Alpha Security Chapter 9

[Ed Man]

Darkness of Gray
Chapter 9

Josh had a bad feeling as he entered his room. He had done his job. The data was recovered unread and the girl was rescued. But something just wasn’t right.

“Sarah dig up all the data on the enemy soldiers from the last mission. I’ll look at it when I wake.” Josh ordered as he laid down going to sleep.

After a shower and a cup of coffee in his hand he sat to read the report. A lump rose in his throat as he read. The men had been Argon trained Special Forces turned mercenaries. The men had stayed away from criminal operations and had worked for the Argon a few times. Josh felt as if he had killed some of his own after reading the report. These men didn’t have the investigation resources to know not to take the job.

“Sarah send Ban Danna a message. I want to talk to him about the two men I delivered to him.”
Josh stated as he headed for his ship.

Josh flew to Argon Prime and hailed Ban Danna on Argon One. “I’m busy right now Mr. Galen what do you need?”
[Josh] “I want to talk to you about the two surviving Soldiers I handed over to you.”

[Ban Danna] “Please dock and join us we been talking about the same thing for the last two hours.”

Josh was rushed into the meeting. “Well tell us Josh what do you want to do with them? Because we don’t seem to have any legal grounds to jail the men because the Split refused to do anything to the men. And my niece didn’t know who fired the missile that downed her ship we can’t even charge them with assault because it was done in Split Space. And the man that hired them was found dead floating in space. I can’t just let them go! We be going at it for a while now please tell me you have good news!”
Ban Danna said as he looked at Josh.

[Josh] “Do they know you don’t have any legal action against them?”

[Ban Danna] “Not yet but I have to give them a legal representative before I can do anything to them. And I can’t hold them any longer without giving them a lawyer and that will be it.”

[Josh] “Give them to me. Offer them a five-year probation sentence to be served working on my new station. I’ll pay them a fair wage for their work and they will be restricted to the station at all times. And I’ll take responsibility for them. Let me talk to them and get them to sign a agreement. You and the lawyers can listen to every word and stop me at any time.”

Ban Danna went along with the ideal having no other option and sent Josh to talk to the men.

[Josh] “I have to know did you know you were attacking a Argon ship with classified data onboard?”

[The men explained] “No Sir we would never do anything against our own people or unlawful. We were told it was a Pirate ship with stolen data. The man that brokers our jobs will back us up.”

[Josh explained] “Your broker was found dead in space. And your team shot down a Argon Envoy ship with top-secret data onboard which but you here. The only reason I’m here is I believe you were used but used or not you did wrong. I’m willing to offer you two a opportunity to serve a five-year probation sentence working on my new station. I’ll pay you a fair pay and you will be restricted to the station for the five years. Or you can take your chances on your own.” As he held the contracts in his hand.
The two took the contracts read and signed them then handed them to Josh.

Ban Danna replied. “Remind me never to play cards with you. Did you mean what you said about believing them?”
[Josh] “I do believe they were used by someone I just don’t know who.”

[Ban Danna] “You’re playing a dangerous game with these men. I like you Josh don’t loose at it!”

[Josh] “I’ve got to do something to change the way men like these take their jobs. At a mans word isn't good enough anymore. I killed two men that were just trying to make an honest living and supported the Argon Government and I’m not too happy with that. If you’re willing to help by appointing a man to look over the jobs. I’ll start a division in my company certifying the jobs for all the races. That would keep something like this from happening all over again.”

[Ban Danna] “You know we can’t sign off on jobs! It would reveal our agents and the lawsuits would bankrupt the Argon Government.”

[Josh] “I know that but if they had a list of reviewed and approved privet jobs would be a start.”

[Ban Danna] “I’ll see what I can do but don’t count on it. Josh you can’t change some things them men could have done local jobs of any Argon Station. But they chose to work for a man with the big pay and it got them into trouble. I know you feel bad about the two dead men but it wasn’t your fault they took the job not you. You did a good job for your Government. They may have meant well but still ended up on the wrong side remember that. You’ve all ready done more than any other I know would have by helping them two. You’re one of the finest men I know. We all have done things we regret but we keep going because if we don’t evil men will. And if men like you don’t stand up against them law-abiding people suffer.” As he tried to reassure Josh he did the right thing.

Josh took the two men to the TL and had them take a job placement test and left them with the Chief to help with the station construction.

Josh received a invitation to lunch from the young woman that slapped him. Josh thought no way at first then he started thinking she is the niece of Ban Danna and wondered what she wanted and accepted.

Josh went to the table as the woman replied. “Thinks for coming I’m Ashley Danna please sit down I want to apologize for slapping you in the jungle. I was scared for my life and when you shot me the pain and numbness from the stunner made me think I was dead before I passed out. And when I woke all I wanted to do was slap you for doing that to me. I want to think you for rescuing me and please forgive me for slapping you.”

[Josh] “I forgive you and your welcome. Did Ban Danna put you up to this?”

[Ashley] “No but he did tell me what you did for the men. Which tells me you have a conscience and that’s a rare quality.” As she smiled at Josh.

[Josh] “How did the men treat you?”

[Ashley] “The men treated me as a prisoner but showed me respect as a woman and they had no ideal I was related to Ban Danna. To them I was just a pilot. But I was worried about what was going to happen to me when they delivered the data and me to whoever paid for the job.”

