As before if any of you Brits, Americans,Aussies and other english speaking people, spot any grammatical errors or strange use of English language- tell me about it. I have also added a poll so you could rate my story (thereby giving me feedback whether I am going in right direction)
Note to the readers: Some of may become confused over my time references in this chapter.
Remember that every station, every planet has its own local time (or time zone if you want). So therefore, something that happens at 16.00 APT, happened at 21.00 according to Ore Belt sector time…
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Links to previous chapters (for the benefit of new readers who struggle to find them):
Chapter 5: Awakening of the storm
Chapter 4: Trade run to Hell
Chapter 3: Old connections
Chapter 2: Means for revenge
Chapter 1: First kill
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Chapter 6: Anger of the Giants
“Damn!” Erich cursed.
The 12 mm projectile, upon hitting the glass wall, had changed the direction sufficiently to miss the intended target. Erich had incorrectly presumed that the glass wall would be thinner and would not affect the projectile that much. Wasting no time, not giving his target chance to recover from the shock, he reloaded and fired again.
Tourists on the plaza below looked around themselves, unused to the sound of the rifle, thinking that kids were playing with large firecrackers.
Max Rudel stared dumbfounded at the bloody body of the waiter for one sezura before realizing what had happened. His instinct told him to run away from this horrible place, that he would die if he stayed. He started to react on his instinct, but before his legs started to move, his head felt like it was being hit by a hammer. Then there was nothing.
Jacquelyn looked at the dead waiter, screaming all time. Her lungs seemed like they had infinite amounts of air. Then another strange, cracking sound could be heard and she looked to Max. Her husband was falling sideways from the chair with half of his head missing. She stopped screaming and started to run. She fell on the floor, her high heel shoes slipping on the blood. Rising up, she started to run again. Rest of the guest took to the floor assuming that someone was after Rudel family. Nobody wanted to be caught in the crossfire.
Clive, one of the waiters responsible for serving of the food, was the one of the few that did not duck. Being opportunist, he quickly produced the camera that he always carried around. Waiter pay on Nazaroth Hotel was high compared to other similar establishments, but still it was not enough for Clive and his expansive tastes. From time to time, he would take pictures of famous celebrities and sell them to highest bidding paparazzi.
Clive understood that the pictures of dead Max Rudel would sell for a six numbered sum. He regretted that he had not bought the camera with more memory.
“Sir?”
“Yes, honey?”
“There is a message drone from Senator McCarthy Senior.”
“Message drone?”
“Yes, Sir. He also called over the COMSAT to tell us to wake you up if necessary. He underlines that this is a very important message”
“Alright, alright. I am coming,” Bruno answered. He was sleepy and not used to be up this early. Ever since he had left the Navy, he had never stood up before eleven.
“Hologram projector,” he said, giving the command to the computer to start hologram projection equipment. The spider like device appeared and in few sezuras, it projected a 3D menu.
“Show the contents of message drone,” Bruno said, rising his head slowly so he could see the menu better.
“One videofile detected. One audiofile detected. 32,2 KT of 150 KT data used. 12 % of fuel remaining in the drone”
Meanwhile Boris secretary entered the room.
“I thought you would like a coffee, Sir”
“Thank you. You may go now,” Boris said taking the cup.
“On menu,” he said to the computer. The hologram changed, showing two files, the audiofile named “Take contact immediately” and the videofile named “Channel 340 News”.
“Start the audiofile,” Boris said, still sleepy despite the coffee he drunk.
The hologram changed again, showing a 3D note, the symbol for an audio message.
Boris recognized the voice of Senator McCarthy Senior. What he heard caused him to drop his cup, spilling the coffee over himself.
“Boris, Max is dead! They killed him two stazuras ago! I have arranged an encrypted COMSAT conference at twelve, you local time. Watch the news attachment”
Boris stood several minutes still, digesting the news he heard. Then he became aware of the burning sensation caused by the spilled coffee. He removed his shirt and with shaking voice ordered the computer to play the videofile.
A young woman was reporting outside the Nazaroth Hotel. Many police officers were around and an ambulance car was parked in front of the entrance to the hotel.
“The gruesome murder that took place here one and half stazura ago is still horrifying the residents of this quiet and peaceful resort. Two people were slain here with a strange weapon, the famous and well-respected industrial magnate Max Rudel and one of the hotel’s waiters.
