5 Sina 1117: Boilingbrook – Adar/Hinterworlds (0801 A9C9751-D 700 Na G0 II)
This morning I grabbed an air-cab and headed for the Boilingbrook Tours office. There were several people there, clustered into a few groups based on where they were going. I found my group and wandered over, carrying a coffee bulb I had grabbed from a communal bin nearby.
There were three people already there, a young couple both excitedly looking at something on her comp and an older woman fiddling with the settings of the imager she was carrying.
I looked down at mine. It was an older model, one that we kept on the Grayswandir to document the arrival state of cargo when it looked damaged and we wanted to prove we weren’t the ones responsible for its condition. I was also in civilian clothes instead of my ship’s jacket; I had decided to play down my position for today.
I walked over to the lone woman. “Nice imager.”
She glanced up at me then back down. “Thanks.”
When she didn’t say anything more, I stuck out my hand. “Derek. Derek Kodai.”
She didn’t even bother to glance up that time. “Good to meet you, Mr. Kodai.”
“Sorry, just trying to get to know the people I’m on tour with.”
With a sigh, she looked up. “I’m sorry, Mr… Kodai was it? Look, you may be excited about this, but I’m just here to document it for the local net. ‘People travel parsecs to see big factory! What brings them here?'” She frowned, then turned the imager towards me.
“So tell me, Mr. Kodai. What brings you to Boilingbrook?” Her demeanor had changed instantly, she was now friendly but professional.
I frowned. I hadn’t expected that. “It’s Captain Kodai,” I corrected.
She gave a professional smile. “Of course… Captain. So, our factories here even attract starship captains?”
I was irritated but did my best not to show it. “Every planet has its own unique attractions. On Carifor it’s the massive canyon created when the Selian Sea spilled over into the Mian Basin. On Tomaian it’s Asonda’s Tower; where the eponymous artist built a 200-meter structure of hand-forged glass. And on Jalanda there’s the skyway, an intricate series of cableways covering hundreds of square kilometers. Here? You have one of the largest factory complexes in or near Imperial Space! Of course that’s worth seeing.” I smiled politely.
“Thank you, Captain Kodai.” She lowered the imager, glared at me for a moment, then sighed. “Well played, Captain.”
“I figured you didn’t want me saying that we’re stuck here for a week and I had to do something on my down-time.”
“I suppose.” She hesitated, then extended her hand. “Kori Methasa, Betharan Prime News.”
“Betharan?” I thought. “That’s in the northern stream, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. I’m surprised; most Travellers don’t know our local geography.”
“I run a Free Trader. The more I know about where I’m going, the more credits I can make.”
“Oh. Always about money, isn’t it?”
I shrugged. “It’s my job.”
“And this is mine.” She sighed. “Or, at least, all they want me to talk about anymore.”
“Oh?” I was genuinely curious about what she meant.
She flushed slightly and looked away. “Sorry. Forget that.”
She suddenly busied herself with her imager. I frowned as a thought came to me.
“When did you get this particular assignment?”
“Late yesterday,” she said in annoyance. She suddenly looked up and glared at me. “Why?”
I hesitated. The timing matched up. Again I wondered who Dr. Korvusar was. Really. She had told me to go here, and someone had told Methasa to come here. Coincidence?
Any further thought was cut off by a blare from the speakers as we were welcomed to Boilingbrook Tours. We listened through the usual announcements then headed towards the airbus designated for the tour we were on. There were about a dozen of us total, but I noticed that everyone seemed to be in couples or groups except for Methasa and me. On the air-bus, I sat down next to her. She looked somewhat annoyed but didn’t say anything.
I sat in silence for a while. We were rapidly heading away from the floater and heading to the northwest, nothing visible but the clouds. I couldn’t really see much; I had taken the aisle seat and Methasa was staring out the window. I could have moved to an open window, there were several, but I had a nagging feeling I was supposed to talk to her.
The driver came over the speakers and started telling us about the factory we were heading towards. Apparently, we would get a tour of this facility, then get lunch at a floater nearby, then stop at a second factory before heading home. It sounded like we would be landing for the first part of the tour soon.
I glanced back at Methasa, who was still pointedly looking out the window. Was she who I was supposed to talk to? I sighed. I wasn’t ready for this IBIS shroud-and-vibroblade stuff. I wondered if Captain Anna had ever gone through this sort of thing.
