Alpha Security Chapter 7

[Ed Man]

Trade back
Chapter 7

Josh left the station and ordered the couples ship back to HQ. Josh hailed the team and had them jump to a new sector and set up out of sensor range. Then he called for the Exaireo to jump in as escort.

Next stop Atreus’ Clouds and the Pirate Base. The Independent base tried to stay on the good side of the Boron but criminal undertakings went on all the time. Slave trading was not allowed but a ship full of slaves were onboard if you knew whom to ask. Weed, drugs anything you wanted for a price off the record of course.

Josh transported to Exaireo and took off the disguise before he docked.

After getting permission to dock the Exaireo a Security Officer met him as he exited the ship requesting. “Please follow me Sir the station Manager would like a word with you.”

After going down a few halls and taking two elevators Josh was asked to remove his weapons before he went in the office.
“That’s all right men let him in.” The Manager said as he opened the door for Josh to come in.

“How can I help you Mr. Galen? Would you like a drink?” The Manager asked trying to stay calm knowing what happened in Ore Belt.

“Thanks for the offer no. I have a request of you. I know you run a legal business. There has been a married couple and three other people sold to someone here as slaves. I know you know nothing about it. But someone onboard might. I’ve been hired to find and rescue them. I’m willing to pay for any information about them. I have the guilty ones that sold them detained in a ship. I am willing to hand them over to you so you and the Boron Government can seek justice. Will you please help me out?” Josh showed the Manager the information.

“I’ll see what I can find out. Please wait here for a moment while I talk with security.” Josh could hear the Manager as he told the Officers to find out who all was involved in this and quick.

The Manager returned to make small talk with Josh while the security force did its work. Josh received a message from Sarah in his ear peace. “The team has discovered that the station was used as a transfer point. The slave runner and hacker had been acquaintances for a long time.”

Josh shared the news with the Manager. And asked that he allow his station to be used to lure the slave trader back for his capture. Josh explained that any attempt to capture his freighter could cost the lives of his captives.
The two worked out a plan to lure the slaver back and capture him. Josh ordered the ship to dock with the three kidnappers onboard and gave them to station security for interrogation. The slaver was called within minutes and the trap was set.

Josh assured the Manager that the Boron Government would receive a special letter of thanks telling how helpful the Manager and Security had been.

The slaver docked with his ship and walked of into the blast of a security stunner. The ship was boarded and the slaves removed and checked.

The woman was in the group but here husband was gone.

She was shaken and bruised but would be fine. Her father-in-law was on his way to get her in a ship.
The slaver had sold her husband and two others to an Ore Mine in pirate space for slave labor.

Josh gave the Station manager 50,000 in credits and thanked him for his help. Then went to meet the father.
The man hugged his daughter-in law and helped her on the ship. As he turned with his eyes full tears saying.

‘Think you Mr. Galen! Do you know what happened to my Son?” The Man asked as he wiped his eyes.

“Yes Sir. He was sold to an Ore Mine in pirate Space. I plan to leave right away after my team has time to gather some intelligence.” Josh replied.

“What do you plan on doing?” The Father comes back with.

“I don’t think it wise to try and buy his freedom they may kill him and then deny he was there. The only way is to break him out quickly and quietly and slip away unnoticed. The best mission isn’t the one where there’s a big shoot out! It’s when they find out later and wonder what happened.” Josh explained.

“If you bring him back alive I’ll give you a million-credit bonus.” The father stated as he left.

“Sarah organize a report for the Boron and Argon I’ll look them over after we clear the station to open space. And bring me up to date on the progress of the Farm.” Josh requested as he exited the main dock doors.

Josh looked over the reports and sent them to Argon and Boron Security. His officially permitted capture and rescue was over.
There was no law or sector security in pirate space no forms or records.
Attacking a station of a known race in Pirate Space would lower your rep with that race after an inquiry.

If all went to plan no one would know what happened. The station was an Argon Ore Mine and slave use was against the law in Argon Space. So no grievance would be filed just a denial.

Josh flew by a freighter headed for the station delivering energy cells and dropped a leach spy drone of on the hull. The drone went undetected on the freighter hull right into the station-docking bay. Once inside the station the unit worked its way into an access tube and deployed at a given control point giving access to all sensor and control units on the station.

As the data started poring in the team and Josh started devising a plan. The man started his work shift in five hours. Josh and the Exaireo moved into position out of sensor range and waited.

The man Josh wanted was working in the same section with four other slaves.
The whole crew would have to be taken so three cleaning drones would take their place working so they wouldn’t be missed right away.

Everything was going as planed the sensor was on loop. The shields were lowered in that section allowing the Exaireo to hover close to the asteroid.

The men were working as Josh transported onto the station into a mineshaft. The guard had the man leave with the cart full of Ore and a message for the other guard.

Josh hid in the shaft thinking what a time for the man to leave!
Sarah informed Josh all was a go the man was returning with a pack of smokes for the guard.

The drones were in place the guard was opening the pack when Josh shot him.
The men all jumped to look as Josh stated. “I’m here to rescue you all. Move to the back while I tie him up.”

Four Humans and a Teladi moved to the back of the shaft Josh pointed at. As the drones went to work Josh tied the guard to a support anchor in the floor. As Josh was leaving the guard moved a little Josh shot him one more time before he taped him mouth shut.

Josh transported the men in pairs onto the Exaireo till it was Josh and the Teladi on the last trip.

Josh cleared the station shields and jumped away. The team had the drone piggy back on the first freighter to undock and retrieved it in space and jumped back to HQ.

The rescue wasn’t found out till the next shift change. The father and his wife rushed to HQ to pick up the man. Josh felt good as he seen the couple together again.

The dad walked over to Josh and thanked him. Turned and went into the office and transferred payment.

Josh looked thanking these people get there lives back and there the lucky ones. Josh sent the other men and Teladi to medical and offered them a job and a new start on the farm.

Sarah informed Josh that the hacker got the cell door open and the four overtook the guard.
The hacker then changed clothes with the guard took his weapon and forced the others back into the cell and killed them and the guard before heading to the docks.
He was killed by security in a shootout trying to hijack a ship.

“Sarah what did Mimi and Samna decide on?” Josh asked.

“They ordered a new Disco and went to the shipyard. There is a message for you from Mimi on your desk.” Sarah stated.

Josh went to his office and read the message. “Thanks for care you and your people gave Samna without it he would have died we will forever be in your debt. Thanks for the job offer but we decided to start our own business and get a fresh start. Thanks Mimi and Samna.”

Josh pulled up a live video link and looked at the construction work on the Farm. The main framework of the station was taking form. And the Elephant had just returned with the final sections. The Elephant cargo area wasn’t large enough to carry the whole load in one trip so the shipyard divided the load up, for a fee of course.

Josh watched on the monitor as one of the new Argon Centaurs flew through the sector on patrol with its fighter escorts.

Josh decided to stay at HQ for a while and rest and direct his attention on perfecting the regenerating technology and the wraith repair drone.

[collins50]

That was another good one with a happy ending,
A short vacation can help,