Alika, was more excited than he should have been. He had been given a weeks leave, along with two other Ensigns from the Arbiter, by Commander Erebus. The others had taken a shuttle to ArcCorp. He though had been lucky. His Father’s friend had loaned him his 100i, it was new and rarely used, but there was a sense of pride amongst the workers on Iolanas home ship, that, Alika was an Officer and a Pilot in the Lorell Navy, what is more, he was the co-pilot on the Flagship… So he had a fuel scooping fast and comfortable ship to get him wherever he wanted to go. The Commander had said to remain in the Stanton system, but this baby needed a run… an exciting run. The Nyx system was two jumps away, a doddle for a pilot such as him. The Nyx system had the often talked about never visited Levski. Alika was excited.
Swooping the craft through the pinnacles and gantries around Levski like the professional he was, he fired up the communications and requested permission to land. The unconventional laid back reply had his spine tingling… this was going to be a week to remember.
——– Cafe Musain
A young hispanic looking man came into the bar, sat a a table near the walkway. He ordered: “Uno cerveza por favor.” He didn’t know if Spanish was still used here, but didn’t care.
He opened the small box he was carrying and set out a collection of “Day of the Dead” skulls on the table. He placed a small folded sign in front. “Good luck skulls – 5c”(edited)
He didn’t have the creds to rent a stall on Grand Barter, tried to make a cred when and where he could.(edited)
He set a little speaker behind them, tapped his mG. Old school Latino rock played quietly.
Luis loved messin’ with people, playing the stereotype to screw with them. Since he had left New Austin, he had done just about anything and everything to make aliving.
He stayed in unfrequent touch with his family.
Alika’s first imperative, like any good son, was to secure a gift for his mother. She was a hard working technician on their home ship, the Valance. The Valance was a very old Earth Transport ship that had survived from the colony days, it required a lot of mechanical expertise to keep her running and his mother was on the forefront of that. The Grand Barter was unlike any shopping area he had ever seen. The myriad of items on sale was mind boggling. He moved from stall to stall inspecting the small items within his budget, and marvelling at the bigger exotic and some illegal objects. In a stall just around the corner from the little café area he found what he was looking for. A small pendant about the size of ping pong ball carved into the head of an animal he was not familiar with. It was carved from a hard black rock and looked beautiful. He knew his mother would love it.
“How much?” He asked the stall holder holding up the necklace by its chain. “40UEC.” She answered smiling at the young man. “beautiful isn’t it, Craven over there is from Earth, he says it is a Horse, apparently they used to ride them.” “A horse?” Alika beamed, he had remembered a story his mother had told him about Earth and men riding horses and rounding up Bovines. Cowboys, she called them. Now the pendant was a must. “I’ll take it,” he said. “It’s for my mother.” The woman looked at him and her smile broadened. “Make it 35UEC then, a boy that buys presents for his mother deserves a discount.”
“Thank you.” Alika was amazed at her friendliness, not realising that Bartering was the name of the game in Levski and the woman had been prepared to go down to 25UEC! He typed the sum into his Mobiglas and swiped the credits over to the stall’s register. She nodded to say the money had been received and he moved on securing his gift in the under suit pouch. He picked up his bag again and wandered around the stalls, not looking for a purchase, just marvelling at the selection.
Luis added to the little sign another that explained the origins of the “Day of the Dead.” He hoped it would attract some customers
A dark haired waitress brought his two beers to him, she scanned his mG for payment as he stared at her.
“You are beautiful.”
She didn’t say or do a thing but set the beers down and walked away.(edited)
Argo 002 from the NC Pitman touched down on the Levski Control Pad 02
stepping out, Roan turned to wave to the pilot as he took off to return to Nostra Consolidated’s flagship
Roan turned to face the hanagr doors. He paused and just stared and stared. Stepping through those doors meant stepping into a new life.
it had been a tough couple of days for him but it been a torturous few months prior to that. Short end of it was that he was out of Lorell and ready to create a new chapter in his life.
Alika, having secured the necessary gift and wandered the stalls went looking for a hab rental. It took some time to realise that he had to return to the surface, the signage was not obvious and some of the people he had asked were less than forthcoming. Once back up the the lift he went to the main office on the right of the Tanaka statue and hired himself one of the simple Habs.
