Peacemaker Wars: A Backyard Starship Series by J.N. Chaney & Terry Maggert

Author:J.N. Chaney & Terry Maggert [Chaney, J.N. & Maggert, Terry]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Variant Publications
Published: 2023-11-27T16:00:00+00:00

PART III

28

“This contract keeps getting juicier.”

“Did you just say ‘juicy’?” Mark asked.

“No. Specifically, I said ‘juicier’,” Perry corrected. “I saw it on an advertisement at the corner store when you were buying those weird little sausages you like so much. It read ‘Buy Florida citrus’ dot-dot-dot, ‘juicier than you ever thought possible’.”

“That’s very dramatic,” Netty said.

“I know,” Perry cooed. “I’ll never look at citrus the same ever again. It’s practically—help me out, Netty?”

“Lewd.”

“Lewd. Right,” Perry agreed.

“Can we get back to the contract? Why is it getting juicier?”

“The Guild published new data into this contract several times since it was issued. New details are as follows: Multiple ships have reported suspicions of under-delivery of fuel. And before you interrupt to say something like, ‘well, why is that a big deal’, consider this. Skimming involves spoofing a ship’s AI to show that its tanks are full. If these ships then try to twist further than their actual fuel supply can support, they become stranded. There is a lot of space out there in which ships can get lost.”

“And will you look at that? I have another data packet inbound. It looks like the contract is changing again,” Netty said.

Mark watched Perry and turned to the forward instrument panel. Netty’s optical sensor flickered for a moment before anyone spoke.

“Downloaded.”

“Let’s see what the magical . . . oh. Well, that is a twist,” Perry said, and in an uncharacteristic moment, went quiet. A sense of foreboding settled over.

He leaned forward and tapped the invisible holo, forcing it to update. A new thread of data attached with a different timeline of information.

Their straightforward skimming investigation was now tied directly to an older contract, one assigned and unassigned to several Peacemakers without resolution. It was a missing-persons inquiry. And by missing, that meant an entire transport of people.

Master Gyl-Mareth’s words echoed in the back of Mark’s mind as he read—don’t hesitate to ask for help.

“Is it just me, or is this contract starting to look really muddy?”

“Muddy like that creek under the White Bridge, yeah,” Perry agreed. “This is what I find odd. The missing-persons case was flagged as high priority and was assigned to two senior Peacemakers with no resolution, despite repeated urgings from command. This new skimming contract is released, which on its own is relatively low profile, yet there are digital fingerprints all over it. Since we accepted it, we’ve had no fewer than two dozen Peacemakers try and wrestle it away. And not nobodies, but Third Veterans and Myrmidons. We’re talking seasoned enforcers with both combat and investigative talents.”

“I downloaded public-net chatter from three buoys so far, and I have been sorting through the data. I think I found our connection,” Netty said. “An R’Shari transport ship was reported missing over two months ago. Evidently, it was carrying the bride-to-be of a young but influential member of their up-and-coming Regency Political party. That ship reportedly fueled at this station, before twisting into the black.”

“How could it just up and disappear though? Was it attacked?” Mark asked.

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