Lost in time Chapter 14

[Ed Man]

Bad Deal Station
Chapter 14

Josh looked at his scanner. “Sarah have the three soldiers onboard pick up the mechanics disarm them and put restraints on them and take them to the stations cafeteria and post two guards. I’m sending the three here to meet up and pick three more up on the way. Then you send the four out in pairs to get the rest of the workers then the slaves last.”
Josh had restraints but on the Thug and set him in a chair. Then showed his men the three to pick up and sent them on their way to meet up with the rest of the team.

Three of the fighters outside had been laid waste in a few seconds and the other quickly surrendered. Mizar picked the pilot up and locked him up in the cargo hole. The captured ship and Mizar were landing and after the captured pilot was locked up in the cafeteria Mizar was to join up with Josh.

[Josh] “Now I’ve never killed a man that wasn’t trying to kill me but I will slice a few body parts off to find out what I want!” Josh laid one of his blades on the table and looked at the Thug.
[Thug] “I’ll work with you Boss no need for that just ask anything!”
Josh asked as the Thug gave up everything he knew about the station, his dead Boss, the other Men, there activity’s and where everyone on the station came from. The four fighters and a small freighter in back of the station had been hijacked from their owners. The two mechanics repainted and reprogrammed the onboard computer systems and changed the ID codes showing they belonged to the station. The Pilots and crew had been killed and their corpse burned to ashes and their ashes were ejected into the sun from a fighter. The only ones not involved were the slaves a man to do the dirty work around the station and four females the Boss pimped out to the crewmen.
Mizar walked through the door and set down and told the Thug. “I bet you wished you had just paid us for the freight.”
[Thug] “They didn’t have the money to pay you if they wanted to. The Boss was going to resale the freight and keep the slaves as workers for the station.”
[Josh] “Who’s the inside man?”
[Thug] “I don’t know the Boss was the only one that knew.”
Josh could tell the man was lying and he wasn’t good at lying as he looked around like a rat in a cage hoping Josh believed his lie. Josh stood up and picked up the knife and made a step in the direction of the Thug saying. “Which part do you want to loose first a ear a finger or maybe you nose or that lying tongue!”
[Thug] “Wait I’ll tell! It’s the sails clerk you made the deal with he’s working with us he gets a cut from every thing we sale back and part of the business when it starts up. He sent the fighters and the freighter to the station on bogus deals. When the right mark showed up with some easy to move freight and unknown to the locals he would send them our way.”
[Josh] “How many ships?”
[Thug] “A freighter like the one you have and three other fighters have been sold three of the fighters sent out to attack your fighters and the small freighter docked out back. The sales clerk was the mastermind he set the Boss up in the station as a place to hijack the ships and freight to get the cash to buy the station. The cash the Boss was going to get form your ships and freight was going to restock the station and start production back up and the slaves on your ship were going to be used as workers inside the station.”

[Sarah] “Commander everyone on the station and the captured pilot are now in the cafeteria.”
[Josh] “Sarah contact the advisers on the Venture and advise them of our situation and ask for some suggestions on our next move. Mizar what do you suggest we do now?”
[Mizar] “The only thing you can do is load everyone up into the freighter and lock them up. Take them with copies of the big guys confession with him and any other information or discussions you had with the dead guys to the Head of Security back at the trading station. He’s the Law, Judge and sometimes Executioner in space and I’m sure he want’s to know about his sales Clerk being involved with Pirates.”
[Sarah] “The advisers said the same thing but added that you should leave a small security team and fighter onboard the station and place the station on lock down. No one is to come near a station on lock down.”
[Josh] “Were already short handed and overloaded with people as it is. Is the station secure?”
[Sarah] “It can be in about two hours and two crewmen.”
[Josh] “Secure the station. Mizar take the big guy and the two mechanics and put them in the freighters detainment cell and handcuff them all three onto one bed. Then start taking their employees over and do the same to them. Then put the slaves in a storage room give them food and water and lock them in.
I don’t like doing the slaves that way but I don’t trust them. I’ll go to the cafeteria and watch the prisoners so you and two of the crewmen can start transporting them onboard in groups of three. We should be loaded and ready to go by the time the station is secure. Sarah send for a support ship to set up outside the station just incase they need the backup we’ll be gone at least 36 hours and I don’t know how long we’ll be at the trading station. I’ll leave two guards and two pilots to watch the station. Have the support ship transport them supplies down.”
[Sarah] “I requested a support ship and back up team Commander they will be here in 15 minutes.”

Mizar found a room full of spacesuits they had saved from the people they had hijacked and killed. The first trip they took four people over and one crewmen to stay onboard the freighter to watch the prisoners. Josh sat on one side of the room with a crewman on the other watching the group.
Josh was watching as one of the worker had worked his legs little by little up underneath himself. Then a foot came up placing the man in a runners starting position.

