"Just because the Tsgardi overwhelmed us with a large force and took us prisoner doesn't mean that we can't defend ourselves," Kathleen added.
Vyx took a hard look at the women, and realized that perhaps he was being too overprotective. They were agents, after all, and women can often get men to reveal information when they'd never talk to another man.
He finally agreed to take them along, on one condition. "You must be in visual sight of one of the guys at all times."
Both women agreed, reluctantly. They knew that he'd refuse to take them along otherwise.
Bajurrsko was totally without any form of traffic control for arriving and departing spaceships. Thankfully, traffic was light, compared to Scruscotto, so the danger was minimal. Usually called the Bajurrsko Colony, because that was the name of the first settlement there, the planet was dotted with small mining operations and settlements. The first settlement, normally referred to by natives simply as The Colony now, was still the largest by far.
Vyx set the Scorpion down on an empty pad at the North Spaceport. Ships belonging to mining operations mainly used the South Spaceport. The atmosphere on Bajurrsko, while marginal, was sufficient that they wouldn't need tanks or even breathing-assist equipment.
After Vyx had paid the landing pad fees and returned to the ship, they discussed the team assignments. Ore shipments from this region of the planet all left from the South Spaceport, and every mining company maintained a presence there. Because mostly miners inhabited that part of the colony, it had a greater density of bars. Vyx selected the south side for Byers and himself. Brenda, Kathleen, and Nelligen would make up the other team, and cover the north half of the colony. Team members could operate independently, if they chose, but should never lose sight of one another. It was only midafternoon, but the bars would be getting busy as soon as the first shift in the mines ended. After strapping on their weapons, the agents left the spaceport in two taxis. Each agent had been instructed in how to disable the explosive charges used to protect the ship from unauthorized access.
Being so far inside the Frontier, Vyx didn't really expect to meet anyone that he knew, but he recognized a Terran from the Gollasko colony in the first bar he and Byers visited. They had gotten a glass of ale at the bar and started to walk around the room when he spotted the familiar face. The man was sitting alone at a table, sipping frequently from a glass of ale.
"Meader, you old claim jumper," Vyx said. "You're a long way from Gollasko."
The man looked up and focused on Vyx's face for a couple of seconds. When recognition dawned in his besotted brain, he smiled. "I could say the same about you, Trader. Take a chair. What brings you to the most miserable hell hole in space?"
"The usual," Vyx said, as he and Byers sat down at the table.
"Gun running? It's hardly profitable in a territory where Space Command doesn't enforce Galactic law."
"I trade other merchandise beside guns."
"What is it this trip?"
Vyx shrugged. "Let's just say that I'm looking for Milori."
"Milori? There haven't been any Milori around here in five or six months."
"You saw them?"
"Yeah," Meader said, contorting his face into a mask of revulsion. "Ugly creatures! It's a damn shame they're too big to step on. Those tentacles of theirs really give me the creeps. Yuck!" He shuddered.
"Where'd they go?"
"I heard they left with some Tsgardis. There's another race that the galaxy would be better off without."
"Did you hear where they were headed?"
"Naw. Don't care where they go, as long as I don't have to look at 'em."
"Think you could find out?"
Meader's expression of disgust changed to one of sudden interest. "Why would I want to do that?"
"It might be worth your while."
"What's it worth?"
"Depends on the info. I'm interested in contacting any Milori, and I'll pay whoever can put me in touch with them. Let's say fifty credits if you can find out where they went and a hundred if you can find out where they are now."
"I might be able to find out something. Where are you staying?"
"On my ship, the Scorpion. It's up at the North Spaceport, but I'll be working the south side until I get a lead."
"Come back tonight. I'll have some information for you."
"For sure?"
"Pretty sure. I have to talk to a friend who mentioned something about them recently. I wasn't really listening closely at the time."
"Just give me his name. I'll pay you twenty credits."
"Wouldn't do you any good; he won't talk to you. I knew him for three years before he'd even tell me his damn name. Come back tonight."
"Okay, if I haven't learned what I want, we'll drop back."
Vyx and Byers went from bar to bar over the next six hours but didn't learn anything more than they had from Meader. Four Milora had been there six months ago, were seen talking with some Tsgardi, and then they were gone. They heard the same story in half a dozen bars, but all it cost was a few dozen glasses of ale.
After eating a late dinner, they headed back to the bar where they'd seen Meader. He was sitting in the same chair at the same table, and from his condition it appeared that he hadn't left the bar all day. Vyx sat down while Byers went to get three ales.
"Did you learn anything?" Vyx asked.
"Nobody knows where the Milori that were here, went to," Meader slurred. "I checked around and that's gospel. But I did hear how you might contact some other Milori."
"How?"
"Five hundred credits," Meader said.
"Five hundred? I said fifty."
Byers arrived at the table and set the three glasses down.
"I want five hundred for what I know," Meader said stubbornly. "Otherwise, you'll have to travel a thousand light-years to see a Milora."
Vyx pushed one of the glasses towards Meader and took another for himself. After a long pull on the drink, he said, "You know for sure where they are?"
"I know fer sure where they were six months ago."
