Sneak Peeks
05 Apr 2024Ryuko Ntsikana
Sneak Peeks
Colonia Region
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We jumped back to the system where the planetary starport was located, the base from which I operated. I maintained a hidden position in normal space, accelerating to luminal speeds for brief moments to 'sneak a peek' at the traffic near the navigational beacon orbiting the system's main star. Any ship entering the system would transit through that specific area, a necessary requirement for the frameshift hyperspace engine to tether itself to the primary stellar mass.
The system's navigation beacon was automatically updated with each change in system status, providing ship IDs and movements. Aby, as efficient as ever, downloaded this data each time we went luminal, momentarily visible to everyone during each brief peek.
“I thought you would find amusement in this,” Aby stated, transferring the information from one of his displays to both Tara and me. “Not that there is any surprise with the latest results. Kagehiro and Sakura must be toasting one another over their easy victory and their recent acquisition. A large metallurgical extraction facility is of significant value, and you know that greed, once tasted, can never be satiated.”
“There is information on the system we were last operating in,” Tara stated, tapping her display. “As you predicted, they are now in their fourth back-to-back war.”
Aby turned his head, looking at her with that same, yet unique, creepy look. “It is my observation that greed and stupidity often go hand in hand.”
Ryuko could not contain his laughter at such a statement of the obvious. “Now you know why the amount of stellar dust is balanced, in equal measure, with the remnants of those who were once human.”
“Ouch,” Tara said with a giggle.
Aby tapped a few more times on his display screen, expanding the view to include the systems surrounding us. “As you are aware, with the current updated system information, it would not be prudent, at this time, to entertain yourself by messing with Kagehiro and Sakura.”
Ryuko turned around in the pilot chair, looking between both Aby and Tara. “That leaves our options with going back to the war zone and profiting from the usual idiots, but this time, with a twist.”
“Oh,” Tara said with a perky tone, “in what way?”
“The fine art of scavenging and rescuing those poor unfortunates caught in the middle of this morass. Every so often, you get one that likes to pay well for the service, while others can be sold for more to a willing rival. Either way, it gives us a chance to tune our lasers, and in between, we can even heist a few things for the profitable sport of it.”
Aby tilted his head in his usual inquisitive manner as Ryuko nodded at him. “Don't worry, it will be an educational adventure for you, and it should amuse my benefactor.”
“I'm liking this more and more,” Tara said. “When do we start?”