As he entered the bridge he bowed to the mysterious person and quietly listened to the briefing. A light disappointment with such assignment have been countered with obvious need of those supplies, so Timothy didn't mind it in the end. When the person finished explaining the mission to him Timothy replied:
"I understand my mission, though I would need more details about resourses and numbers you need..."
Before he finished, one man that was standing aside approached him and handed him the data pad with list of required commodities. Timothy quietly examined it for a while and then nodded.
"I will do it. However my ship is not a transporting type. I will require something with bigger cargo hold. Can I hope to get any support on this matter from you?"
The woman on the chair sighed "We do not posses many trade ships, just a handful of freighters that do normal supply runs to our various forces and recently basics to the Red Court as well.
We do, however have 4 freighters in Tohoku, I will allow one to join you on your mission to secure the most valuable resources, however I doubt it will be enough.
Although... I assume we could arrange for the shipments to be picked up from any Dragon territory and brought here with our small freighter fleet, however getting them to said territory, is at your responsibility hawk-san.
Complete the mission successfully and you will be granted a gift"
DATAPAD INFO:
1000 basic alloy units
50 superconductors
500 units of any kind of munitions
50 units of optical chips
300 super alloys
100 High-Temperature Alloy
600 ship hull panels
5 nuclear devices
200 polymets
500 engine components
100 robotics
Staying quiet as she speak Timothy was carefully listening, planning something ahead already. When she finished he bowed and with the words "I will see what I can do." left the bridge.
Full freedom of actions did not actually gave any ideas, knowing that dragons have a very little friend list and suspecting that Yamo family have even lesser. And considering his own relations with the factions that might be allied with Dragons, the situation was becomming even less pleasant. Walking towards his ship in his thoughts Timothy come to decission to try and contact Junkers, hoping that they will be interested in deal far more then a customers. Though a way to Liberty was quite closed for him, so the only suitable place for making a contact was Ames on the Liberty borders.
Surprisingly Junkers agreed on the deal very fast and soon Timothy was already waiting at the negotiated place for his suppliers. They did not made themselfs wait and in a while Timothy was already viewing several ships on his scanners. Recognising the Junkers he set a comms. Unexpectedly director Barret replied himself.
"Welcome. Very punctually of you, I did not had to wait even for a minute."
Barret nodded before replying "That's the kind of professionalism you get with the Congress. We've got the package all safe and sound for ya, if you would kindly send us a good faith payment first."
"Very well..."
Timothy remained unresponsive untill Barret got a message about transfered cash. Smiling satisfiedly he said "Alrighty then, here's the package as asked. Pleasure doing business with ya."
Without getting any reply he ordered junker ships to jetison the cargo and in a couple of minutes they left the space. Once they all disappeared from the scanners Timothy send a signal to Dragons, and soon quite a big convoy appeared on the scanners, heading straight to him and starting to load the cargo. Once everything was done convoy leader said:
"You are returning with us to Red Court, Hawk-san."
"Understood." Timothy dropped to them and joined the convoy. In quite a while they finally have reached the Tohoku system and soon Red Court itself. Stepping aboard Timothy wondered around, looking for a person who should escort him to the bridge...
Naki sat on her small throne facing away from Timothy glancing at the big glass that covered the bridge's front.
Timothy, could only see flicks of red hair and a hand holding onto a cup of wine, leaning away. This was more troublesome than I originally planned. No matter.
She stood still looking away. Timothy could see she was dressed in a light silk Kimono, slightly showing the top of her back.
While you were away, there was a... change. My ill father have died, and now I assumed complete power over the family.
He was a good man, but good men do not necessarily make the best of choices for their family. Now, with my full title as Kisaki of the Yamo Family, I can finally make more daring moves, push onward and bring glory and welfare to our mighty family. she clutches her fist tight. Now, I need you to take care of one last thing, fly to Chugoko the Blood Dragon's sacred home. You will find that the waypoints have been uploaded to your navigation computer already and that you have docking clearance at Kyoto, our home.
In there go to Gai-Ji district, enter your name at the local information computer and you will have the location of your mission.
Hawk nod knowing he have not many options but to comply replied Yes, Kisaki
Upon reaching Kyoto, Timothy went straight to his destination, while walking he got the impressions of the immense base. The computer guided him to a small house between two large complexes with a door black as night.
Hawk made slight smile behind his mask, at the entrance his palm was scanned and he stepped in.
The house was outfitted with furniture of good taste, seemingly keeping mostly to black and grey colours. On the living room's desk he found an electronic note and a briefcase.
Inside the brief case there was a poach of red diamonds, and a complex looking sniper rifle.
He started to read the note.
Hawk-san, as you may see your wish was granted, but we are far from over. Your new mission is to help me seize my throne and remove the last obstacle that stands in my way.
Tanji Yamato, who leads the Yamato family is like a stone in a my shoe. Only a minority of his warriors are sent to my aid and I suspect he defies our ways.
Tanji has only descendant - a son named Akura. I planned and informed him of my intention to marry his son to my cousin - Mira Yamoto. However, it lately came to my knowledge that he plans to marry his son into a smaller clan of Dragons, in a stupid attempt to gain their support into his own and try to detach out of the Greater Yamo Family.
His son isn't a strong figure like his father, and will be obedient to me - his Kisaki.
Now, we must remove the obstacle Tanji, and for that I gave you a tool. It's a masterpiece craft that via assembling can be switched between automatic short-range laser rifle to a long range more forceful and accurate sniper rifle. The sniper mode has a built-in tracking device that will specify you the distance from your target, currents and other needed data, and more importantly the meeting's location.
