| From: | Robert Watkins <robert.watkins@******.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: smugglers? |
| Date: | Wed, 13 May 1998 09:27:35 +1000 |
>You know, that reminds me of something I was sorta wondering last night
>while perusing the R2 (I start a lot of my posts like this, don't I?):
>
>Has anyone ever actually had their character purchase a T-Bird? I thought
>I'd just take the engine and the chassis, without any options, and see how
>much it would cost. I think I almost lost control of my bowels when I
>realized it would be well over a million nuyen. I mean, I think I may be
>safer saving up for that beta grade VCR-3 than to get a T-Bird. I'm
>surprised there are any smugglers who use a t-bird. =T
You've just stumbled on the best kept secret in SR smuggling: either most
smugglers have stolen T-Birds, or their operation is bankrolled from
somewhere.
Personally, I have the Mafia controlling much of the smuggling in North
America, with the Yak having a large slice of the market for Seattle and Cal
Free State, the Carib League having a lot of the market in and around
Florida, and various Amerindian crime groups assisting the Mafia elsewhere.
Most smugglers are 'independent' in that the Mafia puts up the money to get
the T-Bird as a loan (with large repayments out of the profit from each
smuggling run), with a few where the Mob actually runs it.
The scene is fairly neat for the Mafia: They are usually the suppliers and
purchasers of the contraband (at least at the wholesale level), and this way
they get cheaper-than-usual transportation as well.
--
.sig deleted to conserve electrons. robert.watkins@******.com
