The captain is a Shalfin.
A hunch grips me and I pull up La’loorn’s credentials.
Curses on high!
He had returned from his leave and ended up working in a different berthing sector. Because of that, his access rights to any of the berthing sectors, other than the military ones, are not restricted.
Meaning he can use the personnel lifts.
His last reported movement in the system has him entering my berthing sector through the restricted lift—which bypasses the customs scanners—and then crossing through the airlock and into thePRcrew hatch mere hours before it departed.
And he did not return.
Stunned, I sit back and ponder the full ramifications. No telling how many conspirators are involved in this scheme, or what the value is of the illicit cargo they are carrying.
The “tow” that is currently inbound is likely working with them.
Before I realize what I am doing, I place a personal com call to Colarmin and pray our family relations are as strong as I believe they are.
When phey answer, my voice chokes. “It is Olarte. I have desperate need to speak with you about a grave matter for which I need an oath of secrecy.”
Phey hesitate. “Regarding…?”
“Please.”
“Stand by for a moment. I must go elsewhere.” Phey mute the call and, a couple of minutes later, phey return to the connection. When phey speak, pheir voice sounds low, pheir words quick. “You are putting me in jeopardy by asking this of me, are you not?”
“If it literally were about anything else, I would not ask this of you.Please, it potentially means someone’slife.”
Phey sigh. “You have my oath aboutthisconversation. I reserve the right to not make such an oath regarding future conversations about the same topic.”
“Fair enough.”I quickly outline what is going on and my words are, at first, met with silence from phem.
“Are youcertainof this?” phey finally ask.
“Reasonably. Enough so that I would not be talking to you about this if I were not.”
“We have heard rumors of a new smuggling ring working to move animals from Pfahrn, but had not yet found confirmation of their operations.”
“I believe I now provide such confirmation.”
“Unfortunately, this is not enough proof for me to take to my superiors to allow me to requisition the military resources needed to intercept the vessel. We would need an ether-jump-capable ship. By the time we reached them with one of our regular vessels, they would already have off-loaded their cargo.”
I think about that. “If I could secure you the use of a jump-capable vessel, would you be able to provide assistance?”
Phey snort. “Commandeering a vessel is, as humans say, above your pay grade, is it not?”
“I am serious.”
Phey grow quiet. “How can you manage that?” phey ask.
“It is irrelevant. If I can?”
“Legally?” phey ask.
“Yes, of course legally.”
Colarmin ponders that for a moment. “If you can legally secure the use of an ether-jump vessel, I can immediately assemble a patrol authorized to take possession of the illicit cargo and take the perpetrators into custody.”
