| Prologue | Chapter 2 |
Beka vs the Port Authority - Chapter 1
Time: CY 10087 - AD Sep 5164Location: Fenree Spaceport
"The decon van is hooked to the Maru, Beka," said Trance from her position at the environmental control station, "I've begun decontamination of the cargo pod. I estimate two hours before the procedure is complete and the pod can be entered without protective equipment."
"Thanks, Trance," said Beka from her seat at the pilots station. "What's the latest news from Port Authority, Harper?"
"Just the usual, Boss," said Harper from the sensor operator console where he had been establishing a land line communication link with the Fenree Port Authority. "Travelers advisories, names of factors willing to take on new contracts, lists of contractors with cargoes for shipment outsystem. Nothing very exciting."
"Who else is in port?" asked Beka.
Harper typed a few commands into the console. "Let's see," he said. "Besides the usual Fenree intrasystem traffic, there's a couple of FTA ships. Slipstream Express' Success outbound day after tomorrow for Castila, and Cunnard's Empress, just arrived from Mobius. The Than Hegemony's Flowers in the Light,, and ... Hey, one of our own is here. The Takahashi family's Sakaemasu. Isn't the Sakaemasu captained by that de Vaca guy? The one that you had a fling with?"
"It is and I didn't," said Beka tersely.
"That's not what the gossip says," insisted Harper. "According to the rumors..."
"I don't care what the rumors are, Harper," interrupted Beka. "Nothing happened between him and me. Is the land line link established? If so connect the pilot's console into the link. I'm going to need to contact the Sakaemasu and see about conducting a courtesy call. What's the Sakaemasu's access code? Never mind I have it. Thanks."
She typed some letters and numbers into her com panel, readjusted her headset and microphone and settled back into the pilot's seat. A few moments of conversation later she put the headset down.
"Ok, it's settled. As soon as the decon procedures are finished and the melons are offloaded we''ll pay a call on Captain de Vaca" She glanced at the chronometer that showed local time. "That should be about 1700 local time. Now what do we bring as a gift? Trance, Harper, any suggestions?"
"How about some of that wine the folks on Felicity arrested us for bringing in," said Harper. "We still have a few bottles left." He got up from the sensor operator's station to limp over to Trance's station leaning heavily on his cane and favoring his still healing leg.
"Good idea, Harper," said Beka nodding approvingly. "It's a good vintage but not outrageously expensive. Trance, I want you to accompany me when we go over. It's time you learned how to make a courtesy call."
"What about me?" asked Harper. "Why can't I come too?"
Beka held up her hand. "One", she said raising her pointer finger, "port regulations require that someone has to stay aboard at all times. And two", she raised her middle finger and pointed both extended fingers to the cane that Harper was leaning on, "your leg isn't any where near healed. The Sakaemasu is berthed better than 10 kilometers from here, on the other side of the landing field. We can borrow a scoot at the port authority building, but even that's a kilometer walk from here and you have trouble walking from the engine compartment to the command deck. We'll only be gone for a couple of hours. It's just a courtesy call, Harper. You've been with me on them before. Nothing interesting's going to happen."
| Prologue | Chapter 2 |