The first factory we visited turned out to be owned by Ling Standard Products. Of course it was. One of the biggest megacorps in the Imperium would naturally have their fingers in anything that may possibly produce even more profit for them. The tour took about two hours, and I will admit that it was quite entertaining despite being mostly dry, technical data. Our two tour guides, a man and a woman, were both adept and engaging speakers. I made a note of one or two of their jokes to use the next I was giving a tour back on the Grayswandir.
We boarded the airbus to head for lunch. This time I took a window seat and gave Methasa some room. The floater we headed towards looked like a long ellipse, several towers extending above a dome that covered the main vessel. A few dozen smaller ovoids trailed along behind it.
Lunch was at a place called the Wilted Mermaid. It was high in one of the towers and we had a good view of the floater and the entourage of other, smaller habitats and ships that followed it. I learned that this floater was named Retourn and that it slowly made its way around Boilingbrook. It was apparently popular with retirees.
I had eaten an utterly forgettable fried skewer-thing that was provided by the tour, then went and ordered an Imperial Boil from the bar. Looking around, I saw that Methasa was alone at a table looking through recordings on her imager. She had been interviewing various tourist and factory workers during the tour and pointedly ignoring me. I walked over and sat down across from her.
“Anything good?” I asked, popping the top and taking a drink.
She sighed and looked up at me. “I’m sorry, Captain… Kodai was it? I’m working at the moment.”
“Yeah, I can see. But I was asking some questions last night, and the person I was talking to told me to take this specific tour. I get here and find out that someone told you to take this specific tour as well. I think you and I need to talk.”
She froze for a moment, then carefully put the imager down on the table. I did notice that she flipped it on, even though it was aimed well away from me. “Who are you?” she asked quietly.
“Exactly who I said I was. I picked up a special delivery back on Fugitak and was asked to deliver it to someone here. I run a Free Trader, it happens. But I’ve apparently stepped into something this time, and I have no idea what it is. I tried to find out anything, and all I’ve gotten in return were instructions to go on this tour. And then I find you and learn that you got assigned here, after my discussion. So… let’s talk.”
She frowned and looked away. I could tell she was thinking. Finally, she reached over and turned the imager off before looking back at me.
“Do you have anything to do with someone named ‘Jestin’ by any chance?”
Apparently, I had been right. I nodded. “Yeah. That’s who my delivery was for.”
“Have you met him?”
“Yeah. Two days ago.”
She leaned forward, suddenly excited. “Where! What was it! What did he say?”
“Whoa!” I said, leaning back. “I don’t know what is going on here. What have I gotten myself into?”
She frowned, clenching her teeth. Finally, she spoke. “You have no idea who Jestin is?”
“No!” I said, a bit louder than I intended. I glanced around, but no one seemed to be paying attention to us. I leaned forward and told her about the datastick, my delivery of it here, and the later encounter where I was given the disc.
When I was done, she leaned back, looking upwards. She had been silent long enough that I was about to say something when she suddenly leaned forward again.
“Do you still have that disc?”
I hesitated, then shrugged, pulled it out of my bag, and handed it to her.
She turned it over in her hand a few times, examining it. “You know this is a scanner.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I figured that much out.”
She nodded in return. “Yeah, obvious. But this is a good scanner. A really good scanner. This will even do a biometric of anyone within about 100 meters. Anyone in the Uptown Downport. Someone wants to know what is going on in there and who doing it. Very badly.”
I lowered my head, shaking my head and closing my eyes. “Great,” I said, finally. “Who wants info there that badly?”
She was staring into the distance. Finally, she spoke. “You know your Imperium is in trouble.”
I couldn’t help it; I laughed. “Seriously? That’s what this is about?” I shook my head. “The Imperium has been around for over a thousand years. It has survived longer than any other government we know of. Ever. OK, maybe the Hivers predate us. But who counts them?” I shrugged. “Why is everyone making such a big deal out of this?”
“Because while a lot of people think like you, a lot of others don’t? You’ve on this tour. You know that our reputation, and our economy, is based on Boilingbrook’s manufacturing capability. Now, what happens if the Imperium is no more?”
