“They? So, does that mean you have more than these?” The lady said as she gestured at the second crate next to the opened one, which was showing off the medium sized Battlemech scale cannon. She had been paying close attention to every word, and every movement of the man, out of the corner of her eye. She had to fight to keep her voice sweet and level. The two ways that she knew helped her to get her way, at least when dealing with members of the opposite sex.
Robert tried to hide a sly smile and fought to keep only the half smile on his face. “This woman was very sharp. If I did not watch myself, she could be trouble.”
“Yes. We have five of them, that we can sale on our dropship today.”
Robert knew, that if he said that he had ten of the old cannons for sale? Then the local market would become over saturated, and the overall price would be lower per weapon as soon as the words left his mouth. It was best to spread out this load of cargo, so they could get the best price per weapon. It also would draw less attention to them, with the announcement of the lower numbers of weapons for sale. If they were too big, someone might think it was worth the risk of attacking them.
“Well then, Mr. Copeland. Then it looks like we can do business. I would like one of my people to come out tomorrow, to inspect all five of them. We will be looking to buy only the ones our man says are good, and if we can settle on a price. Is that a problem?” It was not uncommon for ruined mech scale weapons to be sold as new or lightly used ones.
The woman cocked her head and looked sideways at the older man. She was trying to see if, there was more that she could use against him. She made a note, after a handful of seconds, she had put his name on the list of people not to play poker against. That was a short list, but one she paid attention to. She could tell that this man was hiding something, but she could not tell what it might be. Then again? Most people who traveled through this part of space had something hidden or things they wanted to hide.
Robert let the look roll off his back, like water on a duck. He had a feeling that the look was not a power play of some kind. It was just a hunch, but he had learned long ago to trust those hunches. “It would be better, if we could meet earlier in the day. We are going to be picking up some fresh food, to replenish our stocks. I was planning, and hoping, to use some of the proceeds from the sale of the weapons for those supplies.”
This was a two-part play, that Robert was pushing. The Styx had left home with a full load of food, but it had not carried what most would call comfort food or drinks. In fact? They were carrying less consumables than what they had during the two shakedown missions. The cover story, was that the Styx had them out in the deep back, working on recovering the Scout. It would make sense that they might be short of those food type items at their first recordable port call. The second part was to let the leadership know that some of the money, they would be spending on the weapons. That it would be staying on the planet, after all. You tended to make friends that way, and it would keep the haggling at a more manageable level. Plus, any storable and unused comfort foods and drinks would bring a higher value back home, if they were any good. It was a win-win for the traveling circus that was calling itself Copeland Supply, Salvage, and Resale.
“If you have set your clocks to our local time? I will be here, with my people, to do a final inspection say around 0800.” This was Duke Terry’s planned reply. She delivered it with a smile, and without missing a beat. She did not even let on that she had heard the comment about buying local products.
“Ahh now for the game to start,” thought Robert and he let a sly smile slowly cross his face.
The Trojan was a heavily armed dropship, for a cargo carrier. If the locals wanted to just steal the weapons, and brought some heavy firepower to do it? They would be in more trouble, than they could imagine. This was considered by most a lawless area of space, after all. That was why they had made the Trojan class ship and other classes of ships like her. Robert was thinking that this was moving along quite nicely, and he started looking for traps that might be about to snap at him.
“Hmmmmm. That will work for the time, but let’s limit the congestion on the Port landing area. Let’s say two sedans and two or so open sided flatbed trucks, to take your purchases home with. You won’t need to bring a crane out. We have an old Power-Loader mech on board. We can use it, to help load your trucks for you. That will keep our manpower low, also. Now, as for as a means of payment? My partners and I are pretty open, but C-bills are always good.”
Robert tipped his head toward the robed men behind Mr. Drunk. “You can also use a different form of payment. I think if we can get some undated metal prices from our ComStar friends. I do not know what precious metals you have on hand. That is, if it might be helpful to you.”
At the mention of the word “ComStar” the ComStar representative turned in the direction of the voice. He looked like he had smelled something bad, but he did not say anything out loud. Robert kept talking to the group. “It looks like you’re the only party that likes my cannons, so let’s see what is in the smaller boxes!“ Robert was back to putting on the show, and was trying not to let it show that the woman was starting to get to him.