There have been many speculations of the motivations behind this murder. Some blame the terrorists and others the industrial rivals of Max Rudel. We have not been able to get any comments from the local police force except the short statement from the police chief who guarantied us that the murderers would not get away.
Vega Outpost has never before witnessed such brutal murder before.”
Oh my Creator, Boris thought. He looked around him fearfully expecting the murderers to jump out of the every shadow. Ordering the lights to full, so that every shadow in the room would disappear, Boris called inn his secretary. Not because he had particular need for her – he simply was too afraid to be alone.
“Yes, Sir?”
“What’s time now?”
“Half nine, Sir. There is a clock on the wall, Sir.”
“I asked you about the time not about the position of my possessions! What is the time in Vega Outpost right now?”
“Vega Outpost is near Aragonia, so they are in same time zone…Let’s see…I think that it is almost half seven in the evening there”
Boris remembered that Max Rudel had dined regularly at Nazaroth Hotel around four or five PM. The assassins must have known that too. Perhaps, they know about my habits also, Bruno asked himself.
Erich was already on the train when the police cordoned of the Vega Outpost. Police did not know who they looked for, so Erich was never in real danger of being caught.
He watched the news along with the other passengers. The same reporter that had joked with the disappearance of the porter Erich had killed, was now respectfully expressing his condolences to the relatives of Max Rudel. So it takes a Giant’s death for you to act respectfully, Erich thought with contempt.
Police declared that they had some leads and at same time urging anyone knowing anything to come forward, a clear sign that that they did not know anything. Family Rudel and friends have already put forward a reward of hundred thousand Credits to anyone having information that would lead to an arrest.
Erich assumed that the police would be clueless until the experts from Aragonia arrived, something he assumed would happen in few stazuras. With little luck, until then he would reach the Aragonia 3 Landing Pads and Otto would be waiting for him there.
To throw of the detective of the tracks he had left the sterilized equipment and few threads of the hair belonging to the porter he killed, on the roof of the postal building. He had left the rifle in an acid bath that would dissolve any trace of the weapon. Erich had also left the burnt out wreck of the stolen Kofstad on the site where he had buried the porter he killed. That served two purposes. One of the reasons is that Erich wanted the young man to be buried properly while the other was that if the police based on the biological false traces he had left assumed that the young man was killer would change mind upon finding the decomposed body. Erich did not want the young man’s mother suffer additionally from the accusations that her son was a killer. Erich’s circumstances may have made him a heartless murderer, but he was not a sadist. He never enjoyed killing people. It was just business.
It was three in the morning according to pirate station’s time, when couple of Sector 21 guards awoke Tanya to tell her the news of Max Rudel’s demise.
“It is already done?”
One of the guards nodded. She quickly changed her clothes. Assassin was not boasting, Tanya thought. She would have preferred if the murder had taken place later. Tanya felt that the stakes had risen in this game and that it was her enemies turn to respond.
The problem was that Tanya felt unprepared. One of the guards cleared his throat, attempting to gain her attention. She looked to him, “There is something else?”
“Yes, problems”
“What kind of problems?” she asked, the knot in her stomach growing.
“The spies that have monitored Tony and you, have been conferring with, we presume, their bosses. One stazura ago two NSM pocket cruisers entered the East Gate. They proceeded to the Terracorp’s Solar Power Plant Alpha. They positioned themselves blocking all the outgoing traffic. They demand Tony’s extradition.”
Tanya cursed. Tony had left the party early, claiming that he had to go and rest for next day’s speeches. Tanya had offered him to sleep in her quarters but Tony refused and returned instead to his quarters aboard the Terracorp’s station. She knew that the real reason for him leaving the party was the huge presence of pirates among the party participants. Tony felt always uncomfortable among them, so he had left early.
“When will they extradite him,” she asked.
“Terracorp has actually refused. They claim that only police, with proper papers from a judge, can detain a person.”
“What are the police doing?”
“Nothing. Patrolling the gates like it is normal to have a mini civil war in the sector. Even the Navy Carrier is looking the other way. They have actually called back their patrols. There are rumors that Senator McCarthy Senior has called Eva Kho at the Terracorp’s HQ demanding that she complies with NSM demands.”
“McCarthy? Why does an Argon Prime senator take side in a local dispute?”
Suddenly it dawned on Tanya, that the assassination have triggered more events that Tanya and Tony intended. She had the feeling that she and Tony were just the pieces in a game that she did not understand.
