Episode 127, Minor Pleb
16 Nov 2024Ryuko Ntsikana
Estrellas de la Mirage (M3Q-W9Z)
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Captain Akio sat behind Ryuko’s desk in the bridge wing office, his posture composed as he watched Ashlyn, who was seated cross-legged on the carpeted floor. Two data tablets lay before her, their screens glowing with figures and graphs. Tara lounged on the couch behind her, gazing at the large wall monitor with casual interest.
“It doesn’t make sense,” Ashlyn said, her voice tinged with frustration as she shook her head, her face scrunched in concentration.
Akio kept his expression neutral, glancing from the desk to Ashlyn. Tara leaned forward slightly, peering over Ashlyn’s shoulder.
“What doesn’t make sense?” Akio asked calmly.
Ashlyn sighed, flicking her fingers across the tablet screens and casting the data onto the wall monitor. The figures and charts expanded, taking up the entire display.
“We burned 400 tons of Tritium ore to reach the Caucuma system so Ryuko could buy a Cobra Mk III he doesn’t need. Then, he uses engineered parts scavenged from ship wreckage to retrofit it to his specs. After that, we burned another 100 tons of fuel to get to the Faceze system so he could have a discovery scanner engineered in Alioth. Then, he docks here, transitions to his Cutter, and burns more fuel to visit Wilson Terminal in LHS 6309. There, he spends thirty-four million credits to haul 728 tons of Tritium back to top off the carrier’s bunker. Finally, we burn 200 tons more fuel to head out to the Aquila Dark Region. Why?”
“Why what?” Akio asked his face a picture of practiced indifference. “Why the jumps, the resources, and the time for a ship you think he doesn’t need? Or why spend so much to refuel the carrier?”
Ashlyn shook her head, her fingers tapping briskly as she adjusted the data on the monitor.
“He already has the Cobra Mk IV,” she said, pointing at the numbers. “It hauls 88 tons compared to the Mk III’s 46. Plus, his Dolphin can haul 78 tons at a greater range than either of the Cobras.”
Akio leaned back, nodding slightly. “True, but look closer. The Mk III is significantly faster, more maneuverable, and has a smaller profile. Those qualities matter in certain situations, especially in a lifeboat or rescue vessel operating in hostile environments.”
Ashlyn stared at the screen, her brow furrowed. “The Mk IV beats it in everything except speed and range.”
“Correct,” Tara chimed in, “but you’re looking at it from a single perspective. What if the Mk IV is used to provide support from above with a rescue limpet controller, while the Mk III uses its speed to pick up survivors? Does it have the range and speed to do that effectively?”
Ashlyn studied the numbers again, her expression thoughtful. “Yes. The Mk III and Dolphin could evacuate 124 people between them, outrunning any pursuers. But still... why the time and expense for something with so little direct return?”
Akio chuckled, breaking the silence. “Because he’s thinking ahead—to the future and his reputation.”
Ashlyn narrowed her eyes, her gaze bouncing between Akio and Tara.
“It’s simple,” Tara said, ruffling Ashlyn’s hair playfully. “We never know if we’ll be here again, but we can’t say with certainty that we won’t. It’s better to leave behind goodwill and allies in a place where you and your dad can make good fares. We can trade, and the Coteries can... let’s say, apply their trade in nearby systems. Everyone benefits.”
Ashlyn shook her head, trying to straighten her ruffled hair, then turned her face up to Tara with a serious expression. “This is not what pirates do.”
Akio laughed heartily, and Tara’s smile widened as she leaned back against the couch. Akio gestured broadly to the room around them. “You’ve seen the small-time types, the ones running single ships, scrambling for scraps. Here, this—this is something far different from your past travels and those over-dramatized settler stories.”
Tara’s gaze softened as she studied Ashlyn. “Think back to when you were with your father and Ceri, running passenger missions. Did that make him wealthier? And what about his reputation? It grew, didn’t it? With that growth, their cut of the profits increased. Working alongside a pirate made your dad and Ceri wealthier, didn’t it? And no one had to attack or steal anything.”
Ashlyn glanced between Akio and Tara, her confusion plain. “Then those I saw in the past—the ones trying to interdict us or raiding the settlements we traded with—they weren’t pirates?”
Akio tilted his head, considering. “It’s possible. But I think you’re getting tangled in the murky lines between pirates, bandits, and raiders.”
Ashlyn narrowed her eyes, still looking between them, her confusion only deepening.
Tara smiled again, her voice patient. “It’s both simple and complicated, but once you know what to look for, you’ll understand the differences. Depending on who they are, that can raise another set of questions. But let’s keep it simple for now.”
