ARMS Jebwa Atrocity by Arseneault Stephen

Author:Arseneault, Stephen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: scifi, adventure, military, science fiction, aliens, space, action thriller, series, cyberpunk, galactic empire
Publisher: Stephen Arseneault

Chapter 16

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The ship settled on the tarmac beside the Massington III colony town of Tinea. The Biomarines were greeted by a shuttle that took them into town. Tinea was home to a mix of miners and farmers. Land was plentiful and the atmosphere tolerable. The slightly heavy gravity had kept it from being popular with regulars.

The transport driver said, “You in on business?”

“Of sorts,” Harris replied. “Who here would know about ship traffic in this system?”

“That would be our port chairman, Mr. Winkeford.”

“Can you take us to see him?”

The driver chuckled. “That would be easy. He has a permanent stool at our local pub when not conducting port business.”

The transport stopped and Harris tipped the grateful driver a generous twenty credits.

Dimber Winkeford was seated where the driver had indicated.

“Mr. Winkeford? My name is Harris Gruberg.”

“Biomarine?”

“Yes.”

“First one of you I've seen out here. What can I help you with?”

“Was curious as to the ship activity in this system. Have the Earthers been active out here?”

“Usual activity from them, I’d say. We have had a few unmarked ships come through recently though. If I was to guess, they would be Earthers, but it might just be someone who doesn't want to be known as belonging to either side. We tend to get a lot of independents out here.”

Harris nodded. “You wouldn't happen to have recordings of comm traffic, would you?”

“Recordings?”

“I know you probably keep nav records. Any chance those are kept along with any comm data?”

“Well, that's all encrypted. What good would it do us to keep that?”

“Was just a question. If you don't have it you don't have it.”

“I'd have to say we don't, then.”

“How are you folks set for supplies out here?”

Dimber rubbed his chin. “Could be better. We have a supplier who goes to New Earth and another who makes runs to Domicile. Both seem to take their time and charge some hefty fees for doing so though.”

Harris glanced over at Tawn. “We happen to run a supply business from Domicile. You have any specific needs at the moment?”

“I do. My cousin is operating a mine. He's in need of some refining equipment, and a few months after he gets it he'll be looking for transportation of the product. He has a buyer lined up on Domicile, but he has to deliver.”

“Sounds right up our alley,” said Tawn. “Tell you what, Mr. Winkeford. Put out the word and take a list of orders. We'll be back tomorrow to give you a quote on fulfillment. Probably looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of cost plus 25%, plus our fuel and labor costs spread over the whole delivery. So the more items under order, the cheaper the delivery cost.”

Harris nodded. “We often get wholesale pricing as well.”

“This first shipment might be a doozy. We have a lot of pent-up demand out here.”

“Just make the list. If we can buy it, we'll do it for what I just said. If things work out, we'll try to set up runs on a regular schedule.

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