Chapter 21
By Cliff
Beta and Clean up: Not done
Reviewed by Hotpoint.
9 May 3047
On the road again to the Dunianshire system.
Over the next month the jumpship stopped and traded in three different systems, before they made it back to the Dunianshire system. When they did return to this center of trade? They did not have to submit to any type of customs inspection this time, when they transmitted their identification to the system's Jump Point Traffic Control. After the jump sail had been deployed and checked out, Robert made contact with the main traffic control office for this system. They had been in system almost a full 24 hours, as his people worked to shift some of the cargos around between the four ships.
He was cleared to launch all three dropships to the habitable planet of the system, without so much as a ten-minute delay after the speed of light was taken into account. He had sent two different personal messages, before the dropships had left the jump point. The first and the most important message, in his eyes, was the message he sent to Lora. The second message was sent to Mr. McDonogh, the head of the local MMM office. They were radio messages, so he did not get a chance to talk to them in person before the dropship made land fall. Having a conversation with a delay of longer than a few seconds each way was a pain to deal with, and it was very rarely put up with in this day in age.
Someone must have pulled a few strings while Robert and his dropships were on the multiday burn towards the planet. That was because, all three of the dropships were able to have a landing point right next to each other on the very busy drop port. These three landing points were at the far end of the drop port, but that was okay with Robert. As long as all three of the dropships were within mutually supporting fire positions for each other, that was good enough for Roberts peace of mind. He rather likes the idea that there was some separation and distance, between his ships and anyone else's ships. It also would allow him to keep a sharp look out over most of the avenues of approach, and he can also see the patrols that were working the nearby edge of the drop port.
After the landing area around the dropships had cooled, from the engine's blasted heat. The refueling lines were brought out by the refueling crews for all their ships and locked into the now open ports of the drop port's landing cribs. It takes only an hour for the massive fuel tanks on all the dropships to be filled with the cold liquid reaction mass, that they needed to make the plasma thrust. This was a major port, so this was supported by the built-in infrastructure of the drop port.
Robert was in the main meeting room of the Mule class Lisbon Maru, doing paperwork for the local Traffic Control office. As soon as he had submitted the electronic paperwork. He sent word to all of the dropships, that the ship's commanders could send the first group of crewmembers out on the town for some personal shopping and recreation. Even if they did not want to go shopping. They could just spend some time under open skies and breathe unrecycled air.
Before they had jumped into this system again. Robert had made a ships wide announcement, that this was going to be the last major Port call, before they went home. This was not a surprise, but his announcement had made it official. He asked for a detailed report on any empty cargo space, from each Cargo Master. He was not surprised, to find out that those reports were done and waiting for the mission commander to ask for them. He would not be able to sell the White Rabbit. Not without buying another ship, so they could carry the cargos they already had. Robert had not been that active in trying to sell the blockade runner after the battle in the Bivouac system.
After reviewing those reports. He let the dropship's commanders post a notice that the personnel cargo space would be raised to a maximum of 1.5 tons at the other Captain's discretion. He could have raised it a little more. But he did not want to do that on this trip, and then not be able to do it again. If that happened? Then those other crews might think that they were being punished, if they did not get that same amount of storage space in the future. Robert was planning ahead for at least a few more of these missions. He had no idea if high command would agree with him or not. They might even decide that if a mission does go again? He might not be the one in command of the mission.
Robert was starting to get worried, that he had not received a return or acknowledgement message from Lora. He sent a second message, that he had adjusted the tone of his phrasing. Then she sent a short-worded message, that she was on another contract on the other side of the planet. In her return message. It said that she would be wrapping it up by the end of the day, and she would see him as soon as she could. She already had a purchased ticket on the next Zanadu jet heading back to Londinium. She did not want to have a conflict of interest, so she would not be able to contact him again or risk breaking some of the local laws. They were on thin ice until she had finished the job she was working on, and the paperwork was filed in all of the appropriate departments. Robert was thinking that he should have sent her a message at the last stop that had a working HPG. Hindsight is 20/20, after all.
Just before Lora got her digital message to him. A message had come in from MMM that the person he was trying to contact, was temporarily out of the office. His deputy could set aside some time for a meeting, if she had an idea of what Captain Copeland wanted to have the meeting about. He did not send a reply about anything to an unknown underling. Robert put the message aside for Lora to deal with later, when she came to see them. He thought he might be getting the pass off, by someone in MMM until they could prove that they were not going to be wasting someone high up in the food chains time. After the last set of deals, Robert was a little surprised by this turn of events.
Robert tried not to spend too much time on the bridges of the dropships, this time. It would undermine the authority of their Captains, again. He had set up his main office in the meeting room on the Lisbon Maru. The meeting room in the White Rabbit was a lot smaller, and he wanted to spread out a little. He only planned to stop at each of the dropships, while they were planet side. He wanted to make sure that the other crews would not think, he was playing favorites among the three dropships. It was best to stop those rumors, even if this part of the mission was almost over. The shifting would also get his mind off the idea, that he had made mistakes. One that when he got back? High command was going to find something he missed.
