawful and down right criminal. He looked up as Shapiro approached and a sneering grin broke over his face. He shooed the girls away, pressing credits into their hands, ignoring their false protestations.

‘You got the message I see? I have a little task for you- it shouldn’t be beyond your meagre talents’.

Shapiro bit back his response. How he would have liked to wipe the sneer from the face of the man, but he needed credits and this pond-life had plenty of them. A task of his would more than likely involve a shoot out but he had the resources to cope- up to a point. A gang of goons was one thing, but nobody wanted to see a squad of heavily armed police roll up in their armoured paddy wagon. He listened as Akron outlined what he required. When he had finished his explanation he pushed a sealed metal case into Shapiro’s hand.

‘Just a simple exchange - you know better than to ask what’s in it’. Shapiro gave the case a quick glance. It felt strangely heavy in his hand considering it’s size, but had no real desire to know its contents.

‘Bring back what you are given in return- here’s half your credits now, half when you bring back the merchandise’.

Akron turned away and beckoned to the girls who had been waiting to return. 

Shapiro had been dismissed.

Matrix City is a vast walled metropolis set in something of a ruined wasteland. It is by no means the only city of such size and diversity, but forms the basis for this narrative blog. Around the city are small towns and villages inhabited by those not fortunate enough to be able to afford to live in the urban sprawl, but as there are entry gates to the city, controlled by the authorities, many ‘outsiders’ enter to attempt to make a living. By rights they should leave the city by nightfall but many take the risk to stay within the walls to sample a small part of city night life. Of course, they also have to escape the gamut of perils that the other citizens suffer- crime is rife, both petty and serious- and it is a brave individual who does not carry some sort of weapon, even just a blade. Life is cheap here, few are worthy of trust, but a person can make a living and move to the safer, wealthier areas of the city. All aspire, but few succeed.

I envisage this narrative blog to be a record of Stargrave tabletop sci fi games, AARs of such and painting and modelling posts. If I can weave a story out of the engagements, adding pictures of the action, so much the better.