The Burning Crown (Stone Blade Book 4)

by James Matt Cox

  "Excellent thought. Let's visit the port; I want to check some schedules."

  The Faircoast Down main commercial starport bustled with activity. Not surprising given its population, trade, industry and location as the Crown world closest to the rest of the League. That also made it one of the prime points of interest for questionable Varl activity.

  Avoiding the port proper, Karr and Blue headed for the adjacent administration complex. They found ample crowds there as well, which meant plenty of cover for investigating. They located the small office suite belonging to Tourmalin and even found an empty data kiosk not far away. Karr jacked in and paid hard coin for an adequate pipe.

  "We could have done this from Chugbarn's," said Blue.

  "Truth, m'lady, but we'd also be fighting three extra layers of security." He fiddled with the terminal. "Heh. Even better! Since this kiosk is close to Tourmalin it has several brochures and shipping forms for it. Keep your eyes sharp, dear. This might cause a... Nak plus-plus! I have an unsecure but unmonitored connection to their office net!"

  Blue kept a careful guard as Karr promoted himself and began slirping data.

  "We're now inside one of their offices," he said without shifting his attention, "NOT in a kiosk outside. How tragic."

  "Indeed," she said, meshing her terminal to his, "Speak forth, noble sir. What do you need me to do?"

  "Grab cargo links between Tourmalin and BinSu, Imix Lines and Fallstar. Go back two months or to the first serious wall."

  "Slib," she said, visibly puzzled, "but can't we use the virus for that?"

  "Can and will, my dear. I want to check what they claim they shipped and traded against what they actually did. Once we have the manifests we can see what they did, or at least what the manifest says they did!"

  Blue whistled through her teeth. "Clev-er. That's a lot of data to sift but once we do we'll have full details on everything they've shipped and to whom!"

  Before long the day workers left and the evening ones arrived. The crowd didn't diminish but it slowed some. No building associated with a starport ever closed but the evening and night workers did relax and that attitude infused everyone. At Karr's suggestion Blue found another kiosk and began gathering data relevant to their principal queries.

  By the time Karr finished darkness had fallen hard. He cut himself a cheap door in case they needed it, unlikely, but the security didn't twitch. He collected Blue and the two of them headed back to their hotel, got some tea and meshed their terminals.

  "I have a curiosity," she said, lighting a drugstick, "You collected a lot more data and detail on Tourmalin transactions involving Fallstar and Tourmalin-Fallstar involving other companies. Why?"

  "They have a suspicious record, carefully concealed. Over the past few years they've had a lot of incidents, all handled and covered, working debt-runs for Binkor-Sud. They don't advertise the fact but they owe a lot of credits directly or indirectly to Binkor-Sud banks."

  "I'm surprised Binkor-Sud doesn't just buy 'em out. If their debt is that bad the shareholders should jump at the chance."

  "Binkor-Sud doesn't offer good chances that way," said Karr bitterly, "Believe me on that one. Besides, with the company on its own the bank doesn't have to pay costs. Just collect their payments and use the company when it's convenient. If I'm not mistaken, the bank receives a tax credit for the credits they write off for a debt-run. That's a double-win on their part."

  "I see. I also see that you may be on to something, my friend. Just over the past three months BinSu and Tourmalin mysteriously acquired lots of cargo Fallstar lost. That's just the public records. There are also forms filed for 'loss prevention and recovery' with fees, debits and credits listed but no specific cargo. It looks legal but smells sour."

  "Floppers. They're sewer-swishing. It's a tax and tariff scam small companies use to hide small profits."

  "Ahem. Make that 'small dishonest companies,' dear. McReely employs loss-recovery auditors to prevent that very thing!"

  "Ouch! Sorry, m'lady." Karr half-stood enough to bow. "My apologies to House McReely as well. Of course you know about sewer-swishing."

  Blue grinned.

  "But why would huge companies like BinSu and Tourmalin be interested," he continued, serious now, "Unless there's something there besides the profit."

  He swapped a predatory grin with Blue. Now they had a target!

