Liason

            

A Station on the first moon of the seventh planet holds typical Minmatar station. On the main level however is an open court with lanes of open kiosk style eateries and vendors of all sorts. Produce wares and trinkets from the ends of New Eden. The outer walls of the main concourse hold various permanent establishments that include mostly upper scale restaurants, shops and bars. This is a pretty standard from one Minmatar station to the next. You can find such similar places on Gallente stations but nothing of the magnitude and variety as found at this one.

This particular station held the headquarters for the Minmatar Tribe Vherokior Tribal Treasury. As such it is not visited by pod pilots as much as the other stations in this system. For the best meals or freshest long limb roses in this cluster it can’t be beat. If you are a pod pilot looking to go unnoticed this is a safe bet to dock here. Not many pilots outside the tribes dock here but enough to keep suspicions down. Yes, an excellent place to hold face to face meetings without much notice. A place to make the kind of deals no one needs to know about.

Another advantage was meeting on the main. On this station all the vendors we of the Vherokior Tribe. The Vherokior people where be shrewd to deal with but they like Isk and were very adept at avoiding legal complications. They also are very good at keeping secrets. Soku knew he picked the right spot. It did not hurt that his cousin owed one of the more prominent bars on the main The Wayward Snail. Soku smiled at the thought of the name, a parody of an old drifter sentiment. Soon his guest would arrive.

This was more than a job interview he thought. Not only do I have to sell my skills I have to sell the space as well. Soku knew his value to the new possible employer would be minimal. He stood near the door and tried to hide his nervousness. Although capuleers were common place on space stations it was not every day that an average joe could sit and discuss business with one. In fact it was almost unheard of.

Soku had spent most of his life in space, he knew no matter the race, Pod pilots were a flighty lot without concern for others unless they could either profit from it or get some entertainment value. His heart skipped a beat when he sighted a small procession making its way through the shops heading his way. Several large Brutor males, obviously body guards surrounded two men and a woman as they casually examined the wares of one vendor to the next. The most unusual part we not the bodyguards, which was common practice by most pod pilots. Nor was it the stocky Gallentean pilot in a group of Matari. There was a man and woman whose general appearance dress was Vherokior, however they were very tall and muscular, very unusual traits for this tribe.

He knew his guest were of Minmatar origin and ran a private pilot corporation. Soku did not know they were Vherokior. The pit of his stomached dropped. While his connections and knowledge of this system was advanced and notable, in comparison to the CEO of a Capsuleer corporation it was minor. But to someone surly from this area, what good would he be to a capsuleer who undoubtedly had the same, similar and probably better connections and knowledge of this system? Hi heart raced a little as he tried to get his emotions under control. The party approached and passed him as they entered the bar giving him no notice. That’s when he noticed the male Minmatar had the tattoo that was only given to Vherokoir council members. This meant he was their clan representative. Soku’s nervousness quickly turned to fear. He swallowed hard. I must not let this deter me in any way, I can do this he said to himself.  He turned and followed them in.

Not a word was spoken as Soku’s cousin directed the party to a large booth towards the rear of the establishment. The layout of the bar was much the same as many other establishments thought the cluster. The lighting was dim as customary in most Matari venues. The décor was decidedly Vherkior and had differing scenes of caravans’ from planet side to space. A large etching centered over the main bar was of a snail perched on a rock surrounded by water. The center was filled with table and chair while the three outer walls had circular booths with heavy read curtains hanging to each side. Two of the guard took up stations by the entrance the other two on either side of the booth.

The booth had enough seating to accommodate eight normal size people. However the group of three took up fully half the boot. The Gallentian sat to the right. His appearance was none descript of any Gallente he was plainly dressed in a typical captains uniform. The Vherkior male centered himself in the booth. His dark and brooding appearance coupled with Tribal tattoos that showed him not only a CEO of a corporation but as a clan elder. His dress too was simple, combat fatigues, simple black shirt and leather vest with buckles popular with Minmatar pilots.

 The Woman sat to his left. Her strawberry colored hair was pulled into braids close to her head in a Brutor fashion not uncommon with Vherkior females. Her emerald colored eyes were piecing. He knew she could see right through him. While not beautiful by any standard she had a regal air about her and she was not unpleasant on the eye. She was dressed similarly to her companion with a nearly shear shirt under her vest. Her tattoos showed that she not only was an accomplished combat pilot, former Republic Fleet, and related to the man to her right. Cousin or sister he could not be sure.

Although very thin she was overly muscular another odd trait for both a pod pilot and Vherokior women. All three in fact appeared to very athletic. The few pod pilots he had seen appeared soft, presumably from hours sitting in a pod. The Gallente spoke first, “Soku Kret I assume won’t you please sit”. “Thank you I will” Soku took a seat centering himself as much as possible in front of the three. “I trust you find the accommodations suitable” The woman spoke her voice was dusky and a little gravely “They meet expectations” A waiter approached the table with a bottle of spiced wine. She poured a sample and handed it to the man in the center. He barley tasted it and nodded approval. All remained silent while she poured a glass for each and then walked away.