Robert had just come up with his visiting schedule to see the other ships, when the captain of the Maru knocked on the hatch to his temporary office and entered the space. The metal hatch was open to the ship's corridor, so he had stepped into the meeting room after the knock or rap on the hard metal hatch.
"Sir? Communication took down a message for you." The officer had an odd expression on his face, as he passed a folded hard copy message form to his commander. He went to a rigid position of attention, after the slip of paper left his hand.
Robert was watching the man as he took the offered form, from the officer. Robert kept his face still, as he noted the other man looked like the form might be a poisonous reptile of some kind. He looked down and reads the note. He had to read it three times, before he looked back up at the other man that was standing stiff back waiting for his commander to react.
"So, I have been invited to a meeting over in the ComStar compound. Did anyone acknowledge that we received this message, and that we might be sending anyone to this meeting they are asking for us to attend?
"No Sir! I was there when the message came in. They were told that the request would be passed along to whoever needs to see it. The Form went from her hand directly into mine, and then into your hands. No one else has seen this." The officer was eye locked on a point in space that was about a foot over Robert's head.
The other man was pointing at the paper now resting on the desk. "Sir? I had no idea how you wanted to handle it. I thought it was my duty, as the "officer on deck", to bring it directly to you. Post haste!"
Robert picked up the paper, that he had not realized he had put down on the tabletop. He rereads what was written on it again. He just wanted to make sure it was not a bad dream, or something. He crumpled the paper into a ball, and then looked at his handy work. He lazily tossed it across the room, and into a trash collection unit. He had an image of the Colonial game called Pyramid that was growing in popularity on his home planet.
"What message? If anyone from ComStar asked for a meeting, or makes an inquiry about shipping or selling anything? Write it down, and then dump it where it belongs. I do not want any of those religious nut jobs anywhere near our ships, or our people. Please let the other ship's captains know about the message you gave me, and my directive about ComStar. If there are any questions, from any of the four of them? Let them know they can contact me, no matter what time it might be. We are almost home, but we still need to keep our guards up." There had not been any useful recovered data on the Pirates' computers, but most of the command staff thought that they had been paid by someone in ComStar to attack them.
The dropship officer saluted his superior and did a parade ground about face to leave the officer alone to his work. Robert spent the rest of the day finishing up the required paperwork and reports. These were the ones that he would have to turn in when they returned to New Circe. If he got them done now? It would save him a lot of time on the back end of this mission. When his local communication device chirped to let him know that it was time to go to dinner, he was surprised at the amount of time that had passed. Tonight, it would be him, Jess, and two other crewmembers who had done outstanding work having dinner together. He collected his noteputor and left the meeting room/ turned public office.
Robert had called ahead, to let Cafe' Le Chiffre know that they were coming. Robert did not want to take a chance, and not be able to get a table. That would have been a little embarrassing, and this time they did not have Lora to act as a speed pass to get a table in a place that Robert knew was very popular with the locals. As it was, when Robert stepped out of the taxi? The doorman recognized him immediately.
They were welcomed like long lost, and very close family members. They had not recognized the name, that he had used when they had been contacted for the reserved table. But they did know Robert's and Jess's faces. That was all that mattered. The visitors, all just let the locals pick a meal for each of them. When the meals were dropped off, not one of the plates would have been on the menu. The two crewmembers receiving the reward were very impressed with the dinner.
After a great meal, the group left the Cafe'. The group flagged down another hover taxi, that took them to the main shopping area of the city. It was after they were several hours into the walking and shopping, that Jess noticed that she had seen the same person in three different shops. Robert almost called an end to their relaxing trip, right then. But after looking around on his own, he just kept a sharper eye out. He would stay on alert, until it was time to make their way back to the dropships with their purchases that they could carry. Large purchases would be delivered the next day, going directly into the dropships. All in all. The group had a good time, and the two hard working crewmembers would tell of their amazing time with the two senior officers. Very quickly, they would be the envy of the entire small fleet. It was going to be a very positive motivator for the rest of the crew, just as Robert hoped it would be.
When Robert and Jess checked in with the duty staff on the bridge, after shopping and dinner. They were told that there were four different attempts, by ComStar, to set up a meeting with Captain Copeland or one of the other dropship's captains. Robert looked at Jess and just shrugged his shoulders. He headed to the gym, before going to his room for some sleep.
The next few days went fast, and the crews were rotating off the ships. They were spending time in town picking up things, that they wanted to take home with them. Lora had showed up a day later than planned. It would seem that the Jet had a last-minute mechanical issue, and she had to catch the one flying the next day. The highlight had been when Robert had to sign off on a 10 million C-Bills transfer, to cover a group lot of jumpship parts, that could fit most classes of jumpship. The communication staff also told him that the ComStar compound was sending messages every two hours to the dropships, and even the jumpship was being hounded by attempts to set up a meeting. After the last message. Robert thought something was going on about all of the delays Lora had to deal with, and it was starting to make the back of his mind itch.