On that queue. The nearest enlisted man opened the create lid, that encased one of the large desktop computers. A long power cord had been run out of the nearest cargo bay. It was there so that the computer could be powered up, for show or testing. Before the computer systems had left New Circe, all the software and data storage areas had been wiped clean of any information. When the power was applied to the computer. The stats of the hardware were the only information that showed on the screen in black and white letters.
Everyone slowly walked by the displayed computers one after the other. At first no one seemed that interested in the devices. But the last person was a ComStar Adept and that changed in the blink of an eye. He leaned over and started pressing some of the buttons, as he muttered a chant just low enough that you were not sure what he was saying. Then his eyes went wide, and two words had come out of his mouth loud and clear, and a few heads turned slightly towards him.
“Blake’s Blood!!” When the young man was done. He walked very fast towards the older ComStar person and whispered into the other man’s ear. Every eye in the small group watched the young man fast walk towards his boss. The boss had been standing only a few steps behind Mr. Drunk and not anywhere close to where Captain Copeland was standing.
“Well looks like I have a buyer on the hook, now to move those bricks,” thought Robert. He added on his mental list to bring more of those old computers out on the next supply run, if this mission was successful. Before he could do more, than have that thought. The older ComStar man was walking, well call it a quick pace, towards him. As soon as the robed man was within a dozen steps, he started talking at a volume level that was only just below a shout.
“Captain! Where did you get these old computer systems?” Asked the older ComStar man, who was speaking a lot louder than he should have been.
“Adept?“ That was as far as Robert got. Before he was interrupted by the man and his hand flew up in the stop sign, which was as old as mankind.
“It is Demi-Precentor, please.” He had an “I’m insulted, that you don’t know who I am” look over his tightlipped face.
Robert gave a slight head bow, as an apology, to the white robe wearing man. “Sorry Demi-Precentor. You are not wearing a rank pin. As I was about to say. We picked them up in the wrecked Scout ship’s cargo bay. About the only things that were salvageable, in her cargo hold, were the cannons and these few computer systems you see on the tables.” This was a lie, which he had practiced as soon as he had read the note in his orders.
The ComStar man was biting his lower lip and waving a hand in the air over his head. He was being very dramatic looking, and it drew more attention to both him and the computers. “How many do you have?”
Robert was already, not liking this guy. He did not like ComStar as a rule, after the reports from the first supply run. Then there were the stories that had come from the slaves they had liberated before this clan moved around the Inner Sphere. All of those stories were required reading in high school. However, Robert had to put on a façade, so that he could do the required mission.
“I can sell six of them.”
This was Robert’s reply. He went from a half smile to a tight-lipped expression that he had let come to his face. “I bet this guy is a joy to work for.” Robert felt an itch at the small of his back, just were his holdout pistol holster was setting. Something was wrong with this man. Robert could feel it deep in his soul.
“That is not what I asked. I asked. HOW…. Many…. Do…. You…. Have?” The ComStar man was getting pushy and angry at the same time. He had said each of the last five words space out by almost a second and a half between each of the words.
“How dare this person have these systems? I have only seen systems this powerful, on Holy Terra. I must have them all!!! Before one of those animals from the Houses, found them. They were already recovering too much of Blessed Blakes technology because of information from that Blake Damned Helms core!!”
“As I said before, Demi-Precentor. I have six of the systems for sale. I was advised to ask 5,000 C-bills for each of them, by my partners.” Robert was keeping his eyes locked on the ComStar Demi-Precentor. He was hoping to find a way to make the other man blink or otherwise spike the deal. It was early in the mission. So, if he spiked this deal? He was sure that he could make it up later.
“Done! I will take all of them!!” The Precentor looked back at his vehicle and did a quick guess on the cargo cubage and the number of people it had brought out. He quickly had come up short of the cubage he needed. He was a jerk, but he was not dumb, and his math skills were top level. “If Duke Terry is coming at 0800 tomorrow, to look at the cannons? May we conclude our exchange then?”
Robert smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. “Damn!! I should have started at 10,000. O’ well, 5,000 is a lot better than the 1,000 C-bills. That was what we had expected to get out of each of them, and that had been a best-case number. I had asked for 5,000 each just to Frak with him. I should be careful when I open my fraking mouth.”