  ***

  James Wilkison, captain and part-owner of the light trader Warmwind, checked his manifest and cursed. He received it earlier from one of his company's managing partners along with all the necessary authorizations and clearances. Another debt-run with little potential for extra profit on the side and he had other problems, too. He considered returning the lot along with his resignation, but no. He owed Artie, the partner and quarter-owner of the company itself, honor beyond a few inconvenient assignments. At least Artie also sent authorization for some maintenance. Besides, he couldn't sell his equity in the ship for anything close to its worth and certainly not enough for a down payment on another.

  It didn't help matters that three of his crew contracted some awful intestinal virus. The medics restricted them to their billets but they could hardly move from their bunks. Those same medics assured Wilkison that his crew would recover, in time. The company would take care of them until they returned, certainly, but that still left him short three crew. He didn't particularly want to hire from the local pool, past experiences taught him that lesson hard, and the high priority of the assignment left him precious little time to interview many independents.

  Fortunately enough, the responses he received on the few local independents he did manage to contact gave him one good, solid crewman and a potential treasure. He took out a gold coin, one hundred credits League-au, and spun it on his desk. His comm beeped just as it settled on heads.

  "Visitors, cap'n," said Gil Barker, his first mate, "Looks like our first interview's here early."

  "Send them in, Gil." Wilkison smiled as he pocketed his lucky coin. They didn't just arrive early, they arrived very early!

  Wilkison eyed the pair critically as they walked the short distance from the door to the table. He had an eye for people accustomed to life aboard a starship and he saw it in both the man and the woman. Then he amended his thought: perhaps less so in him than her, but still there.

  "Good morning, Captain Wilkison," said the man, "I'm Elmer Dimarr and this is my wife Patsy."

  "Honor and pleasure, sirra," said the lady.

  Both Dimmars had a sincere handshake and they met Wilkison's eyes easily and without hesitation. Their records listed a short tour in the Navy, terminated when they married. Since then their employment had been sparse, at least space-wise.

  "It's because we don't want to serve separately, sir," explained Patsy, "We won't try to hide it, sir. I do love my El and he loves me." Here she shrugged. "That's why our record's spotty, sir."

  Wilkison smiled at that. On the few occasions when they did ship out they earned outstanding evals and recommendations.

  "Standard pay, then," he said, "Guild bonuses, even though we aren't. Don't expect much on that, though. This isn't a qualified run. The company will guarantee transport back here or anywhere cheaper, provided you don't rut the puppy and cost them a lot. Contract's basic Guild plus Crown specs with the 'temporary employment' proviso. We're scheduled to leave tomorrow at 1030 so be here by 0700."

  "Yes sir!" "Thank you, sir!"

  The next morning Wilkison collected five credits from Barker when the Dimarrs walked up the ramp at 0624. They had their gear stowed by 0637 and reported in before Wilkison had his second chog. He locked his coin in his personal safe. Once again it brought him a treasure!

  ***

  "I do believe I could do this for a living." Karr shed his duty cloak and tossed it onto the rack.

  He and Blue settled easily into the ship's routine, befriended the rest of the crew readily and neither won nor lost too much at cards. Overall, thought Karr, they
made quite the good impression.

  "We do, silly man," said Blue, now preparing to go on shift, "Anything?"

  "Squelch. Gil said Cap'n Wilkison and the astrogator are the only ones who know the destination for, and I quote, 'Bunko-Sludge runs.' Didn't seem bothered by it, either. He said it's SOP and not to worry."

  "Basically what Deb told me," said Blue, "Yesterday." She let the rub-in sink in.

  "No blather, m'lady. I know. Ship engineers know everything and willingly share with brother or sister engineers. Did she say anything about frequency?"

  "Only that they've had more of them recently. I didn't want to press too hard. None of the crew particularly like them, nor does Wilkison, but it's part of the job."

  "Are they under contract?"

  "Nak. All of 'em but us have passed their option-to-drop dates but they love their captain and he always pulls good side profit, except when they're doing debt-runs. Mostly legally, too, from what Deb said. You think our virus is still hot?"

  "I hope so," he said, "We'll need it for certain sure when we get back. We may even have a better point of attack."