One of the guards got a message over his communication equipment. He listened to the voice on the other end for couple of sezuras and then acknowledged the receiving. He turned then to Tanya and said, “More bad news. There is bounty of 32.000 Credits on yours and Tony’s heads. It is unauthorized bounty by the Guilds, but here on this pirate station, I doubt they will care. We must leave”
Both guards unholstered their weapons. One of them checked the corridor and then stepped out. Tanya picking up her own TG-18 laspistol, followed him. The other guard followed behind her, his duty being the rear guard. They had rehearsed this evacuation many times, so their progress was fast. Most of the people were asleep. Except few times they met few harmless drunks, they were alone in the corridors on their way to the docks.
Arriving at the docks, they quickly climbed aboard a waiting Mandalay. The cockpit was bit cramped for three persons so Tanya climbed over to the cargo hold. She could not see anything but she heard that the station’s automatic flight control was not making problems for the Mandalay. Good, she thought, the news of the bounty had not yet reached the station. The Mandalay started to fly towards the East Gate.
When they were 12 km away from the pirate station, one of the guards that was handling communications, turned back and told her that a Sector 21 ship was approaching. The other ship, a civilian Discoverer, positioned itself alongside the Mandalay. Using burst laser communication they conversed in secret.
“What did he say?” Tanya asked when she heard the Discoverer fly away.
“The situation is becoming critical. The NSM stations in the sector have sent their fighters to strengthen the blockade. Terracorp’s other station have also sent assistance to their comrades. However the Militia will side with the NSM, they are already assembling their ships on the planet’s surface.”
Tanya was not surprised. Most of the factories on planet’s surface were in NSM hands and the sector’s Militia was practically an extension of NSM’s own forces.
“There is news of a currier from a judge from Argon Prime with documents giving the local police authority to apprehend Tony”
“Turn the ship to Terracorp’s SPP. Dock with the station”
“But the plan is…”
“I am changing the plan. Dock with the station,” Tanya said firmly. The ship changed the direction. In ten mizuras time, they were approaching the blockade. Tanya climbed back to the cockpit so she could see what was happening. The Mandalay’s cockpit was entirely of glass so she could see in all directions, clearly seeing the details of the one of the pocket cruisers that was only hundred meters away.
The pocket cruisers were modified transporter ships with multiple turrets and increased shielding. Both Paranid and Split forbade other races of entering their territories with corvette class ships so foreign companies used the pocket cruisers to fill the role of cheap heavy convoy escorts when in Split or Paranid space. Tanya could see that this pocket cruiser had two, single barreled plasma thrower turrets on the sides and a twin heavy plasma turret on the top. The rotating missile tubes platform was attached on the ships underside.
“Entering the approach path,” the guard on the helm announced.
The docking procedure seemed to take jazuras for impatient Tanya. When they docked at their designated place, Tanya was the first one to be out of the ship.
Tony, pale from the strain of the situation was waiting outside. Pete, chief of local Station Security was clapping Tony on the shoulder and trying to reassure him. Small bag, with his belongings Tanya assumed, was on the floor beside him. He was unshaved and from the look of his face, it was obvious that he had not properly slept.
“I heard the flight control announcing you. I knew it was you,” he said explaining his presence.
“We are here to get you out,” Tanya said.
“Doesn’t look like you will make it,” Pete told Tanya, pointing to the screens showing the growing number of blockade ships outside the station.
“I…I would like to…I would like to get away from here,” Tony said with his eyes downcast. Deep inside himself, he knew that this was the end of the road. The news of the death of the man responsible for his fathers suffering and death brought him no happiness. Just sadness that the pain over the loss of his father was not gone. Moreover, he realized that his father would wish that Tony had gone on with his life instead of wasting it on revenging his death.
Tanya looking Tony’s expression did not understand his inner turmoil. Everything that mattered in her life was the Cause. The Cause would suffer a great loss if Tony were lost. Therefore, Tony had to be saved.
“You two are to stay behind. You know what you have to do,” Tanya said turning to the guards, in effect condemning them to death. Two men would be arrested on charges that they helped Tanya and Tony to escape. In order to avoid capture and interrogation by Argon government, Sector 21 members were ordered to commit suicide if they could not avoid being arrested. Turning back to Tony, she said, “You are going with me”
Tony looked at Pete.