"Big deal; I know where they were six months ago also. They were here."
"No, not them. I know where the two Milori warships were six months also."
"Warships?" Vyx said in surprise.
"Yeah. Two of their biggest destroyers."
"In the Frontier?"
"In the Frontier," Meader confirmed, nodding his head.
Vyx took another drink. "Okay, five hundred, if they're still there. If they're gone, I'll be back to collect my money."
"All but fifty," Meader said.
"All but fifty, if I can confirm that they were there six months ago."
"My buddy says that last part won't be a problem."
Vyx dug into his pocket and produced five one-hundred credit notes. He extended them to Meader, but didn't let go when Meader tried to take them. "I want everything you know. There won't be any more credits for additional information."
"You get everything I know."
Vyx let go and the five bills disappeared beneath the table. "We're listening."
"Okay, here it is. My buddy is a prospector, see? He was doing a little looking around on the second planet in the Elurra System. Said the place is hot as blazes. Anyway, these two Milori destroyers show up. His small ship was hidden pretty well so he hung around for a couple of days to see what was going on. He couldn't believe it when he saw the Milori start laying out a base on the planet. He decided to get out of there before they spotted him, so he jumped on his dune donkey and zipped back to his ship. Milori have a reputation for shooting first and questioning later."
"A base?"
"Yeah. They were bringing building materials down from the ships by the kiloton the whole time that my buddy watched. When they started to erect buildings, he jumped on his dune donkey and got out of there. The Milori aren't the friendliest species that we've met and my buddy figured they might not want anyone knowing they were building a major military base in the GA's F
rontier Zone. He said he hugged the surface until he was on the opposite side of the planet before lifting off."
"Your buddy is smart."
"Dumb prospectors disappear quickly in the Frontier and are never seen again."
"You're sure that it was in the Elurra System?"
"Yeah, that's what he said. The Elurra System."
"Okay, Meader. See you around."
"Uh, what is it that you hope to trade to the Milori, Trader?"
"Milori? Who said anything about Milori?"
Meader looked at Vyx stupidly for several seconds before he understood. "Not me. I don't know anything about any Milori."
Vyx nodded and he stood up to leave. As Byers stood also, Vyx turned to Meader again and bent over. In a low voice, he said, "Your friend is smart. You be real smart too, and don't mention that planet to anyone. If the Milori hear that you're talking about it, your life might not be worth a credit."
Meader looked at Vyx for a couple of seconds, nodded, and took a long drink from his glass.
The others weren't back yet when Vyx and Byers returned to the Scorpion so they did the preflight check on the ship and then relaxed in the lounge.
"What do you think," Byers asked, "was he telling the truth?"
"I think so. He knows that if I find out he lied, I'll be coming after him. I've worked hard to establish that part of my reputation. Everyone believes that if they cross me, they'll see me again, and it won't be pleasant. I'm considered to be a real bad-ass when crossed."
"Why would the Milori be constructing a military base in Galactic Alliance territory?"
"Don't know. Perhaps they found some rare mineral and are setting up a base to protect a mining operation."
"They're a long ways from home."
"You mine ore where you find it," Vyx said offhandedly. "It's possible that they're long gone already, or will be by the time that we get there."
"You think that we should go to the Elurra system? That's another hundred light-years into the Frontier. We're already a hundred twenty light-years from the inner border."
"I think it's important that we go see what's up, but the decision will be up to Captain Crosby, or perhaps Captain Carver. If we have to travel there in the Scorpion, it'll take at least a year for the round trip. In the Ottawa, it will only take eight to nine months."
"It would be a lot more comfortable in the Ottawa. The Scorpion only has four beds."
"If the Scorpion goes alone, the girls don't go with us. I'm sure that Space Command has better stuff for them to do than take a year long ride with nothing to do. SCI may not even want you and Nels to go. The Ottawa could drop you off near Scruscotto so you could get yourself settled in."
"Trying to get rid of us?" Byers asked good-naturedly.
"Not at all. I'm just weighing all the options and trying to predict what Space Command will choose to do. Personally, I've grown sort of used to having partners along."
"I have to admit that I've enjoyed our time together a lot more than any of the assignments that I've had in years. I'm really going to miss the girls when they go. It's sort of been like having a family. They're like the daughters that I never had."
"Don't get all maudlin yet. If the Ottawa receives orders to go to Elurra, we'll be together for a while yet."
"Yeah, you're right. How about something to eat? I could whip up some snacks."
"Sure. I could go for some more ale also."
Nelligen and the women didn't return for several more hours, and by then Byers and Vyx had fallen asleep in the lounge. They awoke as soon as the airlock began cycling and were waiting by the airlock with pistols drawn when Kathleen stepped out.
"Just me guys. Brenda and Nels are with me."
Vyx and Byers holstered their weapons. You never knew who would try to board your ship when you parked on a mining planet.
"I'm glad that you're back," Vyx said, as soon as everyone was seated in the lounge. "What did you learn?"
"It was the same story everywhere we went," Nels said. "Everyone has either seen or heard about Milori on the colony, but no one has seen them for six months. Nobody had a clue where they went, but a couple of people said they were last seen with some Tsgardi."
