Chapter 47
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TIME:
6 DAYS LATER
(1 MONTH AND 22 DAYS AFTER RETURNING)
LOCATION:
ZETA ZEPHARII
GARNETSTATION
I.S.C.A PRIMARY MEDICAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
I looked through a window at the rows upon rows of medical beds all of which are currently being put to use. Between them doctors and nurses flit from bed to bed making sure nothing is wrong and everything is ready for prolonged trials.
I was initially surprised when I was led to an unmarked floor on the station. Mom apparently found many similar floors on private design schematics of the station, almost all of them belong to the ISCA in some form. This floor was designed with the purpose of combating possible epidemics and even pandemics affecting other stations. Garnet station was just so out of the way it actually made sense. If there was a lab leak the entire system could easily and more importantly quietly be quarantined. It made me nervous as this was my only route to human space but I've bought enough supplies to weather multiple decades of the hyperlane being unavailable, though blood remains the major limiter. Thankfully we just received over 100 young and healthy blood providers whether they like it or not.
I heard a ding from the elevator. I looked over disinterested but curious, I had been here for 30 minutes waiting for the all good. But unfortunately I would have to scrap my plans of leaving quickly, Temlic and someone I didn't recognize walked out the elevator hurriedly making a beeline towards me.
"So will this do for keeping my promise Temlic?" I remark turning my head back through the windows.
"... Yes it would seem it does. On a less important note Miss Runethari, might I ask why you also have a destroyer floating near the station. I assume that is where you... acquired our test subjects."
I nod, "Yes, you'd be correct, I plan to sell the vessel. Would I be wrong to assume this system has no facilities to repair this vessel? Also who's the new girl? Did Richard go and take a break, or did he fall out of your favor?"
"On the former you'd regrettably be correct, but I assume you know that. You're better off going to Pi Skad or Amber station to sell the vessel. Pi Skad would give you a better price for it, but I doubt you'd only want to sell it and not buy something, if so go to Amber Station.
"No, more importantly Lilith I have some news you probably already know despite your earlier question to the contrary." I raise an eyebrow suppressing the anger at being called by my first name. Temlic surely knows a little about my personality so I imagine he just wants to emphasize something with it. "Miss Runethari, Richard and Veranda Vrit are dead. They were found murdered in their apartment. I have hired a private investigator to look into it, but you would probably not be surprised to know the murder seems to be in retaliation for something. Am I wrong to guess that the cause involves the favor you asked him?"
I turn to look back through the window, not all that surprised they murdered him. Though I am happy the best case scenario has come to pass.
"Yes Temlic I would, and I would wish to let you know that the chances of me being imprisoned have likely fallen dramatically." I state with no attempt to hide my disinterest in the conversation. "Why would Richard dying help yo–. Oh I see, that was most certainly a poor move on somebody's part, it's almost so fortunate for you I would suspect you ordered the man's death."
I scoff at his attempt to reach for possible answers, "Why would I kill my wards family Temlic, if auntie dearest found out I did murder her brother and sister-in-law while having custody of her niece I would replace one shit show with a shit storm, as I believe the rather vulgar idiom would go. No, I did not have anything to do with his death. I would like to suggest upping your security detail, rats have finally started to nest in Garnet station, I'll send the details of the most obvious vermin once I leave. I expect them gone before I return if you want me to buy anything.
"Now I have places to be and a ship to sell. Farewell Temlic, I'll be back in three months to see the board and its pieces set and arrayed to play to their destined part."
I left the silent room smiling and humming, all is going rather well. Moreover, with Mom's newest suggestion to further increase the odds, it's getting close to checkmate. Soon it would be time to have a meeting and agree to collect a rather infamous grand witness to my "loyalty."
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TIME:
AT THAT MOMENT
LOCATION:
ZETA ZEPHARII
GARNET STATION
I.S.C.A PRIMARY MEDICAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
POV:
TEMLIC GARCIA
"Sir, may I say something?" I nod already guessing what she wishes to ask. "Who is she? She was rather uncaring if not extremely rude to you, and my predecessor? Why are you being so nice to someone who clearly doesn't feel the same obligation?"
I take a deep breath already missing Richard's instincts, "There are personally better more tasteful ways to commit assisted suicide of either the career or personal variety. She's my ticket out of this dump of a system, I know it, and so should you if you wish to leave as well."
She nods but a moment later continues her inane questioning, "...Sir with all due respect what you are saying makes her sound like she is a threat to you. If so, why did you help her? I mean yes I know she captured a destroyer, took 200 combatants of a religious terrorist organization hostage, and then proceeded to run experiments on them, but that's because of her choice in ship, she isn't omnipotent. I can understand why you'd not wish to provoke her, but you seem to be getting rather close to her, and sometimes keeping your enemy close only invites them to just stab you quicker." I feel my eyebrow twitch at the naive bodyguard. I have to make an effort to hold myself back from revealing classified information that no one in this system besides a dead man and I know.
"She didn't capture 200 combatants, she captured 20; the remainder have been categorized as "low risk crew." I shouldn't need to say this as well, but the Burningthorn Princes don't often stuff their ships with only fanatical soldiers; they often pack their equally fantical followers in like sardines. We have likely only half the people onboard the ship. I do not even want to think how she managed to subdue over 400 people by herself. The latter shows she isn't nothing without her ship. And I will send you what the freelance guild has for her rating. She's a rather hot topic behind closed doors and not only for her ship. She's at least is a better fighter than you are, with your armor on mind you."