The Vherokior male spoke for the first time. Soku could tell this was a man who commanded the attention of those who could hear him, and that his voice was one that could carry far if required. “Do you know the reason we contacted you?” Soku nodded “Sir your corporation is seeking to extend operations to this system. My understanding is that you need a liaison to assist in facilitating that. In addition you need someone who knows the star system cluster and the people.”

The Gallente spoke “so you know who we are”. Soku had to work hard to contain his nerves. This delicate dance was not a mystery to those who deal in the trade game. He knew full well the basis of getting this job was based more on his his ability to gather intelligence and to know what he should and should not divulge rather than any knowledge he already possessed. To get this deal of a lifetime he had to work hard to find out what they desired and then figure out how to deliver it without being told. He had never been contacted directly, even the meeting details were not communicated to the trio directly “Yes sir I also understand that even in a secure place it would be prudent to not mention names.”

A dead pause followed for a few second that seem like minutes until finally Soku was about to speak when he heard. “you have impressed me thus far, do continue” The Vherokior males words seemed to roll off his tongue and if it was not for the importance of the situation his voice would have put him at ease. “Very well” he pushed a chip into a slot in the table as he did this his cousin touched a button under the bar. The thick curtain moved soundlessly on a track in the ceiling and enclosing the booth blocking not only light but sound both ways. The curtain also had a technology embedded in its fibers that would have block or distorted all transmissions in or out that would have come from any type of eavesdropping device.

Soku waived his hand above the table and a three dimensional hologram of the Teonusude system floated above the table. Soku took a short breath measuring his words carefully. “It is common knowledge that the Molden Heath region is a gate way to the lawless space known as the great wildlands. From any direction you must pass through The Fittakan constellation to get there. This has made Teon as it is commonly called, a minor trade hub” Soku waved his hand and the hologram map gave way to readouts of the local market. “Those who cannot go in higher security space put their commodities on the market here and traders come to transport it to other trade hubs.” As Soku spoke subtle motions directed the holo map to reappeared and  zoom out first to a three region area then back in on to show Modlen Heath resting finally on the Fittakan constelation. Little lines showed the jump gates from one system connected to the other.

 “As you can see Teonusude has five gates. A regional gate to the Heimatar region.” Soku highlighted the gate and zoomed out to show the next region. “Rens the Minmatar trading center is only five jumps”. The other two gates of next importance is the gate to Bosean and Gelfiven. These are the routs to low sec and beyond.” Suko paused for a moment manipulating the map back to the solar system. “The system of Gulfondi is one jump and is both Republic Security and Republic Fleet stronghold providing a lot of work for interested pod pilots. Dead space acceleration gates have allowed members of the Angel Cartel undetected access to the systems in the cluster”.

Soku made another subtle hand motion zooming back into just the Teonusude system. “The Teonusude system has 8 planets and 52 moons. It is secure empire space so moon mining is out of the question. However ample places for pilot owned stations. It has twenty nine asteroid belts containing plagioclase, scordite, veldspar and omber with one belt entirely made up of glacial mass ice, suitable for refining. Between the six stations ample refining and manufacturing facilities exist along with a host of other features and services including cloning services.” Soku paused and looked each of his listeners in the eye “This is all information you really do not need me to repeat.” Soku paused he was calming now and finding himself in his element

“I am sure that you already know that most of the belts, and planets for that matter, have heavy competition for resources. I have compiled a list of corporations, both those with holdings in system and Capsuleer Corps that operate in this area. I have highlighted the ones that have planetary mercenary divisions. The locals tend to go about their own business with politics seemingly avoiding pilot involvement or concern with pod pilot or private corporations. However this is changing as more and more pilots are setting up automated operations on the planets. The Amarrian pilots have been known to show little or no regard for existing colonies.” Soku noticed the woman stiffen at as he mentioned Amarrians. Most pilots take over and bypass operations by existing colonies leaving a large workforce unemployed. It is believed this growing dissatisfaction among workers is why the Sansha made the raids in this system last year.

He gave a slight pause to let things sink in before continuing. “I have the ear of the right people and a finger on the pulse of the politics in the region. It would not be difficult to garner support to take over operations on most planets.” Soku stopped pausing for effect this time. “With the location of Teonusude so close to lawless space there are a lot of questionable pilots in the area that keep security forces busy, If one does not draw attention some actions can go unnoticed.” Soku stopped his presentation and the hologram disappeared with a small wave of hand. The male in the middle looked first to the Gallente, then to the woman then back to Soku.

While his expression was pleasant the look in his eye almost made Soku wither on the spot. “I believe we are ready to go to the next level.” The entire party started to rise and the curtain parted as if on cue. As they were all leaving the table the woman reached out and grabbed Sokus arm. With the other hand she deftly pressed a small device against his arm and he felt a slight pinch. She let go of his arm. A sudden wave of nausea swept over him and he heard her husky voice as she towered over him “you have all you need. Now find your way to the Republic University in Gerek”

…

Soku felt good as he looked out the window porthole of the Interbus stellar transport. Hours before he thought his life was over. Looking down at the new tattoos forming in the skin on his arm he knew in many ways it was. A new life awaited him now. His gaze looked over the nebula in the distance he knew where he was heading, the sky would look different. But Soku knew he would return. His dreams answered.