"Ah, thank you", John took a cigarette, lit it, took a puff and burst in a cough "My apologies, I only smoke when planetside and it's been a good while. A good strong blend this is"
John regained his normal breath, took a sip of his drink of unknown ingredients and continued: "Yes, let's wait, four is a good number.
You are right about the societies. Indeed, the public has no need to know any details of our business. As long as they get transported to where they want to get, they should not even notice the work behind the scenes.
While we wait for our cherry pie to arrive, can you please fill me in with some history of Grayhound? I've read a couple of articles and reports, as well as heard a few rumors, but nothing definite. You mentioned an exile in your original transmission. That is, if you don't mind me asking."
Ian sights smiling, He puts his hands on his knees and then claps his hands.
Well it's a long story John but I will try to make it short. During a civil war which took place five centuries ago and started in Leeds, my family, House of Curtis - based there since the colonization of the planet - had to fly into exile because some of the riot leaders saw out fidelity to the monarch as dangerous, though we had stated that the outcome of the war didn't really affect our econoomic interests, since people need to be transported in any societey.
Passenger transportation has been our major buisness since we settled in Leeds. Greyhound Passenger Transportation is the company that has kept House of Curtis Alive always. Then, when we had to exile, and that is five centuries ago remember. We where then recieved by the buisnessmen of Planet Curacao, who welcomed us and later let our company join the then yet not created Orbital Spa & Cruise corporation.
We where more than a decade on exile. But we returned when things settled in Bretonia. And now, with Kusari Fleets massing inside Leeds, we cannot take the risk to remain on our planet. On our beloved Twin Peaks Estate. You must go there when everything calms down.
The sounds of a struggle suddenly began to emanate from the other side of the door to the lounge. Loud voices were heard along with a strange stuttering metallic sound. Finally, the door burst open and a strange caricature skittered into the room.
The man-sized spider stood still for a moment while a pair of bodyguards put forth a futile effort to drag it back outside. A camera protruding from the metallic creature rotated slowly, surveying the room and the astonished looks of everyone in it.
Then, it spoke:
My good Captain Curtis, would you be so kind as to remove your henchmen from me? They keep insisting that I must show a proper ID but, tell me, how am I to carry anything, let alone identification papers, with this inconvenience some dare to call a body? Who else could I be but a Meld and who among the Melds would know to come here other than I, Quantum Psychosis? I even went so far as to reveal my brain to prove that I am most definitely not an AI, but your men appeared sickened rather than convinced.
- Pedro! Jose! Let the Captain enter the room! When exactly did I tell you the guests would all be human? Better ask first than being rude! - Shouted Ian. Please my friend, join us and place yourshelf around here.
As the bodyguards released the spidery contraption, he skittered farther into the room, taking up a position near the two Captains already present.
Thank you. Now, I feel I must apologize, Captain Curtis, for my unexpected presence here. I truly did not intend to come, as my message dictated. Under normal circumstances, we Melds do not disconnect from nor leave our ships, yet I encountered a very interesting cyborg the other day and managed to barter away some of his prosthetic limb research. This...thing I am now connected to is the first fruit of the application of that research.
But, please, don't let me bore you with such details, we are here to relax and discuss business after all! Oh, and a good day to you, Captain Frial, forgive me for not greeting you earlier. Now, though I am a tad behind schedule, I take it I have not missed much?
John had just finished reading the materials Captain Curtis had handed him when Quantum Psychosis made his appearance.
It took him a couple of moments to get over the astonishment and get back to his normal demeanor.
He stood up, hesitated for a second considering what form of greeting would be applicable in this situation, and decided that a courteous bow would be the most appropriate.
"Good day, Captain Quantum Psychosis. I'm glad you found a way to come here in person, hopefully it doesn't cause you any inconveniences?
No, you haven't missed anything at all"
John returned at his seat. He considered for a while how to go about offering a drink, then decided to leave this dilemma to their host.
Ian stands from his seat and says - Well then, there are three of us now. When another Captain arrives, we should start discussing the matters that concern us. Like the installation of a permanent communication frequency transmitting from the Lodge, that John here suggested - he then points to the roulette and deck tables room -Would you like joining me in dropping some chips?
