The only sound was the muffled voices of the five men that had been blindfolded and on their knees, five heavily armed men were standing behind them with guns at their heads, another two were standing on either side of the desk where Devon was leaning on with his elbows, sitting. He gave a slight nod to the armed men in front of him. The soldiers took off the blindfolds and removed the pieces of cloth in their mouths, the prisoners' faces looked like they'd been through quite a beating. One of them spoke up.
Do you have any idea who you're messing with you little fu-
He was silenced as the soldier behind him thrust his rifle's butt into his neck, crashing the man's face into the floor, he then forcefully grabbed him right up.
I actually do, Mister Cortez. But the real question is, do you have -any- idea who -you- are messing with?
The men stood quiet, with a signal from Devon the soldier hit one of the men in the shoulder with his rifle's butt again.
Speak up, the High Commander asked you a question. Someone whose going to have his head served on a silver platter.
Before the soldier could strike again Devon held up a hand then started laughing.
Amazing, even when I have the heads of your little group and have already killed your right hands you still have the balls to threaten me, nice.
Devon waited in silence for a few moments, thinking. In the end he just shook his head and then turned to the ICSF operative to his right.
Captain, your sidearm please. Sir.
Devon took the high caliber silenced pistol and stood up, circling around the desk to get to the men at the front, he looked each of them for a few seconds before turning to a man at the corner of the room that hadn't moved or spoken at all until now.
Marcus, these -are- the guys, right? Yeah, pretty sure.
The beaten up men all looked at Marcus, they didn't say anything but Devon could just see their rage, not that it mattered, he looked up at his soldiers.
Kill them.
Before the men on the floor could even react, five silenced pistols came out, the slight hiss sounding in unison as the bullets penetrated the back of their skulls and ran through their spines, killing them instantly. They dropped to the floor, lifeless. Devon looked to Marcus.
Now, a deal's a deal, time for your part of the bargain.
Devon nodded to the captain who took out a holo pad and held it in front of Marcus who entered in several passwords and his electronic signature. The ICSF operative then showed it to Devon who nodded and confirmed, which lead to the operative taking out a long range comm device in the shape of a simple phone and gave it to Marcus.
Captain Fawkes, it's been a pleasure working with you, the deal has been signed, you should have just gotten the confirmation data right now. 44 is Interspace property now.
Marcus then gave the phone back to the operative and looked at Devon, nodding.
Well, nice doing business with you again Marcus.
Before Marcus could even respond Devon lifted his arm up, pistol in hand and fired. The silenced shot went straight through in between Marcus' eyes, his body dropping to the floor with a thud.
Nothing personal, just business. Right, let's go, leave the bodies and make sure we're not followed, the LPI shouldn't be here for another thirty minutes, we'll be long gone by then. Yes sir. Let's move.
Two of the operatives took point in front of Devon with the others in line following them out of the office, the bodies of dead security guards littered the floor as they passed by.
Password Accepted
Opening Directory..
Playing file #014
Hellooo, journal. Long time no see, yeah? Yeah. Didn't really think I'd use you again after the whole Lost incident when our investment gont blown up by our "friends", but, well, saw you in Hawaii's database and remembered how much...fun, I had...while talking to myself...that's pretty freaking sad.
But anyway, haven't been doing much, we did lose quite a bit of cash with the Project Lost going down the drain but fortunately our contract with AP Manufacturing didn't get screwed over plus we did some business with the Liberty Navy that kinda lowered our taxes and pretty much easily made up for our loss in a few days, maybe a week. Other than that, well, I've been taking a vacation from all this board business really.
He sighs.
Yeah, decided not to go too far with ICSF just yet, didn't really expand our "fleet" that much, mostly just manpower, ex-marines and all that for bodyguards and whatnot. Still better organization than what Interspace has had before and we're still in business. As for 44, well, I decided to play it a bit closer to the chest, only a few people know about it and I've had it restocked to the brim with supplies and anything else it needed, except for the refits which I still have to find a shipyard that I can trust.
But I'll get to that later, as for what I'm going to do with 44..well, I'll probably have it renamed to something...better, awesome even. But until I find a shipyard it won't matter, and our deal with APM helps here plus the contacts I made while we were in Lost, the weaponry won't be a problem, or any other equipment. Just need it attached the the ship really.
And well, I'm still technically on leave, not doing much business other than some personal stuff for SI. Good thing I have those shitheads of administrators looking after stuff for me, even if they can't do everything perfect.
I think I'll keep enjoying my vacation. Yeah..be seeing ya!
Password Accepted
Opening Directory..
Playing file #015
Yo'!
Interesting turn of events, I was contacted today by some guy in the Hellfire Legion, apparently he wanted to do "business" which involved quite a bit of cash, not exactly a usual contract. He didn't give specifics but asked me to forward it to the Board and that it would be extremely beneficial for us.
He scratches his beard.
