Last Days of Fidenef - Part One: An Ultimatum
23 Dec 2017XxHyde840xX
Hyde strode through the sliding doors, a simple swipe of his dataslate was all it took. He could end this all now, and for a brief second he almost drew his pistol. His grizzled, combat-worn appearance was in stark contrast to the suited men of Fidenef Alliance. They sat in luxury, protected by their security, and the privilege that a fat bank account could afford, dogging the LSR at every turn with paperwork, lawsuits, accusations of terrorism, and constant conflict. It disgusted him. His people were fighting, weary, and had more than enough blood on their hands. The Thargoids had hit another three stations in the Pleaides. Pressing matters continued to pile up on all fronts. This conflict needed resolution.“You're late...”
The voice dripped with displeasure.
Hyde made his way to the bar, making sure to drag his magboots on the pristine flooring on the way in. He selected a crystal glass, and opened the top of the most expensive looking hooch he could find, pouring it into his glass and making sure to fill it nearly to the rim. He brought the glass to his nose taking a large sniff, before placing it back on to the bar top. Hyde leaned against the bar and shrugged. The men at the table shuffled uncomfortably. They were used to dealing with mercenaries, but the man before them was unpredictable. Only one man at the table remained motionless.
A low voice called out from the head seat of the boardroom table, his face hidden by the shadows and lighting of the room. “Kind of you to join us admiral, we were just discussing you. Incredible you still manage to walk the halls of Bridges Survey a free man.”
Hyde smirked and produced a cigarette from his jacket pocket. “You mind?”
The man at the head of the table shook his head. “You're going to light up anyways, don't let us stop you...” He chuckled and laced his fingers, resting his chin on them, making sure to leave his face in darkness. Hyde could make out a lapel pin, glinting in the dimmed lighting, though its exact shape and design was foreign to him.
Flicking his lighter and taking a deep drag of his cigarette, Hyde watched the end catch and smolder to life. Placing his lighter back into his jacket pocket he exhaled, tapping a bit of ash onto the carpet.
“This has gone on long enough. You've tried blockading our faction application with paperwork. You've tried to do it through legal channels, you've tried to do it with your fleets. You've started open conflict in peaceful systems, just to prevent your exodus from Diabak. You've labeled us as terrorists...”
Hyde stood up, pausing to take another deep drag of his cigarette. Staring upwards he exhaled a cloud of smoke. “You've put bounties on our heads, gone after our families, killed our men just as we have yours, over ownership of assets you don't control, in a system you don't hail from. Then there's the case of your assets...”
Hyde whistled, his eyes opening widely as he took a look at the list of transactions scrolling across his dataslate. He held it aloft for the room to see.
“Transactions from Wreaken Construction and Meta-Drive, dividends from shell corporations, assets hidden, shuffled, transferred, the capital-class ships that show up every goddamned time you start a war somewhere. It's a miracle you lot aren't locked up yourselves alongside me.”
“So what do you want?”
The suit at the end of the table finally spoke, interrupting the monologue. In truth, Hyde was thankful, his mouth was dry, and he was beginning to sweat, knowing the company he was in a room with. He wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of knowing that despite the fact he was all but certain they had backing from The Club, and was attempting to back them into a corner, he was terrified of the repercussions of what he and his men were about to do.
“We want you gone. Effective January first, all Fidenef Alliance ships will leave Diabak, your assets will be transferred to an estate and divided up among the families of the deceased. You and your people will never come back here. If you so much look at something that belongs to us in a way that displeases me, I will ensure that everything you hold dear burns to the ground. We know who you work for, and you don't scare us.”
Hyde dropped his cigarette on the floor after a final pull, grinding the smoldering remains beneath his heel, and shoving his free hand into his pants pocket. H
“It's a big galaxy out there, plenty of space for you and your people to...occupy. But I can promise you this, if you aren't gone come the New Year, this galaxy won't be big enough for you to hide in...”
The suit at the end of the table leaned forwards, bringing his face into the light. Hyde suppressed a shudder as the otherwise handsome man with neatly groomed and slicked back chestnut hair, cast a pair of milky blue eyes upon him. They had never left him for the duration of their chat, Hyde was sure of it. And he was sure they could see just as well, if not better than his could. The man smiled gently.
“And if we refuse?”
Hyde made his way back over to the bar and grabbed the glass of liquor he had poured himself earlier. He stared into it for a moment before upending the contents into a potted plant.
“Then you can deal with the consequences, this isn't up for debate. This isn't a request. This is how it's going to be. Thanks for the drink.”
Hyde smiled coldly, placing the glass back on to the bar as he made his way towards the sliding doors he had come in from. They opened, he walked through the threshold, and after exiting the building and a quick conversation with the driver, hopped aboard the back of a transport headed in the direction of the Leviathan Scout Regiment docks via an underground causeway. He took a deep breath and leaned back, enjoying the monotony of the ride, and thankful he had made it out of another vipers nest alive.
The docks had been quiet but a new building had sprung up recently in the nearby pilots market. A place slowly becoming known for its good food and drink, live music, and a grizzled old bartender who always knew more than he let on. After a short ride, Hyde disembarked at the docks, and after a few minutes walk, arrived at the Swordfish, the pride and joy of his friend “Pops,” and favorite haunt of the LSR. He looked up at the signage of the small building and smiled.
“I'm home boys...”