“Done deal! They are yours on payment in cash, please.”
Robert held out his hand, but the ComStar man kept his hands inside the sleeves of his robe, like Robert was contaminated or otherwise unclean. Robert just smiled and dropped his hand after a few long seconds. The Demi was being rude, and both parties knew it. One did not care, and the other party was working how best to get even with the first party.
Robert looked around to the rest of the visitors/shoppers. “If this is all the business? Then I will see you all in the morning.” Robert could tell that the ComStar man had just put a major chill on the whole afternoon.
Robert looked at the woman and raised and cocked an eyebrow as the ComStar people walked away very quickly. “Ma’am, sorry, or was I referring to you with the wrong title also? I did not mean to offend you. We kind of jumped right past the intros.” The more time that past. The more he was getting mad about the rude ComStar Fraker. One part of his mind was wondering if he should ask if dueling was legal here or not.
The woman he was talking to let another sly smile cross her face. She knew beforehand, that ComStar would have been her competition in any trade deals with this group. She had watched the interaction between the pair of men, with some inner glee. It looked like ComStar had just made the visitors mad and moved themselves off the playing board for the near future. Something like that should make it easier to get around their deep pockets.
“Don’t worry, Captain. I’m not as set on using the proper titles, as some others around here. Now, I understand that you need a ride to send a message back home? If you don’t mind sharing a ride with me? It’s right on my way. And after you’re done? Maybe we can sit down to dinner and maybe get to know each other a little better. I checked our records on your burn in, and we have never had the pleasure of your company on this planet. And besides, I know this place that has great food.”
“Oh Frak!! This could get ugly,” thought Robert. He had to fight to keep his face from moving a millimeter in any way.
The rule number fourteen on this type of mission, was that no one went anywhere alone. It was a rule that must not be broken. His XO or any of the other ship’s captains could and would shoot him, if he did something like that. And they would be covered by SLDF Law after they had shot him. It had happened before, and odds were that it would happen again. It might even happen on this shorter mission, and Robert would be the one to give the execution orders for someone in this little convoy. He had not thought about this event, until just now.
“I would love to. But you see Emma?” Robert pointed to an upper 20ish looking woman only a few paces away. “She needs to contact the other partners, of this little operation. She is the daughter and granddaughter to two of my main partners. Besides, I have a rule. It is not to let any of my crewmembers alone, on a new planet. If I don’t follow my own rules? Then what kind of commander, would I be?” Robert was keeping his tone light and jokingly, but he was very serious.
The Duke looked at the man even closer and did some more thinking, before speaking again. She started mentally recounting all the stories about dropships crews being kidnapped for ransom. She gave up after hitting more than twenty of the stories, that came off the top of her head. She had not had to think that hard to remember them. That was how common something like that happened in this part of space.
“Good rule, and there is plenty of room. Plus, one more person at dinner? That just makes it easier for conversation to work.” Duke Terry was turning up the charm. And the bad part? It was that she was not even trying.
She had on her own sly smile. “This man was no one’s fool, and he is not bad looking to boot. This could be one of the more interesting evenings, which I have had in a few years.”
Robert agreed to the offer, but he had to leave the group soon after this agreement. He needed to pass along to some key members, that there was another change of plans. He quickly exited the grounded dropship again and walked with the group. He joined the locals and “Emma”, to one of the sedans. The sedan had more than enough room for Duke Terry, Mr. Drunk, Robert, and “Emma” to all be comfortable in the back. There even was a dedicated driver.
The roads were not that bad, from the Space Port to the HPG compound. They hardly hit a pothole on the whole drive. Robert made note of the 70ton Magi tank, that looked to be supporting the front Gate Guard stationed at the HPG compound. Up until right them, the ride had been in silence. Now it was broken.
“Now that is an odd-looking tank. What kind is it? Who do they work for?” The youngest woman in the wheeled sedan was pointing to the massive tracked metal box by the gate.
“Damn she was smart,” thought Robert. But he did not let his face move a single millimeter when she asked her question.