Pete just smiled and said, “Your choice. From what I hear, if you stay here you will be going to the death row. When that courier arrives and shows us the judge order, you will be arrested. If you run, one of those two pocket cruisers out there will probably destroy your ship.”
Tony smiled back and then entered the Mandalay’s cockpit. He said farewell to the two men, thinking wrongly that their solemn expressions were caused by the concern for Tanya and him. He did not know about the suicide orders Tanya had just given to the two men. Tanya followed behind him, shutting the door. She took the helm since she was far better pilot than Tony was.
“What is our plan?” Tony asked.
“Simple. When they try to stop us and request to board us, we will accelerate away. Our acceleration is far better than theirs is so we should reach our top speed before they reach half of their maximum speed. With little luck we would be out of the effective range of their weapons before they realize what have happened.”
When the last door of the docking tunnel opened, she saw that her plan had no chance of success. The two cruisers had placed themselves outside this docking terminal. They had also placed out a minefield, effectively blocking any escape route for the Mandalay. Placing minefields in Argon Federation was illegal but NSM could easily pay any fines.
“Someone must have told them which terminal we would use,” Tanya said. If she had not been tired, she would have guessed that this could happen.
“What now?” Tony asked.
“Now we die,” Tanya said accelerating the Mandalay towards one of the cruisers.
The sezura before Mandalay and the pocket cruiser collided and exploded, Tony thought that his life was over before he had the chance to do any of the things he had planed.
“You are late,” Boris commented. He had calmed somewhat, the guards around him giving him the confidence. He no longer feared that the assassins would start jumping out of the shadows.
“I had to take care of some business in Ore Belt sector.”
“Yeah, I heard that you had talked some under-director in NSM, into starting a civil war with Terracorp. Is that wise?”
“He overreacted,” McCarthy replied. He took a sip from the glass in front of him before continuing,
“Terracorp will not cause us any concern. They and Goners are concerned with themselves and oblivious to the world around them. Terracorp is eager to stay away from local politics. Even their sponsored senator hasn’t uttered a word of protest. Our real problem is how we will handle the current situation. If someone is willing to kill Max Rudel, that someone is also willing to kill us”
“So you are now inclined to believe that I was right all time?”
“This is not the time to gloat Boris. Yes, I believe now that Binyamin Halevy has survived somehow. Max have mentioned couple of times this Erich Campbell. From what I know he is the only one who had surfaced after this many years. If he is indeed the assassin we are looking for, he may be the lead we need to find out in which hole is Binyamin Halevy hiding. Can we get our hands on Erich Campbell?”
“No. Our men don’t even know if he is on Argon Prime any more. However, sitting here, waiting for you, I came up with a plan. I have a picture from Army archives of Erich Campbell. The picture of Binyamin Halevy could also be obtained the same way. Using your connections in Argon intelligence, we could change dossiers of two men so that they show that the two men had deserted and are now pirates. Then putting the pictures out in the media, we could manipulate the media to report that those two were assassins of Max Rudel which in fact they were”
Boris was proud of his plan. Making the two men wanted, made any travel for them difficult. Senator McCarthy was also happy with the plan adding,
“Excellent! And if we post a bounty, sufficiently large, on their heads they wouldn’t be able to travel trough uncontrolled space.”
McCarthy was referring to what media brandished Pirate Sectors. The various race’s governments encouraged such notions, fearing such “uncontrolled” sectors. The population of these sectors called their sectors “Free Systems”. Often they were not criminals, but only individuals who didn’t agree with the political system in their native nations. In Free Systems you could find states of warrior Borons, atheistic Paranids, peace loving Split farmers and any kind of Argon who thought that Argon Federation limited their prospects of a happy life. Even the non-profit seeking Teladi could be found in such systems. They created, sometimes multiracial, states that were fiercely independent and rejected any attempted dominion from the five major powers in the known universe.
Pirate themselves, although often based in Free Systems, rarely had strength or organization level to take the control of a sector.
“How long will it take for you?” Boris asked fearing that the more time they spend in putting their plan into action, the more time would Binyamin Halevy and Erich Campbell get to escape.
“If I can get hold of my connections, today. Many intelligence officers in Argon intelligence owe me services,” McCarthy replied confidently.
“Morning’s newspapers”, Suad Khan said handing over his PDA to Erich and Otto. Two men were blinking, not yet awake. They have docked at midnight with Trading Station and went straight for their beds.