I heard my bodyguard's fake leather gloves squeak as she squeezed her hands. "Sir, I don't care if she's better than me, but I do want to know why you are theorizing she has civilians in her system whose fates are unknown? That's most certainly illegal and a viola—." I turn and glare into the masked helmet of the extremely stupid bodyguard, "Quiet there will be no more to this discussion, do not attempt to convince me to pursue the fates of ghosts with no IDs. And you should remember my words I gave you when you replaced Rich as my bodyguard, 'Treat the walls as if they have ears, no matter where you go or how safe you feel.'"
I turn around and head to the elevator readying myself to deal with MARA sending a not so veiled threat due to not restraining my subordinate correctly. MARA might not always be in the system but when she is, she always makes sure to socially or physically ruin any perceived threats to Lilith. I wouldn't be surprised if some of those murders were her working with some deranged pawn that she enabled then cut off once they outlived their purpose. After all, most of the victims had done or said some ... unsavory things about Lilith before their deaths. It didn't even matter if she was on a different block or even floor; they almost always disappeared to be found bloodless and limp in an alley. Thankfully they've stopped, but I still wonder who was doing the wet work.
'Well the good thing is MARAs purges have done wonders on the criminal elements. Unfortunately the system governor is too boneheaded and foolish to make sure to fill that power vacuum with loyal pawns that won't immediately turn around and abuse their positions thinking themselves clever mobsters who tricked some great all mighty genius.' I scoff, 'That man might also think he's some genius, but he's nothing but a pioneering idiot who's father got lucky finding a somewhat workable hyperlane.'
While thinking about the damnable man I reminisced on one of my fathers more extreme quotes, “A man who is clever and lazy qualifies for the highest leadership positions. Those who are clever and industrious make for skilled management, while those who are stupid and lazy can at the very least be excellent customers. But the stupid and industrious? They must be removed.”
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TIME:
16 DAYS LATER
(2 MONTHS AND 8 DAYS AFTER RETURNING)
LOCATION:
BETA CHARON
43 AU FROM BETA CHARON
INNER KEIPER BELT
RENEGADE'S REGRET
POV:
Commodore Riven Larsen
"Sir we are receiving a one way communications request! I can't trace its exact location, but its ID codes are too advanced, and they don't match any recorded codes we have documentation of or use. Should I accept the request sir?"
I still as the precious calming silence that suffused the command room was shattered like an expensive vase. The last few months had been quiet with those princes being content to keep out of our territory, though I couldn't help but feel that this wouldn't last one way or another.
"Accept it, run it through the isolated system, I don't want to risk any chance of this being a trick."
A few moments afterwards a person appears on the old flickering holo-table sitting in the center of the room. They stood as tall as one of my marines. They wore an extremely formal black and red business suit that clashed intensely with the black mask sprinkled with glowing white specks. On the mask's forehead was an amber colored lidless eye that I felt shared the same color as Beta Charon. I identified the person as a woman with rather quickly long flowing blond hair that cut off at the hips and an hourglass figure that would make anyone blush regardless of leaning. I quickly discarded my assumption that this was a woman noticing her faintly glowing orange eyes peeking underneath the mask.
Everyone in the command room was at this point either staring wide eyed in surprise at the thing or openly taking photos doubtlessly the beautiful if slightly inhuman thing will end up being spread among the men.
It's not like we lacked women in the navy, thanks to it being rather unnecessary to be physically strong, but you did need to be mentally strong and wise if you wanted to not be sent on boarding actions. So if anything there were more women onboard my ships than men. The mutiny certainly didn't help solve the gender imbalance...
"Greetings Commodore Larsen, my designation or name is YAGA and I would like to extend an offer. In one month's time my lady wishes to meet with either you or a representative to discuss a possible alliance against the Burningthorn princes. If you agree we will share some of our sensor data on all void ships aligned with the Burningthorn princes, who captains them where they're hiding, and their patrol routes and schedules. All we ask is the leader of these vermin be captured alive or at the very least in a recognizable state.
"As payment for your cooperation we will offer parts and supplies to repair your vessels and the right to use this system as a safe harbor. The latter will last as long as you stay out of trouble and do not get found. My lady offers to sell you weapons and void ship ammunition, though she will demand payment. What that will be has not been decided as of yet but will be discussed in a month's time."
I furrow my brows at the emotionless dolls offer of aid on behalf of her master. If it's who I believe it is, I would hope she knows how dangerous it could be to associate with us. We might not be as universally loathed as the princes and their parent organizations, but it would still be treason to offer us aid. But on the other hand a safe harbor and supplies is just what we need to begin cleansing the rot from this nation.
'But again why would she–.'
"She finds your cause and mission rather amusing and beneficial to her goals. If you do not show up to the meeting location your continued presence will be ignored until 90 days have passed then you will be marked as hostile and will be considered targets for hunting. The location's position and a timer until the meeting has been attached. My lady eagerly awaits your response regardless of whichever it might be."
Then just as suddenly as she appears, the doll disappears, much to my relief but to a few men and my right hand woman Kaylia's disappointment. I quickly tell everyone to get back to work as I tiredly shove my head into my hands.
'Just who did we manage to attract the attention of. And worst of all, they know exactly where we are and who I am...'
Sigh