Josh didn’t get set down out of his mouth before the man made a jump up and a stride for the door then he hit the floor with a thump as Josh placed the stunner back in its holster looking at the crewman saying. “He’s going to the ship next. If anyone else fills jumpy I would advise against it.”

The crewmen and Mizar returned as the stunned man was trying to get back up Mizar reached out with a shock stick and zapped the man a little after the man stopped screaming Mizar replied. “Are going to cooperate and put your spacesuit on and act right or do we need to zap you a little more first?”
The criminal replied as he lay in the floor. “No more I’ll go peacefully where you taking us?”
[Mizar] “To our ship.”
[Criminal] “No where are you transporting us to?”
[Mizar] “You talk to much will a few zaps make you shut up?” Mizar raised the shock stick up.
[Criminal] “No I’m good!”
Josh watched as Mizar led the jumper away as they left the room with three more people.
The two Pilots had secured the landing bay and captured fighter and had made it to the cafeteria to take two more people to the freighter. Mizar returned to get three more as Josh stoped him saying. “Wait here with me let them take the last two workers. We’ll give them time to get their suits on then we’ll take all the slaves at the same time.”
Five minutes later Josh, Mizar and the crewman were escorting the slaves to the room full of spacesuits.
Josh stood guard as Mizar and the Crewman each took the restrains of a slave and helped the get their suit on and and place the restrains back on them. The two Pilots had returned and helped with the last three and followed them back to the docking bay.
As Josh boarded the freighter and the slaves were secure the hatch was locked and Mizar went to his fighter.
The Pilots went into the docking bay control room opened the stations outer bay door.
A plast of sunlight filled the bay as Mizar undocked his fighter and flew outside waiting on the big freighter to back out of the station. As the big ship eased out into space away from the station and turned in the direction of the Gate waiting on Sarah to give the all secure on the station. The bay door had closed back and a blast door had been droped on the inside.
[Sarah] “The Station is secure and locked down the support ships in place Commander you’re clear to go.”
[Josh] “Pilot set course for the trading station and go and lock the door behind me when I leave the bridge. Mizar dock with the freighter and help the crewman watch all these people I’ll meet you at the hatch.”

Josh was waiting for Mizar when he came through the hatch. The guilty man that was robbed Josh had bought form the slave cells was standing at the bottom of the steps leading up to the external fighter dock saying. “Commander one of the men you brought over has my missing partners spacesuit on! What happened to him is he and the crew alright?”
[Josh] “I’m sorry but if they went to that station they were killed and the ship and cargo was sold. Everyone that was on the station is locked up in back and the dead ones are in the cargo hole. How do you know the suit was your partners?”
[Pilot] “It’s red and one of the pockets was removed and the patches on it. I was with my friend when he had each one of them put on. He signed the patch on the inside and where he was when he damaged his suit then the repairman would put it on for him, trying to sell him a new suit every time we went there.”
[Josh] “When we get to the Trading Station you come with us and tell the Head of Security about the suit. We have a taped statement from one of the men and our ships records and tapes. But the suit is evidence backing up the confession.”
Josh took the new people into the galley and told them what had happened and why they had to return to the Trading Station and report to the Security Officer. Then ordered them to stay away from the back section where the prisoners were. After they went through the Gate the crew had settled down so Mizar started a topic of discussion on who has went to more sectors, then how many races and what did they looked like. While one was keeping count and righting down the diferent races and their customs and sectors on a makeshift map as a group they were giving a great deal of information out unknowingly as they just tried to stay busy to kill time on the long trip back.
Josh patted Mizar on the shoulder as he got up after the storys started getting off topic replying. “I thank I’ll go up to the bridge and relieve the Pilot so he can eat and rest.”
Josh went to the small bridge and gave the on duty Pilot a break. The other pilot was laying on a fold out bed sleeping in frount of the small bathroom and kitchen area. The Station could be seen off in the distance as the sun reflected of it’s hull looking like a dull flickering star as it turned. Josh fixed himself a cup of coffee as he sat looking at some reports on his PDA while the ship slowly headed for the station.
As the hours turned into a shift Josh closed his eyes for a minute only to fell the pilot sacking him saying. “Were one hour from docking Commander I thought I should wake you. We’ll be in communication range in 35 minutes.”
[Josh] “Thanks I must have drifted off to sleep. Sarah what’s the status of the rogue ship and assassins?”
[Sarah] “They are about to enter the sector we just left and are 37 hours away from docking at the station.”
[Josh] “Mizar let’s take your ship and the information over to the Head of Security so he’ll know what’s coming and be ready for the prisoners.“
[Mizar] “I’ll meet you at the freighters docking platform.”
Josh and Mizar docked and took the information right to the Head of Security.
[Head of Security] “These are very serious charges Pilot if what you say is true the Clerk will be executed for his crimes along with all those involved. If I find out your trying to trick me to keep you freight and payment I’ll shot you myself for the murders of the people on the Station.”
[Josh] “I just wanted to get paid and drop of my freight. I’d be dead right now if I hadden acted quickly and got in a few locky shots. I’m new to this area but if I wanted to keep my freight and loot the station why am I here trying to do the right thing?”
[Head of Security] “Your ship just docked My guards are on their way to it now to unload the stations crew. I’m going to talk to them myself if their guilty I’ll find out. And I’m going to check that uniforms patches to see if there marked like your man said don’t leave this office I’ll be back it a few hours.”

