Chapter 3

Max had expected to see some sort of response to the dead Baltazarian, they didn't seem like the kind of people who let such things go easily. But, kidnaping the Fed Com Ambassador's teenage son, that was a little much. In fact, it didn't make any sense, it was too serious to be a negotiating tactic, it was the sort of thing the Fed Com responded to with RCTs, not trade concessions. Maybe it was a splitter faction trying to embarrass the ruling faction, there were rumours that civil war was brewing. But if that was the case they were playing a very dangerous game for little gain that Max could see. It was particularly strange that after four days there was still no ransom demand. It was a week for surprises though, he also hadn't expected to find Samuel Gibson waiting for him in the compounds meeting room.

"So why me? I am a Marik spy remember, why do you think you can trust me?" Max asked.

"I don't." Gibson replied. "But, I know where your loyalties lie."

"And you don't trust your own people because you think it was an inside job." Max finished the unspoken half of the sentence.

"Don't you?"

Max nodded, it was certainly his analysist's interpretation of events. The Fed Com compound was well guarded, for the attackers to have gotten in and out before the alarm was raised was highly suspicious. It suggested a well place inside man.

"And you feel I won't betray you because you don't think I think it would be in the Free World League's best interests."

"I wouldn't use so many words, but yes." Gibson replied slowly losing patience. "Look it pains me to say it but I can't do this alone and there is no one else I trust on this planet. Will you help me?"

Max looked thoughtful. "Of course a member of the FWLM can't be officially involved in what's highly likely involve breaking multiple laws in a neutral nation. However, if something were to happen to the Federated Commonwealth's Ambassador's son and it came out that the Free World's League had refused to help, that might adversely affect the relationship between our nations." He grinned. "So guess I'd better leave my ID card at home today. Do you have any leads?"

Gibson grinned back and spread a map of the city out on the table. "I got a bit of a break." He started rummaging through his pockets. "I was trying to track their getaway vehicle when two Black Warriors took a dislike to my questions. They are in hospital now, but before they went, one very kindly lent me his van…." Gibson held up some keys. "…and unlocked his mobile phone for me." He produced a mobile phone still marked with a blood stained thumb print. "It had some very interesting messages on it. Including a shopping list and a drop off point for tonight."

"McIntyre men or Cirion's?" Max asked, he doubted it would be President McIntyre's faction, but it payed to double check.

"No idea." Gibson admitted, until that moment it hadn't occurred to him there was any need to make a distinction.

"You know they are going to notice their deliveryman is missing and abandon the drop." Max looked sceptical at the presumed plan.

"If they were smart they would." Gibson agreed. "But they are Black Warriors, basically pirates, and I just put two of their men in hospital and jacked one of their vehicles. They can't let that stand, they have to respond or they lose face in the local community. They know I'm trying to track them, my obvious next move is to complete the drop off and then track them back to their hide out."

"So they lay an ambush for anyone foolish enough to drive their van up to the drop off point." Max reasoned. "Except you're not thinking of driving are you?"

"Not a chance, they are expecting a van, they won't be expecting two guys sneaking up behind them." Gibson replied with relish.

"Still poor odds, half dozen or more to one." Max replied.

"Still time to back out if you're scared."

"Not a chance. Meet me at the crossroads two blocks away at 5pm." Max pointed at the map. "I'll bring a few toys."

"Me to." Gibson replied offering his hand. "We've going to give the bastards hell."

Max took his hand. "That we are."