Deep Six Chapter 6

[Ed Man]

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Chapter 6 Deep Six

Gabe flew ahead to Family Whi to look around and get the okay to search the system but seen the local stations were needing energy cells again so he sent Pop a message giving him the heads up. Pop could make enough to by a jump drive for the Buster on this deal and Gabe needed to catch him before he jumped.
Pop had decided to jump back to Argon Space and pick up a jump drive and transporter for the Buster. Then jump back and leave Cherrit with the Buster to get the jump drive is installed then jump to meet up with Pop when it was ready.

Gabe asked the Sector Security Officer about searching the system for dropped freight and abandoned ships and after giving the area he wanted to search and a demeaning lecture from the officer Gabe was cleared to search Split Space.
The RT took off starting the search as Gabe seen Pop clearing the Gate and heading for the same station they had sold the energy cells to before.
[Gabe] “Pop did you get a good price?”
[Pop] “Seven credit’s a cell. Thinks for the heads up Gabe!”
Gabe checked the station it was paying 19 credit’s a cell. Pop was going to make 12 credits profit a cell which meant a new jump drive for the deal.
Gabe picked up a crate with a pair of missiles and had just restarted the search when he seen a Split TP on the HUD. Gabe looked at the TP it was just setting still with no Pilot listed. Gabe thought no not another TP no way he could be so lucky. Gabe pulled up to scanner range and scanned the TP.
The ship was empty with no pilot or crew. Gabe pulled up the logs and the ships computer had made a bad calculation on the auto pilot after a attack from a Pirate ship it destroyed when it made a attack run and flew right around the front of the TP. Which was a big mistake because the Split put weapons in the front of their ships unlike the other races and it cost him his life.

Gabe claimed the TP and escorted it back to the Equipment Dock to file a report. The TP was faster than other TP class ships as Gabe fell in behind and followed it into the dock. After a hour of drilling from a Security Officer a Split stepped into the room and the Officer stepped back. Human you found Split Ship in Split Space you one lucky Human. You helped Split Freighter in Teladi Space when Pirate was attacking it and captured Pirate Ship.
Gabe looked at the Split. “Yes Sir that was me. I was just trying to help the Split Pilot not capture the ship.”
The Split man looked at Gabe. “Are you Teladi spy? You fly Teladi ship and your status is high with the Teladi. Did the Teladi send you try and spy on Split?”
“No Sir!” Gabe replied as he explained how they had been rewarded the ship and freighter after Pop about got killed remembering to tell the Teladi released story. The Man left the room and stayed gone for hours while Gabe set worrying about what was next a title or restraints. The Split did what they wanted and were known for making people disappear and never to be heard of again.
The Split Man returned. “I see you are involved with a Teladi called Snake.”
[Gabe] “Yes Sir I have a TP I salvaged in Boron Space that he operates for me.”
The Split looked at his PDA. “Yes we have that information. The Split TP is your’s but there is a problem. You can’t have ship because your status is to low with Split. Split Government will not give you title to ship you not able to have. Split in Freighter you helped was family. I raise you status with Split but still not high enough we have problem if you want to keep ship.”
[Gabe] “Can I sell the ship or remove anything from the ship like the shields or weapons and equipment?”
[Split] “Yes you can remove the contents but you must sell the ship.”
The Split escorted Gabe to the docking bay where the TP was and told one of the worker to give Gabe the shields and weapons.
Gabe sold the missiles he picked up to make room for the equipment and when they were finished loading the RT then the Split returned. “The Split Government will pay you this for Split Ship. Then we are done.”
Gabe handed the Split his card and signed the sales slip asking. “The Split are not mad at me are they can I still search the rest of the sector for dropped freight when I return to this sector?”
The Split Man looked at Gabe with what Gabe thought was a Split smile. “Human is welcome in Split Space and at Split Stations. You can search what the Security Officer has said you can when you return.”
Gabe thanked the Man and the Split for their kind generosity and help then got into his ship and left. His hole was full of equipment so he set course for Snakes Equipment Dock to unload and store his goodies for him and finish searching the sector for more freight to pick up and sell. The Split had paid a good price for the TP but Gabe needed a little extra to hire a crew and outfit the ship like he wanted so he wanted to finish the search having just started when he found the TP.
After Gabe told about claiming a Split TP and getting paid for it Snake rubbed Gabe’s head wanting to capture some of the luck he had before he left to finish the search.
Gabe dropped a satellite he picked up from Snake near the center of the sector after asking permission as a marker. Then he started the search over. This time the hunt was long between pickups but they were there as he continued the search until the computer stopped the search. Gabe set the ship for the Equipment dock to sell off the load of missiles and three small weapons. He recorded the location of a small load of ore he could pick up after he got his ship. If the load sold for what he had added it up to he could buy the ship and outfit it and hire a crew.
The search had been long and tiresome for Gabe as he flew the whole search alone without stopping.
The Split bought most of the freight only leaving a few missiles to be sold of to Snake. The haul had taken in enough credits for Gabe to buy the ship and do what he wanted and anything he got for Snake was just icing on the cake. Gabe docked the RT and sold the rest of his load and paid for a days parking then passed out in his small bunk as soon as he closed his eyes.