It was way back in the labyrinth that was the accommodation areas, but it was a single bunk, sheer luxury compared to the 16 man mess back on Arbiter, he immediately took a Mobishot to send back to his parents, once he was on the way home that was… they all thought he was ‘somewhere’ in Stanton.(edited)
Settled, he unpacked a few items, changed out of his Undersuit and went for a shower in communal heads. They were dirty and unsavoury with questionable items of clothing left lying around. He was alone though and refreshed himself quickly. He dressed in a simple pair of blue slacks and a grey T shirt with a non descript logo on it. It was time to sample more of what Levski had to offer.
Having just landed on the moon, Roan headed to Citizen services to register his arrival and find a bunk for a few days before he figured what to do next. Nostra Consolidated could last weeks without him it was a pretty self sufficient business
As he was up on the surface area he went to the Teaches Ship shop to begin with strolled through the second hand ships that were on offer and marvelled at the prices. He would never be able to afford his own, he was so lucky to have been lent that sparling new 100i.
He sat in the cockpit of a Cutlass Black imagining the adventures that could be had in one of these, until the salesmen, rightly detecting that he was a dreamer with little cash coaxed him out on the sales floor and began to question him.
Rumbled, he went back down into the Grand Barter area, and went looking for the bar.
Cafe Musain, was not much different to the Core, in layout, although there were some booths that looked more like rooms, as if they could be hired for private parties. It was early in the evening but the clientle were obviously getting into the spirit of the place. He noticed a few very serious looking individuals sat on stools away from the bar as if waiting for someone. There were two bar staff behind the bar one male and one female, he sat on a vacant bar stool at the females end of the bar, not sure if they had territory but wanting some gentle company.
”What’s your poison?” The woman asked, for she was a woman of early middle age, Alika surmised, his mothers age,
“Beer please.” He said trying not to sound timid, and not quite achieving it.
”Beer it is.” She turned and picked up a chilled glass from the cool racks behind her and put it under the tap marked ‘Delamar Ale’. Alika watched the liquid fill the glass, it was a deep amber in colour, different to the the yellow colour of the Core’s beer.(edited)
”Your new here,” She said as she placed his glass on a cork mat in front of him, “So no tab this time, 2 UEC. If you don’t mind.” She held up her arm, her Mobiglas opened and Alika typed in the figure and swiped it over.
He took a deep gulp of the ale. It was bitter and strong. The woman had stayed in front of him as he drank and then nodded when he put the glass down and smiled. He wiped the froth from his top lip.
”Nice, just what the Medic ordered.” He said with confidence.
”My own brew.” She smiled back, “I have to get hops from Terra, to make it that good. Levski is a little short on crops.”
She turned to serve another customer and Alika felt a good tingle in his spine that indicated he had done good. Passed a test maybe. He looked around the room and spotted a man near the end of the bar with a small case of items for sale in front of him. He lifted his glass in salute as the man looked back. They both smiled. Alika relaxed, this was a good day.
Customs control showed as much interest in Broadsword as the point man down in the hangar, they waved him through and he went straight to the Trade terminal and made good on his cargo receipt. His friends information had been good, he had made a healthy profit. He moved have of the profit into his join account with Kara. The Hab manager offered him a private en suite Hab, of which he knew there were few out for rent, he took it on for three nights. That gave him time to cool his heels, relax and then find a job that suited him.
He stowed his gear in the Hab, and then made his way down to Grand Barter, a check of the local time told him it was evening on Delmar, not that it made much difference, and he figured there was a beer with his name on it down in Cafe Musain.
Alika was three beers in, he felt pleasantly mellow and he was aware now that the Bar tenders name was Clair, that she was in fact the owner, and that she now knew just about everything about Alika, his parents and his nationality. None of which he had intended to divulge. She was very nice to talk to though.
”Alika, let me introduce you to May.” Claire interrupted his revery. “She works here sometimes, and around the Barter occasionally. May, this is Alika, he is from Lorell.”
Alika turned to his right and saw the pretty dark haired girl standing next too him, he struggled to rise and hold out his hand at the same time and singularly failed. He slipped off the stool and had to grab hold of both the bar top and May’s arm to prevent a complete collapse onto the floor.