It would also seem that ComStar was starting to get upset, with the people taking the messages. It would seem. That very few people ignored a "summons" to attend a meeting, when it was sent by one of the religious nuts. By now the communications techs were having fun with it, and they were not taking it personally when ComStar vented some anger at them. They were even keeping score, and whoever got the most curses directed at them won. They even were awarded additional points, for volume of the person that had called. What they did not know, was that Robert had added a bottle of 24-year-old Whisky to whoever "won" each of the classes of bets dealing with these attempts of communications.
Robert relieved the commander of the Maru, so that he could have some time off and on the town. Robert always liked sitting a watch shift on the command bridge. It made him feel like he still had his fingers on the pulse of the ship, and her crew. At least for a few hours, he could feel like a real captain again. He knew how hard it was for a Commander or Captain of a ship to have any "down time" while on mission. If he could help out and give them a break? That would help with that stress point on a crewmember. Besides he would enjoy it.
After Robert went to bed, it was around 2am local when his head hit the pillow. When he came back up onto his "normal" shift. He was alerted to a short message, that came from Lora at 6 am, while he was off shift. She wanted to have a meeting for lunch at her normal place, around noon local. Robert told the communication tech, to tell her, that he would meet her there. He also told them, to let Jess know about the short notice meeting. She needed to get with the ship's Captains to arrange for two escorts to be assigned to them. Robert left the bridge and went back to his cabin, after his daily update brief. He laid back down for some more much needed sleep.
Robert did not eat any breakfast. So, when he met up with Jess and the two escorts? He was ready for some food, and lots of it. It did not have to be that great of food to fill the need in his stomach, but from what he knew. It was, that the food he would be given would be great. What the local law enforcement did not know, and would not know, unless something went badly at lunch. It was that each of the four members were armed with at least a powerful energy-based holdout weapon concealed on their persons. Robert made sure of this before they left the dropship, just in case. He had thought that he was being paranoid, but he was not going to take any chances. Not being this close to the end, of this run.
It was a short walk to the group transportation pick-up zone. He was mildly surprised, that it had moved closer to Copeland's three dropships since they had first landed at this drop port. It had not taken long for those companies to realize that his crews had money to burn, and they were more than willing to spend it. The four of them piled into a large black and white hover sedan taxi, that had just pulled up to the pickup point as they stepped under the cover of the stand. Soon, off they went to the meeting with Lora at the Cafe.
Today the lunch crowd was a lot smaller than what Robert remembered, from his other visits. The check-in person seemed to also be in a bad mood today. Maybe, it was because of the light customer turn out. Robert kept looking over his shoulder, as they checked in and waited to be taken to their seats.
That was the first major hint something was wrong, and Robert would kick himself later for not noticing it in the first place. What brought both Jess and Robert into full alert mode, was that they were not taken to the second floor to have their meal and meeting. They were taken to a back-corner booth, on the first level of the restaurant. The booth they were brought to already had someone, that was already sitting in one spot of the 10-person booth. And it was not Lora.
The man sitting in the booth was tracking them like a weapon's turret, as soon as he had a line of sight on the advancing group of off-worlders. When they were close enough to the booth, he spoke just loud enough to be heard. "Ahh Captain Copeland! It's good of you to accept my invitation to a meeting, finally. Please, have a seat. All of you, please."
The well-dressed man said and pointed to the empty seats across from him, but he did not rise from his thickly cushioned seat. He would only stand, when he was talking to someone who was as powerful or more powerful than himself. There were very few people in the whole Inner Sphere he felt fell into that category, and none of them were on this planet or in this local political grouping of stars on the edge of civilized space
Robert was fighting the urge not to pull his weapon from its hidden location. The front part of his brain knew, that this would be a bad idea. Robert casually looked around the room. He notices that six sets of eyes, both male and female, were watching them closely. What Robert did not know was weather they were guards for this man, back up, or a snatch team? Robert did not know, but it was a very public place to do some of those actions. He was reasonably sure, that his people were safe. So, he gave a slight head nod, and his group took the offered seats in the plush booth. After everyone took their seats, and they had stopped moving around the larger booth. Robert looked at the man across from him, a little more closely.
"Well? You're not Lora, but you know my name. That kind of gives the advantage to you, Sir." Robert did a slight tilt of his head, and he could feel this face go bland. He did not think that his salesmen's face was the right one for this meeting. At least it was not the right look, for now. He thought bland or nervous was the expected look.
Robert had a good idea of who this person might work for, but he was not for sure. If he guessed wrong? That could be disastrous, for both parties. When Robert had sat down in the booth. He did it in such a way, that he could pull out the short-ranged pistol if he needed to. He was pretty sure that he could get the weapon out in such a way, that no one else in the room would see him do it. Then again, he had not spent that much time practicing a move like that. As he settled into the booth, his hands were staying very close to the weapon and his wallet.
