ARMS War for Eden

by Arseneault, Stephen

  Tawn looked at Harris. “Not like we have a choice. Let’s just do this. And Bax… if you or anyone else related to these transactions comes looking for us afterward… I’ll be coming back to snap your skinny neck personally.”

  Bax smiled. “Fair enough. Are we ready to go?”

  The Bangor lifted out of the port. After a jump to a remote location, the cargo hauler was picked up and a jump to Bella III was made.

  As the ships dropped through the atmosphere, Harris opened a comm to Tawn. “That ship is five times larger than any of the others. You didn’t happen to look in the cargo bay did you?”

  Tawn shook her head. “Nope. Don’t want to know. Just want this to be over with. I’ll be donating my half to the Retreat fund.”

  Harris winced. “Your half? This is all yours. I don’t want this transaction showing on my account. I have more than enough already.”

  Tawn crossed her arms. “Well then, I guess the Retreat is coming into a windfall. They can use the credits anyway. More of us are moving out there. And they will need food and shelter and normal supplies. Almost like we’re building our own market out there.”

  As the comm closed, Harris looked down at his robotic friend. “We doing the right thing here, Farker?”

  The dog returned a single fark.

  ***

  The ship was delivered without incident. The new customs agent signed the delivery log and the transfer of credits to Tawn Freely was conducted.

  Baxter Rumford smiled as the agent for Bella III walked back to his tracked vehicle. “I’d say that went well. Now, if you’d be so kind as to return me to Chicago Port I’ll be out of your lives for good.”

  The Bangor shot up through the Bella III sky, quickly slipping out into open space. A jump was made back to the station and Baxter Rumford sent on her way.

  Tawn stood in the hatch of the ship as the red-haired nemesis walked away. “If I never see her again I’ll be happy.”

  Harris frowned. “Not that I approve of her in any way, but she did make us rich.”

  Tawn scowled. “You’re acting like you like her or something? She’s a snake. And I guarantee she has no fond feelings for you or me. I still think we’re nothing more than a couple rubes in this whole thing.”

  Harris smacked her on the shoulder. “Well, at least we’re rich rubes. And you know what we should do? We should go buy you a ship. And I need to go pay off this one. You can check with your material suppliers down on planet while we’re there.”

  “Why would we go down there?”

  Harris shook his head. “Have you looked into buying a ship up here? Few deals to be had and the selection is abysmal.”

  “You bought the Bangor here.”

  “I did, but it’s not like I had a choice. The sharks planetside wouldn’t take me on as a credit risk. Anyway, think about what ship you might want while Farker and I go to pay mine off.”

  Harris looked down. “You ready to see the thugs, boy?”

  The dog returned three farks.

  ***

  Harris walked into the Moonlight Lounge. Clovis Bagman was seated in his usual booth. Farker trotted alongside his master.

  “Mr. Bagman.”

  Clovis looked up. “Gruberg… you here to make a payment?”

  Harris sat across from the loanshark. “Better. I’m here to pay you off.”

  Clovis tilted his head to one side. “You rob a cruise ship or something?”

  Harris smirked. “Or something. Anyway, I’d love to make chat, but I’m a busy person of late. So I’d like to pay off the Bangor in full.”

  Clovis slowly nodded. “I see. You do realize there is no out-clause in your contract, right? You want out you pay the interest in full… twenty years worth.”

  Harris nodded. “Just give me the number, Bagman. As I said, I don’t have all day.”

  Clovis typed away on a tablet. “Very well. That will be three hundred seventy-three thousand one hundred eighty-six credits. And I’ll round down the partial portion just to keep it easy.”

  Harris sat forward. “Wait. I thought the ship was two hundred fifty thousand, minus what I already paid. What’s the excess?”

  Clovis smiled as he turned the tablet to face Harris. “The contract specifically states that if there is no out-clause, a fee of 50 percent of the amount still owed can be applied. You see, Mr. Gruberg, the interest rate you are paying has tremendous value as an investment. That type of return is difficult to come by in my line of work, without placing my investment at tremendous risk.”

  Harris pointed, “But I’m paying off the full amount already, including the interest.”

