To the Mandelore

[arvg]

INCOMING TRANSMISSION
COMM ID: Premier Alvin Katz of the Coalition
LOCATION: Office of the Premier – Omega-52

TARGET ID: The Mandalore alone

I am contacting you on a personal matter.

I have been wronged, personally, by the Order. And I would rather refrain from committing Coalition Forces to what is a personal affair.

I want the Order hunted down and eradicated.

Name your price.

I do this not as the Premier of the Coalition, and not as a representative of the party, but as a man who wants vengeful recompense.

Premier Alvin Katz
Премьер-министр Элвин Кац

Volgograd

Sirius Coalition Revolutionary Army
Революционная Армия Коалиции Сириуса

END TRANSMISSION

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[Dieter Schprokets]

The bar at Freeport One had excellant rye whisky.

And while that was reason enough to be here, that was not the reason for the Mandalore's presence, incognito, today.

He rebuffed a hooker with a gentle smile, then saw his quarry. A man dressed in a drab grey suit at the corner of the bar, in a booth which was being held secure by three toughs, who were failing utterly to look inconspicuous.

William walked over to the booth and smiled.

"Hello old 'friend'", he said with a chuckle.

"Hello, gun prostitute.", retorted the Communist. "Still as ethic-less as ever?"

Billy sat down. "You bet. Otherwise would I have agreed to this? By the way, what is it with you guys and your lousy fashion sense?"

There was a pause, made uncomfortable by the fact that the thugs wanted to tear Billy a few spare orifices. Billy picked up a drink offered by the man across the table.

"You make up for it with your vodka, in any case. About the only thing you guys do right." He looked up and tried a disarming smile on one of the thugs. It had no effect.

He downed the drink, and said quickly; "You have a deal. We start hunting tomorrow."

He continued. "Mind me asking what they did to deserve this?"

The other man gave a grim smile. "Betrayal. I'll spare you the details."

Billy nodded and got up to leave. "I know the feeling. We'll put our heart into it, on principle."

As Billy left the bar he noted the hooker he had dismissed was now chatting up one of the thugs, and seemed to be making a good sale. He laughed.

Another day, another deal with the Devil.

---

[arvg]

Mister Taine shot his cuffs out, heading back towards his shuttle.

Feeling the need to do something capitalistic, he paused and purchased a red carnation, that he affixed to his lappel.

Someone had to do the dirty work, someone had to look after the Premier's interests. Especially when it came to embarrassment... D'Souza would pay, maybe not the full bill that was owed, but certainly a good down payment in blood for his treason.

That's what you got for sitting at a man's Christmas table, and lying to his face about eternal friendship.

Mister Taine sank his hands into his pocket, returning to his walk, whistling a merry tune.

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