The other man gave a salesmen's smile, that he thought was effective. Robert automatically wanted to pat his suit pocket, to make sure his wallet was still in place. The man looked like he was about to mug someone, but his voice was sickly smooth. "So true. I'm Igarashi Miya. You could say, I work for ComStar. We have been trying to set up a meeting with you, for some time now. But for some reason? You never returned our attempts at setting up said meeting. Some people in my organization, think that this is very rude of you. I came up with this little game, to see if it would work to get some of your time. Looks like I was right, and this is the only way we could get you into a meeting with US. I hope you don't mind my little sleight of hand." The look he was giving the new arrivals, was one. That said he did not care, if they were mad about his game playing or not.
Robert could hear the word US was in capital letters. Robert was just waiting and looking at the other man. After only a few minutes of silence, Robert decided to play the game. As they sat there. He knew that the other man, wanted him to make the next move. Robert knew that this was dangerous ground, that he was about to tread upon. It was not the first time that a supply run had rubbed ComStar the wrong way.
"Well Mr. Miya? You wanted this meeting. So, what would you like to talk about?" Robert had to stay on his toes with this man. It was better to let him do most of the talking. Robert was okay with this, and he prided himself on being a very good listener. He was in intelligence gathering mode, but his mind did not call it that. He was just hoping that he would not give too much useful intelligence to this man, in return. Robert had never truly understood the old saying about seeing a shark's smile. Now he did, and it sent a slight chill down his back.
"Captain Copeland, I was told that you were a sharp one." The other man used his left hand to open the left side of his expensive jacket. He opened the jacket, a little slower than what was normal for the average person. That let the other side of the table see into that now exposed area, before his hand disappeared to maybe find a concealed weapon.
This style of move gave Robert information, and he needed all of the information about this man he could get. Now he knew that this person had dealt with the wild side, before he got fitted for an expensive suit of clothes. With the jacket now open. The ComStar man pulled out a folded-up piece of paper. He was making a big show of pulling the long sheets of paper out of his inner pocket. He was making a game out of it, and it should have started to grade on the nerves of his target. He wanted these strangers on edge. When you are on edge, you tended to make more mistakes. Mistakes that the spy master was intending to capitalize on.
Igarashi Miya unfolded the sheet of paper eight times, until it was what would be called legal size. Robert could not see what was written on it. But from his angle? He could see that the whole page was filled with letters and numbers, but he could not read them. The ink was very light, and the marks were too small. You would think that it would be a computer printout and not handwritten whatever in this day and age.
"You have caused some ripples, since you showed up to sell that one salvaged small jumpship. That did give you a good bit of capital, to refill your cargo bays and pay some bills. Did it not?" His eyes had not looked at the page, he was pulling information from his own mind. The sheet of paper was more or less a prop. It did have important and useful information, but the owner had a well-trained and very sharp mind.
Robert decided to play his part and looked the other man levelly in the eyes. "So, Mr. Miya. Why does selling a small Scout class jumpship to MMM, draw the attention from something as vast as ComStar to me?"
Robert put on what he knew was a fake looking smile on his face and tried to score a point, early in this game. "I must also say. That you're the first person from ComStar, that I have seen. That does not wear the long robes, of that order when they have exited a ComStar Compound." Robert had to catch himself, and not to refer to them as nut cases or some other derogatory names he had used in the recent past. Robert could tell that he got the point, that he had wanted to get with the off the cuff comment. It was when the other man's face dropped the fake smile a little, but he recovered quickly. This also gave Robert information. This was a pro at playing, this type of game.
"Oh no! Your name was forwarded to Canopus IV, before you sold that ship to Majesty Manufacturing. And I find that the robes just get in the way of things, on a day to day basis when I am working with outside contacts. It seems that one of your stopovers between the deep Periphery, and here. You were noticed to be selling high end computer systems, to one of the local planetary leaders on that back-water planet."
Igarashi looked down at his notes again and raised an eyebrow at the Captain. Then he returned the head tilt of Robert's. "They seemed to be very advanced computers, for this area. Besides those machines you were selling. And I don't know how you did it? But somehow, you upset one of the senior members of a ComStar station along the way. You upset them enough. That they sent a notice up the chain of command, that you might be a threat to ComStar. That is not something that is sent out without warrant, in my opinion.
The spy looked down his nose at Robert, and one corner of his mouth twitched down just a few millimeters. "The report was evaluated by some of the proper staff members. Then it was discarded, at first. Then you were noticed to have been selling more of those same classes of computer systems, that you were supposed to have been sold out of. Also, you added some old Star League ultra-class autocannons to your sales list somewhere along the way. You traded these two items, as you traveled around the Magistracy of Canopus and the Aurigan Coalition for hard cash and for some very odd cargos."
Robert had a good idea of who they had upset, but he was a little surprised that that little man had that much power at his fingertips. Yet somehow, he was still stationed out in the middle of nowhere. Like he had been, when Robert had met him over a half a year ago. Robert gave the ComStar man a shoulder shrug.
"I am just trading what I have found on my travels and hope that others might want, what I have for sale." This was not the first time Robert had been asked something like this, and he had a well-rehearsed line to give out.