  Clovis nodded. “True, but I will now have to go out and place those credits at risk again.”

  Harris sat with a dropped jaw. “Yeah, so, you already made twenty years worth of interest off those credits. What you’re saying doesn’t make any sense. I’m paying you a fee so you can loan your credits out to someone else?”

  “Would you like to fully purchase the ship or not?”

  Harris held out his credit store. “I won’t forget this move, Bagman. One day you’re gonna be looking for help from someone you fleeced and they’re gonna turn and walk. I’d like to be there when that day comes.”

  Farker gave out a displeased fark before hiking up his rear leg to simulate peeing on the offender of his master. The credits moved to the account of a smiling Clovis Bagman. Harris returned to the docking slip.

  Tawn was standing in the hatch. “You got it?”

  Harris scowled. “I got it, all right. They pulled a fast one on me with an added 50 percent fee.”

  “Well, at least she’s yours now. Better than what I have.”

  Harris sighed. “Doesn’t feel better at the moment. Kind of took the party out of becoming a full owner. Oh well, guess I should be happy it’s mine. Let’s go see if we can find one for you.”

  Chapter 13

  _______________________

  The planetary port of Tammingdale claimed to have the largest supply of personal spacecraft. Newer models ran from just under a cool million credits up to the tens of millions, with elite personal cruisers that topped out at close to a hundred million.

  The salesmen in the showroom of the vast ship lot ignored the slug and stump as they came through the door. A rookie salesman was instead sent their way as the veterans smirked and joked over the prospects of selling the two a third world garbage scow.

  The rookie timidly approached. “Can I help you?”

  Tawn said, “I’m looking to buy a ship. Not yet sure what I want. Could be a shuttle. Could be a cargo hauler. Show me what you’ve got.”

  The salesman held out his hand. “Gandy Boleman. Are you thinking used or new?”

  Tawn’s huge hand dwarfed Gandy’s skinny fingers as she confidently replied, “I’m open to either. If a shuttle, maybe something in the twenty-four passenger range. For cargo… I don’t know, ten tons maybe?”

  Gandy withdrew his hand in awe. “Uh, I’m sorry, but I have to ask new customers to show a credit account or score before I’m allowed to show any ships. It’s policy.”

  Tawn held out her store. “That good enough? I’ll probably be paying in full.”

  Gandy’s eyes grew large. “I don’t think I’ve seen an account with that much before.”

  The rookie looked toward the snickering pros before returning his gaze with a wide grin. “Please, follow me to the virtual room. We’ll have a look over the new stock as well as what can be ordered. If we don’t see anything to your liking, we can browse through our inventory of gently used craft. Once we designate any you have interest in, I can take us out to see them in a flyer.”

  Four ships were shown before Tawn took interest.

  “This one offers comfortable seating for thirty-two. Called the Dreambus. It has a crew cabin that accommodates three, with bunks, a restroom and a shower. And two restrooms for your passengers. She comes with a standard Horton engine and Righolm retros for your norm
al travels. And a Wheeler wormhole generator that offers a twelve second spin-up. The fastest in the industry, outside the military of course.”

  Tawn nodded. “And what’s she cost?”

  Gandy looked around to make sure none of the other salesman were eavesdropping. “List is seven million, but I know for a fact we sold one for six last month. You a good negotiator?”

  Harris replied, “She is now.”

  Tawn asked, “That’s close to 15 percent. Gonna cut deep into any commission you get.”

  Gandy scowled. “I don’t get commission. I’m on sixty days probation where I’m only paid by the hour. Kind of a ripoff because I would have already made triple that with the minimum commissions. Anyway, if this is what you want, fight with them over the price. They will go lower.”

  Tawn looked at Harris. “You know what I’m thinking?”

  “How could I possibly know that?”

  Tawn sighed. “I was inferring… oh never mind. I’m thinking I buy this with the funds for the Retreat. They could use a shuttle for bringing new people out. That price would leave plenty for a crew and fuel.”

  Harris chuckled. “You planning on moving every slug and stump in existence out there?”

