TIME:
5.72 DAYS LATER
LOCATION:
ZETA ZEPHARII SYSTEM,
INNER SYSTEM,
1000 KM FROM GARNET STATION
"Well, Lily, should I put them on your left or right screen..."
"Tsk, put them on the right. Can you make the screens create a normal background." I look back to see a what most would deem a normal albeit sparse command deck. So why am I having the screens lose some of their usefulness? Well, that would have to do with 5 absolutely ancient corvettes staring me down in front of the main station.
'Mara, can I rely on you to help guide me through this?' Asking my parallel mother, I got a feeling of ascent and slight indignation—probably for the humans. 'Thanks you need time to shine as well.'
When I nodded to empty space, I suddenly saw a rough looking man with a black comb over. He was wearing what seemed to be an old dirty and slightly tatty military jacket. My evaluation of him and maybe the information being sent from his ships gave him up as a PMC. (Private Military Contractor or mercenary)
"Who are you, and where do you hail from!" The human hasn't even identified himself... at least willingly, and he wishes to know who I am?
"Tsk, my name is Lilith... Runethari. And where I hail from is not important as I mean you or this station no harm in any capacity. I simply wish to stop and purchase fusion fuel canisters." I state my name while inventing a family name as best I could think of. I was annoyed by these barbarians and wanted to destroy them, but alas, I can't do that as then fuel would be impossible to purchase then.
"Ma'am I will not ask again where do you hail from, failure to comply will result in you being labeled a pirate!" I could tell that he was pretending to be confident and angry. After all, why would his brow look like he was just coming inside from a storm if he was truly confident.
"Fine, fine..." I see a random star system name appear on the screen. "Tau Astralis. Does that serve as an appropriate answer?" I accidentally add a little snark, but just internally shrug they should be used to it. If not, then they can shove it.
The man flinches ever so slightly at the name of the system. He then mutes his microphone and yells at someone in the background.
I see my microphone mute as well, and then I hear Mother speak, "They seem to be communicating back the station this conversation. They are reporting that you may be a 'Lumen' refugee or defector." I hum an acknowledgment and decide that it would be best attempt to play along for a role I don't know, but can guess.
"Okay, that checks out now comes my third and final question. Where was the last system you jumped from? You entered through an unknown hyperlane, ignoring how you got to the system what are the hyperlanes route coordinates." That made me a little nervous, and I paused and thought out my answer from what I knew of history.
"What's in it for me giving up the hyperlanes coordinates? I know it's difficult to find and path new stabilized hyperlanes. So what reward can I expect for giving it up." I confirmed I had found a hyperlane but I wouldn't to hand out treats to destitute hounds.
"What? If you don't answer, we will be forced to deem you a space pirate!" The man seemed to get angry at me, refusing to answer his question, so I just glared at him. I proceed to ignore his angry, yelling demanding hyperspace coordinates.
Don’t need to be near him for me to get the feeling of greed oozing off from him now, and look over towards the left monitor. After a moment of searching, I pull up the space station port control frequency that is being broadcast.
"Hello, this is port control. we are sorry, but due to a situation, we are unable to give docking permissions." A monotone voice is drawled out of my left monitor, and Mr. PMC shuts up real quick. I just sneer at him and quickly report what I want.
"Hello, I am more than likely the cause of said situation, and I wish to express my apology by entering negotiations for a new hyperlane to an undiscovered star system." I wait in silence, and the mercenary has already hung up probably to call someone to beg for his cut, I imagine.
"Okay, if you are correct about the new hyperlane, please land at pad +4AB. We will get the route to your navigation map. Please note that false reporting of a new hyperlane is punishable by a fine." I smile and thank the still completely monotone operator whose gender I could truly not fathom. I just got a "mhm" as a response, and the line went dead.
I waited a few minutes, and eventually, the mercenaries left their guarded stance and proceeded to split up to land at the station. I followed the route and carefully arrived at dock +4AB. On the outside of the vessel, I spotted a dirty, grease stained, unclean mess of a landing zone.
"Why did you reveal that we came from a separate system Lilith?" Mother asked seeming to be testing my social and planning skills with this.