“Trouble in Ore Belt,” Suad added putting chemical components in his coffee machine. Erich entered the news menu and selected few newspapers. He was surprised that the pictures of the murder were already available. They showed blood stained tablecloth and the bodies of Max Rudel and the waiter. Some of them were really macabre showing close ups of Max Rudel’s head with its gaping wound.
The titles ranged from the “The Nazaroth Massacre” to “Blood Galore in Vega”, article contents, while expressing feigned shock, at same time drowned their voyeuristic public with all the grisly details, every newspaper trying to outdo their rivals.
Reading quickly trough couple of them, he concluded that the so-called experts had produced a high number of highly diverging theories. Everybody in the known universe was blamed for the murder, from the terrorists to the cultist. Much attention was given to the theory that claimed that rogue elements in Argon intelligence had stolen the invisibility suits from Argon Armed Forces and then killed Max Rudel.
“They haven’t yet figured the type of weapon used,” Erich commented to Otto and Suad.
“I am not surprised. According the Goners, the weapon was already rare at the time of first exploration of known universe,” Suad said, giving one cup of the coffee to Otto, who still was groggy from sleep.
He did not offer coffee to Erich, knowing that his ABC implants would brandish it as toxin and force him to vomit the coffee. Instead, Erich ordered his stress implant to make him awake. The effect was immediate and therefore more efficient than liters of coffee.
Otto, not really interested in the assassination, turned on the TH. First channel that was on showed some nature program but then the message “Breaking News” came up and nature channel was interrupted with a news flash. Otto started to change the channel, but then stopped, shocked from what he was seeing.
“Erich, you are on TH,” he managed to stutter.
Erich and Suad ignoring the hologram projections until now turned to the TH.
Three-dimensional picture of Erich with another man could be seen. Suad turned up the volume.
“We interrupt this program to bring you newest update on the murder of Max Rudel that happened yesterday between four and five PM, APT time.
We have just received a report, coming from our source in justice minister office. Two assassins have been identified, Erich Campbell and Binyamin Halevy, both operating on the orders of previously unknown Carba pirate clan. The motivations for the assassination that took place yesterday are still unclear, but our experts have put some theories…”
“How do they now that it was you that was behind the murder?” Otto asked. He replayed the news broadcast once again, looking for any detail that he might have missed the first time he had watched it.
“Who is Binyamin Halevy?” Suad asked.
“That’s some kind of decoy just like that junk about Carba clan. Makes the case more believable, “Otto offered his theory.
“No… Binyamin Halevy exists. Or he did once,” Erich said. He then told the story of the captain that he killed seven jazuras ago.
“But this Boron only wanted to take a little peak,” Ni Lan pleaded. Twelve stazuras in Argon space and he was already in trouble.
“No good, you slimy bastard,” the angry police officer answered. He increased the pressure on Ni Lan’s joints and Ni Lan started to cry.
“All right, that’s enough,” female officer came to Ni Lan’s rescue.
“Only a little peak,” Ni Lan said with tearful voice.
“You are old enough to know better. You shouldn’t have escaped from orphanage. Although that is not punishable by either Boron or Argon laws, by stealing and using other man’s identification, hacking the passenger shuttle’s computer so you could have a free ride and on top of that breaking in military network, you certainly have earned some time in the prison.”
“A little peak,” Ni Lan said again, barely audible.
“By the interstellar treaty of 530 between Argon Federation and Boron Kingdom a crime committed on the soil of one nation is, in your case Argon Federation gives the offender the status of criminal in both nations. You have right to argue your case right here. If we are satisfied, we may only deport you over to Boron controlled space. You may argue now”
“Sorry?”
“Are any of the present officers satisfied with the arrested boron’s explanation of his actions?”
Both officers present said loudly in unison, “No!”
The female officer then continued, “Ni Lan, aged 15 is by Argon Federation’s laws old enough to be held accountable for his actions. Ni Lan will be transported to Trading Station 3412 in the system The President’s End”
Jane Freedman shut down her audio recorder and ordered the guard to execute her order. She felt sorry for little Boron, but the Law had to be obeyed. Ni Lan had attempted to break in The Presidents End’s military network. Usually they would not call Jane for simple crime like that, but it was first assumed that pirate’s were behind the hacker attack. Jane being the youngest and most promising officer in anti-piracy section was put on the case. She had tracked down Ni Lan within 30 mizuras after her arrival, impressing highly the local military commander.
