03/09/02

CHAPTER ONE

TWELVE YEARS LATER

DRAIDE ORBITAL

INHABITED SYSTEM "JAJUKI"

1317 HOURS, 11.02.3475

                Biaydi decided that the universe was conspiring against him. He was marooned on this floating cesspool, an unexpected stopover eating away at his resources and patience. He knew that all cargo hauler crews had ulterior motives and side jobs going all the time, but how had those on his hired ship been so stupid? Biaydi had never known that any being could operate with nothing but guano between their ears, but recent circumstances had given serious validity to the idea. He tapped his short, black talons on his desk. Maybe they thought his party would give their other dealings some sort of shield of legitimacy. Well, they had been wrong. Anyone stupid enough to get caught shouldn't be in the drug business, Biaydi thought.

With growing fury, he recalled how those idiots had been caught red-handed with a hold full of maki. How all of Biaydi's supplies, and nearly Biaydi himself, had been impounded pending a full investigation. Which, on a place like this, could take months. And how he had been left without transport, looking for not only a ship but also a crew that he could use. What made it worse was that there appeared to be an unnatural lack of ships-for-hire in the area; at least ones that were even marginally acceptable. So, for three weeks Biaydi and his men had been looking for a ship and trying to get their supplies out of enforcer lockup. Three weeks of paying for room and board, and three weeks of getting absolutely nowhere. They couldn't even attempt to gather any more information, because the enforcers were watching them. "Damn that hauler crew," was Biaydi's scalding thought, "I can't believe anyone who seemed so competent could have so many rocks in their heads!"

The door alert chirped; someone was requesting entrance. Biaydi quickly glanced around the dim, narrow boarding room to see if anything incriminating was visible. Gray-brown eyes, embedded in a face covered in short grayish fur, slid over the spare furnishings Those enforcers had been making surprise visits lately. He keyed the door open, and nearly grimaced as his second in command, Yaheni, entered. Another status report, another recitation of bad news and lack of progress. It was the same thing, three times a day every day, as ordered. I must be becoming a masochist, came a dark thought. From the look on Yaheni's face, today's report wasn't going to improve his mood. Judging from the way the other's short snout was twitching in agitation, it might even make it worse.

Biaydi put a calm and expectant look on his face, and waited until his follower was standing in front of him to say, "Well? What have you wasted my time doing today?"

Yaheni cleared his throat, shuffled his clawed feet and surprised Biaydi with his response: "I may have found a ship."

Biaydi sat up straighter, but was wary of his underling's reluctance. "Then what's the problem? As you well know, I am nearly to the point where I may hire a dust trawler just to get us out of here. I was simply hoping to avoid the extended expense by finding more permanent accommodations."

"Yes sir. This ship seems to be in good shape, and the crew has a good rep. Don't ask questions, but always finish their jobs. They just came in system last night with a haul from Kalish."

"So you force me to ask again," Biaydi said with growing impatience, "what's the problem?"

"It's a human ship, sir."

"Humans? You want me to hire humans for a mission of such importance? Worthless little apes, cowardly and stupid, foul up everything. What ever made you even suggest such a thing?"

"Well sir," Yaheni was starting to look even more nervous by this point, perhaps reconsidering if making this report had been wise, "there is a Talcion on board. They're reported to have pretty good instincts when it comes to that sort of thing. Picking the people they work with, that is."

This piqued Biaydi's interest. "A Talcion? One of those things with huge claws and teeth? I've heard of them, but never seen one. For no other reason than that… how much do they want?"

"Four thousand for transport to Icano, and if we decide to keep them on from then it's fifteen hundred a day, including fuel. Not counting special expenses."

Certainly not cheap, but not ridiculous either. Besides, it got them at least as far as Icano Drift, where they'd have a much better chance of getting another ship. It might even be worthwhile to keep the humans, they shouldn't be too hard to control. Who knew, maybe they were even mildly competent, that did occasionally happen, and the Talcion might prove useful.

Yaheni had stood uncomfortably in front of Biaydi's desk while his leader mulled the option over. He was obviously seriously regretting his apparent mistake by the time Biaydi made his decision, and Biaydi let him sweat for a little while longer for his own private amusement. After watching Yaheni out of the corner of his eye for a few minutes, Biaydi looked up and said, "I want to speak to the ship's captain. As soon as possible. Arrange it."

Even more amusing now was the look of complete shock on Yaheni's face. "Y-yes sir!" he managed before concluding that he had been dismissed and making a hasty exit from the room.

Biaydi mulled over the situation. Yes, this would work. Or at least get them out of this hole and back to work. He would meet with the captain and observe the crew; this might even work out well. But first, he had other things to arrange. He flipped on his desktop communications link and pulled up Gavani, one of his other men. "Get our supplies out of impound, now. We're leaving."