Tanji will meet today with ones he plans to marry his son with. Kill him, and everyone else that will attend the meeting but the proposed female, we will later make sure she will be married into a lesser Yamo and grant them their wish integrate into a royal blooded family.
Seeing such attitude in the note made Timothy wonder about how safe is he while working for Yamo family. The mission to kill own comrade was not something he expected from a dragon, but in the end, he expected same fate for himself. The conclusion to cut his deals with dragons have been comming to his head, however there was no ground to retreat. For now all he had left to do was playing his role.
While data about the location have been uploading to his PDA Timothy checked the reward, counting how much those blood diamonds could be worth. The number was satisfying and since he had a couple of hours left before that meeting, Timothy decided to go over and pick the best locations for his job. After carefull check out for any watching devices in the room he took off his mask and changed into more civil clothes, covering his hair with bandana. That image shouldn't have got any attention. Picking up the gun and a few explosives Timothy went out of the room, walking straight for the meeting place.
The place seemed to be a small tea room. Timothy looked at it from a distance and decided to check it inside later. For now the whole location have been of more interest. There seem to be no high houses, so sniping from the roof would be too obvious. And besides of that he couldn't be sure that his targets will gather up on the street before entering. Though such possibility existed, so Timothy left this idea for later.
The real problem was about ground points. Tea room could be going deep inside the building and to reach other corner of it the sniper would have to shoot from the same level. However area did not seem to have any quiet corners except of several small alleys. The light was barely reaching those, however their tightness did not leave any good angle of shooting from a distance. Much like the idea with roof, this required some distraction.
While walking to the tea room itself Timothy noticed a ladder that would bring him to roof without getting attention and a good position for sniping from the ground in the same place. That could work if only he'd find a way to distract everyone's attention from shots. Reaching the tea room and entering it he noticed what he was afraid of - some corners were not reachable from the roof. To not get any suspects he ordered himself a cup of tea. It had a perfect taste and after enjoying the drink Timothy thank the owner and left the room. The only problem now was a distraction. Those explosives he had would do the trick, but Timothy needed a place to put them. Noticing a trash can Timothy went over to it and drop one of explosives there. Carefully, without bringing any attention, he put other one in a hole on the road, masking it with some parts lying there. This all should've been enough, so Timothy after looking around the place again he went back to his room...
The time has come and his target started it movement to the place. Timothy put all his gear on with exception of katana that have been replaced with bag which contained a rifle. After checking if everything in order he put his mask and hood on and went to his position. It didn't took much time for his target to arrive and luckily no one seen him so far. It was Tanji himself, with a body guard. Surprisingly they did not enter the room, which played well according to Timothy's plan. Soon another party arrived, containing of a beautiful looking lady and a two men. It was a time to act!
Aiming straight for Tanji's head Timothy pressed one of the buttons on some pannel nearby. Boom! The trash can exploded and in a very same moment Timothy made a shot, quickly switched the target and made another shot. Both bullets hit their targets, and without making any pause Timothy exploded other charge, making two shots at escorts of the lady. People in the area did not realise what happen and did not knew where to look untill all noise finished. That gave Timothy a chanse to hide on the roof. While people rushed to the bodies Timothy left the roof. From his dark corner he scanned the crowd. Two lying men were dead, other two were on the edge. Several people were caught within range of explosion however their damage was minimal. Without waiting any longer Timothy took his way back to his room detours, making sure that no one watches over him. Once he reached the room he took his mask off and while looking out of the window on sent a message about mission's accomplishment...
As Hawk sat in his living room, browsing through the latest news shortly after he woke up a message appeared on his pad.
It was simple, cutting through to the point. Honshu. Coordinates 13032 -15682 90239.
He knew exactly what he had to do. He packed up his needed things, locked up the house and arranged to leave Kyoto as soon as he could, flying in cover of clouds and rarely visited space to reach the destination unfollowed.
He entered a gas cloud in the Honshu system, having little to no visual and his scanners barely working well enough to find his position.
There, at range of only 600M, a station featuring Blood Dragon identification revealed to him. He asked for docking clearance and he was granted it right away, knowing he was expected.
As he landed a red haired woman waited for him at the docks, escorted by 2 guards. "Konnichiwa, Hawk-san. Come quickly, we have no time to waste. Important matters are in happening."
The group consisting of 4 people made quick strides to a small, closed room that was clearly yet to be completely built and lacked any surveillance means.
"Hawk-san, I will be blunt with you and I will be quick. We gained a one time opportunity with a recent capture of a young Corsair pilot. While he himself means nothing to us, fearing his life he offered to show us the way to Crete in return for letting him live.
We must use this one-timed opportunity to rise our banners, and enter with full force of the Yamo family into the Honshu system, leaving a small guard to look after our belonging on Ryuku base, and the repair teams who are working day and night to fix our pride - the Red Court.
But as you know, we are no friends with the Gas Miners Guild, whom are simple two-faced rats that say they throw in with the Dragons to save their skins will giving heavy support to this republic.
We are also no lovers of inducing dangerous drugs into our society, nor willing to ally with those who do. I get that you understand what I mean - this is a one timed opportunity to offer the Corsairs, or at least part of them, an armistice between Yamo family to them - letting us have a free non-patrolled space to be our kingdom. We could rise banners over Honshu and have our ships returning full with treasures that will attract new blood into the family, as well as improve our arsenal.
So, Hawk-san, you have traveled into the Dragon's lair, but are you willing to leave its safe harbor and travel to one of the most dangerous places in known space, to try and find one of the most dangerous of men?" she paused for a brief Are you ready to contact and meet a Benitez on our behalf, to arrange a meeting where the exact terms could be negotiated at?