May steadied him, and helped him back onto the stool. Alika flushed with embarrassment.
”Pleased to meet you Alika,” May said, holding out her small hand as he steadied himself. “I have heard a lot about Lorell recently, didn’t you carry out a magnificent rescue of UEE navy people in Stanton?”
Alika took her proffered hand and shook it, he looked toward Clair to order May a drink and then noted that one had already been placed in front of her, along with another beer for him. May got up on the stool next to him as he thought about his reply.
”Yes, yes we did.”He smiled at her. “I was piloting the Flagship at the time.”
”The Flagship!” May gave her astonished look. “You must be very important.”
Alika flushed again, pleased and flustered in the same moment, he really had not intended making his background known, but as she knew…. he began telling the tale of Blackstones Folly, without the Folly parts of course, or the real reason behind it, or the actions on board the Holdfast. It was a very sanitised version, in which Alika’s part was key. May listened fascinated.
Broadsword entered the Cafe Musain down the main stairwell. He was familiar with the place from previous adventures, he noted Miles Eckart sitting on his usual stool off to the left of the bar, did the man ever move he thought, bet he has piles… As he approached the bar there was a cry from the other end.
“Clark!” Clair Rios, the owner and sometime acquaintance called to him.
He smiled, waved back and ignoring the looks that the call had prompted, he walked down to ‘her’ end of the bar. There was a stool vacant and before he had sat a beer had been placed on a cork mat in front of it.
“Clair,” he said beaming at her. “You look as beautiful as ever.”
She beamed at him.
“You flatterer, but I’ll take it, God knows there is not much of that down here.” She looked him up and down. “You look the same as ever, handsome hero. Where the hell have you been? It must be nearly a year.”
“More like 18 months, but I have missed you.”
“Ha.” She looked at him as he took a draft of the beer. “So did that lead get you where you wanted to go?”
“It did. Things were not all as they seemed, politics, you know that stuff.”
Clair laughter. “Do I ever! Especially living here.”
“Talking of…. “ she mouthed ‘Lorell”, “There was a young man here earlier said he was from them. I introduced him to May.” She looked back along the bar. “He was up at the end…” she stepped back to look. “Nope he’s gone.”
Broadsword finished his beer and before his glass was put down Clair had replaced it with another full glass.
27 September 2019
The evening was one of the best he had enjoyed for a long time, Even swapping war stories with his mates on ArcCorp had not been as much fun. Clair was the consummate host, with stories and jokes to match his own, and all given whilst keeping the other customers satisfied. He knew his limitations though, and as he caught a slur on some of his words he realised he had reached his. Despite offers of more drink and maybe some company, he politely declined and started to wend his way back to his Hab. He was always a little irritated at Levski, that the guests got to live up at the customs level. It meant a longer trip when bed is what was needed. He was definitely weary.
Just as he left the elevator and walked past the Tanaka statue he heard a shout. Puzzled he looked around and he saw a flash of someone running. He did not see who, but it puzzled him. He walked in the direction of the Hab section the runner was near, not his own but, he was curious. The door was open already, also unusual, the guard at the custom station had not moved. Broadsword went through the open door, there lying at an odd angle across one of the guard rails was a young man, simply dressed in blue slacks and a once grey T shirt. Once because it was deeply stained with what looked like blood. His arm hooked over the rail gripped some thing tightly, his head lolled unnaturally towards the ground.
Broadsword, sobered up quickly, he went over and felt for a pulse, and in doing so felt the ridge of bone sticking through to the flesh. The neck was broken. The blood on the Tee was from several open wounds on his chest. He looked up at the gallery above. Overkill sprung to mind. He then looked at the young face, he knew him, from the Arbiter, the young Ensign. The Lorelli Clair had talked about. His heart was full of sorrow. His mind raced.(edited)
Levski was not known for its law and order. He looked around, he was the only one on scene. He proceeded to open his Mobiglas and began to take shots of every angle and item he could think of, he went up the ladders to the gallery, and saw the blood stains on the walkway, he took more shots and then from the gallery looking down. When he was satisfied he had completely documented the scene he went out and informed the Security guard at customs what he had found.
