Another Day, Another Credit Part Two.
02 Dec 2024Borderreiver
The Type-8 dropped out of supercruise close to Abraham Lincoln station in SOL system."Captain, it is busy and there's a queue."
"Yes Buford, no surprise really, given what is going on. However, we will be jumping the queue."
"Flight Control won't like that."
"They can take it up with whichever overworked and cranky Rear Admiral has to handle it when they get my priority override ID number."
I moved the ship forward ahead of an inbound Orca Liner and ran through the slot, looking for pad 35, the assigned pad when I applied for landing clearance.
"Right at the back Buford, so at least we get to avoid being right in the stampede on th eoutbound leg. Looks like some poor Krait has now got themselves stuck in the slot. They give pilot's licenses to just about anybody with a suit and a drive these days."
Pad 35 came up quickly and I landed the ship deftly, with the bulk of the transporter settling down on the gear with a sigh and a thunk.
"There will be some extras at the dock with us today. I had GAMMA contract some dock security, three of them, to wrangle the punters and either prevent, or at least mitigate some of the issues I have had in the past."
"You are not going to tell me that old chesnut about SUGRIVIK are you Captain? I've heard it already, at least twice."
"Only twice? I thought you'd worked for me for more than a year?"
"How long would it have to be for a less cramped seat back here?"
"That is a custom built job, specially inserted by the Chief Engineer. Type-8s are usually single seaters."
"The Chief is a sadist then."
"I will tell him, he will thank you for those kind words. Make sure that you have the hatch to that seat closed. I don't want our associates to know that I have company, well not right away anyhow."
"Understood."
"By the way, keep an eye on the area by the elevators, our three security hands have seats for themselves and up to three seats for plus ones, twos or threes."
"Why so many Captain, that is twelve seats, over ten percent of the mission load."
"Wife, husband, partner and kids. If they have more than two, well that they will have to negotiate with their crewmates."
I checked my Dominator suit was all okay and disembarked, walking across to the hangar despatcher. As I looked beyond her shoulder I could see the three dock security with non-lethal weapons and a seething huddle of people penned up between the archway and the elevator doors.
"Hi Captain, its a full load for Rescue Ship Cornwallis in V886 CENATURI for you, when are you ready to load?"
"You can start them embarking now, eight at a time only, I want no surging."
"Okay" she turned and signalled the security "Eight at a time only."
Turning back to me she said "I don't much like that trio Captain, that Haydan is a known troublemaker around here but he always seems to avoid sanction."
"If he and his pals only have NLWs then I think we have the means to contain them."
"Rear Admiral Janssen approved your battle weapon exemption, though I'd prefer if you did not have to use it."
"You and me both, but the outbound seats for Hayden, his pals and nine dependents should be a brake on any antisocial behaviour"
"Those guys with dependents? You have to be kidding me. The nine lined up there by the cargo housing are all young women, hardly wife or girlfriend material, let alone kids and they look even more scared than the other pax waiting to get the hell out."
"I see them. Buford, are you there?"
"I am Captain, I see them and I see at least one compelling bracelet over there. They are being trafficked, I saw that type when I was pirate hunting."
I walked across to Haydan, who looked slick and arrogant in his artemis suit, the max a starport would permit private security, and on my way slipped the safeties off my weapons.
"Give me the compelling controller or controllers."
Hayden looked surprised.
"What? I think you are making a mistake Captain, our group are all dependents."
"Don't make me laugh Hayden. Unless you are some polygamous cult I don't see those nine young women as dependents."
"I don't care what you see Captain, but you will let those dependents onboard and say nothing."
"You have ten seconds to give me the compelling controllers, drop your weapons, kick them down that recess there and get the hell out on the elevators or I will cut you and your pals right in half, take the controllers and walk away not the least bit perturbed. Do it now."
"You are alone, so I don't think so."
"Look at the gangway to my ship."
Hayden turned, looked at the gangway, where I knew Buford would be in his Dominator suit.
"Five seconds, do it and do it now."
Hayden threw down his weapon and sidearm, kicking it to the recess.
His two pals did the same and each dropped their compelling controllers on the deck.
"You are making a big mistake and you have not heard the last of it."
"The dog I work for is bigger and angrier than the dog you work for, plus you are nearly out of time to make that elevator and I might like to blood my guns today."
Hayden moved off at a run in to the elevator. Both he and his pals departed.
I turned to the despatcher.
"Make sure those elevators are locked down. Put a two minute override lockout on them too. I want no more arrivals."
"Done, though you will leave three light."
"If you want to take a seat, its open for you to come along."
"I have a partner and a kid here, so thanks but no thanks."
"Next time then. I'll speed you my comms details."
"If you get back and if you don't get a welcome party."
"Well that is your choice, now pickup those compelling controllers, free those women and burn the controllers out."
As the last passengers embarked and Buford went inside I looked at the elevators and checked the timer, about thirty seconds until the override lockout expired.
"Buford, lets get the hell out of here and remind me to tell GAMMA to send a christmas surprise to those jerks."