Incoming call sounded from her PDA.
“Yes”
The picture on the screen was of her commander Colonel Forsyth, leader of Navy’s intelligence section responsible for anti-piracy.
“Hey Jane, I have just received the message from Admiral Warrington which highly praised your skills. Continue like this and you will be section leader in no time”
“Thank you, Sir”
“I want you to report directly to me when you come back to Argon Prime. I think that it is time you get to run your first major operation.”
“Thank you for the opportunity, Sir”
“You deserve it,” Colonel Forsyth said before shutting down the link.
Jane felt good and exhilarated. It had been only two jazuras ago that she completed the Naval Academy. Having highest grades of the year, everybody tipped that she would be a squadron commander in no time. Instead, Colonel Forsyth arrived at Academy and pulled her to side. She was told that Navy had no need for further pilots and that she could not expect an assignment before next jazura. If she wanted, Colonel Forsyth could arrange for her to be transferred to Navy’s special school in Ringo Moon where she could learn about intelligence work. She was given 48 hours to think about it. Jane went home in deep thoughts. She always had thought of herself as a combat pilot but she also had a fascination for intelligence work. Jane decided to call her father, asking for advice. It turned out that Colonel Forsyth was an old friend of her father and that her father ardent supporter of her being under Colonel Forsyth command. Next day she called Colonel Forsyth and accepted his offer.
Jane used the military version of Discoverer to get to Argon Prime. She had right to luxury passenger transports on government pay, but she preferred the speed of a Discoverer. In only two stazuras she was on approach route to Battle Station AP5. Orbiting the Argon Prime planet, beside being defensive station it also served as headquarters for all branches of Navy Intelligence. Once docked, she used the turbo lift to get to Colonel Forsyth’s office.
The secretary of Colonel Forsyth greeted her, saying, “The Colonel is expecting you”
Jane entered the Spartan looking office of the Colonel. One table and two chairs were only furniture. The table was cowered with files on various ongoing operations. The only light came from a single ancient looking bulb that was so stained that it gave grey light. Jane always wondered how Colonel Forsyth managed to read in such light.
“I got a mission for you. You are to arrest two deserters turned pirate“
“Is this about Max Rudel murder?”
Colonel Forsyth smiled. Looking down on the computer screen, he said,
“Smart girl. Yes indeed, it is about deceased Max Rudel. NSM have sent us pictures of these men.”
“NSM knew about whom murderers were just hours after the assassination happened?”
“Yes,” Colonel Forsyth said slowly. He smiled again. Jane was his best agent, always seeing what other did not deem important.
“I too wondered about this. But let me continue with the briefing. Senator McCarthy called my boss and then my boss called me to ensure that anything you discover is to reported to the senator”
“Senior or the woman?” Jane asked. There were two McCarthy senators, father and daughter.
“Senior,” Colonel Forsyth answered.
“Why does a senator has special interests in this case”
“Yes indeed why? From what I know of politicians, they don’t have friends - only temporary allies.
So yes, it is strange that Senator McCarthy is showing such concern about this case. But it is dangerous to investigate politicians”
“So I am to leave Mr. McCarthy alone?”
“Until further - yes. Normally I would have started my investigation with NSM and deceased Max Rudel, but we have strict orders to only find two fugitives”
“What do we now about the suspects?”
“You have access to their biographies. It is claimed that they have deserted in Montalaar system. Several agents have tried to track down their relatives. Binyamin Halevy has only an ex-wife who whishes him dead. He is deep space trained so expect a psycho. Otherwise, we don’t have much on him. You can read more about him in the files. On Erich Campbell, we have few more. We have interviewed his family and they haven’t seen him in seven jazuras. He has been spotted by a witness taking the train from Vega Outpost to Aragonia. Then the trail turns cold. I suspect that he has left the planet. Tracking biological false leads, local police found a burned out wreck and nearby a shallow grave with a body in it. The body is identified as the missing porter that had worked on the Nazaroth Hotel, the scene of murder. Our job is not to investigate the murder, but think that it gives us some insight into the minds of these assassins. Any questions?”
