Crime and politics, part 3 (11/04/3304)
12 Apr 2018Archived
Previously in James' LogbookFor the past few days James continued to do different missions for San Tu State Network and Dragons of San Tu, slowly building up his reputation and hoping to find more evidence of Federal involvement with the criminal organisations. After being asked if it would be possible to ferry some high - level passengers, he even acquired a Cobra for the task...
Landing Pad 42
Chomsky Terminal
San Tu system (Independent)
"Status checks complete. All systems nominal" - a male voice announced through the loudspeakers. James winced.
"I am not sure if I like you, Victor. Somehow I preferred Betty" - this new ship had a different flight assistant installed. He will probably have to swap it later on. Not now, however - he was waiting for some important guests to arrive.
"Get her prepped for launch, Vic. As soon as our passenger arrives, we'll be off".
"Acknowledged, commander".
"Grand" - James checked the holster and a new blaster on his right thigh. If this last week or so spent in an anarchy system has taught him anything it was that the stations' facilities were much more dangerous place to be than open space. Still, it was worth it. Not only was he getting closer to the Dragons of San Tu, local gang of pirates running the show, but he also entered an inner circle of commanders working for the San Tu State Network, Federal corporation with too many privileges in a system like this. It was them who sent this latest special guest his way: a man by the name Malik Myers. The instructions were clear: visit some space ports where Mr Myers will pick up his associates. Don't get scanned. Whatever he was up to sure as hell wasn't even remotely legal. And if you add to it that two of the three destinations were in the Alliance territory, the whole affair was getting even more interesting. Still, he had to play along, hoping to learn something that could get him closer to Blasius' killer...
He stood at the ramp of the "Rose Tattoo III", looking at two men coming his way. One was dark skinned, tall and bald. Erick Gutierriez, corporate relocation organiser. The other one was a bit shorter, slim, with blonde hair and intelligent eyes.
"Commander Barret? I'm Malik. Shall we go?" - no hand shake, no nod. Nothing. He just passed James by and walked onboard.
"Nice to meet you too, lad" - Barrett muttered slowly turning to follow the man. Before he made a first step, though, Erick put a hand on his shoulder and whispered: "No scans, you understand? You need to be under the radar all the time. Got it?"
"Aye. Understood. They won't even see us".
***
Brunner Colony
Djuhti System (Alliance)
'Rose Tattoo III' gently touched down at the landing pad. James pressed several buttons and the bay door beneath them opened. The vessel slid down below the deck and was transported into a hangar bay. He glanced to the right. His only passenger remained unusually quiet throughout the journey. Quiet and nervous. Barrett gave up trying to talk to him very quickly. The 4 - jump trip was extremely uneventful and boring.
"Alright. Keep the engines running and be ready to leave on a short notice" - this was the first full sentence James heard from Malik.
"How short?"
"Very. I'll be back soon".
Indeed he was. After maybe 20 minutes he ran into the hangar together with a blond girl as if they were chased by deamons.
"Take off!! Take off now!" - Malik shouted to the intercom as soon as they boarded. James closed the ramp and requested departure. As he was waiting for the reply, he saw a group of armed people storming the landing pad. Dressed in civilian clothes, they opened fire as soon as they saw there was no way to stop the Cobra from leaving. Shields flickered faintly in several places.
Once they were off the station, Malik entered the pit and sat heavily beside James.
"Talks didn't really go as planned?"
His passenger frowned. "You can say that"
"Happens. OK, where to now? I'd rather get out of this system as soon as possible".
"Aha" - Myers turned around in the co-pilot's chair and shouted - "Hey, Kenzie! Where did you say you needed to deliver that data?"
"Love colony!" - came the answer from the main corridor - "the Feds will shit their pants when they see what I got for them this time!"
"Alright, coming right up..." - before opening the galaxy map, James glanced at Malik. The man clearly was furious. The girl had a long tongue. Good. - "Got it, plotting the route no..."
He was interrupted by the incoming long range transmission.
"Ms Boyle, it seems that Erick has different idea of where you should go. He wants you to deliver your info to Bouch Survey in Nahundi".
"What?" - the appeared at the entrance to the cockpit - "Alright. That's even better. Will be easier to prepare a transport as the system is under our control"
"Shut your yap, Kenzie, and go to your cabin" - Malik glared at her. She shrugged and looked at James.
"Hey, Erick wouldn't send somebody he would not trust, would he now? You need to relax a little, Malik. If you join me in the cabin I can show you how..."
"Go now and don't get out until we get to Nahundi" - he growled. Mackenzie shrugged again and left. Myers looked at Barrett.
"And you - you haven't heard anything, got it?"
"Heard what?" - James looked up from the galaxy map he was meticulously studying - "sorry, lad, I was focused on plotting our route."
"Then get us there as soon as you can"
"I will, yeah..."
***
Bouch Survey
Landing Pad 21
Nahundi System (Federation)
Barrett watched the two leaving his ship and being escorted with reverence by four uniformed corporate guards led by an officer, all with Federation patches on their shoulders. As the heavy hangar door closed behind the group, he opened up the galaxy map again and muttered under his breath:
"Now lass, what did you mean saying that the system is under 'our control'?" - Bouch Survey was classed as a military outpost, ran by Nahundi Public Exchange, corporation working under Federal charter and subcontracted for some security assignments by the centra government in Sol. A quick search also revealed that during last elections NPE CEO has supported Deputy Secretary of Internal Affairs, John Furbisher, now a close associate of President Hudson.
James leaned back on the commander's chair. Could that be the link that Blasius uncovered before he was killed? Perhaps... In that case he needs to learn more. He needs to find that girl or Malik and ask them a few questions.. preferably in some quiet, remote location...
(to be continued)