Of Mice and Men
13 Jan 2016Jim Beaumont
After the message from Merc yesterday, I had the crazy thought that issues at home may have been put to bed for a while. How wrong can you be. Today was an early rise. Far too early in my reasoning. I had planned on my leisurely return across the 9000 Ly gap to home to take me a few days, hopefully to discover some nice things on the way. Maybe pop in on a nebula or two, to see the wonderfully colourful displays they offer. But oh no we can't be having any of that. That would be too near to being lazy and idle. 08:33 and Merc is not letting up, the comms channel constantly blurting at me.'My god Merc this had better be good. And good morning to you too!'
'Good news and bad news Jim. Bad news first though. A little something to wash down your breakfast with'
'I'm barely awake you nutter nevermind breakfast. What gives then on the bad news front?'
'The security has taken things a little too far. Clamp down on loads of stuff. Inspections in the docking bays checking for illegal stuff, 100% checks. Every ship in or out is getting the once over. The BB taskings have virtually disappeared, looks like they are restricting the access for job offers. Even Samson is having to be careful with his refreshments on offer. Oppo came across from the outpost last night, he said it was like a ghost town. Looks like they are trying to put the squeeze on the Inc, as opposed to letting things settle of their own acord.'
'Is Duta or Pastolis making their prescence known around the place?'
'I haven't seen Pastolis for 2 days. But Duta is knocking about, always with an entourage. And never smiling.'
'Probably feeling the heat from above I dare say. Doesn't look like a CW is going to happen now then. Is much trade being done?'
'I've done some myself, Gincha is looking more cheery. I'm thinking they have clamped down on the outpost to increase the trade coming into the station. The squeeze theory looks good from that perspective.'
'Your probably right.'
'So the bad news is life is a little tougher here. Less opportunity for making a few Cr. But now for the good news. Have you dialled up your 'other' place of late on the Galactic Info Map (GIM)? You might want to!'
I punched up the map and did the search. It's a basic mapping system, but the interesting thing is as political changes occur, the system auto updates with any governing changes, political swings etc. All the info Merc told me of about home, I could have kind of guessed myself were I to look on the GIM but having eyes on the ground gives a greater perspective.
'Oh wow, that makes for an interesting read. The Commies have took control of the main outpost. When did that happen?'
'I thought that would prick your ears. Not sure. I just happenend to be passing through on my way home so thought I'd stop in for fuel and have a look around. Imagine my shock when I was welcomed on landing to be greeted by a Workers Party rep. Doing their best to make everyone happy.'
'That bit of work we did in the CZ and those trade jobs looked to have done the job in the end. How are the residents looking?'
'Well I went to the Commodities Office, and bought some stuff to move on. All stuff he was looking to export so he was pleased. From the brief chat, he's well happy with the change. BB taskings have some interesting stuff available too. I haven't checked on the other outpost though.'
'This has me wondering what Duta knows. Don't in any way give him any idea you know what I was across there for. That would be trouble for both of us I think. I had the bow shot when I left for there in the first place.'
'Jim, I thinking of leaving for there on a permanent basis. It's smaller for a start. And the way things are looking here, it'll be an easier earner. Something is just rubbing in the wrong way with this place of late.'
'I'm getting a similar itch mate.'
'Where you going to park up the big stuff?'
'6 Ly away. One minor hop, large station. Sells Doombar!!! ... sure that'll settle it for you.'
'Yeah I know the place. My Almeida is parked up there from doing the CZ's.'
The chat went quiet for a moment, I was trying to get stuff in my head straight. What if, in some cunning plan, this was Duta and ultimately the Ministers big plan. Send me over there. Knowing I'd probably drag Merc with me. And Oppo too. Have us fight for the protagonists having told us they were worried about the ruling fac at the time possibly expanding, when all along they wanted the Communists in charge. Stability in a nearby system might cut down on pirate movement to back home. Some extra security buffer without actually paying for it!
'Bastards!!!'
'Jim?'
'I think they have played and manipulated me all the way Merc. And I'm a dick for not seeing it through to the conclusion before now. Duta's been saying for a while "more than 2 eyes" ... he's been having me watched for some time. And you and Oppo probably. Bastard.'
'Ok. But now what. If we are in his clutches, we need to free up.'
'Yep. To avoid suspicion from them, don't move out in toto. Leave something on station to return to. Do some trade from there. Anything that will avoid looking like your leaving long term. Are Oppo's assets elsewhere still do you know?'
'Yes.'
'Good, tell him to keep them out of there. He'll not raise any suspicion when we leave.'
'We are leaving then Jim? You got a plan coming?'
'Fermenting Merc, fermenting. Like a good Doombar, it takes time but when its brewed its good.'
'When you getting back?'
'I'll see you in the bar on station Thursday evening.Hopefully the plan is ready for consumption.'
And with that we closed the channel. Time to wake up to the world Jim. You started playing politics. How about we play for change. Change that you want, and can take control of. Ok Duta, I can play your game. You have your plans. 'The best layed plans Of Mice and Men'. I might send him that on a message. Much later though. And he will need to look it up.'