Josh and Mizar sat and waited on the Officer to return while Sarah gave them both updates on every move the Officer made as he went about his investigation and questioning. The Thug tried to say he was made to say what he said and he and the other were kidnapped from the station after their Boss and Managers was killed. Then the two Mechanics both played dumb about everything except that they were taken at gunpoint by pirates. There sound man was checking the taps and video of the ordeal to see if they had been tampered with and had decided after three hours they were authentic. The spacesuits patches had the Man’s name and place just like the Pilot had said. The only ones to tell what they knew were the slaves and they didn’t know much. Then the Officer took one of the workers into a room and talked to him again but this time he told him that now he knew they were guilty and if he would tell what he knew he would spare his life. The worker started telling all about how the Boss and his men had killed and robbed most of the ships that had docked. And how they were keep on the station to make sure they keep quite. Then the man went on to explain how he feared for his life wondering when he would be killed to keep the murders secret. He and one other man and the slaves were the only ones on the station that had not been involved in the killings or burring the bodys up. Both had paired up and confined to their room out of the others way when the ships were being hijacked and the crews killed.
The Officer had him sign a statement and sent him in to a room to wait alone. Then he called for the other man the worker had named and talked to him about the same offer. The Man started explaining the same story to the Officer about how they had been confined to their room when any ship landed.

Then the Officer went to the Thug and told him that the two men wanted to stay at the Trading Station and find other work that the evidence was to conflicting. The Thug started telling how the Men were in debt to the station and had to work of their debt first. The Officer replied do you have their contracts at the station so My guards can record them into out records? The Thug was stumped. The Officer asked. “Is there a problem?” The Thug was in over his head as he responded to the Officer. “I don’t know where they are.”
[Officer] “I’ll send my Data Recovery Officer back with you to get the data and clear up the problem.”
The Thug was digging a deeper hole for himself every time he opened his mouth so he asked the Officer? “Can we make a deal if I tell you everthing?”
[Officer] “No deals I got all the information I need come with me!”

The Officer returned to the office with the Thug saying. “I have one more thing to take care of Pilot and you’re in the clear.” Then the Officer set the Thug down in a chair against the wall and said. “You set here and don’t move or I’ll shoot you on the spot!” Then he looked at Josh and said. “Don’t pull your weapon I got everything under control I seen the three you shoot and they were not lucky shots! I don’t know who you are or if someone hired you to take care of them Pirates but you’re not no normal Pilot so set there and be calm when the clerk comes in!”

The Officer called for the Clerk as he set with his pistol in his hand. The Clerk opened the door saying. “Can I help you?”
[Officer] “Yes I have a little problem I need your help with come on in.”
The Clerk stepped on into the office looking at the Officer then seen Josh and Mizar and then the Thug in chains. The Clerk stepped back reaching for his pistol as the Security Officer shot him dropping him to the floor before he got the pistol out of the holster.

[Officer] “We’re done now Pilot I’ll be watching you Pilot don’t be a problem for me Pilot. The Station owner made a deal with you and he tried to cheat you so the Station is yours. Run it sell it I don’t care it’s your’s to do with now. Go by the clerks office and sign some papers showing you as the new owner.”
[Josh] “But I still have the freight what about it?”
The discussion stopped when two men stepped in the office and removed the clerks body. Then a man came in and started cleaning up the mess.
Mizar shook his head no and said quietly. “Take the station and lets go.”
[Officer] “Sell it the freight is still on your ship and is still yours, you completed your part of the contract they didn’t that’s why you get the station as compensation on the contract.”
[Josh] “What about the slaves?”
[Mizar whispered] “Please lets go.”
[Officer] “Do you want them?”
[Josh] “No I was just concerned they got a bad deal from their owner.”
[Officer] “They have no money so they’ll be sold as beggars to a new owner.”
[Josh] “And if I give them each some money what then?”
[Officer] “They’ll be free to do whatever they want.”
[Josh] “I’ll sell the freight and give each of them some money. Is that alright with you?”
[Officer] “Yes but why would you do that?”
[Josh] “They may just need a chance to start over and I fell sorry for them I seen the place they came from.”
[Officer] “Just tell the Clerk I’ll but them in holding for now. Are you going to be a regular around here?”
[Josh] “I don’t want to be a regular in your office.”
[Officer] “Good see that your not, welcome to our sectors Pilot.”