"It would be impossible to hide that I came from an unknown system. I can just claim I entered through a old stable hyperlane I heard about by rumor. How it was actually stable yet unused I will just not explain, better to let them find their own ideas." I knew how humans love to come up with ideas of unknown things. Whatever they come up with will most fit their world views.
"That does sound like solid reasoning Lilith, well done."
I preen from the praise while I get up out of my seat and put in an earbud. I could use to communicate remotely with the ship. I found it while we were interstellar space in a compartment below the captains seat. Sadly, it can't be used in the ship due to some spyware concerns. After all, it would suck to have this thing record your battle plan discussions and report them to the enemy.
I know it's stupid. Believe me, I was dumbfounded when I learned about its "major" disadvantage. I headed for my room, where I left my holo terminal mid page of a book.
After finishing said page and bringing up the local station network, I checked their prices for goods and what the policies on some defense laws. Right now, I decided I would wait in the vessel until Mother fully infiltrates their security networks. After all, it would be bad to be caught euthanizing some lowlife later.
So when I opened the trading app for the station, I was left surprised at multiple things.
(Credits available:0Ʉ)
(Sovra available:0₴v)
GENERAL GOODS:
FUSION FUEL (D-D) PRICE: 2Ʉ/G or 1₴v 2.81t
FUSION FUEL (D-T) PRICE: 4Ʉ/G or 1₴v 1.81t
NUTRIENT BARS PRICE: 4Ʉ/150G or 1₴v 2t
WATER PRICE: 1Ʉ/0.5L OR 0.1₴v 250,000L
CRIMINAL SLAVE*: 5000-20000Ʉ/PERSON, MAX: 3
GENERAL SERVICES:
SECURITY (PRIORITY): 200Ʉ/DAY+1 GUARD
SECURITY (VIP): 600Ʉ/DAY +1 GUARD
PRIVATE INVESTIGATION (VIP): 0.5-2₴/3mɄ-9mɄ
SOVRA EXCHANGE**: 1₴v/4.5mɄ
CREDIT-SOVRA EXCHANGE***: 5mɄ-1₴v
I can't believe they sell slaves! That's the perfect way to get blood and/or workers. You have to love human barbarism when it makes your life easier.
I decided to add 1 sovra worth of D-T fusion fuel, a single cheap criminal slave, 100 kilograms of nutrient bars, and 150 liters of water. That all comes out too 1₴v and 14000Ʉ after transport fees. I made sure that there was even enough space for the D-T fuel canisters, and that alone would take up about a quarter of the cargo bay.
"Hey Mother, would 1.82t of Deuterium tritium fuel be enough to last us a long enough time, or should I buy more?" I asked if I got enough fuel, and the answer came surprisingly quickly.
"Yes, that could last us a few dozen years on our current extremely low power consumption, or 2 years at our highest consumption using the MAT constantly." My eyes widened in surprise at the thought that I was buying enough fuel to power my entire childhood if we rationed it.
"Overall, your choice in purchases is a wise one except one part, the criminal slave. They are made compliant through chemicals, their blood is probably dangerous for you to consume.
"Though your free to do whatever you wish with them only the worst can be made criminal slaves like pirates or serial killers/rapists and the like, and the ISCA has final say in who they put up on the market. Often time they are bought by companies to serve as guinea pigs for experiments. The big reason they are so expensive is a lack of serious offenders and high demand. From the records I can recover, only about 100,000 criminal slaves are sold by the ISCA in this nation every year and they can source from all major factions, which have populations in the tens of trillions each." I immediately selected to remove the criminal slave from my list, bringing it down to approximately 7000Ʉ with the majority being transport and handling fees.
Now, what can I do before entering the station... "Lilith, I have taken control of their security system. Make sure to wear the combat boots. And even though I doubt there is a portable railrifle on this station you should at least wear your sensor cloak, better safe then sorry."
"Mother, will I be able to enthrall someone this time?"
I got a reply almost immediately and frowned, "... You should probably wait and learn how to control yourself first, if you pierce the carotid artery it will drain too much blood too fast and it will kill them... and that might complicate things."
A nod slowly but thank mother, maybe it was for the best I reign in my excitement. After all this will be my first visit so even if the station enforcers are idiots I'll still be suspected.