. Casey finished off her drink and waited until the soft chime of the doorbell from Hubert's departure had long faded. She stood up and reached down to pick up the briefcase, carefully attaching a small name tag before walking over to the shop counter and handing the case over to lost and found. A slippery officer known to be a little too free with who he let through customs would soon have his lost luggage containing a small fortune returned to him, luggage that would quickly be replaced with handcuffs and a long sentence for bribery.
Exiting Christy's Casey opened her communicator, keyed in her boss's number and waited for it to connect.
"Casey here, it's done."
--------------------------------
"Casey here, it's done."
The listener disconnected the call without a word, and then redialed to the Hubert's quarters on Waterloo Station. Protocols came online, scrambling the video feed and distorting the audio. The call was challenged by the stations automatic operator, then ignored when it was simply shut down by a police override, connecting directly to Hubert's personnel terminal.
The terminal flicked to life, showing nothing but static and a shadowed figure. Leaning forward the figure spoke clearly, as though simply imparting information for a report. "There are new factories being constructed on Planet Sprague. Built for the government, run by BMM, and supplied by Bowex. BMM has already sent the list of materials that it will need, all that is left is for Bowex to simply accept, name their price and the contract is theirs. The project is being spearheaded by the Minster for Defence, Baron Piett, but final approval for the shipping contracts will pass through the office of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
Details on the project and the cost estimates for the materials will be sent directly to you, simply underbid the estimate and the contract will be yours." The transmission cut. The protocols traced back through the system, police overrides erasing logs and leaving one unread message on the terminal.
The caller reached into the drawer of the office desk and slipped a data disk into the computer port. Accessing the BPA central core communication logs the caller paused at a classified communique, copied it the data disk and overlayed a decoy file designed to disappear when accessed by a specific signature. The caller pressed a buzzer on the desk, summoning a clerk. Picking up a sheet already on the table the clerk was handed both items.
"See that these are sent directly to Mr Hubert, he should be on Waterloo Station by now. He apparently caused a three transport pile up when leaving New London, leading to a small fortune in fines. The disk contains his receipt for when he pays off his fine, make sure he signs it."
The caller leaned back in the office, thinking. One corrupt officer too smart for his own good dealt with, promoting how effective the BPA were at rooting out corruption. A bidding war between the completing corporations leading to reduced costs for the new BPA commissioned factories and the other half or Hubert's bribe being discretely funneled into the BPA coffers via a very large, and very invented, fine. Resting comfortably in her office the Lady Kensignton, Chief of Investigation for the BPA, allowed herself a small smile.