Gabe woke up on the floor. “Computer what just happened?”
[Computer] “You rolled off the bed into the floor. Your scans show you are alright do you need medical attention?”
[Gabe] “No I don’t need medical attention. But remind me to get another bunk made by humans for the ship when we get to the shipyard. I need the feed on the monitor from the satellite I dropped in the next sector. I need to buy a load of energy cells for the jump drive.”
[Computer] “I have compiled a list of power plants that have a much lower price right now.”
Gabe looked at the list and some of the sectors he didn’t even know where they were. “Computer how did you find out the prices in these sectors?”
[Computer] “I accessed satellites in each sector and compiled a list of lower priced energy cells along with a list of sectors showing ships no on file as leaving but unaccounted for. ”
[Gabe] “Can you show where this sector is and show me a live feed.”
[Computer] “Yes.” A map of the sectors showed up on one of the monitors while a live feed showed on another.
[Gabe] “Am I going to get into trouble for you hacking into these satellites?”
[Computer] “No Commander I decoded a live signal already being sent out and there are no laws against decoding a signal. All government and military signals use a special coding device that makes them distinct and are illegal to access copy or decode.”
[Gabe] “Can you make it so Pop can access all the sectors and search for the best deals?”
[Computer] “Yes but I need these supplies and a worker drone I can access to build the unit. Commander you have a name Gabriel can I have a name to distinguish my unit from other computers?”
[Gabe] “I guess so what kind of name do you want a computer name or human name?”
[Computer] “A simple and short name for information. Can you call me Bit?”
[Gabe] “Sounds good to me. I like it a lot better than computer Bit it is. Bit can you buy the parts here and put them together with one of the drones I’ll have onboard the Magnetar?”
[Bit] “Yes commander. If you want me to download onto the Magnetar I will need to make a extra secure unit to install on the new ship and will need these parts.”
Gabe looked over the list and there was no big ticket items. “Go ahead and buy them and as soon as they arrive set course for the power plant in the next sector with the cheapest cells and dock I’m going to get cleaned up and eat something and Bit just call me Gabe when you talk to me in privet.”
Gabe went into his little shower and cleaned up. The shower and room he had onboard the Vulture was a lot larger but the RT was a M5 not a freighter in a little while Gabe would have his own living quarters onboard his new ship.
[Bit] “We are entering the Gate jump successful heading for station. Do you want a full load of energy cells?”
“Yes. [Gabe replied as he came out of the shower drying his hair.] And send a message to Pop asking him to meet me at the Shipyard in Argon Prime to buy the Magnetar.”
The RT made a smooth jump to Argon Prime and was about to dock at the Shipyard when Gabe seen Pops Buster coming through the South Gate headed his way.
Gabe went ahead to the sales office and was telling the agent what type of command deck, living quarters and equipment he wanted on the ship when Pop asked. “Gabe you need to give me time to get the credits together! I’ll have to cash in some bonds before I can pay the Shipyard.”
Gabe turned around surprised. “I got the credits Pop I just want you here with me. You haven’t cashed in anything yet have you?”
[Pop] “No. Gabe it’s only been a little over two days how did you come up with the credits did you sell the TP?”
[Gabe] “I sold a TP but not the one Snake is running I found another one and a hole load of missiles. Let me explain while they but me a new cabin on the RT and work on the Magnetar.”
Gabe finished showing the clerk the cabin he wanted on the RT and handed the agent his card. The clerk smiled as he transferred the funds saying. “You fighter will be ready in two hours and the Magnetar will be ready in about four hours please you three enjoy or waiting area and refreshments for our customers.”
Simon was with Pop so the three went into the waiting area while Gabe told all about the find and what had happened.
[Pop] “I was talking with Simon and Cherrit about you flying it alone and none of us want you flying solo that’s one of the reasons Simon is here to help. Simon going to stay with you till you get a crew you can trust or stay on permanently that’s up to you two he‘s still on my pay role and will be till you tell me other wise. Gabe your over 18 now but your still my little boy and I love you and worry about your safety.”
Gabe hugged Pops neck. “I love you to Pop thanks. I was going to ask if I could use Mike or Tim for a while but I guess Simon will do.”
They all laughed while Gabe explained how he plained on swaping the jump drive over into the Magnetar. Pop stopped Gabe and explained how they were having a few problems with the jump drive Snakes workers had installed. It worked fine but was a little off and bumpy so the tech’s at the Argon Equipment Dock checked it out and found nothing. But the Goners knew what was wrong and fixed it recommending only to use them or Terra Corp. to install jump drives. Gabe stopped the order on exchanging the drives then Pop went on to explain about how Simon had finished the drones and he wanted give Gabe one of them as a gift for his new ship.
Gabe knew that Pop was talking about one of the downgraded assault drones Simon had been working on refitting into a part worker and assault hybrid onboard the Vulture.
Gabe told Pop he had a new best buys add on for him to install onboard his ship and would explain how it worked later.
They all knew the walls had ears so nothing more was said about the drone or add on just a lot of small talk while they watched the monitor showing ships getting worked on while they enjoyed the food and drinks.