The ComStar man looked at the Captain with hooded eyes, like a viper. "Now, Captain. Let's see. Your ship has not been seen in the MC in over a decade, if not two. It was like you just popped onto the space lanes out of thin air. Now? let's see if I have the story, right? You and your company found a scout class jumpship, that was carrying a pirate leopard CV. It was called the Hobgoblin and was lost sometime during the time of the 1st Secession War. You were able to find a cache of high-end computers, and some late Star League era advanced auto-cannons on those two ships."
Igarashi folded his hands under his chin, to look at Robert with a level gaze. "That was quite a spot of luck, you had Captain Copeland. If that story is true? That would mean you had a lot of things break your way." The end comment was very snide, when it left the lips of the unknown power player for ComStar. It was matching the look on his face.
Jess jumped in, and she started to sputter and turn red as she counter fired. It was just like she had been coached to do, and until now. She had not been able to use that coaching. This had been rehearsed, so she knew that she had a part to play. It was just a good thing that she was there to act as a foil. Six other people on the mission had been coached to do exactly the same thing. "Luck! More like a huge chunk of work, that we are into for tens of man years' worth of effort. It cost us ten lives lost, and every spare part we could find or rig, to get that thing to take a charge again!
Her eyes were shooting daggers at the suit across the table from her. She put her own snide tone in her voice. "You are calling it luck! Captain Copeland maybe you should add that line to the letters to the families, that you had to write on this little lucky find of ours." She put a bite on the end of her statement, and she shot the ComStar man with more daggers.
Igarashi did not blink, but he leaned back deeper into the booth's back pad. Then he put his hands flat on the table. Before he could say anything more. The wait staff deposited a food filled plate in front of each of the people at the table. The flashing of plates caused enough interference to let him get his face back under control, and it gave him time to think about his next move.
"Let's delay the rest of the meeting, shall we? I took the liberty to order the daily lunch special for everyone. I was told it was very good, I hope you don't mind."
The group was eating, but no one was enjoying the fine meal in front of them. They were eating quickly, and soon the wait staff would be picking up the dirty flat ware. This did not go un-noticed by the ComStar Representative, who was not eating as fast as the other off worlders. After the last person from Robert's group had completed their meal. Igarashi signaled that they could take his half-finished plate away also. He was hoping that the good food would put these people at ease. He was used to using a mix of hard and soft pressure to get what he wanted out of anyone.
With the food plates gone. The ComStar man was ready to start the grilling all over again. "Captain Copeland. I think, like any good cover story. It is mostly true, but only….. mostly true. I think your hiding something." He could still see the dagger being directed at him from the woman, that the files said she was this man's third officer.
Robert smiled at the other man. He made sure it was the same fake one, that he had used before. He was trying to mislead this man, anyway he could. "What do you think I'm hiding?" It was time for the other man to put more of his own cards on the table, for the whole group to see. Robert was playing, like he might have a weaker hand or bluffing.
Igarashi gave a sly smile, that looked more predatory than friendly. "So, its story time is it? Okay. I can do that one better. What I think happened, is that you found a lost colony out there somewhere off the map. They had that wrecked jumpship and maybe it did have the Leopard on its collar, and maybe not. You found some kind of old Star League or Rim World depot, or wrecked cargo ship on that planet. You looted it, to use as extra trade goods. The ones that you have been sprinkling around the MC and other border areas."
He stopped talking and looked around the table. All Igarashi was getting, even from the bodyguards, were blank looks in return. He waited and waited, but he was not getting the feedback he was wanting or expecting. His level of frustration was starting to rise. This was not going the way he had expected it. After to many seconds of dead air, he went to the point.
"What I would like to know. Is how big of a depot have you found? Is it a ground base or orbital based depot? What else did you find there? ComStar can help this lost Colony you have found and bring it back into the greater fold of Humanity." This was not the first time that he had given the last part of his speech, but it had been many years since the last time it had passed his lips.
Robert let his face go flat or poker. "What makes you think we found a lost Colony?" This was part of the cover story. It was about the second layer, but still it was covered in their orders. He just was not happy that ComStar was that deep already.
Igarashi put his hands back down on the paper and pulled it tight. This was not going the way he thought it would or should, for that matter. This Copeland was good, but he still had a few more cards left to play. Now it looked like Copeland wanted to hold his own cards for as long as he could. "I have to get him to show me something. He is a merchant, so I just have to find the right kind of bait to get him on the hook."
"Why do I think you found a colony? Let's look at what you have been trading high tech weapons and equipment for, on your travels. You have picked up a large group of Industrial Mechs, spare parts for them, construction equipment, and you have been picking up packaged long storage food. You also have been buying bulk meats of everything but fish, that you have frozen on one of your dropships. You have picked up a large quantity of medical supplies. The medical supplies were antibiotics, various anti-pain meds, basically anything, but small medical equipment and bandages. You also have picked up fertilized eggs for goats, various beef animals, sheep and even some pigs. The numbers we are talking about are not for just a hobby farm. That is unless the hobby farm takes up about a tenth of a planet."