  Tawn shrugged. “Sure. Why not? This would even give them transport for coming back here for business and such.”

  Harris looked over the shiny hologram that floated in front of them. “You sure you need to spend that much on a new ship? Could get a good used one for quarter that price that would do everything you need, minus some of the comfort maybe.”

  Tawn nodded. “What’s the maintenance like on this one?”

  Gandy replied, “The base model of this has been out for six years now. Maintenance has been excellent. And this one comes with a five year stem-to-stern agreement where full labor and parts are covered here, and 66 percent if off-world, when approved. The insurer negotiates the repair cost for you, getting you the best price.”

  Tawn smiled. “I like it. Put it on our list to check out. And now on to something for me.”

  Gandy grinned. “You’re really buying two ships?”

  Tawn replied, “That’s the current plan. My friend here has an old military surplus. You have anything like that used?”

  “Can I ask what he has? And are you wanting something similar?”

  Harris said, “It’s called a Zwicker. Kind of a cross between a small shuttle and a cargo hauler. Came with a thick, heavy armor on it. Actually had rail guns in it at one time, they aren’t functional now though.”

  Gandy flipped through images in the ship database. “Here we are. The Zwicker Stingbat. That the one.”

  Tawn laughed. “The Stingbat? Hahaha! That’s it exactly!”

  Gandy read the base specs. “Commissioned three hundred eighty-two years ago. Decommissioned eighty-nine years later. Only shows that five are still flying. Two have functional wormhole generators. Yours still work?”

  Harris replied, “She works.”

  “You have the Bangor or the Kingfisher?”

  “The Bangor.”

  Gandy held up a hand. “Hold on… wanna see what she did when in service? Those files were all declassified a couple centuries ago.”

  Tawn cut in. “While interesting, can we stick to finding me a ship?”

  Harris replied, “Now hold on. This is good stuff. Any way to transfer it to me?”

  Gandy nodded. “This is the global database, so you can fish through it yourself. I’ll send a link if you have a comm account.”

  The exchange was made.

  Gandy added, “You mentioned rail guns not working. I bet you could find one in a boneyard that has parts. The Magnessen yard has ships that are centuries old out there. Might be worth a look. Lots of parts would have been picked over by now, but not those.”

  Tawn said, “You know having a railgun on a personal craft is illegal, right?”

  Gandy shrugged. “Yeah, but it would be cool to have, wouldn’t it?”

  Harris nodded. “Yes it would. Thanks for the tip. I’ll have to check it out.”

  Gandy grinned, “Man, would I love to see one of those fire. I love all the old war movies where they used them. You had to get in close to shoot at each other. I’m talking a few kilometers. Now they just sit back from a hundred times that distance. Where’s the fun in that?”

  Tawn replied, “Not all fun and games out there, you know. People die.”

  Gandy lowered his eyes. “Sorry. I get carried away sometimes. You two have experienced it all. Didn’t mean to be disrespectful. I’m actually grateful for all you did for us.”

  Tawn slowly closed and reopened her eyes in frustration. “Ships for sale?”

  Gandy nodded. “OK. Let’s see what we have along those lines. I have a Lambaster. Was basically a gunship. This one of course had all the guns stripped out. Was converted for cargo.”

  “What kind of armor on her?” Tawn asked.

  “She has… level II titanium with an enhanced plasma shield. Kind of meaningless now with the power of those new cannons.”

  Tawn frowned. “Anything older? Something with armor like the Zwicker?”

  Gandy browsed through several pages of ships after a search. “Nope. You have a classic. Doesn’t show any specs for what her armor will take.”

  Harris smiled. “Will take a lot.”

  Tawn sighed. “How about anything with a near real-time wormhole generator?”

  Gandy looked. “Mmm. Nope. Best we have is that Dreambus you were already looking at. You have to go military if you want to beat that. All the surplus ones have been de-tuned to standard. And without those specific generator parts, there’s no going back.”

  Harris said, “You seem to know an awful lot about these old ships.”

  Gandy nodded. “I studied to be a ship mechanic since I was a kid. Had posters of drives and systems on the walls of my bedroom. That dream died when the truce was signed. No offense, but all the vets came home and sucked up all those jobs. Was surprised to get this sales gig.”