  "Truth and pure," she replied, "I need to go on shift now. Can't let our reputations falter! Kiss kiss."

  "Kiss kiss," As soon as Blue left, Karr deactivated their garble and went to bed.

  ***

  After an unsettling eight days in link the Warmwind finally dropped back to reality. Karr voiced his concern to Barker after five days, then six and then seven but the first mate assured him the ship would make it. She had before, he said, and no doubt would again. Blue, much more familiar with shipboard life, speculated at the jitter the vessel had built up. The transition came during lunch, at which both Karr and Blue heaved a sigh of relief.

  "'Bout ruddy time," said Wes Martin, one of the cargo wranglers, "Bet me we won't be longer goin' back."

  "Or not," said Deb Stevens, the engineer, "Jitter was a vix, no blather, and the skipper didn't like it worth feces. He'll take it easier on the flip."

  "And we know he'll be grinding rock on all of us, too," said Barker, "So phase down." Then to Karr and Blue, "Don't be surprised at what does or doesn't happen and don't take the captain personal-like."

  With that cryptic remark Barker washed down the last of his not-bad rations with synthetic tea and made a much less cryptic one about not being late to their duty stations.

  ***

  "Raise," said Blue, smug and riding an impressive winning streak.

  "Call," said Barker, betting light.

  After the ship grounded Wilkison sealed her tight and debarked with the astrogator. None of the others took this as strange so Karr and Blue played along, though curiosity devoured them both. Karr did venture a small surprise and disappointment.

  "Nar," said Barker at the time, "It's SOP for a sludge run. Don't worry, you'll be paid for your time even though we're not working it."

  "But I always check out the local slosh," said Karr.

  "Not this time, lad. It's all of us, too, not just the two of you. None of us'll be sloshing down tonight. The cap'n usually takes about three hours plus time to load cargo so if either of you hid something in the bays now's the time to get it."

  Barker then left to do something else.

  "It's always the same on the bloody sludge runs," whispered Stevens, "Skipper figures the less we know we won't get in trouble for, I suppose. Heaven bless him, I wish he'd drop them and go for the steady gold."

  Then the card game started. Barker produced a flask of rough liquor, poured each of them a shot and put the stuff away. None of the crew minded Blue winning. Karr had already lost more and, as Barker winked, she was a lot prettier! Her winning streak had just ended when Wilkison returned to the ship.

  "Duty stations, Gil." He said nothing more than that.

  ***

  True to Barker's word, Wilkison didn't relax until after their first microjump and even then he didn't by much. After they linked, the astrogator spent most of the time in his cabin. The rest of the crew stepped lightly and put extra spiff into their tasks.

  Their sixth day in link, Karr and Barker walked up to the lounge for an afternoon chog when they heard heated voices from the lounge. Wilkison was in the process of bawling out Stevens of what summed to nothing. When he finished he stormed out of the lounge without a word, or even a look, to his first mate or Karr. When they walked into the lounge, Stevens still shook with anger and other suppressed emotions. She bolted for engineering, again without words, and left them to their chog. Barker caught Karr's eye and shrugged.

  "Hades yes she talked," said Blue once they had their garble active, "According to her the captain is descended from an impressive group of unsavory animals, scavengers and bottomfeeders. Poor Deb is ready to rut this puppy and leave for richer orbits. Yes, he's been this way before but the number of sludge runs they've had lately is wearing on all of them."

  Karr nodded. "I have something, too. It seems our esteemed captain is docked tight with one of Fallstar Lines' managing partners. Since there are only four of them and none of the others has a name even remotely close, 'Artie' must mean Artemis Dinge."

  "So what do we know about him?"

  "Nothing. Yet! I may have an assignment for our virus."

  ***

  When they reached Faircoast two days later, Wilkison took an agonizing twelve hours to land the ship. Once she grounded he restricted them for another three. When he finally did release the crew he gave Karr and Blue their chits along with a promise for a good reference.

  "I've enjoyed sailing with you, too," confessed Barker, "Flames! Any time we're in and you want to slap down some cards, give us a blip."