The ComStar man gave a very real shutter. "I think that their nuts! If they are breeding those things! Pigs are nasty and vicious little animals. I can't tell you how many planets, those beasts have ruined across the Inner Sphere. It would have been better, if they just dusted themselves with cobalt laced nuks. All because the damage those things did to any local ecosystems. You also picked up samples of different types of Wheat, Corn, Rice, and other grains seeds in the several tons lot of each sample.
"About the only things that make since that you picked up, are the two mech repair stands and picking up every part that you could to fit a Merchant class jumpship. I know you have access to some old SLDF machines, because of the Sentinel and the Ironsides class fighter in your order of battle. That also explains the repair stands, that you have picked up along your travels. It also explained some of the odds and ends of JagerMech parts you have been buying along the way. So, Captain Copeland. How close am I?"
Igarashi was very pleased with himself. Everything he had said was the product of a lot of man hours put in by ROM and other ComStar assets in the local stellar group. That did not even count the number of messages, that had been sent over about a quarter of human space via HPG. He thought that it was a very good hammer, to show this upstart how out of his depth he was. He needed to be shown that he was in the deep end of the pool with the big boys and girls.
Robert leaned back in his chair and gave the other man a little smile. "Close, kind of. We did find a few "lost" colonies out there in our travels over the years, but we did not find some Castle Brian or anything. We might have made a deal with one or two of those "lost" worlds. Why does that interest you, and the rest of ComStar to keep such a close eye on us?"
Igarashi now, for the first time was frowning. "We don't really care about you, Captain. My people are just following the mech grease. What my people want to do, is help those lost souls. One of ComStar's main directives is to help all those who are lost, to find comfort in the Word of Blake. We can offer those lost souls protection, education, and enlightenment in his holy words. We can help them come back into the larger universe of man. And they can do it, without falling into the devil's den of the so-called Great Houses. I'm sure you can see that we only want to help these lost people, to protect them from those barbarians and grave robbers of the universe."
Robert kept his face well-schooled and his hand close to the hidden weapon. "That sounds like a well-practiced speech, Mr. ComStar man. I will tell you, that one of the groups that I am working for. They don't want to have any dealings with you, or ComStar. They have asked me not to reveal their location to anyone, and your group specifically. I am a man of my word. If I was not? What kind of man would I be? Not one, that I would like to look at in the mirror."
Robert sat back himself, going deeper into the seats. If he had backup, that had been provided by something like a Black Lion? He might have left it at that. However, ComStar had access to way too much firepower, to leave it like that. He could see that Igarashi was about to blow his top. That little event could get them all killed. He needed to do something, to control this situation. He did not want to go all the way to the JarnFolk level of the cover story. This was way too soon, for that level of penetration. Besides he still thought that they could get some more mileage out of the current level of cover story.
Just as Igarashi was about to open his mouth, and level some not so vailed threats. Robert spoke up to cut him off. "I will, however, bring any written contracts or correspondence. That you or someone in your group might like to send to them. I will not bring any of your people there. I am not bringing anyone out to them, so don't even ask. That is covered by my contract, I have a copy in my jumpship's cabin if you would like to review it. I think they like their privacy, and I can understand that. If they change their minds in the future? I'm sure they will let me know, the next time I'm in their area of space."
The representative from ComStar did not like being told to go pound sand, just using different words and a nicer tone. "How do we know, that you will forward them our request? What would you say? That I think your keeping these lost souls in the dark, so that you can keep making money off of them?"
Robert gave the other man a smile, that would never be considered friendly. "You don't, and I don't really care about that or what you might think about me. I don't work for you, or your people. To tell you the truth. I'm okay with that."
The Head of all of the actions of ROM in the MC was about to order this animal to be put down, but he stopped at the last second. This Captain had just made two points and he had not lied, that Igarashi knew of. That was very important to both him personally and to ROM. Finding anyone who would stick to their guns was rare to find, out here at the end of explored space. Igarashi played one more card from his deck, and he kept his face emotionless.
"Okay Captain Copeland. You're working for them. How much do you think you're going to clear? Maybe we could hire you, to work for us. ComStar has a lot to offer someone with your skills, and the displayed skills of your crew. Your Tramp is old and pretty worn out, from the reports I have seen. You have been delayed a few times due to minor parts that needed to be replaced. How about we help you trade it in on a brand-new Star Lord class vessel. That would double the number of dropships you can carry at one time. My people could help you grow, to better fill those six drop collars. We can also help, when you need to add more dropships to fill those extra spots." His voice had switched from stern and overbearing, to sickly sweet at the drop of a hat.
Robert was looking and listening, but he was fighting an internal reaction. He knew what the right noises would be to make. "Hmmm. A Star Lord? Now, that is an amazing design. A growing shipping company could really move some cargo, with one of those. I could set up a real trade route with that one ship alone."