“Yes, Sir. You mentioned that it is “claimed” that they have deserted”
“I did? Well, I might as well tell you: I took a search on the net and found that both men appeared in the published lists of the casualties of Argon Pride Tragedy. Also interviewing the family of Erich Campbell, agents found out that his family too believes he has died in that Tragedy. Did I mention that Erich Campbell is a cyberborg?”
“How can he dessert then? Cyberborgs have tracking devices installed in them.”
“Exactly. So how then did he manage to dessert? As I hinted at the beginning, this is no simple manhunt. Be careful Jane…”
Otto had just undocked from the Argon Prime’s docking station when the onboard computer informed him of incoming communication. He turned on the screen, thinking that Suad Khan was attempting to contact him. Instead, the face of a Goner, dressed in their typical attire, appeared on the screen.
“Have you heard the good news?”
“How many times do I have to tell you people that I am not going to convert?!” Otto yelled back to the Goner.
“Don’t talk to them, that is just what they want,” Erich advised.
“Computer, shut down the screen!” Otto ordered. Erich lent back in his seat, thinking that this was the end of the story. Otto, however, had other plans. He identified Goner’s ship, a Ranger and then locked his missile-targeting computer on it. He then fired a missile on the Goner.
“Are you insane!? We’ll get every police ship after us!” Erich said jumping from his seat and turning to the monitor showing the feed from an extern camera.
“Relax, it is just a Mosquito missile. Not the modified one but the ordinary type,” Otto said.
Jane was on the way to the Argon Prime’s Trading Station, hoping to catch planetary shuttle to Aragonia City. The sound of nearby missile launch startled her. The sound was generated by the onboard computer Stella and worked as an aid to the pilot.
“Stella, identify the missile and its target. Who had launched the missile?”
“Ship YK-185-THS-568 has launched the missile on Goner ship GO-521-CSW-982. Goner has nothing to worry about, it is just a Mosquito missile,” Stella responded.
“It seems that the Goner doesn’t know it. Just look at his reactions,” Stella added, showing on the nearby monitor the Goners ships desperate and clumsy evasive maneuvers. Goner was with desperate voice begging for help on the public channel. His voice turned to non-understandable shrieks when missile, having no trouble tracking its targets evasive maneuvers, was about the ship. Public channel filled with laughter from the nearby traders, when missile hit the Goner’s ship harmlessly, barely reducing its shields level. Jane, always sympathetic to the Goners, ordered Stella to open a channel to the ship that had fired the missile.
“Are you going to get mean?” Stella asked.
“Just open the channel”
“Your wish is my command,” ship’s AI responded. The HUD showed that the channel was established.
“We didn’t even reach the gate, before you get us in the trouble,” Erich commented when the computer announced incoming transmission from a ship with police id.
“This is Police space ship, AP-9821 to the pilot of the ship YK-185-THS-568. You have attacked an innocent. Explain your actions”
“We humbly apologize AP-9821. My hand, subconsciously, reached for the launch button when I meant instead to reach for block communication button,” Otto said. The public channel was again filled with laughter from the onlookers. Erich rolled his eyes; it was typical of Otto to say something that only will escalate the situation
“Watch it YK-185-THS-568! I am not in good mood today!”
“I apologize again AP-9821. I am willing to pay directly to Boron ship the indemnities he may require”
“Shrewd move,” Stella commented, “It will keep you from arresting him”
The AI was referring to the law that allowed offenders to avoid prosecution if they paid indemnity claims on the spot. It provided government coffers with credits and kept the justice system unclogged.
“I know,” Jane said. The Goner, as expected, with shaking voice announced that he did not want any money.
“It seems that you are of the hook YK-185-THS-568. For now,” Jane said to the Harrier ship that had fired the missile.
“Stella, ask the Harrier’s computer if its owner had done anything suspicious”
“Sorry, I can’t do it. The Harrier does not have an AI onboard. I thought that they were standard equipment on ships today, even on Teladi ones. You suspect something?” Stella asked Jane.
“Hmm… His id looks suspicious, he has no AI onboard and he knows the laws,” Jane answered. The lack of AI aboard a ship was strange. Most of the pilots, finding strain of loneliness in space unbearable, installed the AI chips on their ships for no other reason than to have someone to talk to. Artificial Intelligence was also a strategic update to the ship, giving the pilot advices and reducing the workload for the pilots. Without AI chip, it was also impossible for a pilot to get sleep in pirate sectors since there was no way for him to leave the helm safely. Few people knew another quality industrial produced AI chips had – ability to report pilot’s crimes or strange behavior to authorities without pilot knowing it. It has been the best-kept secret in Argon space. The senators have ordered, under guise of caring for the flight safety, the manufacturers in Argon Federation to install an AI chip on every ship that was produced. Many races followed this example. Harrier’s ships lack of an AI was strange behavior and the last mizuras actions by the ship’s pilot, did not alleviate Jane’s suspicions.