The RT was ready to go so the three set off to inspect the new cabin and use the isolation the inside of a ship provided so they could talk.
As soon as Gabe entered the ship Bit stated in his ear piece. “There is a listening device in the pin the salesman gave you to use.”
Gabe quickly motioned at Pop and Simon to keep quite as he took his PDA and wrote. “There is a bug in the pin watch what you say.”
They keep their coments to the new cabin that had been installed and the new ship Gabe was buying.
Gabe stepped into the shower and laid down on the bed both were a little bigger and more suited to his taste and the bed had a safety rail to keep him from rolling of into the floor.
Gabe give the comment form and pen back to the rep and closed the hatch and took out his scanner.
[Bit] “The ship is clean Gabe the sales rep uses the bug to lissen to the coustermers to get their real reactions if you want I can file a report and he will be fired for invasion of privacy.”
[Gabe] “No don’t file a report I’ll say something to him and if he doesn’t stop the next time we dock I’ll file a report.”

Gabe gave the all clear and Pop told Gabe about the drone he had in the cargo bay of the Buster for him.
Then Gabe told Pop about the new add on and what it done and after a long talk about if it was legal or not Pop agreed to install the unit but wanted to keep the acess to such a advantage limited to just Gabe, Pop, Simon and Cherrit. Pop was going to use the new advantage to buy a new Mercury Super Freighter as a next step while Gabe was going to search the high priority sectors for abandon ships and freight.

Pop was going to meet up with Gabe later at the Terra Corp Station and let the drone install the new add on and transfer some energy cells over so Gabe could jump to the Vault and pick his equipment up and finish getting the Magnetar outfitted at Snakes Dock.

