Data? What Data? Part 1.
15 Jan 2019Garesu
Chapter 1: Returning Home.The Orca glided gently into the Coriolis station of Ellis gateway with its passengers happy despite the relentless self-promotion by pilots and hosts alike.
The teenage commander took his hand comm out from a carry bag and looked over the message once more. He had been ‘requested’ by a Progenitor Gamble to return to Starstone space, he knew it was from his father and had come with the tickets for the Orca. The rest of the message seemed to be something meant for other commanders since he had no contractual ties to the company outside the family.
With a gentle thunk, the ship settled into the docking pad and grasps latched onto its landing gears. “Thank god that’s over.” a hostess smiled at him as she gave him his overhead luggage. Slinging the simple military bag over his shoulder he bustled passed the imperial snobs he had shared a cabin with for three long days and stepped down the walkway onto the spinning space station.
“Welcome to Starstone Enterprises, how can I help you today?” The receptionist was a high-quality Achilles robot its voice was a good imperial recording. As he expected of his father no expenses spared for the white tower.
“I have been requested by Progenitor Gamble but I imagine any of the Kolax family are expecting me.” Handing over the summons the robots articulate fingers gently took it and copied information into its main terminal.
“Please make your way to conference room 5C. Do you require assistance navigating to your designated room?” The Commander shook his head and turned towards the nearest gravity lift.
Stepping in the glass tube a clear platform began to elevate him up the tower. Its central position and complete transparency designed to allow the traveller the opportunity to take see the imperial splendour of his fathers Ivory tower.
For him, however, it seemed rather old. He had grown up with it after all. As the lift came to its stop he stepped out and found the conference room. Before he pressed the bell the door slid open and another robot ushered him in.
The room was surprisingly plain, a large central table. Plain walls with paintings of various Starstone products littered between screen panels which rolled a company video talking about the original company and the goals of this subsidiary.
There were some differences he noted, the video was now half his father talking of the company and then a woman taking over for the Starstone family part and then about a Squadron.
Well, things changed. He knew his father wasn't thrilled with being voted in by the board. Perhaps he had found someone to take over. There was a table to the far wall with a spread of finger food and three people stood ignoring each other as they ate as a distraction.
“You all been dragged into this too?” The three commanders looked travel worn compared to his clean-cut easy life look. They gave him a look as of to say ‘read the mood’ so he shrugged and walked over helping himself to some Achenar truffles and a bottle of Ellis-water.
Sitting at the conference table he ignored the other three and watched the repeating video. The company had expanded since he was sent for education programming and fast-tracked through the pilots federation course. They used to say money made the world go round, now money moves whole solar systems.
A stoic shaken headed woman entered after a few more minutes of awkward silence. And the other three men wondered over to the table. “Welcome to Starstone Enterprises, and welcome back to you young Commander Kolax.”
He sighed she had already singled him out making his life harder to work with these men. “Just get on with it. I’m giving up untold money in opals for this.” The other three nodded at the gruff commander's tone.
“We have a situation that should not take to much of your time to remedy. Please observe.” The repeating screens stopped black and then a static-covered video played.
“The is SSE green wing. Requesting reinforcements.” The woman's voice was well trained but had an edge of panic. “We are under attack from an orca and two Beluga liners. The captains are calling us not to fire on them. Their auto-docking computers have taken over all controls. They have no…”
The view rocked as something hit her ship, a hard manoeuvre brought an orca into view charging her down. Luckily her viper outmanoeuvred the ramming liner and she boosted away to try and finish the broadcast. “They have full passenger manifest and even some SSE management. Notify all ships to remove their dock… shit” The static covered the screen and then went to black.
“That was our third wing attacked by rogue AI docking computers.” Two of the commanders sniggered and the third whispered something about pussies with docking computers. “Well,” she spoke over them. “They were all headed to investigate a data storage outpost. We want you to head there unsanctioned and smuggle this trojan package onto their main server however you can. You will each receive a package and may undertake this as a wing or alone. You are not the only group we are allocating this mission too. Please collect your equipment at the reception.”
Gamble gave him a nod as she left and the other three commanders gossiped. He decided to wait for them to decide before he made a plan. “I'm going to finish mining before I do this. Didn't say nothin bout no time scale.” The other two nodded and looked to him. “Sorry kid we’re doing this alone.” They each walked out laughing about rogue docking computers.
With a sigh, he wondered what Starstone was thinking of getting guys like that. Walking through the door a hand grasped his shoulder as he rounded towards the gravity lift. “That went about as well as I expected. How's it going little Alex?” Turning he looked at the tall lanky commander, the Federal commando clothing giving an immediate indication of the man's affiliation. Somewhat of a federal representative within an otherwise neutral company with an imperial twist.
“Uncle Gary!” He was honestly surprised to see the man in this system and not out hunting pirates or the latest conflict. “I'm honestly surprised to see you station side. I thought you lived on that FDL?” Gary laughed and gestured they walk to the lift.
“Naw with so many on distant worlds and your parents in Achenar I came back to hold down the fort as it were.” Entering the lift he pressed for their private dock and the lift began to descend through the bottom of the building and to the docking ring. “Heard you had been summoned for some reason. Figure I will make sure you don't get killed straight out of the dock.”
Not sure if to be insulted he wondered where they were going instead of reception. As the lift came down he could see from his view Gary's FDL in its ostentatious gold, a corvette in company colours and a new still shiny trade red Mamba. Rather out of place with these ships sat a trade painted Chieftain with its yellow stripe. “I know you are Imperial at heart but I figure your mum would rather you flew Alliance. A bit more stopping power than imperial couriers and I'm not charging a Clipper to your Dads account.” He laughed as the lift came to a stop, “Everything is inside.”