Apr 4, 2021
Vignette #2 — Benefits and Bartering
Coronado had set out on his own after the Arrival in hopes of discovering riches within the outer belt. However, after some years of trying to strike it rich, he had found that he was more successful at the facilitation of trade. He now concentrated his business near the inner circle where most commerce happened and had set up a small shop of rare antiquities on DL-19320.
Coronado’s family had been part of the crew on the ship that brought all of the original pioneers to Adalia in the hope of a better future. Although he was the last living member of his family, the benefits of some of the old relationships from the Arvad crew still had their perks. Over the years, many of the Arvad had been dismantled and its parts scattered as the pioneers had expanded their reach throughout the belt. Coronado had his connections and was able to get his hands on some of the fuel reactor materials and communications components. This was not strictly legal, but with influential friends in high places and some bribes here and there, he operated without much issue. However, on trade expeditions, it was not uncommon to be boarded by some of the unsavory pirates that make their living preying on ships moving in some of the less protected parts of the belt.
It was better to strike a deal with them and pay them off than it was to die, so he paid his “taxes” and was typically left unscathed.