Pop headed out while Gabe went to confront the Clerk about the bug and cought him alone at his desk. “I got a little problem.”
[Clerk] “I’m the man to take care of it for you.”
[Gabe] “The problem is the bug in that pin you gave me.” The Clerk went pale as his face went blank.
[Clerk] “I knew this was going to happen. What will it take for you to just forget this and I’ll never do it again. I never should have agreed to do this.”
Simon stepped up and took Gabe by the arm. “Let’s hear the man out first and see what he has to say. Now tell use all about it.”
The Clerk went on to tell how he had got involved with a woman that ended up in a man getting killed and she knew a man that could help make it all go away. Then one thing led to another and now he sends data and recordings from the bug daily to him.
Simon pulled Gabe off to the side. “Gabe you stat here with the Clerk and veer of any customers while I get security. [Simon went over to the Clerk.] If you want to get out of this alive you stat here and don’t talk to anyone I know a man that realy can help.”

Gabe listened to the Clerk as he grumbled about everything wrong in his life. Then how he would give his Disco to Gabe if he just let him walk away and disappear.
Gabe heard a man in his earpiece. “This is the Director of Security agree to take the Disco and let him sign it over to you. Then let him leave were watching him.”
[Gabe] “I’ll take you up on that deal sign it over before my friend gets back!”
The Clerk pulled up the title and signed it over to Gabe then eased out from behind the counter and out the door. Gabe heard the Man again. “Stay put he’s headed for the docks.”
A Man walked in with Simon. “Thanks for your help we had no ideal this was going on. We need to search the Disco Mr. Lander.”
Gabe looked at the Man thinking here he is the cover up man. “Why are you asking me?”
[Officer] “He signed the ship over to you it is yours and to save time all you need to do is give use permission to search the ship.”
[Gabe] “I’ll do one better than that I’ll sell the ship to the shipyard for a Freighter.”

The Officer waived a new Clerk in to take the order. “Yes Sir what kind of Freighter do you want?”
[Gabe] “I want a Mercury Tanker with a one 25 meg shields and standard equipment.”
[Clerk] “I need to transfer the funds.”
[Gabe] “The Officer will take care of that.”
The Officer turned around. “Who do you think you are and what makes you think I’ll give you a Tanker.”
[Gabe] “You know who I am and I been down this road before. You need me to sign a paper saying I’ll keep quite about this and offer me some lame payoff to do it. Give Simon a maxed out Disco Hauler and I’ll take a basic Tanker just like I said and we’ll sign your paper and never mention how you let a Clerk still vital information from your customers and pass it on to a unknown number of criminals.”
[Officer] “That’s blackmail I’ll have you put in a cell!”
[Gabe] “And that will keep me quite? No I’m just telling you what I want for signing a paper that says I must never tell what happened. I think it should all come out but I know it would hurt the Shipyard affecting thousands of workers and causing a scandle so I’ll sign your paper and keep quite because I’m a Argon all you need to do to make us happy and in line is threats. You tell me what was you going to offer us for our silence?”
The Officer turned around with a mad blood red face. “Give them the ships! I’ll be back with the forms for you two to sign!”
[Simon] “What are you doing he will have make us disappear first time he gets a chance.”
[Gabe] “No he won’t he’s finished! When the report get’s filled he’ll be flying a Disco somewhere on the fringes of the systems for letting it happen he’s just trying to buy some time to make the best of his blunder and retire while he still can.”
Simon looked at the Clerk who was listening to every word as he shook his head yes saying. “Mr. Lander I need you to sign to complete the transaction and the Disco will be ready in a about thirty minutes but the Tanker will take about three hours. And If I may, if you need to hire a good Pilot or Crewman the most reliable place to find them is at the Goner Temple and good luck with your new ships.”

[Ed Man]

I'll try and space out the chapters a little better but I'm already several ahead so please be patient. And enjoy a extra

[Abscon]

Oh yes I'll be patient..this is the Creative forum after all and it moves like a slug on oil

A few typo's here and there which do break the fluidity of the chapter ut they're easily forgotten in the next line.

Curious..how many are you ahead by?

[collins50]

Ed This is one of the best chapters so far in the deep six story line.

I did enjoy it, The Boy is learning fast.