John stood up started to say something, but his handheld communications device gave an alarming beep. He flipped it open and read the message. Within seconds, John became completely pale, then he went running out of the room, toppling over a few chairs that were in the way.
Through the windows it was seen how he's walking back and forth by the pool, with his eyes not turning away from the sky. John was gesturing hectically and was shouting something in his communication's device.
After 15 minutes, he calmed down, said a few words in his device and put it in his pocket. Then he punched his fist in the air and shouted something cheerfully at the sky.
John returned to the room: "I have good news and alarming news.
Just now my liner, Crying Lightning, which is currently stationed near Curacao's orbit, was approached by a slave liner named Arkania with rather dark intentions. My crew told it more than once to leave this system, yet received no cooperation from slave liner's captain. So a firefight ensued. Due to skillful work of my crew, the slaver was quite swiftly reduced to a pile of scrap metal. Here, I received some images from the incident overhead"
John took his drink and drank the remaining half of in one go. When he put the glass back on table, one could notice his hand slightly shaking. Then he placed a few small-size images on the table (1, 2, 3, 4)
"So, good news are that for a while we have one less slave liner to worry about. Alarming news are that slavers seem to be increasing their activity and now even dare to try their filthy operations here in the very heart of OS&C"
Captain Alice Jacobson walked into the Lodge, with her first officer at one side. She walked and looked around, then at the girls in the lodge. Finally she looked at the group of captains and walked towards them.
Hello she said at the group of captains. First, I'm not surprised by the constant show of sexism from men all around Sirius, and this lodge is not the exception... But that's not important right now She said in a partly angered tone.
Second, I am Captain Alice Jacobson of the bretonian liner Gemini, this is my first officer Henry Gutierrez. I worked for the former OSC division, which as you may know is dead, and I received your transmission. She said while looking with a partly hostile look at the group. She then looked at her first officer with the same look.
The first officer looked at the group and nodded with a nervous, yet friendly face while Alice walked out to answer a call. Umm...Yeah...I... We... We have our liner docked at Curacao, when OSC communications were cut for unknown reasons we had to dock immediately, and we haven't done a single thing to resume our trips. For some time we thought on putting the ship for sale, finally my captain here decided that if we could get a group of captains together that would be Umm "great" as she said. And right on time we got your transmission.
He looked outside and then turned to the group. Please excuse her for her behavior, she just broke with her boyfriend.
Alice Jacobson entered the room and walked to the group of captains. she then took a seat and talked to the group. If my first officer here has given you our introduction I guess we have business to discuss gentlemen, time is money She let go a forced smile, but kept a serious look.
Damn it Henry sit already! She said angry to her first officer. Henry nervously took a seat by her side and nervously smiled at the rest of the group.
(------Incoming Transmission------)
(------Ship ID: OSC-Perth-Rescue------)
(------Sender: Captain Richard Wills------)
(------Transmission Location: New London------)
Greetings fellow captains. I'm honored to be a part of this operation that we're intending on embarking on. I wished to thank all involved for prepping me and helping this ship and crew underway. I will continue to monitor this frequency with any mission updates and requests.
I do not wish to dictate policy in any degree but I would suggest that if we intend on supporting Britionia with relief efforts, we need to keep in contact with their local government. I have a lot more to say but I don't wish to impose my time on you gentlemen and Ma'am Jacobson anymore than necessary. If you wish to hear my thoughts on this, please let me know.
The Perth-Rescue is on line and its shakedown cruise is complete. We have completed two short missions to transport refugees from Leeds to New London and all have arrived safely. In addition, as per my supported, we have armored the cruise liner more so then the typical level. This was an additional reason for the needed cargo room. This is not an intent to use the Perth-Rescue for military operations, more so to allow her hull to withstand more of a beating. The Perth-Rescue has been mounted with all small type IV transport turrets. They have the configuration of a standard type 2 but use a lot less power and allow for all her guns to fire directly out of a cruise disruption with no interruptions.
Again gentlemen, Ma'am, thank you for your time.
(------Transmission End------)
Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.