The Dangers Of The Galaxy Are Persistent
16 Aug 2021User319792
"He's following me around on my trading runs.""Did you switch off your beacon so no one can track you?
"Of course I did. That thing's never on."
"So how is he capable of tracking you?"
I looked at Coral and the man in the black suit waited on an answer.
"Well... She has been in Lembava on and off for the past week and a half."
"You don't suppose someone snuck a tracking device into my signal, do you?"
Coral looked at the man in the black suit and nodded.
"Its not exactly advanced technology, dad. All it takes is a single piece of gear clipped right onto one of the navigation system's wires and he'll get everything that's coming in and going out. They've had things like those available since before the Third War."
The man in the black suit looked at me and squinted. Coral was looking back and forth between us, working her tongue around in her mouth.
"Where are you now, Cadence?"
"Nahua, completing a trade loop. He's right on my tail. He tracked me straight over to Ross 154 and followed me here."
"... and you're sure this is the same person that gave you the tip on Mbutsi?"
I looked right into the eyes of the man in the black suit and squinted.
"Are you stupid? Yes, of course it is."
Coral looked at the man in the black suit before looking over to me,
"Are you packing?"
"Not really... I'm in Cortez. I've got some therms and a flechette launcher on this thing, but beyond that this isn't exactly a combat vessel."
The man in the black suit cleared his throat before looking at Coral.
"Coral get over to Terra Mater and I'll meet you both down there, shortly.
Coral looked at me and swallowed.
"Uh... Dad, I can't actually get into Terra Mater right now. It's a permit locked system and Cadence can't exactly just waltz me in there unless I'm just a passenger on her ship."
The man in the black suit looked at Coral and back over to me.
"It'll take a little work to get her reputation with the Brotherhood up to the point that they're gonna trust her enough to let her in."
The man in the black suit nodded, looking over to Coral,
"Sorry, Coral, I'm gonna need you to put down what you were working on in Trapezium. You're probably still gonna have some of Princess Aisling's people pursuing you when you get back here, but do your best to get into Terra Mater, ASAP."
I squinted at the mention of the Empress and looked over at Coral, who looked irritated and rolled her eyes before finally agreeing and shutting off her comms. I looked at the man in the black suit for instructions and he looked back,
"Keep doing whatever it is you're doing, Cadence. We'll figure this out. Keep your wits about you and don't do anything that'll put you in greater danger."