  Harris asked, “The Kingfisher… that database show who the owner is?”

  Gandy pulled the information up on the display. “It’s registered to a company called… Shipmasters of Chicago Port. And it shows as for sale.”

  Tawn’s eyes lit up. “The other Zwicker is for sale?”

  Gandy nodded. “That’s what it shows. Our buyers could get it for you, but you’d just be paying them a premium for that service. If you can get to the station you can talk with the owner directly.”

  Harris scowled. “Don’t bother.”

  Tawn placed her hands on her hips. “Why? You scared I’ll have a ship just like yours?”

  Harris slowly shook his head. “No. I say that because I know who Shipmasters is. It’s Clovis Bagman. You want to pay through the nose for it, go ahead.”

  Gandy walked to a desk, picking up a comm device.

  Harris crossed his arms. “If Clovis has that ship, he’s gonna want a mint for it.”

  Tawn shrugged. “I have the credits. And I do like that ship.”

  Gandy closed the comm and returned. “He said it’s for sale. And he said it’s the better of the two he had, the other he just sold.”

  Tawn asked, “He say what he wanted for it?”

  Gandy nodded. “Ninety-eight thousand. I’m sure I could talk him down, though. Not worth much if the wormhole generator goes out.”

  Tawn grinned. “Any interest in being my broker?”

  Gandy looked back out onto the showroom floor. “I can’t do it from here. But my shift ends in an hour. The registration and payment for that Dreambus will take at least that long. If you want, I’ll do this after that sale.”

  Tawn returned a wide grin. “I want. You ever have any desire to be a first mate?”

  Gandy pulled his fist to his chest. “Are you serious? On a Zwicker? That would be awesome!”

  Tawn gestured toward the door. “Tell you what. I don’t even need to see the Dreambus. Let’s jus
t go buy it. And if you can get me the Kingfisher, I’ll be in need of a first mate. Pays three hundred credits a week, plus a food allowance when we’re in port.”

  Gandy stuck out his hand. “You, ma’am, have a deal.”

  As they walked toward the sales office, Tawn was all smiles. “This kid is a gold mine.”

  Harris half smiled. “Yeah, whatever.”

  Tawn laughed. “Hey, you got a raw deal, I know. But you didn’t have a choice. You needed a ship. And none of this would have happened without the Bangor. So I’m grateful. And just think, we will have the only two working Zwickers there are. No other ship can take a full plasma round like her. I for one am excited.”

  Harris took a deep breath. “I don’t know if I’m more upset about you getting a deal or you snaking the kid for first mate. That thought didn’t even cross my mind. And with you leaving, I’ll be needing a new first mate.”

  Tawn patted Harris on the shoulder. “OK, first of all, I wasn’t your first mate. We were partners. Secondly, we’re still partners. You need the kid, I’ll be happy to let you borrow him. Hey, maybe he’s got a friend who’s looking for a job too? Gandy? Anyone else you know need work on a Zwicker?”

  Gandy stopped. “For Mr. Gruberg?”

  Tawn nodded. “He’s in need of one too.”

  Gandy half winced. “The only one I know of is my twin sister. Trish. She took an apprentice mechanic job before she graduated. We studied the same stuff. Anyway, she’s been stuck at the apprentice level to two years now. And they work her like a rented flyer. I could ask but—”

  Harris asked, “But what?”

  Gandy continued to walk. “She’s my sister, and I love her and all, but we fight like cats and dogs. Only over mechanical things though. Otherwise she’s cool.”

  Harris smirked. “If she fights with you that will make her loyal to me. Will still want to interview her first.”

  Gandy smiled. “I’ll arrange it.”

  The Dreambus negotiations lasted the full remaining hour of Gandy’s shift. The finance manager handling the transaction was itching to get home. Tawn pushed for the deal of deals, striking an agreement at a hundred fifty thousand credits below Gandy’s recommendation. The Retreat would be getting a Dreambus to ferry prospective residents, in comfort, to the exclusive slug and stump colony in the Rabid system.