"Yeah, we got the same story," Byers said, "except Vyx met someone that he knew and we bought some information. Five hundred credits worth."
"Five hundred credits!?" Brenda exclaimed. "Did it come with a map to a lost platinum mine?"
"Not a platinum mine, but it might be almost as valuable. A prospector friend of my contact was scared off a planet in the Elurra system when two Milori destroyers arrived and started constructing a major military base on the surface."
"Scared off?" Kathleen asked.
"My contact said that the prospector figured the neighborhood had suddenly become a bit unhealthy. He didn't actually have any contact with the Milori."
"So what now?" Nels asked.
"We've already performed a preflight of the ship and we were only waiting for you to return. Let's head back to the Ottawa and turn the problem over to the brass hats. Okay?"
Vyx glanced at each agent and received a nod of agreement. He stood and walked to the cockpit. Brenda followed him there and sat in the copilot seat as he readied the ship for liftoff. An hour later, they were away from the planet, headed for the Ottawa. At Light-187, they would dock with the ship in less than twenty minutes.
Once aboard the Ottawa, Vyx walked to the bridge and requested an immediate audience with the Captain. The XO informed him that the Captain had retired for the night and asked if the matter warranted waking him. Vyx answered that he considered the matter to be of vital importance, so the First Officer made the decision to call the captain. A sleepy voice responded to the hail.
"Captain, Trader Vyx has returned and requested an immediate audience. He says that his information is vital."
The first officer listened to his CT for a few seconds, then signed off and said to Vyx, "The Captain will see you in his office in his quarters."
"Thanks, Commander."
When Vyx reached the captain's quarters, the Marine sentry admitted him immediately. Captain Crosby, in his robe, was waiting in his office. "Come in, Vyx. I understand that you have information that can't wait until morning?"
"I felt that you should hear it right away and decide its importance. It might be very time sensitive."
"Very well; tell me what you've learned."
Vyx filled the Captain in on the events that had transpired since they left the ship and the information that he had secured from Meader.
"And you believe this Meader?" Captain Crosby asked.
"I believe that he believes it. He didn't see the Milori personally, but if the prospector was being truthful, this might be very important. I've never heard of Milori warships entering Alliance space before."
"Nor have I," Captain Crosby admitted. "Very well, I'll compose a message and send it off to Stewart immediately. Is there anything else?"
"No, that's all of it, Captain."
"Then, goodnight, Trader," the captain said in a dismissive voice.
"Goodnight, Captain."
A response from Stewart took almost four days, not because Captain Carver was indecisive or needed to consult with Supreme Headquarters on Earth, but simply because of the distance. Stewart was a hundred thirty-six light-years away and it took ninety-one hours for the messages to travel round trip.
Captain Crosby was just getting ready for bed when the Priority-One message arrived. He had it routed through to his office and sat down at his desk to view it. The image of Captain Carver appeared on his com unit's screen as soon as he had lifted the cover and pressed the play button.
"Hello Jeff. I've dispatched a message to Supreme Headquarters advising them of a potential hostile incursion by Milori warships into Galactic Alliance space. Should Space Command Supreme Headquarters feel differently, they'll no doubt issue a recall, but since it will take a couple of weeks to receive a reply, it would
be advantageous to have you already under way. Please proceed at top speed directly to the Elurra system with the stated objective being an investigation of the reported incursion. Since the Milori will outnumber you, if the report is accurate, please exercise extreme caution. Good luck.
"Jenetta A. Carver, Captain, Base Commander, Stewart Space Command Base, message complete."
Captain Crosby contacted his Second Officer, who was the current watch commander, and instructed him to make for the Elurra system at top speed. The navigator had prepared the course several days ago on Crosby's instruction. Then Crosby sent an acknowledgement to Jenetta. With sleep tugging at his brain, he pushed the top of his com unit down and walked back into his bedroom. He hoped that thoughts of an encounter with hostile forces didn't keep him awake all night.
Crosby received confirming orders from Supreme Headquarters to investigate the situation in the Elurra system several weeks later. By then the Ottawa was more than fifteen light-years closer to the Elurra system than they had been when Crosby had received the orders from Captain Carver.
Vyx and Brenda had lots of time to spend together aboard the Ottawa because, as passengers, they had no duties. They passed their days working out in the gym, running on the track set up in a cargo bay, or simply reading as they lay together in the cozy area that Vyx had prepared in the Scorpion's hold. Their retreat inside the small ship gave them the ultimate in privacy, for whatever activity in which they chose to engage.
Byers and Nelligen spent their days playing cards in one or the other's assigned quarters, while Kathleen spent her time with one of the numerous admirers who happened to be off duty when she was in the mood for companionship. All five agents usually came together for their evening meal.
One-hundred-twenty-nine days after beginning their trek to the Elurra system, the Ottawa was nearing its destination. The ship's sensors had detected numerous other ships during their journey but their mission parameters didn't allow them to deviate for any side trips to investigate. For all they knew, the other ships might have been the Milori warships they were seeking, but their orders were to proceed directly to the Elurra system.
Milor! Page 14