[Private Encrypted Video: Calling Captains] Wednesday, Week 22

[pepperspray]

[This time, Pepper's backdrop is an unassuming shelf in the stores, full of a mixture of hand tools and some outdoor-weight canvas in bolts. Although she's ditched her business gear in favour of local and weather-appropriate clothing, there's still something neat and sleek and coordinated about her choice in sweaters and slacks. Professional dies hard, apparently. She fiddles with something off screen and starts her call.]

Captain Silene? My apologies for the delay in getting back to you, but I've got some good news on the plague front, if you're still interested.

Comments

[outer_npcs]

[The backdrop on Silene's communicator is again her cabin. There are more maps now, though the shot's angled wrong to get a good look at any of them.]

Is that so? It does seem to be running its course, though I don't think most would call that good.

[pepperspray]

More like grimly inevitable.

[Pepper's agreement is a wry, wry thing, although she does peer briefly at the background maps before giving up on reading them.]

But -- and I've got some encryption on this feed so I can speak a little more freely -- my news is that we have both a working antiviral for the second stage and a working vaccine that's effective for both phases ready and in small scale production and distribution.

[outer_npcs]

Useful, that. I do hope the little information I was able to give you proved some help.

[pepperspray]

It gave our researchers a place to start, although it turned out that it was an earlier piece of information from you that allowed them the breakthrough. Either way, it works out to offering you my sincere thanks... and I was wondering if you knew of any larger manufacturing or distribution centres.

We can make enough for the Old City's needs, but I'd rather see this treatment spread to other affected areas.

[outer_npcs]

[Silene is silent for a moment, eyes narrowed in thought.]

Do you know the specifics of the sort of facility needed?

[There's a cagy cast to her expression that goes beyond merely a businesswoman protecting her sources.]

[pepperspray]

[Now that's interesting. Much more interesting than those unreadable maps. Pepper's own expression shows sharp attention beneath her polished mien.]

Current production capacity is in the low hundreds of doses, so improving on that would obviously be critical. Some sort of ability to assemble or replicate biochemical structures, I'd imagine either via a bioreactor or some sort of cultured cell lines, or the materials needed to start them. The specific technical details would have to come from one of the researchers -- my experience from back home is from making sure that biomedical R&D has the supplies and equipment they need, not using it myself.

[outer_npcs]

I may [and the stress on 'may' can't be missed] be able to help with this. How do your people feel about travel by sea?

[pepperspray]

I'm not actually sure how many of them have even sat in a boat, for all that some of them are used to travelling in star ships.

][Pepper's admission comes paired with a bit of wry humour and a twist of her lips.]

That said, some are more adaptable and resourceful than others. What sort of round trip timeframe should I be keeping in mind while looking for recruits? And in addition to biomedical science, are any particular skillsets valuable?

[outer_npcs]

Six weeks, minimum. [Again, the stressed word is impossible to miss.] It's a poor time of year for travelling.

If they're not familiar with sailing, they'll need to be able to take direction well. And anyone you send will need to be willing to work hard - they'll be expected to pull their own weight. Skill at arms would be useful.

[She pauses briefly, glancing back over her shoulder.]

It will help if they're accustomed to small spaces.

[pepperspray]

I'll see who I can send your way. If one of the researchers wants to go, I can't vouch for how physically useful they'd be, but I can certainly understand why they'd want to. I'll try and use the others' skills to pad them out appropriately.

[Pepper has her from-home smartphone out at this, and is likely already going over lists of names.]

Obviously I'd make a terrible recruit for the actual trip, but I can probably go as far as the port with them, if there's anything sensitive enough to discuss in person.

[outer_npcs]

I'll never turn down a chance to keep company with you. And I'd imagine you'd like to come finalize the arrangements for the transport of your goods, wouldn't you?

[There's no overt double meaning visible beneath Silene's teasing smile. That doesn't mean it isn't there.]

We should be making port in two weeks. The illness has resulted in some - delays.

[pepperspray]

[It's neither the time or place to really laugh at that statement, covert double meanings or no, but Pepper does part with an amused huff for it before organization intrudes again and her expression shades grave.]

Call me when you're docked, then, and my condolences on any losses. We've gotten our hands on some, ah, more efficient ground transportation so we can probably be there within the day if it's early enough.

[outer_npcs]

Oh, my people are fine. We simply had to find more creative ways to resupply than usual in order to remain that way - the epidemic hit a number of ports.

I'll be in touch.