The guard was unsure, then accusing, then worried. He called his superior. Within 15 minutes the area was surrounded by Levski security personnel, the Hab was roped off and they were talking frantically. Not one person asked him any further questions, and after a while he was dismissed. He tried to talk to the man that seemed to be in charge, but his reply was curt to say the least. This was Levski business it would be handled by them.
He still had a direct line through to Roan, thanks to his Directorship in Nova Consolidated. This was a Lorelli, out of his home ‘soil’ admittedly but a Lorelli all the same, his death should be investigated properly, by a law enforcement team Broadsword trusted. From his own Hab he sent a covering message to Roan with details of what he knew so far and all of the shots he had taken, asking him to forward them to the Marshall. He then laid back on his bunk fully clothed and tried in vain to sleep.
@Roan Blackbreed @Cara “Caz” Reid
28 September 2019
Steam rose towards high ceilings from taped together chimneys, the smell of coffee permeating the air. Not far away, fake-fish fried on another stall, the smells mixing to produce a heady scent as Cara Reid sat before the Café Musain, nursing her beverage with tired hands. The coffee was fake too, probably, but it was still pretty good after a million mile quantum jump and a long commute down to Levski, dodging the smuggler who’d decided to chase her halfway across the ‘verse. She’d got him, finally, over the skies of Delamar, but not before her hands had blistered with the effort of steering her ship at sharp angles for so long. Red and raw, she wrapped them into bandages, torn leather coat over undersuit, hood up, eyes heavy. She desperately wanted a shower, but there was too much effort involved in going to organise a hab. Instead she waited for the caffeine to kick in, watching the lights of the grand barter flicker, a twenty-four hour hustle for those who staked their lives on being able to flog their wares here. She’d buy something later, just for the excuse to talk to the stall owners. Perhaps it wasn’t worth chasing up the aftermath of one Michel Kirk, the drug smuggler whose decision to target the enviro-refugees on Hurston had been his final one. Too bad for his operation the Republic had been offering aid. Too bad for him it was Reid investigating the swathe of addiction related deaths in the camp. Now the head had been cut off the snake, but there were still synthetic opiates to be tracked down. Middle men and low lifes no doubt, who in the absense of Kirk might be tempted to step up the plate.
. Fleeting movement caught her eye, she turned her head slightly to see security stride past, low voices indicating apprehension. Something was happening, and she clutched her cup to halt the urge to get involved. It was none of her business, after all. Swirling the dark liquid around in the bottom, she stared at the warping reflections of the lights. It was nothing to do with her, and anyhow, she needed that shower. Priorities. Draining the last of her drink, she stood, and followed security from the market. @Broadsword-Eagle(edited)
29 September 2019
He had laid there for three hours without sleep. Still no reply from Roan, he had checked his Mobiglas every ten minutes, illogical he knew but the sight of that young man taken too soon kept flashing into his brain. He had not known him well, just a few passing exchanges of pleasantries as they went about their business. He was from am ancestral Lorelli background, that he knew, his parents lived and worked on one of the old Earth built transports. They deserved to know what had happened to him, why was he even here? He got up and splashed some water over his face, he would go and get some coffee and start the day early.
31 October 2019
Before he headed down to the Bazaar, he wandered over to the Accommodation Managers Office. It was a different guy on duty, he looked unkempt and angry although spoke softly when Broadsword questioned him.
{Accommodation Manager} “Yeah poor guy, the Security cleared out his room last night, not much there to be honest, not sure he even slept there.”(edited)
“So he came in Yesterday then,” Broadsword enquired.
{Accommodation Manager} “That’s right, apparently he went straight down to the Bazaar saying he had to get a gift for his Mother.” he paused and swallowed, he looked up at Broadsword with a sad expression. “His poor Parents.”(edited)
“Yes indeed.” Broadsword was concious of the empathy coming from the man, not the usual type to expect on Levski. “Any idea how he got here?”
{Accommodation Manager} “Brand New 100i, apparently. He was very proud of it. How a kid like that got a new ship I have no idea, he didn’t talk like he came from money, or look like it come to that.”
Broadsword nodded his thanks and passed over some loose credits he had. Sometimes tangible tips worked better. He checked the time and realising it was too early for the Origin One Manager Eslin Macken to be on duty, headed down to the Bazaar Cafe for a wakeup coffee.
