Smoke and Mirrors
10 Mar 2024Ryuko Ntsikana
Smoke and Mirrors
Colonia Region
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With everything delivered to the new facility, I paid the customary fee then re-boarded my Python and began to take on additional business charters. Aby attempted to process everything that I was doing, as it was out of character for the historical drivel he had filled his gel memory storage full of. The only part that made any sense to him, and was confusing for me, was a status report request from the agents of my benefactor.
They appeared to understand my recent purchases and actions and did not request Aby to elaborate, which was the confusing part for me. It seemed like they knew what I would do and how I would do it.
My thoughts drifted back to the history lesson Aby had given me. The benefactor’s experience during that time would have given him an understanding of how certain groups worked. It made sense that he would have briefed his agents before their arrival out here. I also remembered how Aby alluded to there being others in this sector. I had to expect that they had made their own reports and that both my benefactor and his agents could know more about what was taking place out here than I did, which was not a comforting thought.
***
I returned, with a few million extra in my account, landing in the rented hangar near my newest ship. Exiting my Python, I made my way over to the Vulture, with Aby in tow. The settlement’s maintenance androids had stacked the emptied cargo containers neatly against the wall. They did a good job on the ice-white paint scheme as well, giving it a dull appearance that captured more than reflecting the bay's lighting. I looked at Aby, who was taking in the scene, calculating whatever it was he had found interesting.
“Don’t overthink it. It is a simple Vulture. Pure brute force compressed into a small bulky frame. This one has been provided engineered parts to excel in the role it was designed by its manufacturer to perform.”
“I calculate it to be an expression of intent.”
I smiled as I entered the ship. “That’s the idea,” I replied while walking the short distance to the cockpit, thinking that intent extended to the benefactor’s agents and managing their perceptions.
The engines sprang to life as the flight management computer went through its cycle of checking each of the ship’s systems. Aby strapped into the observation seat above and to my left. While the Vulture had two seats, the second was not designed to be a true co-pilot seat but one for an observer, or a high-value passenger that required the protection this class ship could give them.
“I’m curious as to the paint scheme you have chosen for this ship,” Aby asked as he linked himself to the ship’s computer as a monitor to learn.
“Are you disappointed that pirates don’t choose blackened hulls with a proper skull and crossbones?”
“Records contain hundreds of thousands of instances where pirate ships did sport a distinctive skull or pattern similar to on their hulls.”
I didn’t know if I should be concerned with Aby blowing a circuit If my paint scheme was enough to throw Aby into the deep end.
***
I watched a third cargo ship disgorge its contents, as it floated mercilessly away into space. Its thrusters and shielding were destroyed by the burst laser, which acted as a scalpel against targeted ship modules. Aby had been silent all this time, taking in the data from the ship through his physical connection to it. It was when I changed course towards a distant industrial site on a vacant moon that he voiced his confusion.
“You disabled all of those cargo ships, destroying their cargo hatches so they would dump their contents without having any means to capture it, and you let them tumble away without claiming their bounties. Now you are traveling to an industrial facility run by the same faction. I do not understand what it is you are trying to accomplish.”
Of course, he wouldn’t understand. Downloaded information was never a substitute for the real thing.
“This is what is called a calculated attention-getter. You may notice that there are not a wealth of systems such as this in this region so I have to be careful in how I farm them if I want to make this a hunting ground.”
“Define this strategy.”
My lip curled slightly at the corner of my mouth as I saw the distant moon appear.
“If I do actions which harm their standing that would place them in a position of losing local support. I need a way of getting their undivided attention without doing anything that I cannot replace.”
I saw the reflection of Aby’s head tilted on the cockpit window.
“But you said that you would not be aligning with anyone.”
“I’m not, this is a simple exercise in securing a lucrative hunting preserve and nothing more.”
“Couldn’t you do this in a different system? There is a wealth of mineral-rich rings where pirates frequent.”
“Yes, and they have bounties. My benefactor does not want someone who can act foolish and get themselves wanted. He is testing to see if I can be a smart earner for his organization.”
Aby thought about that for a moment. “I think you misunderstand his intent.”
I turned my head in his direction.
“The organization he represents does not engage in or hire pirates for their skills in piracy but for their knowledge to use to protect his interest.”
A smile appeared on my face as I listened to Aby. My benefactor was himself an agent for something more than himself. I knew of his type. Hiring those with needful skills who were in a position where saying no meant something far worse. The clan I once ran with engaged in a fair amount of blackmail ourselves. It was lucrative when applied correctly.
“Then he will be interested in whatever I find down at this facility. Whatever it is they are manufacturing, and whatever they have squirreled away in their lockers, will give us a wealth of information that can prove useful.”
Aby leaned back in his chair as the moon came into full view I adjusted the Vulture’s course to enter into orbit on the opposite side of the planet. I planned on making my approach low and fast, breaking at the last second to touch down and take whatever security they had by surprise.