Session 09

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Missing Person: The New Texas Job (2024-09-20)

Setting & Atmosphere

• The trio — Mia, Det, and Siz —continues their discussion with Den and Charles after completing their last job.
• Charles presents them with a new opportunity—a missing person case—but the group is cautious about taking another job without full disclosure.
• The conversation grows more intense as questions arise about the potential risks.

Main Events

The Missing Person: Magrete Steel

• Charles presents a data pad with images of Magrete Steel, a woman with long black hair seen in various settings, including:

 - A ranch-style porch.
 - A bar, laughing with coworkers.

• Siz immediately demands more details, pointing out that Charles failed to answer key questions about:

 - Where she went missing from.
 - What kind of trouble she might be in.

• Mia pushes for clarity on the nature of the job, ensuring they won’t be expected to kidnap Magrete.
• Det emphasizes the need for information about potential enemies, wanting to know who might have a reason to make her disappear.

Charles' Response & Trust Issues

• Charles clarifies:

 - Magrete is genuinely missing, not someone to be taken by force.
 - She is supposedly a witness to a robbery gone wrong, but further details are pending.
 - He doubts she is involved with criminals, but cannot be 100% certain.
 - The people he works for are highly invested in her retrieval.

• Siz remains skeptical, pointing out their shaky trust in Charles due to the deception in their last job.
• Charles acknowledges their doubts but maintains that he is being truthful this time.

The Reveal: New Texas

• Charles finally reveals where Magrete went missing:

 - New Texas, a dry, rugged frontier state on the same planet known for its ranching communities and mining operations.
 - She lived in a small farming and ranching town, two hours outside the local district capital.
 - The local police have been ineffective in their search for her, raising suspicions.

• Reactions:

 - Siz jokes about trying authentic New Texas chili.
 - Mia recalls flying navigation training runs over the region and notes that it looked dry but manageable.
 - Det mentions she had seen mining contract offers from the area but never pursued them.

Logistics & Payment

• Charles provides a map of the region and explains:

 - Travel will be by train, taking close to a full day.
 - He will cover all expenses, including food, lodging, and transport.
 - Cash is provided upfront instead of wired transfers, as Charles has no reliable contacts in New Texas.

• Siz insists on reviewing any information Charles has on Magrete, ensuring they won’t be going in blind.
• Mia asks if there are any known enemies who might want her gone.
• Charles confirms that the worst-case scenario is that someone is trying to eliminate a witness.

Preparations & Departure Plans

• The group agrees to take the job, with a few conditions:

 - They will review Magrete’s file on the way.
 - They will stay discrete, given the possibility of corrupt local law enforcement.
 - Camping is off the table—hotels only.
 - Charles warns them not to eat the mushrooms in New Texas.

• Siz privately offers to bio-print Mia a customized hat with horn-holes, ensuring a proper fit.
• Mia checks for local stores selling heat-resistant gear, preparing for the dry climate.
• Det shares concerns about local law enforcement and recalls how corporate enforcers back home were often corrupt and abusive.
• The group decides to meet at the train station for the next available departure.

Current Status & Unresolved Questions

• Why is Magrete’s disappearance so important to Charles’ employers?
• Who else might be looking for her, and why?
• Why has local law enforcement failed to find her?
• Could Magrete be in hiding rather than missing?
• What exactly happened in the "robbery gone wrong"?
• Will the trip to New Texas be as simple as Charles claims?