2 November 2019
Broadsword walked back through the Custom Lobby area and took the lift down to the Bazaar. Even at this time in the morning the area was bustling with people in Undersuits at the trading stations and having earnest discussions with customs officers. Levski had certainly carved out a market for itself.
Down in the Bazaar, he bought a coffee in the little side café and sat at one of the high tables looking at the stalls, which were all closed, but not with any form of high security. Levski may have a higher percentage of the criminal element in its clientele , but the locals appeared not to be concerned with crime.
12 November 2019
Roan exited from his hab quietly and made his way towards the private suites. He had worn soft leather boots to ensure he could mask his footsteps under the hum of the habitats air filtratiom system.
The brief sent by Broadsword had been saddening. He wasn’t a Lorelli anymore but any knews of a death, especially of a citizen of a nation to which he still felt strong patriotic ties, was disheartening
the previous day the accomodation manager had reluctantly relenquished the address of Broadsword’s hab to Roan. He was thankful he didn’t need to do any arm twisting of sorts. Roan was in dark mode, off the comms and out of the public eye. He would only see those he could trust. Eagle’s message had presented a dark situation, one the he sensed would only become more dire
Reaching the correct room number he halted and paused before knocking
His eyes darted left and right to see if anyone was coming or if anyone had seen him stop in front of this particular door.
seeing the corrider empty he knocked
tap tap tap
Roan barely waiteda minute before he decided to leave. He didn’t want to be seen hanging around the hab in case some one who saw him knew that it was Eagle’s. He didn’t want people to know they were associated, yet. Quickly looking to see if anyone was approaching he un holstered his cobra and ejected the cartridge. He took out a bullet and leant down to wedge it between the floor and the door. Now… if Eagle came home before Roan managed to find him, he would hopefully know he had a visitor.
Quickly slaming in the cartridge and reholstering his pistol he looked around again and started to walk. He adjusted his gait to look like he had been walking a while and had not stopped halfway down the hall
he equipped his disintered face, on the outside he appeared as a civillian heading out to start his day. internally, his mind raced through plans to find Eagle.
He decided to head to the Bazaar. The amount of people there…. surely one of them would be Broadsword Eagle.
Broadsword sat drinking his coffee and observing the Bazaar coming awake.
Roan made his way into the Bazaar
he was immediately consumed by the sheer volume of the noise and the complexity of the smell created by the mixing of the all the scents produced by the plethora of food stalls(edited)
As he watched he noticed a lady pulling from racks little trinkets and starting to display them around her stall.
As he watched something he had heard brought a thought into his head, but as he struggled to recall he saw something out of the corner of his eye. He turned and saw weaving through the slowly assembling store holders, a familiar face.
Shocked at first and not believing his eyes, he did a double take. It was, it was Roan Blackbreed, or very much his twin, he was not in his normal Lorell Lieutenants Uniform though. He tentatively raised his hand hoping he wasn’t making a fool of himself with a complete stranger.
Roan eye caught it
he inwardly sighed with relief and quickly approached eagle so that he could lower his hand and no one else would notice
he smiled and sat down at the table with Eagle. Creating the appearance that the two had made plans to eat together.(edited)
Broadsword dropped his hand as soon as Roan recognised him, he indicated the chair opposite him.
“Welcome to Levski.” He said sardonically mimicking the Hangar Managers tone.
“Thank you, Friend”
he took a seat and positioned himself comfortably(edited)
“I was hoping you would come, but I wasn’t expecting you so soon.”
“Ah.. yes….. well”
“We have some catching up to do”
“We do?”
“A lot has gone on since your departure. Speaking of which, I was shocked to hear it!”
“Yes, sorry I could not keep you more informed but things came to a head pretty quickly. The best thing for me to do was to leave directly.” Broadsword shook his head remembering the altercation that had led to his departure.
Roan nodded sadly. He then looked up with humor in his eyes
“It didn’t take me long to follow in your footsteps though”
Broadsword looked shocked. “You mean you have left Lorell too?”
“What about the Marshall, you were her key player?”
“What happened?” He asked, realising he had probably hit a raw nerve.