Finally, he could not hold it back anymore. Robert let out a belly laugh, that almost brought real tears to his eyes. It did not help with the situation. He could tell the robed nut could not understand, why this was so funny. "Look Mr. Miya. That ship is like my wife. And I would no more give her up for a new model, than I would her. You know how some mech jocks will take the pill, after being blown out of their long-term rides? Even after they have been offered a new one to replace it. Well that's me. That ship is as much a part of me, as my children. I do not want to trade her for, anything." It was not totally true, but it had more than a little ring of truth in it.
"Well the gold did not work, how about the red." "Okay Robert." The command voice, was back in the local head of ROM.
The use of the Captain's first name without an invitation to do so, was a calculated insult. "As helpful as ComStar can be? It can also hinder, those it feels are not worthy. I think you have seen or heard about all of the Com Guard units on your travels. We don't just field ground units, but we also have more than a few space-based units. You would not want to make an enemy of us. You only have six fighters, and one little carrier. I assure you, that the Com Guards can field a lot more than that wherever they wish to."
Robert took the insult and gave one right back. "Look Igarashi. If that is your name? I see where you're going with this. I could use an old saying of. If you're feeling froggy, jump. I will say that I don't want to upset something as large as ComStar. Just like I would not want to upset something like House Davion. I signed a contract and swore an oath when I did so. A company is only as good as the trust, that others have in it. It would only take a rumor that I broke a contract, and I would be sunk as a person and a company. I will do everything in my power to abide both in the letter and in the spirit of the oath, that I gave with that contract I signed. Besides, if I broke a contract with them, to help you. How long would you trust me, to abide in any deals we make? As I have already said. I will take any correspondence to the leadership of the people who I have signed a contract with. What they do with your correspondence, is up to them."
Igarashi was looking around the table. He had hoped that he would be able to drive a wedge between some of them. He could tell from the looks, that he had failed. This group was just too tight knit for that tactic to work. He had hit a wall, and unless he was willing to make a scene. He was done. He had been outplayed, and he did not like it. He was kicking himself for not giving the ROM action team's leaders brief more weight, when it had first come in. He had assumed that the action team leader was just trying to cover his back side, because of a pair of blown missions. Now, he was not too sure of that first assessment. He was going to have to have a sit down with the prime team leader in a few days, and they would go over ever little detail of those two failed missions.
He was now even ready to forgive the money spent to first hire the pirate carrier, and the cost of sending the scout jump ship that had been diverted to pull them out. It had turned out that it could be true, that this Captain Copeland and his command had blasted through the surprise attack of the pirate force. Precentor Miya worked out, that he had only one more move left to make. He smoothly slid out of the booth and stood with his back ruler straight. He did a slight turn and addressed the Captain.
"Mr. Copeland, you have not made a friend today. I tried to be reasonable, but you will not have it. Mr. Copeland! I hope you never have an emergency, because I will tell you now. ComStar will not help you. Good day."
Robert watched as first Igarashi Miya, and then four of the other tables had emptied right behind him. They all walked out of the restaurant, in single file line of intimidation. They all went to the door and were soon out of sight, in under a minute. Robert had no idea, if they paid their bills or not. He was just glad they were gone, and for that. He was happy with just that, for now.
"Now to find out how much damage was done." When one of his escorts looked like he was about to say something. Robert gave a sharp head nod to not say a word. Robert started to slide out of the booth, and he was quickly followed by the rest of his group. Robert could still fill eyes following him, as they made their way to the front door. He did not think that all of the ComStar people had left the room with the one man. He would have left a few people behind, to see how someone had reacted after he had left the building.
Robert went to the front desk clerk, who still looked upset. Robert did not have to fake the concern look on his face. "Michael? I can tell you, that this was a surprise meeting. And it was one I could have done without. I don't think that Gentlemen like's me that much."
Michael looked back into the first-floor dining room, before making eye contact with the jumpship Captain. He did not so much as just make some mouth noises to fill the air with platitudes. Michael had not liked it, when the ComStar man had come in, and demanding to be part of the restaurant's plans. He was positive that the ComStar people had put listening devices all over the place, while they waited for Robert and his people to show up. The last thing the doorman wanted that organization to hear, was that he was saying what he really thought about those robed crazies. That would be more than just bad for business. There could be some legal repercussions, if the lawyer was well paid enough.
Robert picked up on the look, and he gave the other man a knowing smile. "I know what you mean. They left in such a hurry, that I was wondering. Did they take care of the check for our meals?" No matter what listening devices might be in the area, this would sound innocuous enough.
Michael gave the strange off worlder an odd look, before speaking. "Yes sir? They took care of the bill, before you arrived for your meeting today. They had asked for a group rate, I'm afraid."
Robert nodded and without another word. He pulled out his wallet, and he passed a 100 C-Bill note over to Michael. After passing over the money, he quickly moved to join his group waiting on the sidewalk. Half of his people were looking outside, and the other part were keeping an eye on their commander. Michael nodded his head up and down and put the bill under the desktop. Normally a meal for four had only been about a 10 or 15 C-bill per diner. It was a quick and quiet ride back to the drop port.
