Special Pickup - Chapter 1: Reestablishment
31 May 2016LordPsymon
Special Pickup - Chapter 1: Reestablishment 
---Cubeo - Chelomey Orbital - 3 years after the escape---
It had been three years since my escape from the slave camp back in Eravate. My ship, Rattlesnake had since become my home away from home, taking me around many locations around the human Bubble, doing jobs for money, some legal, some not so legal. It didn’t matter to me, as long as I was getting paid. I had my limits though. I refused, flat out, to deal in slaves, Imperial or otherwise.
I was sitting back in a bar on Chelomey Orbital, watching people go about their business. The place had become a favourite spot of mine while in Cubeo, with its mild, cyan hues and dim lighting creating a relaxing environment to grab a drink. The bar was busy, with pilots from all over mingling and discussing their adventures, some true, some fabricated. A man, still in his pilot’s suit was loudly bragging about how many credits a day he supposedly makes on his trade routes. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at him and focus back on my datapad, checking the local bulletins for work. One advert in particular stood out to me.
***Freelancer wanted to investigate missing vessel***
Subtlety required
Substantial reward for obtaining information on the whereabouts of missing vessel and retrieval of a special cargo if necessary.
For further details, respond to this message and we’ll arrange to meet in person
- Caius Bisley
The posting was vague, but the request for subtlety piqued my curiosity. I signalled a waitress for another drink, to which she swiftly returned with a bottle of Barron’s Head beer. I thanked her and handed her a generous tip, and she smiled and returned to the bar. I took a swig of the beer, eyes focused on my datapad. I decided to meet the man, Caius and find out what this is all about. I sent him a message enquiring about a time and a place and within ten minutes I received a reply.
<Incoming message - Caius Bisley>
Greetings pilot,
I am pleased to see that you are enthused by my request. It is my guarantee that you will be satisfied with the reward, however the job does not come without its risks.
Meet me at The Mayfair on Chelomey Orbital in one hour.
Come alone.
<End message>
---The Mayfair - Chelomey Orbital---
The Mayfair was a contrast to the bar I was previously relaxing at. It was much more up-market, with patrons dressed in very expensive looking robes or dresses, while a down-tempo electronic tune droned on in the background, creating a pleasant ambience mixed with the murmurs of conversations. Dim red neon lights lined the white walls all around the bar. I looked around, feeling very underdressed in such an environment. Several patrons glared in my direction as I entered, clearly judging me in my current attire of black cargo pants a shirt and my vest. I felt a hand land on my shoulder which startled me, I turned around to be greeted by a man with a comb-over and wearing the uniform of a high-ranking naval officer.
“You must be Mr. Datura,” he spoke in a posh accent. “I perhaps should have advised you to dress in something more formal.”
“I take it you are Caius? If I had known that The Mayfair was so fancy I’d have gone shopping before coming here.”
Caius smiled, “no matter, ‘tis not important. What’s important right now is the task I am about to present you. Come, let us sit and get comfortable.”
Caius lead me to a table in the corner and called for a waiter. A young man in a white shirt and waistcoat approached our table and presented us with drinks menus.
“What will you be having, Mr. Datura? You look like you could use something strong.”
“I’ll take whatever you’re having. Surprise me.”
Caius turned to the waiter. “Two of the Cubeo Gold on the rocks.” He turned back to me as the waiter bowed and returned to the bar, “One of the finest whiskies in this area.”
“I appreciate it, Mr. Bisley.”
“Please, just Caius will do. Now let us discuss business.”
I nodded, “well, that’s why I am here.”
“Excellent. I called you here because I have an important matter that needs attention. You see, there was a ship heading over here with an important friend of mine on board, as well as a special cargo.”
The waiter returned, served our drinks onto the table in front of us then bowed again as he returned to the bar.
I raised an eyebrow. “What kind of cargo are we talking?”
“That, my friend, is my business. Your business, however, is to find out where that ship has gone. You see, it is three days late now and I have heard nothing. Normally I would shrug off lateness like this, but it is unlike my friend to not be prompt.”
“I see, do you have any leads as to where the ship may have disappeared?” I asked as I took a sip of whisky. I looked into the glass and my eyes widened.
Well damn, he wasn’t wrong about this whisky being great.
I looked back at Caius. “Space is a very big place and I’m not exactly keen to search the entire bubble for one tiny little ship.”
“As a matter of fact, Datura, I do. Sources tell me they last saw the ship jumping into the Arungu system.”
“Why don’t your sources search the place?”
Caius grunted while taking a sip of his drink. “Because, like the job description said, subtlety is required. A group of imperial navy ships jumping into a barely inhabited system like that and searching the area is likely to turn some heads. I want to draw as little attention to this as possible. That is why I’m proposing hiring you to do the job instead.”
“Fair enough,” I finished off my glass, “what will you have me do if I find it?”
Caius signalled the waiter for a refill for our drinks. I gladly accepted. This whisky was good.
“If the occupants are still alive, I’d like you to assist them in bringing the ship back online and providing escort back to safety. However if not, search the ship for my cargo. The container is marked so you should have no trouble finding it. I would also like you to retrieve the ship’s black box so I can find out what exactly happened. You will be well rewarded, of course, but I would make sure your ship is armed.”
I was feeling quite buzzed from the whisky. I leaned forward a bit, "And how about a ship name?"
"Ah, of course, Datura. My friend travels around in his ship, the Tiberius, an Imperial Cutter. A fine example of Gutamaya engineering if I do say so myself."
I leaned back again, taking the last swig of my whisky. “So, find the ship, search for survivors, get the cargo, take the black box, come back here, receive payment. I think I can make a deal here.”
“Excellent. I’ll give you 10% now as a gesture of goodwill. If you fail, I will expect it back, plus extra. I trust you won’t let me down?”
I stood up from my chair and shook Caius’ hand.
“I’ll get it done. I shall go grab a short session of shut-eye before I leave.”
Caius bowed. “Of course. I wouldn’t advise flying after whisky such as this. Pleasure doing business Mr. Datura.”
Well, he seemed like a pleasant fellow, even with his pretentious accent.
I stumbled down and took a shuttle back to my hangar, then climbed aboard Rattlesnake and fell asleep as soon as my head hit my bunk.