“The Marshall can hold her own. Hell…. she is more capable than most ranked Lorelli’s… combined. But yes, I’m out. Your departure made me think, hard and long. Lorell will forever be in my heart but unfortunately our visions were just not aligned. Who knows… maybe one day it will be a place I can return to, but for now I am a free agent”
Broadsword looked at his friend, sorry that he might have caused the departure, but pleased that he was with him now.
“You got my message about Alika Iolana I hope.” He said, changing the subject.
Roan nodded slowly “That I did”
“I’m hoping that’s it’s a mere crime. A horrible crime but just a crime… but with Lorell you never know… there it was politicking going on behind closed doors”
“What do you know?”
“He died last night. Definitely murder, knifed and then his neck broken, although I think the fall might have caused that.”
“Levski security cleared out his quarters before I could get to them this morning, although I got a good scope of pictures of the scene. I have yet to talk to anyone other than the Accommodation manager.”
Loss May 13th 2948 at 12:00 Watching the M2 land I opened his letter… “Dear Dad If you’re reading this you’ve been notified by the UEE of my passing. I know you never wanted me to join the Marines but you always supported my decision. I never once regretted my choice and am honoured to have died for the UEE fighting the Vanduul. So don’t mourn my short life, it was a good life. You have been and always will be the best of dads Love Simon ps. Please bury me in my dress blues next to Ollie” The ramp of the M2 opens as the Marine honour guard slowly brings my son home….
“He told me that Alika was excited about getting a present for his mother, which is kind of sad in the circumstances.”
“Also that his transport here was a brand new 100i, where the hell does an Ensign in the Lorelli Navy get the cash for any ship let alone a brand new 100i?” Broadsword looked at Roan for inspiration.
Roan shrugged “Rentables, loaners… hell the ensign might even have flown off the straight path..”
“Wouldve been good to sift through his items” Roan clicked his tongue in annoyance
“There are paths we can take. Assuming you want to look into this”(edited)
Roan had to laugh. He had just left the Lorelli Police Force “CivSec” and yet here was. Guess you cant escape the work
“I think that he is an unknown here, and by that I mean the Levski Security people will not have a lot of interest in clearing it up. If it was a series of crimes they would be interested, but one complete stranger…”
“I think we owe it to the Parents to at least find out the motive.”
“Agreed”
“How do you want to go about this”
“Well, you are the lawman… but I was waiting around until Eslin Macken is up and around and ask him if I could take a look at the 100i.”
He flipped open his Mobiglas and checked the time.
“He should be up in about half and hour, give him some time to settle in…”
Broadsword had something else niggling in the background but couldn’t remember what it was.
“Guess we can wait down” he waved down one of the vendors to bring him a serve of his stall, chicken skewers. He held up four fingers, two for him and two for eagle
14 November 2019
As the food arrived Broadsword looked up again and saw the woman on the trinket stall hang up some medallions. He remembered what the Accommodation Manager had said. Alika was going to buy something for his Mother…
17 November 2019
——– Cafe Musain
The young man, Luis, had done well selling his “Day of the Dead” skulls. He was a bit surprised, but it was too cool to have creds again. He sat flirting with the waitresses at the cafe, drinking cerveza. The more he drank the more home sick he became.
“Mamá te quiere tanto.” He tapped out on his mG
In another msg he tapped: “Hola viejo, ¿cómo estás?” He chuckled and finished the cerveza. He had been lost in the moment, didn’t notice the waitress standing slightly behind him.
“Is that spanish?” she asked, then immediately put her hand over her mouth, blushing bright red. “Oh I am so sorry.” she started to turn quickly to go away, but Luis grabbed her wrist and stopped her.
She stopped and turned, looking at him, then her wrist.
“Perdón espero que no te lastimé. I’m sorry, hope I didn’t hurt you.”
“Si, es Espanol. It’s spanish. Family old habit.”
His mG buzzed(edited)
“Oh mio, tan bueno saber de ti. Te quiero muchísimo. Te extraño.”
“Oh mio, tan bueno saber de ti. Te quiero muchísimo. Te extraño.”
The waitress was embarrassed, but couldn’t look away from the msg. She giggled nervously. “What does it say?”(edited)
With a very straight face Luis held up his left arm for her to see it better. “It says she loves me very much and misses me.”
