A New Life Part 4

The Freelancer was already moving up through the atmosphere by the time he made it to the co pilot’s seat, and as he buckled himself in he turned to Herbert.

“This is the part where you tell me all the crap you’ve been hiding from me, before I vent you into the black.”

Herbert kept his eyes ahead, letting out a breath and holding the controls with his left hand, punched in some co-ordinates,  “ Marianna is not a former UEE pilot turned trader, she’s an undercover officer still with the UEE looking for a rebel group, or as she calls them, terrorists. I get paid to keep her cover and do small things…”

“Like duping other ex-UEE pilots into helping?”

“Giving her access to ships, passing messages from her to other contacts, getting her weapons or contraband if she needs it. It’s been a good relationship for us both.”

Cain eased back in the seat, she’d lied to him, or at least omitted a large part of the truth, but the anger that had risen also had diminished when they had left Mr Smith’s table. The fact was she meant more to him in such a short time than anyone had in his life, and he wasn’t willing to abandon her.

“ I’m in, but not as a passenger, she’s going to have a lot of explaining if I’m risking my ass for her. He stared out the glass of the cabin, not seeing anything, just  momentarily lost to the universe,  then he spoke once again, turning.

“So we’re off to Davien to ….what? I know the history, they had huge problems  back in 2545, but it’s mostly been quiet. As far as I know the Advocacy has been pretty tough on anything resembling an insurgency.

Herbert looked over, brown knotted, “I’m glad you’re here, as you can see, I’m not a soldier, and I’m not sure I would get anywhere by myself.

We’ll know more when we get there, Cestulus and specifically Jata, where Aegis Dynamics is based, “ he paused, “ Yeah Jata, the place of the riots.”

They stopped the discussion there, turning to their own thoughts and travelled on in silence.

Jata was a busy spaceport, and cleaner than Cain would have imagined, they went through the landing protocols together, their ship flanked by Aurora LN ‘s armed to the teeth, and scanned, and scanned again.

They exited the back of the ship’s and raised the eyebrows of a few of the militia, they exchanged glances as they were stopped at the exit doors, and Herbert shrugged, “ I am here to procure some parts shipments from Aegis, I had already dropped off my load at Nyx, so there was no need to return home empty.The company name is Marxbro like it says on the side, my papers are in order as is my digital ID. Cain is my copilot and security.

After ten minutes and a repetition of the explanation, they were waved through, Cain had a clean record so there was no problem there.

“It’s always like that. We don’t have to worry, we just need to meet our contact. Mr Smith said the Dark Side Bar is where we can find him.

They continued along in the broad concourse, still underground, but the lighting and structures lent an air of space and openness, almost fooling the senses into thinking that they were on the surface rather than an elaborate underground warren. Aegis signs were visible everywhere, symbols peeping out from behind clumps of shoppers, making it obvious who the main employer was in Jata.

The Dark Side was quiet, a few patrons sat at tables, two individuals at the bar itself and Herbert and Cain sidled up to some vacant stools. They ordered a drink and the bartender nodded to another patron who had entered, “You in port long…..”

Marx, Marxbro and no not long, just stopped for a drink before we pick up our Nyx load.

“A friend of Mr S ?”

Herbert nodded. And sipping his drink, set it down on the bare bar, “ Ahhh, oh here’s a coaster, a souvenir from the Dark Side, “ he picked up Herbert’s drink and slid it underneath , then he walked to the other end of the bar.

They finished their drinks, Herbert palmed the coaster and then with the same hand threw some UEC onto the bar top.

“Thanks, “ he said as he walked past the bartender and Cain smiled inwardly, he was slick and the line about him not being a soldier stuck in his mind. He was no soldier but he certainly knew his way around.

They made their way down a quieter side street, and Herbert scanned the coaster/ info disc into his mobiglas, then passed it to Cain.

“ Smash it with your heel when you’re done.  If one of us gets caught wipe the mobiglas, the other will continue on.”

Cain nodded, followed the instructions and then opened the Mobiglas.

Within the Davien system, several groups were protesting for the introduction of a democratic self rule and the removal of the Advocacy and it’s fascist tactics. One claimed that there was a deal between the UEE and the Banu protectorate to keep people in Davien subjugated to keep costs down and production at a maximum.

This was the group Marianna was tracking.

All they had to do was find them.

“We have four planets to choose from, any suggestions? Herbert asked looking up from the console at Cain.

“ Davien III is out, extremely difficult to get anything done in that atmosphere, same with IV, the resources they would have to collect or steal is too great. The acid atmosphere would corrode materials too quickly, and the intense cold would make any habitat too expensive to build.

“They would never keep a base on Cestulus, too easy to find, so we should start with Davien I.

“We’re not exactly an overwhelming force”, Cain remarked, if this group has the means to set up a base, they’ll have the manpower to protect it. Unfortunately, we need to get the Advocacy involved.

“Yeah, that’s a given. But I think recon is necessary first, we need to have everything laid out for them if we plan on getting her back. It may be hard for you to hear but agents, especially compromised ones, are expendable. We have to get close enough and I’m sure zipping there in a freelancer will  go unnoticed.

Cain looked at him, “We need a ghost.”

“Wonderful. That will only cost a small fortune…..”

“ I have money, you have money, we have your freelancer tub and we’re too far out for my 315p to use it.You can’t tell me you don’t have connections.Call in some favors.

Herbert nodded, “I do have someone here. Not exactly the Advocacy or the UEE, but they do owe me some favours. They would probably have a spare ghost lying around.” He smiled wanly, “And iI don’t think it will cost me my tub.Give me a minute.

He stepped towards the back of the ship, making a mobiglas contact, and spoke for a few minutes before he leaned back into the doorway ,”C’mon, let’s go”

“Where?”

“Back to the Dark Side”

They entered into the dim light, Herbert guiding him to a specific table, ordered a couple of drinks and did not have to wait for long. A large man sauntered in, tall, trim and dressed in a black uniform. He scanned the room briefly, never breaking stride and surveyed all the other patrons in the bar.

Not looking for trouble, Cain thought, but expecting it and prepared for it. He continued to the seat left open for him and sat down.A small emblem the size of a credit on the collar, a fading sky blue circle with a single bar across the edge, and when he spoke, the words rolled out in a slow and comfortable drawl,”How are you fine gentlemen this evening?”

Herbert replied softly “ We need your help AJ “