“The Imperium…”
“Is just another institution!” she said sharply. She looked around herself to see if anyone else was paying attention then leaned forward. “The Prime Minister is telling everyone not to worry, that our economy will continue to prosper, unaffected by whatever is happening in Core. ‘We aren’t an Imperial planet,’ she keeps saying. But that won’t help us when we’re in the middle of a three-way war between the Imperium, the Solomani, and the Hivers. And the K’kree will probably show up.”
“The Solomani, and the Hivers for that matter, know better than to interfere in an Imperial-dominated region. Trust me, I run a Free Trader. The Imperium will always protect its trade network.”
“And if the Imperium can’t even protect itself?”
“Yeah, right.”
She leaned back and looked at me for a long moment. Finally, she leaned forward again.
“There are… rumors that things are getting worse. That the Imperium is pulling fleets back to protect its core sectors and leaving the periphery to their own devices. Ral Ranta and the Coalition both have interest in us here. We prefer to remain independent, and the Imperium likes us being independent. But, if the Imperium withdraws from the area….”
“You think that will happen?”
“Yes. I do. I have… sources.”
I frowned. “OK. For the sake of argument, let’s assume that’s what people around here believe. What does that have to do with me, the Uptown Downport, and whoever this ‘Jestin’ person is?”
“Jestin is a bit of a mystery, to everyone,” she said. “He’s someone who has a lot of influence but who prefers to stay two or three levels in the background. Most people think he’s a crime lord. Others say he’s a merchant prince. A few say he’s an Ancient. All anyone knows is that he seems to have access to a lot of contacts and resources, but no one can tell where it comes from. Or won’t admit to knowing if they do.”
“So? There are shadow brokers all over Imperial space.”
“Because he’s really good at it?” She looked at my beer and waved over a waitbot. When it had brought her one of her own, and another for me, she resumed.
“There is increasing sentiment here that Boilingbrook needs to align itself with either the Ral Rantans or the Coalition. Others of us don’t really trust either of them and want to stay independent, but that would require that we build up our own planetary defenses and none of our politicians want to be responsible for either raising taxes or cutting Basic to pay for increasing COACC and Patrol funding. So most people are just hoping that the Imperium’s problems will blow over and we can continue to enjoy their protection without having to pay for it.”
“So where does Jestin fit into this?”
“He wants us to be independent. He’s given support to several system representatives and even the prime minister towards that. Several of them have suggested talking to a few other the other non-aligned worlds and setting up our own joint defense league. Places like Fugitak, where you just came from. Someplace that can ‘maintain the ideals of the Imperium while being our own selves.'”
She took a drink and continued. “I published a story about him and his goals and immediately got demoted to doing ‘sophont interest’ stories like this one. Someone doesn’t like the idea that the Imperium is having problems any more than you do.” She tilted her head. “Maybe you should keep that in mind.”
I thought for a moment. “OK,” I said. “Maybe there is more going on here than I realize. Maybe. I’ll… do some research.”
She nodded. “Do that.” She handed the disc, which I had forgotten about, back to me. “Make up your mind about what you want to do with this. Beyond that? Be careful.” She drained her beer and stood up, picking up her imager as she did. “And I think it’s about time for us to get back to the airbus.”
We stopped at another factory, but this time I trailed along near the back of the tour, barely paying attention. The two guides here made most of the same jokes the first pair had; apparently, they were going off of a script. And I quickly discovered that when you’ve seen one floating city factory, you’ve seen all of them.
I did talk to Methasa again. I had seen her doing her interviews and she had been reviewing clips from the imager on the flight back. I stopped her as we were disembarking from the airbus.
“Want to grab another beer before heading back?” I asked with a smile.
She gave me a look indicating that she had heard that particular line a few too many times. “Thank you, Captain Kodai, but I need to get this footage edited before the next broadcast. Maybe next time you’re in-system?” She smiled politely.
I shrugged inwardly. “It’s a date!” With a final smile, I went outside and grabbed an air-cab to my hotel.
Once there, I debated what to do next. Contact Dr. Korvusar and see if she would tell me anything more? Head over to the Downport and either plant the scanner or contact Jestin?
In the end, I did nothing. Went down to the hotel bar and had a few beers and a few baskets of tama chips. Percy would complain about my diet when I checked back in on-board, but it could deal with it. After a while, I went back up to my room and to bed.