“Oh” was all she could say, looking a bit disappointed.
He burst out in laughter, she looked at him, hurt.
“Mama….” he had a hard time saying it he was laughing so hard. “Es mi madre. It’s my mother.”
“Oh” Was all she could say again, but with a big smile this time.
8 January 2020
Broadsword, got up from the table and walked over to the vendor. She beamed at him anticipating a sale.
{VENDOR} “You like what you see, Mister pilot.” She said nodding at his jackets badges.
“I do.” He picked up one of the medallions, it was star shaped with an entwined couple in the foreground, clearly not a precious metal but shiny and eye catching all the same.
“Do you sell many of these?” He asked.
{VENDOR} “Enough.” She looked at Broadsword and he thought he detected a weariness and sadness in her eyes. “I make them,” she added. ” All individual, nothing ever the same.” The sadness gave way to a slight smile. “They will be priceless when I’m gone.”
Broadsword smiled back. “In that case I will most definitely have this one. It calls to me.”
{VENDOR} “For a lover?” Her smile became conspiratorial and she tilted her head to the side. “The brave pilot has lost his heart?”
“If only.” Broadsword smiled back. “I have an old Boss in mind for this one. Although it may be some time before she gets it.” He wound the chain around in his hand and looked closely at the entwined couple, they appeared clothed in gowns like some ancient gods and were looking at each other with admiration. The detail on such a small artefact was impressive. ” How much?”
{VENDOR} “50UEC.” She said in a business-like manner looking away as she said it.
Broadsword smiled , knowing he was being fleeced. He raised his arm and typed the figure into his Mobiglas. “That is very cheap for a priceless artefact, I had better snap it up.”
{VENDOR} She smiled a broad and friendly smile that lit up her face and made her eyes sparkle. “Too right.” She said. “Can I interest you in anything else?”
“I have a question of you, if I may.” He said becoming more serious.
{VENDOR} “For a handsome brave pilot, how could I refuse.” She said still grinning, happy that her sale had secured her for a while.
“Did you happen to sell anything to a another pilot recently, a young man desperate to buy something for his Mother? He asked.
{VENDOR} “You mean that young man that was killed last night?”
“I do.” Broadsword watched as her face darkened, the smile gone.
{VENDOR} “I did.” She said slowly and then paused and looked up into his eyes. “I wept for his mother.” She looked down and paused as if she was trying to make up her mind about something.
{VENDOR}“It was a medallion of something called a horse.” She continued. “Not something I made myself, I bought it from a….” she paused again and looked at Broadsword as if trying to assess his worthiness. “a smuggler, rogue actually. Barton his name was, used to run with the Seven Hand Gang before they got broke up. He was down on his luck and sold me it for some creds. The young man really liked it, something about stories his Mother used to tell him.”(edited)
“It is a great shame,” Broadsword said. “I had met the young man before in my last job. He was a pilot too, up and coming and very dedicated.”
{VENDOR} “Oh.” She looked at him. “I do hope you find the evil person that did this.” She paused again and looked around making sure she wasn’t overheard. “For his mothers sake, don’t rely on the Levski security to get to the bottom of it.” She then added hastily, “They are not corrupt, necessarily, just a little inept.”
“Thank you, I have some very competent friends who will know how to proceed.” He held out his hand. “I am Clark by the way, although I am usually called by my Callsign Broadsword.”
{VENDOR} She took his hand firmly and shook it, then placed her other hand over his. “Fran,” she said. “I am glad there are still people in this Verse like you.”
Broadsword nodded and smiled at Fran. He turned back to the table where @Roan Blackbreed sat and went back to brief him.
After briefing Roan, who had another area to investigate, Broadsword took himself off to the Hangar operations room for a chat with Eslin Macken, the laconic business manager of Origin 1, the Levski Hangar complex.
Eslin was his usual laid back self, leaning back in an old, but very comfortable, Pilots chair that looked like it was rescued from an old Origin ship at some time in the past. He was surrounded by screens both camera views of the Hangars and computer monitors. Above his chair was a large scope screen with a radar/ESM lay out of the surrounding area, with track marks for ships coming and going into his ‘air’ space.