She leaned forward slightly, her tone taking on a gentle rhythm as if teaching a lesson. “Most pirates wear boots that can magnetize for walking on and inside ships in zero gravity. Their clothing and gear are tailored for that environment—because that’s where most of their work is. Bandits, on the other hand, are more local. They’ll have regional accents, distinct styles, and gear suited to their specific area. Raiders are different. They’re roving bands, often hired as useful idiots by others. They’re the most brutal of the three. Their boots usually have tread for planetary surfaces, not magnetization, and they’re poorly trained, with shoddy equipment.”
Captain Akio raised a hand, leaning forward in his chair to meet Ashlyn’s eyes. “You’ve probably encountered all three—pirates, bandits, and raiders—while working with your dad. Most of what you’ve seen were likely bandits or raiders. Bandits tend to be more organized. They’ll often contract work but avoid causing unnecessary damage to their local positions. To handle the messy jobs, they subcontract raiders, who act as muscle for tasks like targeting settlements or outposts. Like pirates, bandits are profit-driven, but unlike raiders, they’re more calculating. Not all pirates or bandits are wealthy or clever enough to operate like that. The ones you’re thinking of—small-time and reckless—are the types bounty hunters like to feed on. And that’s why they don’t last long.”
Ashlyn shook her head, her confusion deepening as she tried to make sense of it all.
“But Ryuko is a pirate. So are you, Tara, and Captain Akio. Doesn’t that make us... and now me... pirates too? Ryuko said I’m part of the crew.”
Tara and Akio chuckled, sharing a glance. “Yes, for you,” Akio said, “but not for your dad. He’s a contractor, and so are the Coteries. Your dad sticks to legal missions, which benefits everyone. The Coteries, though—they’re pirates in the literal sense. They aren’t tied to any region, and they ply their trade mostly against commerce.
“As for Ceri, she was a pirate in another organization, but she’s under your dad’s authority now. Technically, she could still be classified as a pirate, but her status shifts depending on necessity. That’s an advantage for your dad—it lets him handle situations that would otherwise fall outside his boundaries.”
Ashlyn tilted her head, her brow furrowed. “What about Lianna and Jabir? They’re pirates too, right?”
“Yes and no,” Tara replied. “They’re employees, contracted to another party. Their task is to learn how to protect assets from piracy, and to do that, they first had to learn how pirates operate. That part is straightforward—learning how to think like a pirate works against the simple types we talked about earlier.
“But their training goes deeper. They’re learning how larger organizations—those in charge of or contracting with pirates—operate. They study every layer: negotiation, disruption, and dismantling. The goal is to protect their clients’ assets by understanding the systems pirates exploit.”
Ashlyn blinked rapidly, her thoughts spinning as she tried to process everything.
Tara softened, her expression gentle as she watched Ashlyn. “This isn’t anything like what you imagined, is it?”
Ashlyn shook her head, her eyes darting back and forth as she processed everything before looking back at Tara and Akio. “What happens to me then?”
Both Akio and Tara smiled. Akio leaned forward, his voice steady but warm. “This leaves you as a member of this crew. That means, as a pirate, you’ll continue with your education and be expected to contribute in your own way. You’re not old enough to be a full pleb, so your share of any take will be small—more like an allowance for good performance.
“You won’t be allowed to do anything illegal, but you’ll be expected to uphold your part of the agreement. So, I have to ask: are you ready to fulfill your role as part of this crew?”
Ashlyn glanced at Tara, then back to Akio, her nod hesitant but deliberate.
“Good,” Akio said with a nod of approval. “Your dad, this ship’s AI, the crew, and your tutor androids will all be informed of your role, status, and responsibilities. Your direct supervisor will be your dad, and he’ll have full authority over your tasks. Miss Tara here will be your second line of supervision. She’ll answer to Ryuko, and I'll answer to him. Do you understand how this works?”
Ashlyn nodded again, though uncertainty lingered in her eyes.
Tara placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, her voice soft but brimming with encouragement. “Don’t be afraid. You’ve entered a unique world—a world where you’ll learn and see things you never imagined. You have an opportunity to grow in ways most people never do.”
Tara knelt slightly to meet Ashlyn’s gaze more closely. “Now, let’s clear your mind of all these numbers and graphs. Tomorrow will be like any other day. You’ll continue your lessons with your tutor androids, but the difference is that now, the entire crew is behind you. We’ll all expect you to do your part in learning.”
Standing, Tara gently guided Ashlyn to her feet with an encouraging smile. “Come on. Let’s go introduce you to the section chiefs. The pirate Ashlyn Sawyer, reporting for duty!”
Tara’s smile broadened, her energy infectious as Ashlyn finally cracked a small smile of her own.