Date: May 3025<br/>Location: Siege Perilous: Aboard the Cobblestone Road<br/>Tagging: Kurumi Tatsu Kurita<br/>Content: The Scenic Route<br/><br/>Cavanaugh keyed the general comm line open.  "If you look out  either side, we are crossing Banshee Vale.  Among other things, it features one of the largest suspension bridges ever built, spanning a distance of almost three kilometers.  The Vale is so deep that there is frequently unmelted snow in the middle of summer.  A dense fog usually fills the Vale occasionally rising up enough to reduce visibility on the bridge.  The most interesting local rumour is that Banshee Vale gets it's name from the fact that one of there earliest battles on the planet involved several assault class mechs, including one BNC-3E, better known as a Banshee.  It is noteworthy that over one hundred people have died searching the Vale and sixteen of their bodies were never recovered.  On the other hand, it might have been named for the winds that howl through it on a regular basis."<br/><br/>He turned the comm back over to the private channel he shared with Kurumi.  "Honourable or dishonourable," Cavanaugh answered.  "Make no mistake.  This is war, just a very subtle one where the first one to pull the trigger is the one who has realized he's about to lose and he needs to change the venue.  A shooting war on this planet would be short and savage and the one who starts it will most likely be facing four, not one enemy.  I'm sure alliances could be arranged but they're likely to be very costly if they are going to lead to open conflict."<br/><br/>Crossing over the Banshee Vale was creating some mild turbulence, so Cavanaugh paused to adjust the controls slightly.  "I suppose that would depend on whether you like to dance," he said, once his attention was back on his passenger.  "Hoffmann pilots a modified Blackjack that he calls the Herd Stallion.  Most people think it is because he wants to play the lady's man.  Whether that is true or not is for you to decide.  What information you use to make that decision is up to you.  You'll certainly find out faster if you dance."<br/><br/>Cavanaugh chuckled.  "The primary black market is run by civilians.  You can access it through your infantry commander or your quartermaster, although you can be fairly certain that they aren't going to admit to it up front.  You might want one of your subordinates to approach them on your behalf.  The military black market has been pretty much cornered by Marik.  We gave them a run for a while but we're a distant second.  None of the other factions have much of a stake in the game.  We stay in to keep the prices down."<br/><br/>He checked the chronometer, then looked out the window to check their location.  "We've got a few more minutes.  Interested in individual rivalries or would you prefer less specific information?"<br/><br/><br/>