[Ashley] “A instructor I had said people who walk the line between light and dark survive in the gray. Sometimes they slip into the darkness of gray before they know it. I never really under stood what he was talking about until now.” As the waitress brought their lunch.

The subject was changed to a more enjoyable topic as they ate. Josh stayed for a while talking and laughing as they enjoyed their desert.
“Ashley come by Alpha Security and I’ll give you the grand tour.” Josh replied as he was leaving.

[Ashley] “I believe I’ll take you up on that. When can I visit?”

[Josh] “Anytime now if you like.” As He held his hand out taking hers.

As Josh led her around from section to section she asked. “I must have missed something I though you owned a part in the new station being built not the whole thing.”

Josh sat her down and explained his business ventures and stations.

As she sat astonished at the assists Josh had she asked. “Why would you risk getting killed in a jungle to rescue me when you have all this?”

[Josh] “The Split requested me because they trust me. And Ban Danna asked for my help because of you. Besides I got paid well for the job. Ann and I started off on our way to buy a Dolphin and start to a shipping business. She needed a escort for the freighter she wanted. And I had a small fighter so we partnered up. On the way to get her ship some Pirates sidetracked us. We capped a ship full of Pirate loot and credits rescued a few people. I been taking missions ever since.”

[Ashley] “Is Ann your girlfriend?” She asked in a cautious manner.
[Josh] “No Ann is dating someone. And I’m not married or dating anyone. You know someone you can fix me up with.” Josh asked smiling as Ashley blushed at the remark.

[Ashley] “Have you ever loved anyone and wanted to get marred.”
[Josh] “Yes one time. And I dated a few after her but it never worked out.”

“What happened to her?” Ashley asked with a puzzled look.

[Josh] “Xenon killed her on a patrol mission trying to save her squadron.” As he held his head down.

[Ashley] “I’m sorry Josh I didn’t mean to upset you. I know what it is to lose someone it still hurts me to think about the one I lost. I’m getting kind of hungry you going to let me eat before you run me off?” She asked smiling at Josh.

Josh took her to the restaurant and had the chef prepare them a special meal. After a lavish meal a trip to the Trading Station in Argon Prime and a kiss on the cheek from Ashley Josh was back at HQ and ready for bed.
As Josh sat at his table with a cup of coffee after a good sleep it came to him how to adapt the regeneration technology. Everything starts from a small seed. Start with small unit designed to make a larger mobile constructer with multi-joint arms similar to a spider. Place known element compounds inside a control unit with blueprints from ships to toothpaste in a five-pound unit.

Josh was excited as he went to the lab this time he knew what to do.

Out in Space.
[Elk] “Come on Baby lets do it!”
[Ann] “You know I want to! But I want it to be special.”
[Elk] “It will be special if we do it. Don‘t you love me?”
[Ann] “Yes I love you. You know I do.”
[Elk] “I don’t see what the problem is.”
[Ann] “Yes I know you don’t and that’s part of the problem.”

[Ann] “Elk we’ll be jumping back to the Wheat Farm in an few hours for that meeting I have. If you really want to get married you better start thinking about the wedding I want.”

Josh had worked for two days without realizing how much time had passed till he got a message.
[Sarah] “You have a message from Miss. Danna Josh.” [Josh] “Read it I’m about done for the day.”

“Think you for the tour and dinner I had a lovely time.” Signed Ashley.

[Josh] “Sarah send her some flowers and an invite to dinner.”

“Miss. Danna was called back to duty and left a few hours ago and has left Argon Prime.” Sarah explained.

[Josh] “That’s too bad I’m hungry. I would have liked to seen her after a nap I feel worn out. The two power bars didn’t do very good as a pick me up snack.”

[Sarah] “You been working for over 48 hours Josh.” [Josh] “No wonder I’m so exhausted.” Josh ate a bite before going to his room and collapsed into his bed.

Josh was working the next day trying to prefect the process to a smooth and flawless operation.

[Elk] “Josh you got time to talk?” “Sure meet me in my office.” Josh replied.

[Elk] “You know I love Ann and we been talking about getting marred what do you think?”

[Josh] “I think that’s great Elk! But if you’re asking for my advice you got the wrong man. No ring on my finger or woman waiting somewhere. I not very good at dating or relationships. But you should bear in mind Ann can kill you a hundred different ways if you make her mad.” While Josh smiled looking at Elk squirm at the remark.

[Elk] “Yes I know. But not being with her would kill me to.”
The two laughed and talked for a while before meeting Ann for lunch.

[collins50]

Not sure what you were susgusting, how to verify Job listing to see if thay are legit, I think that would be up to the one excepting the job, and checking the tgt to see if it was acually showing as a pirate. or what ever.
but it was a good thought. just rember that man is gready when it comes to money.

[parameter]

Nice going! Holds the attention all the way through. One or two grammatical errors but then we ain't all perfect

[Ban Danna] “Please dock and join us we been talking about the same thing for the last two hours.”
Allowing for the natural breath a person must take whilst saying such a sentence: “Please dock and join us, we have been talking about the same thing for the last two hours.” Otherwise you would be gasping out your last whilst singing your National Anthem. It is a natural moment to breathe!

"And the man that hired them was found dead floating in space." should be:
"The man that hired them was found dead, floating in space" Main clause and sub clause! You know something, just carry on writing as you do. It is very readable.