She was inclined to order the Harrier to land on the Trading Station so it could be taken apart piece for piece and examined. Jane dismissed that thought. She had to find Erich Campbell and Binyamin Halevy and this was not the time to be side tracked.
“That was close,” Erich commented.
“Not really, the worst thing that could happen is that we would be forced to pay a fine”
“Still, you wasted 200 credits on the missile”
“It was worth it. This was the eighth time that Goner had told me about the good news. At least now he will stay away from me,” Otto defended his actions.
Erich smiled before saying, “I am willing to bet that he will”
“Damn, you are right!” Otto said remembering that Suad Khan had installed id-changing software on his ship that changed periodically the id every time the “Salvager’s Luck” was outside the scanner’s range.
Otto’s cursing continued until they reached the North Gate.
“Jackie, there is a man outside, wanting to speak to you,” Sandy said to Jacquelyn. She had been with Jacquelyn last tazura, helping her to cope with death of Max. Two friends forgot soon everything about Max.
“Is he cute?” Jacquelyn asked smiling.
“Jackie! Max isn’t even cold!” Sandy said, pretending to be shocked.
“I am not dead,” Jacquelyn declared, applying lipstick to her lips, “show him in”
“Well, he isn’t that cute, but judge for your self”
Five mizuras later, Olav Lie entered the room. Ignoring the giggles of Sandy, he addressed Jacquelyn in a tone that reminded her of her schoolmaster,
“Can we be alone for few moments?”
Jacquelyn indented to refuse his request but bit back her words when she saw the look on Lie’s face. Something about this man made her uneasy. She felt that it would be best if she complied with his request. She nodded to Sandy, who now was serious. Sandy looked from Jacquelyn to the visitor and than left the room.
“I am Olav Lie and I represent interests of certain people that were acquainted with now deceased Mr. Rudel. They are very concerned with his company’s future. They have offer for you…”
“They can contact my legal representative if they want to bid for NSM. Now do you want to express your condolences before you leave?” Jacquelyn said firmly. She had to go long way to obtain the fortune she had always desired and she did not intend to be scared away from it, no matter how scary the man in front if her tried to be.
“I don’t think Mr. Rudel understands,” Olav Lie said handing her his PDA. He pushed the start button. On the screen could be seen Jacquelyn and her gardener in a compromising position. Several of them actually.
“Last time I checked, sex was not illegal,” Jacquelyn answered trying to sound confident.
“No adultery is perfectly legal in Argon space. The murder on other hand is not.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“We found fingerprints and biological traces belonging to the man on the video. And we have evidence of him calling you several times last mazura. It could be interpreted as planning of the murder of your husband,” Olav Lie lied. The police had not found any traces of the assassin, only false leads.
“You think I murdered my husband!?” Jacquelyn said with her confidence evaporated. Her lower lip began to tremble and she suddenly did not know where to put her hands. The gardener ha been fired two mazuras ago. He had been calling her several times last mazura, inviting her to repeat their fun. She had been bored with him, so she had refused. However, how might the police interpret those phone calls, Jacquelyn thought with fear.
“You will get fair offer. 90 millions for the company and a rich and peaceful life”
Several mizuras passed in silence, Jacquelyn weighting her options. Ninety millions was much under the market value of NSM. The stocks of NSM, only other Nividium provider beside the PTNI, were worth 200 millions. Yet, if I go to jail, I would get nothing by Argon laws, Jacquelyn thought. Finally, she accepted. She would not be as rich as she was this morning but still she would be extremely rich by Argon standards.
After leaving the Rudel mansion, Olav Lie called his boss over the COMSAT to tell him the good news.
Boris Gellar was very satisfied with his security chief’s report.
Continue to chapter 7 (And feel free to give me your opinion on the poll above)
Will get reading either later today or tomorrow.
Oh, my friend there are plans within the plans here (borrowed this expression from Dune). Lies upon the lies... But I can't reveal the chapter 10 yet...