The door to the operations room was open, off to the left was another door that looked into Eslin’s quarters, these from first observation also looked as if they had been recovered from an old Origin ship… the naming of the Hangar complex made some sense.
“May I come in?” Broadsword asked, knowing from past dealing with Air Ops people that they liked to have full command of their domain.
{Eslin} “Doors open innit.” He answered over his shoulder.
Broadsword smiled, “It is sir.” he walked over the short distance to the Operations chair, marvelling at the capacity of the man to observe and control this number of inputs.
{Eslin} “aaand, what can this humble personage do for you Mr Captain… ” He squinted at Broadswords jacket. “Broadsword-Eagle sir.”
“A young man came in yesterday, name of Iolana, Alika Iolana, I wondered if you could let me know where his ship is stored?” Broadsword asked coming right to the point.
{Eslin} “Left last night,” He answered straight away, indicating a screen off to his left without looking at it. “Nice new Origin 100i looked fresh out of the showroom.”
“Left? Who took it?” Broadsword was astonished.
{Eslin} “He did, according to the scripts. Left at 0300 DT. No issues very smooth departure by all accounts, I was off shift.” He nodded back to his quarters.
“That would have been a miracle then.” Broadsword informed him. “Alika Iolana was dead for a good two hours by then. He was the kid that was killed in the Habs last night.”
{Eslin} “Shit, heard about that.” He shook his head and leaned forward in his chair he tapped a few buttons and the big screen in front of him started playing back. It showed the pristine 100i sitting in the after section of one of the medium sized hangars. Then a body with his back to the camera started to walk out toward the ship, he was suited up in a black under suit with his helmet on. He raised his Mobiglas as he got to the 100i and taped a few instructions, the ship opened up and he climbed into the cockpit. The call for permission to launch was textual blinking across the lower half of the screen. Moments later it lifted off.
“Anyway of knowing who that was?” Broadsword asked.
{Eslin} “Not from here, Customs may have tagged him though.”
“From my perspective that was Alika, otherwise the ship would not of unlocked for him. A pro hacker could have cut through the security but not as easy as that was, and an Origin ain’t easy to hack.” He leaned forward and typed some more on his virtual keyboard. Another vid came up showing the 100i landing. A clear shot of Alika Iolans came up as he got out of the hip and walked over towards the elevators. He was wearing a white under suit with dark blue sleeves and no helmet. Clearly not the same person.
Broadsword nodded. The plot thickens he thought.
{Eslin} “You know, if I had been on duty I would have picked that up.”
Broadsword nodded and patted Eslin’s shoulder. “I expect whoever it was, was counting on you not being on duty. It’s not your fault. I need to have a chat with Customs and the Security guys. This is ship theft added to murder, I think we need some Advocacy on the job.”
{Eslin} “Good luck with that.” He laughed darkly, “This is Levski ya know.”
“I know, Eslin, I know.” Broadsword turned and left the Operations room.
Broadsword walked out of the Security Office two hours later, he was sad and a little demoralised. The Security could give him nothing that he didn’t already know, in fact he had updated them on what he had found out from Fran and Eslin. They were surprised but shrugged, intimating that if Barton came back then they would question him.[19:32]He went back down to the Barter area and looked for Roan, he was nowhere to be seen and this concerned him more. He opened a Mobiglas channel and called him. The reply was quick and terse ‘ sorry lost you have to go back Nostradamus business, may see you on Terra soon.’ Broadsword smiled, the big business man back in business he thought.
He went back to Fran in the barter to see if she had a pic of the pendant, it may be good evidence to help track down Barton in the future, or at least find a trail.[16:19]Fran was sorry she didn’t have a pic but she did draw a simple sketch of the item for his records. He thanked her profusely recording the sketch on his Monglas, and then went back to Cafe Musain. Clair greeted him with a smile and a beer, he settled in for a nice evening with pleasant conversation to take his mind off young Alika.
The next morning, Broadsword compiled a reoprt on what he had found and along with his suspicions and the sketch of the Horse Pendant he forwarded to the Marshall of CIVSEC at Lorell. He picked up an incidental cargo with some unusual items that he thought might sell well on Terra. Then set off back to the Eagles Nest and home.