Book 2: Chapter 29: Security Service Agreement

Book 2: Chapter 29: Security Service Agreement

USD: ~20 days after Tears of Fire arrival to 92 Pegasi

Location: Ackman Station, Jacos Kebab Place

Alex and Elis sat in the corner finishing their meal at Jacos while they waited. The entire place was full of customers, but that was partly because there were a dozen armed Iron Horse MC guards scattered about eating as well. Elis had not commented on their casual formation and decision to eat while they all waited, but Alex had seen her looking at them and frowning.

Thankfully, there didnt seem to be any inclination by whoever had attacked them to repeat the attempt. That had worried her on their first few trips off the ship, but in the interests of safety the IHMC had provided them escorts each time.

Alex had worn a newly improvised Captains uniform that nearly matched the Federation standard one. Shed replaced the arm emblems with the new logo for Starlight Revolutions, as well as reduced the number of ribbons and every single one of the medals. She hadnt even known what any of them had meant other than a few of the little metal bars denoting command levels and general category of operations. Her front felt a lot less cluttered now.

Very importantly, she had working pockets.

Elis was geared up in a full suit of tactical gear, combined with a black hoodie that had the best armored vest that Nameless had been able to supply over top of it. Shed spent two hours arguing with the bot until it surrendered the time needed on the fabricator to make her one to her personal specifications and requirements. Added to that was a row of pouches, two side arms on her hips and her compact SMG, front slung on top of her body armor. It certainly wasnt standard uniform for a non-combat operation, but the other girl had said she wanted to be prepared while they were on station.

If her marine friend felt any discomfort or pain from her wounded shoulder, she didnt show it. Nameless had given her additional medicine with the autodoc to help speed recovery, but Alex didnt think the gunshot wound would have healed in just two days. That worried her; Elis hid her injuries and pains and Alex didnt like it.

An IHMC lieutenant approached.

Maam. Captain-Major Thrakers shuttle has arrived. Hes waiting to meet you at the IHMC Mooring Arm, A-1. If youre ready Im to join you and your escort.

Done, Elis?Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)

Yes Maam.

Lets go.

Alex applied a 100% tip to their order and then stood up. As the three of them headed to the entrance an exodus of the other guards began to file in behind them.

Other than a few courtesies and a few required words for orientation, the lieutenant remained silent while Elis kept a few steps behind her watching her back. She would have probably tried to strike up a conversation with the lieutenant since it was her job as the higher-ranking officer, but her mind was already awhirl with her incoming meeting.

The section of the station that the IHMC occupied had multiple patrols of two and three roaming around, and while there were some merchant stalls outside the area, most looked like they were actually being run by off-duty mercenaries still in their fatigues. Their biggest customers being other mercs. It felt different from the MilTech compound, having its own flavor of atmosphere. There was much less hustle and more people standing about.

There was one building that stood out, with IHMC signage. Inside there were a few receptionists and other officer workers tending to the realities of paperwork for a few different lines of mercenaries turning them in. It rather reminded her of the Port Authority office, except there were no chairs so everyone was expected to stand. The lieutenant led them to one of the doors marked employees only and then through a corridor. There was a door at the end.

The lieutenant opened a door for her, and she realized they had arrived.

The Captain-Major is waiting for you, Maam.

Thank you, Lieutenant. Elis, would you wait outside? Ill find you when we are finished.

Aye Maam.

The warmth of the room caressed Alexs face as soon as she stepped inside, there was no bare metal on display here. A polished wooden desk stood centerpiece at the far end of the office, but in the middle space were cushioned seats and an end table settled around what looked to be a stone fireplace. Fake flames flickered from it, and she realized that the warmth she felt was true in both meanings of the word.

Captain-Major Thraker stood up and came around from his desk to shake her hand. She studied his profile as he approached, he was tall and broad shouldered and his full white beard was well kept. He was not overly muscled nor heavyset and there was an odd sense of presence. His dark navy blue, almost black, uniform was adorned with a few different medals that she didnt know the meaning of. Of the books Elis had foisted on her, Alex had focused on the practical ones first.

Captain, its nice to meet you.

Captain-Major, its a pleasure.

Alex swallowed and collected her thoughts for a moment, We noted that you used all your missiles during our unfortunate encounter. Im quite conscious of how expensive they were. Once we have the facility operational, we will be able to collect anti-matter from Ackmans magnetic field and produce anti-matter catalyzed nuclear warhead and missile delivery systems among other things. I propose in return for receiving the first twenty of these missiles to replace the ones you lost in addition to an ongoing discount for services Starlight Revolution provides you, that you would be willing to cut the prices for security for us to at cost for the time being until we can get our feet under us as well as provide us all relevant intelligence pertaining to us that you acquire.

AMCNs, not tri-cobalt?

Alex smiled at him.

Thraker took another sip of his tea, Lets discuss exactly what services you would be expecting of us

Alex fist pumped internally; she had hooked him! Now she just needed to reel in the deal very carefully.

USD: ~27 days after Tears of Fire arrival to 92 Pegasi

Location: Ackman Station, IND Tears of Fire

Alex looked at the camera view of the inside of the ships inner hull on the CIC main monitor. She was sure that if Mr. Whitely had been able to see the dozens of robots being formed on the new internal hangar bracing that he would revoke her purchase privileges on the station immediately. She had directed Nameless to begin producing them as their number one priority, in preparation for their upcoming trip to the belt.

Before they could get to work on the manufactory, they needed more raw resources. They would need to produce a stable platform for them to tow the construction to when they successfully detached it, and to make the needed repairs to the station. Shed given Nameless the go ahead to rig all kinds of new things on the inner skin of the outer hull. Temporarily.

It would severely compromise the safety of the ship if it went into combat, but right now the Tears was their only mobile asset and anything else that might have worked was out of their price range or impossible to construct with their resources. A new ship was high on her priority list although that list had grown by an order of magnitude since her early days of repairing the Tears.

While musing about their new projects, Alex heard Elis approaching down the corridor.

Alex? I wanted to talk to you.

Alex turned and smiled at her, Yep?

Its about the armory.

The armory. Alex had completely forgotten it existed since she had Nameless weld the door shut and seal the holes in it.

Oh. The armory.

Yes, Ive been reviewing some of the items in it and I would like to open it up and do an inspection. Nameless said it required Captains approval.

The first thought to come to Alexs mind was since when had Elis and Nameless been on talking terms without her there to be the go between?

The second was a instant acceptance, Ok, consider it approved. Did you hear that Nameless?

[Affirmative: Armory access granted to qualified crewmembers and command personnel.]

Elis came and scooted up next to her, poking her head up against the airlocks glass to look out at the robots as well, Looks like a lot. How long until we are ready to go?

Tomorrow. I was going to ask you if you could call the IHMC and get us an escort, to go to Jacos and then bring a few days maybe weeks of kebabs with us!

Elis rolled her eyes, While you were busy buying every scrap of free iron on the station, I went and purchased what we needed for the galley. We will be cooking our meals for now on. Eating kebabs everyday probably isnt healthy.

Alex felt two conflicting interests war inside of her. Kebabs are life, cooking kebabs this is going to be fun!

Elis rolled her eyes and laughed reaching out to pat Alexs head, Just wait until I show you how to use the ships oven and introduce you to something called cake.