A few hours later. Copeland was leading a briefing to his staff. He had been able to get Lora, on the emergency radio. She had been delayed, again. This time it was by the burglary alarm going off at her office. She had been able to make it to the drop port to join the meeting, only because Robert had delayed it. Robert looked around the group, and he was trying to gauge them. Robert put his hands on the desktop.
"Okay people. It looks like we have not only upset some of the locals, but also some powerful ComStar personnel. They did the odd digging around, and we are at level two of our cover story. It is the thickest and the hardest to break layer. That is for the simple fact, that it is the one that is the truest. I think they are going to be spending a lot of time checking out a few leads, before they make their next move against us. I do know, that MMM will not take a meeting with me. Lora, what can you tell us about that situation?" Robert did a little tilt of his head toward the woman that was sporting an impressive frown.
Lora was beyond upset. The alarm at her office had been as far as she could tell, false. She now was betting the alarm had two reasons to have gone off. "Yes, Captain. I have been trying to buy items on your published want list, as your listed factor. I have not been able to make much headway. It seems like every time, that I had a line on something that matches up with your published list. It would dry up or someone would get it, before I could close the deal. Last week a friend of mine said that ComStar ROM or some of the other intelligence sections, were looking into me and my clients. This is not the first time that this has happened to me or my peers. So, I did not think much of the warning.
Lora looked around and then looked back up at Robert. "MMM is running scared. They sell a lot of spare parts to the local Com Guards units and to others across the whole MC. ComStar also acts as a major supplier for stuff that MMM buys from other companies outside of the MC, and the reselling of them. They have been using that money and contacts, to increase production from sixty mechs a year to something higher, maybe spreading into other production lines in the near future. Until things cool down. I don't think they will be buying or selling much, directly to us. That has spilled over into the local mercenary and militia markets. I also think I'm being followed."
Robert had not been able to talk to Lora before the meeting, so he was getting hit cold with this information. "Okay, if we don't line up anything new by this afternoon? Then we close up shop. I will contact the bank and pull most of the money out. Yes, I know that this is not normal for a supply run. And I'm not taking it all. I am just going to lower the balance, to make it look like we are running scared from ComStar. Lora, I need you to look into moving a Merchant class jumpship on short notice. I would love to give you a more refined timeline, but I have no idea when we will be back. But if/when we do come back this way. We will need to move one of those things, just like we did the scout."
Jess was looking at Robert, like he was a crazy man. He had just told her more information, than most of the dropship crew knew. She could have said something, but she kept her mouth shut. She could not come up with a counter argument to keep this data hidden.
Robert looked around the table. "Okay. I'm tracking that we have, two Armstrong's and one of the KWI's left to sell. If we cannot move them here? Then we might be able to move them at our last stop, before we start avoiding populations. I want everyone on alert, but make sure everyone gets their time in town. I just want them to be on more guard, than we have been doing. I want to be able to lift about two days early, if this is a dry well. Let's be about it."
It was two days later, and the three dropships were lifting off of the planet. As Lora had predicted. Every time they thought they had a seller or buyer lined up; something would change. It did not take but a few hours for word to get out, system wide. That ComStar was not happy with The Copeland Supply, Salvage and Resale Company. It did make it easier to pull most of the money out of the local bank, because the bank just wanted them out of the lobby.
It was a six day burn to the jump point, that thankfully was uneventful. They did not find any tracking devices in the little bit of cargo, that they had been able to pick up. The jump out of the star system was also without any issues, that they knew of. What they did not know, was that they were being trailed both overtly and covertly. One was a battered looking Union class dropship, and the other was something already at the jump point.
The other tracker was an Invader class jumpship, with a modified huge Mammoth class dropship attached to her spine. The huge cargo bays in the dropship were not filled with cargo of any kind. They were filled with a mass of electronic systems, that would be able to track a jumpship to whatever location it was going to. It was beyond cutting edge technology and well into bleeding edge technology, even for the pre-fall Star League. It was still in testing, and it had been rushed here only two days before from its nearby secret testing area. The theory was sound, but so far finding the equipment to do the job had been the issue.
It was going to be a wasted effort for ComStar, because Robert tells the Traffic Control at the jump point where they are going next. The bad part is, that he did not lie to them. In a flash of radiation and odd energy. Copeland and his people were gone, and almost in the same second. They were in the system they wanted to be in, 20 light years from their old location. Now they were in the same place, that they had started this mission, just before the new year.
Notes:
ComStar's power. It has the economic and monetary power to make life painful for something as small as Copeland's little band. They have the kind of power that could make life difficult for mega corporations and even major houses.
The butterfly's start. As you see, they have started to flap their wings. MMM has gotten an infusion of tech, and it had to cost ComStar something to get MMM not to want a chance at getting more late SL tech weapons.
Aurigan Coalition: I had no idea about this group, when I started this story. It does fit in nicely on how they field what they field for their weapons.
Prime Rom team. Looks like they were not sent to retrain, but they were in the doghouse. Looks like someone is going to be owned an apology for not being believed in. it would take time to get them moved from the "interview" location to Dunianshire.