Pretty sure this has something to do with Buckmaster, bastard's probably playing at something. But either way, I was interested so I contacted our CEO, he seemed almost completely ok with it, barely asked anything and kinda even accepted even though Interspace hasn't been formally contacted and no details had been given. That's quite a bit odd, even for -our- Board, something is definitely going on.
But of course, I don't care, I'll make a profit out of it some way, also I think I found a place for 44, can't believe I didn't think of it before, the Colonial Republic, specifically Sabah Shipyard, that place is big enough to easily accommodate a Nephilim class. Already sent a communique and they seem to be willing to accept, just need more details.
So yeah, I pretty much have that covered, finally. Oh and uhh..well I was gonna talk about usual business about how the ICSF is still the same and blah blah blah, but, nah, screw it. Be seeing ya'.
Password Accepted
Opening Directory..
Playing file #017
Steele's log, file number fifteen..uhh..no, seventeen..
Screw it, I don't know, whatever the hell is on the File's name.
So yeah, I went through the files our tech and industry departments threw at me about 44, seems most of it is ok, it just needs a few upgrades but the real problem are the Domes, no problems about the domes' structural integrity, they were built perfectly. The domes simply have not had enough time to "grow" to high efficiency, which kinda beats the purpose of it being a Freeport.
So yeah, that'll pretty much be the list I throw at the Colonials, I'll have to get those things up to speed. But anyway, the main reason I'm making is that...well..it doesn't seem anyone on the IC board is interested..much, or at least the ones I told. So I guess I can keep this one to myself without a problem, even if I'm using corporate cash, heh.
Also, the tax "revenues" we got from Newark's newest public mile-high lounge seemed to have easily covered the cost of having it built, and that's just the tax, since it's technically for the public, though since made for government officials, we just got richer.
And no, haven't heard anything about the Legion just yet. They're taking their sweet time and I've gotta say I'm interested. Cya around.
Password Accepted
Opening Directory..
Playing file #018
Evening, journal.
Well it looks like repairs and upgrades for Freeport 44 are complete, she's in good order and with the biodomes working and growing at full, 44 will become completely self-sustained in under a month. I'm quite pleased with the results.
But unfortunately, I'm not really sure what I'll be doing with it...it's named as a Freeport but I have it locked down to commercial flights and have ordered Fawkes to sit idle in Coronado, yeah, the Colonial gave flight access in-system. I've been asking around, looking for something to do with 44, there's not much I can do in House space due to all their damn laws, I had at first planned to use 44 as a tool to expand Interspace influence in the Omicrons but that whole idea literally got shot down with Edgepoint getting blown to bits.
Although, Fawkes did collect some info while he was around there, it looks like the Colonial economy isn't as screwed over as I had initially thought, and they're building up...might be a good place to start some more business.
Other than that, no real changes these days, just lots of paper pushing and credit counting really, anyway, I'll be getting back to work, still got money to make.
Password Accepted
Opening Directory..
Playing file #026
Wow, it's been a while since I actually used this for anything other than giant money-making contracts and my excitement about them.
So uhh, yeah, I've decided that Steele Industries has grown enough to play with the really big boys now, that is, the Independent Neural-Net Division. Yep, that's right, the richest assholes in all of Sirius, and I'm thinking I have a chance with them. I've already submitted an "application", but from what I've heard, even with my own rep, this is going to be tough, really tough.
The tapping of a pen is heard.
Oh what the hell, talking about it isn't going get my chances up or anything. Also, that Takhashi Tech thing I was talking about last transmission, it went through, I now own 51% of Takhashi Technologies.
He sighs.
Although, they have a rather large board, but there is quite a chance of heavy profit, especially with the amount of deals going on with Gallic tech corps. I'll probably terminate most of the Takhashi Board and buy the entire company and just feed it into SI. Yeah, will probably have to. Anyway, I have a board meeting to attend to with a specific tech corp.
Password Accepted
Opening Directory..
Playing file #027
Well that just sucks. That's right journal, I got denied. Apparently I need to be better at making freaking poems, like seriously? Poems? Is that what they do with their billions of credits all day long, write freaking haikus? Damned Kusari literature inventions.
But anyway, uhh, guess I'll just adjust my plans back to normal. So, I've had some feelers out for new things to do and profit. I found a particularly juicy risk, there's some station in Cambridge named Puerto del Diablo, apparently it used to be a Corsair base but it seems it's changed hands and they're looking for a partner and yeah, it's still an illegal base.
I've made contact with them and I'm sending one of my guys over there to check the base out, although the coordinates they gave me are basically out near a jump hole and kinda in Corsair territory, even though it's still Bretonia. But they promised that they'd make sure my guys went there and back safely, although just in case, I sent them there with a gunboat.
If I decide it'll be worth my while, I have some...friends, who apparently are also the friends of the Bret PM, so any legal issues will probably be fixed.
Other than that...I got a new pen. It's pretty cool, solid platinum and gold, really heavy though, but it's just for show, I'll keep it on my desk.