Duke Terry gave an odd look to the trader Captain. “They are called the Com Guards, a military wing of ComStar. They have, what they call, a Level II. It is what I would call a Demi-Company of tanks, mechs, and infantry as a defense force for the HPG and the ComStar compound. It is supposed to be, in case we are attacked. The Wacko’s seem to have found a few huge warehouses full of old SLDF equipment some unknown time ago. Then they went and armed themselves up a few years ago with it. I had heard about it five or six years ago, but frankly. I personally did not believe it. That is until they showed up here, two years ago with mechs, tanks and infantry.” She waved to the fortified compound, and she continued talking.
“First, they unloaded two mech, two tanks and some infantry to guard the HPG and the people that are running the thing. They did bring a couple of good things with them, so it has not been all bad. I was surprised that they were able to rebuild that hulk of a building so fast. Now with more mouths to feed? They spend their money freely in town. If anyone attacks us? Just by being here, they have tripled our firepower on the ground. I managed to sign an agreement with them, about a month after they landed, to start the rebuilding. That if we are attacked? They will help out, besides just in the defense of the HPG compound.”
Terry was looking out the side window of the slowing car, now. “The downside is that they get to keep anyone that they captured, and they have first pick on any of the salvage that might be left behind on the whole planet. So far? We have not had to worry about any attacks, at least once the word got out. Let me tell you, word gets out quickly, that the Com Guards are on the ground on a certain planet. We thought you might have been the first group to try them, when we thought a loaded Star Lord and another jumpship had come to visit all at once. That is a lot of lift to be seen out this way.” She did not say or bring up about the additional jumpships stopping by. Those had mainly belonged to the only human faster than light communication company known to exist. But not all of them had belong to ComStar, and that kind of information was power.
The Duke, Emma, and Robert waited in the main waiting area of the HPG compound, until Emma was called back to send her messages. Mr. Drunk had exited the sedan and walked out of the ComStar compound to the bar district for a few more drinks. He had a huge smile on his face, when he announced his intention of leaving the group. Robert doubted that he would be rejoining the group for the rest of the night.
“Emma” sent four different messages, to four different locations, all around the Inner Sphere in the short time she was gone. Most of the messages were cover for the third one she sent. That was the only one that had counted, and it was going to the Duniashire system. It was only about 21 light years away. The other three messages were going to random common names that had been pulled from an address book collected on the last supply run.
When the messages were sent out from the planet? The HPG unit buried deep in the Styx would pick up the whole group of messages being sent out. The operators were able to use a copy of the original messages to do some magic on the captured data packet. This captured data also gave them very detailed information on how ComStar operated their systems. This was the closest that a late military grade Star League HPG system had been to Terra since the 2800s.
They will be able to break the ComStar coding, by knowing the key information in those four specially selected and very different messages. They were the first people to be able to do so, in centuries. This “broken” information will help them decode any future ComStar messages, later in the mission. As a bonus? They picked up the latest and “original” copy, of the price list of almost any metal sold on the open market Sphere wide. This last item was sent via encrypted radio transmission down to the White Rabbit, and it was deeply encoded. It was to check to see if ComStar might play games with them on the prices. After the one message was sent down to the one dropship. The dropship’s crews had the rest of the late afternoon to be more socialized while they were on the ground.
The dinner was just as good, as Terry had said it would be. A fourth person had joined them for dinner. He was a little older than the Duke, in looks, and it was not Mr. Drunk. Robert took this to mean that they were very close in age. He was very rich by local standards, but he was not a military man. Emma was able to pump him for information, and quickly found out the bad news. Nothing that was on the “shopping list” was going to be available in the city under short notice, if at all even then. Or it would not even be on the planet. That was not surprising, to Robert. “Emma” was more distress and she took some time to understand one of the facts of life. She had gotten to use to New Circe and its very high tech and military orientation.
This was a backwoods planet and it was in a very low-tech area, but it was a mental letdown. They only reason they had stopped here was to use the HPG, to get a message out to one of the Families. Everything else? That was just extra, like testing their cover story. The icing on the cake, if you would like? That was to do things that were a little upsetting to ComStar. Blake would have rolled over in his grave. If he knew what had happened to the organization, which he had formed all those years ago. “Emma” and Robert did not make it back to the White Rabbit, till late that night. They did have a good time, and it seem like there host did also.