  While Karr cashed their chits Blue composed her report. House McReely had offices at all the starports on all the Crown worlds and they all had secure ways to communicate. Of course Edders had presence too, but not always at the ports. Even though they didn't have a lot to report, yet, Karr wanted his Laird to have what they did, should catastrophe strike.

  "Six sigmas on the beam," said Blue, "Do you feel like a celebratory dinner?"

  "As long as it isn't Chugbarn's."

  "Gasp! But I missed my Grape-E-Q. No worries, dear one, there's a nice cafe across from the Port Authority."

  Karr ate slowly, enjoying his food and matching his pace to Blue, who didn't seem in any great hurry to finish. The Port Authority was packed. Given the number of arrivals and departures, that didn't surprise either of them. Just before dessert Blue made a happy sound and smiled.

  "I probably should have told you," she said, "My favorite cousin works at the PA here. I messaged him as soon as we left the Warmwind and he's meeting us now."

  Karr had no trouble recognizing the man, his House McReely crest notwithstanding. He had Blue's look and manner and the same hint of Edders blood. Upon spotting Blue, he beamed a huge smile and strode to their table.

  "Lacyyyyyyyy! It's six-sigmas polarity to see you!" The man gave her a quick hug and kiss before turning to Karr and offering his hand. "Jack Ron Rooke."

  "Piotr Karr. It's an honor and pleasure to meet you, seigneur."

  "You can belay that 'seigneur,' Piotr. Jackie's closer to me than some of my brothers!"

  "Lucky for it, too," said Rooke.

  After a few bites of his own food and some discussion on family matters, Rooke slipped a garble on the table and activated it.

  "There. That should've bored them," he said, now sounding like Blue, "I checked, Lacy. There aren't any systems eight days from Faircoast. Not in Crown space, not in the League and not outside the League."

  That puzzled Karr but before he could speak, Rooke continued.

  "That made me curious so I ran a query with Scheduling. According to Wlikison's flight plan the Warmwind flew to Woodworld, spent five days there and came back. It should have been two or three but he miscalculated pommegrape season and had to wait for his shipment."

  "That doesn't make sense, Signor Rooke. Would you mind checking eight-day no-s
tops, Signor Rooks?"

  "Already doing it, and you can cold seven that 'Signor Rooke,' too! That's my dad. Eight days outside of time-space is more than slightly risky. The only reason for a no-stop is to avoid the ports in between. No captain worth his weight in crusty floppers would risk it, short of a dire emergency, and I haven't heard about any of those lately."

  "Stranger by the second," said Blue, "Did they file a loss report, Jackie?"

  Rooke shook his head. "Nak, Lace, but I'll keep my eyes sharp for it."

  Blue excused herself for the fresher. Karr tried to thank Rooke but the other man stopped him.

  "Lacy's the sister I never had. I don't know what the two of you are doing, but knowing her it's ruddy dangerous and for the honor of House McReely or its friends. You just make sure you stay alive and bring the bastards down!"

  To that Karr agreed wholeheartedly!

  ***

  Karr started the next day at the closest library with LINC access. He first researched everything he could about Fallstar Lines Inc. with specific attention to its management, the four partners who owned it and its House allegiances. Some of the information would take time to arrive but he found enough, especially with his own House access and the Brightcrown keys Laird Luther gave him. He did find more than a little information concerning Dinge cached locally, which suggested that Parl had made similar queries. In the meanwhile, Blue cited her desire to visit Rooke again and see what he might have discovered.

  The Fallstar system was as far from the rest of the League as Faircoast was close. The largest company there and its primary source of revenue was Fallstar Lines RC, LCC. That piqued Karr's interest immediately: the company didn't ally itself with any house yet its partners paid the price both in credits and accreditation to hold the League certification as well. Its official paperwork listed it as an inexpensive cargo and passenger transport company, of which many existed, that specialized in trade outside the Crown and even outside the League.

  What set Fallstar apart was its strict adherence to all of the requirements for shipping outside of Crown space. Though not uncommon, most merchants either purchased temporary permits or used a company that held the one they needed. Fallstar meticulously maintained every single certification required for any type of import and export. Those costs reduced their profit margin but enabled them to provide any type of transport quickly, and they marketed their service heavily on that fact.