{"data":{"id":13166,"title":"A SEPARATE LAW: PART THREE","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/13166-A-SEPARATE-LAW-PART-THREE","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/13166","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/13166","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"A Separate Law","images":[{"id":640,"name":"SeparateLawFI4.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/n6ik8s2agc03ur\/source\/SeparateLawFI4.jpg","alt":"","size":1558749,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2013-07-18T19:23:20+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/640","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/640\/similar"}],"images_count":1,"translations":{"en_EN":"So the same shooter killed both agents. Anything else linking the two?\u201d Gates asked.\n\nOur analysts think their investigations point to the same criminal enterprise.\u201d\n\nGates couldn\u2019t keep the snark off his lips: \u201cSuch a difficult stretch for the analysts: smuggling dope and smuggling people are so very different, after all.\u201d\n\nVasser cocked her head, expression revealing nothing, \u201cThere\u2019s more to it than that. For the last two years we\u2019ve been running up against some unusually tight-lipped crims working back and forth between Corel, Magnus, and Nexus systems. We\u2019d arrest some mope for whatever crime and run the usual on them: offering reduced sentences and Advocacy Witness Protection in exchange for their testimony, but everyone stopped taking us up on it.\u201d\n\n\u201cSomeone get popped in Witness Protection?\u201d he asked.\n\n\u201cNot that Witness Protection is willing to tell us about.\u201d She shrugged, \u201cEither way, someone probably took credit for killing a witness, telling all their minions they\u2019d have the same done to them if they turned on the organization.\n\nAt about the same time the best source of informants we had started drying out, some less useful local assets started complaining about competition in the narco-trafficking arena. Les Inconnus, they called the new group.\u201d\n\n\u201cAny electronic intelligence, some computer record of their existence?\u201d\n\nShe shook her head, \u201cVery little, and always from groups in conflict with them, never from anyone inside Les Inconnus.\u201d\n\nGates cocked a brow.\n\nShe nodded, \u201cUnusual, I know. That\u2019s why my equivalent over at Narcotics Investigations sent Knowles in. The story was more or less the same with Nawabi.\u201d\n\n\u201cDid either of them seem to be getting somewhere?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s all in the files, but the short answer is: no, they hadn\u2019t accomplished much. Knowles had penetrated some small-time local distribution networks and Nawabi\u2019s last contact with his handler mentioned a meet that was supposed to go down on Nexus, but we haven\u2019t even confirmed he was upright and walking when he left Corel.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo?\u201d\n\n\u201cAdvocacy assets in this sector are stretched thin and we didn\u2019t want to tip the adversary off as to how thin by asking too many questions in the clear. Again, that\u2019s where your suspension and reputation comes in handy.\u201d\n\n\u201cDeniability.\u201d\n\nShe nodded. \u201cYou\u2019ll have full and public reinstatement once you\u2019ve identified the principals in this case, should you wish it. Otherwise, I may need you to stay on in an off-the-books capacity.\u201d\n\nAnd there it is \u2014 a promise of future glory for an old warhorse, or a quiet pasture, should I fail.\n\n\u201cAny suggestions on where to start shaking trees?\u201d\n\n\u201cNexus. We know both Agents were there, however briefly.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnyone in place I can talk to for the lay of the land?\u201d\n\n\u201cNo one we can trust, given recent results.\u201d\n\n\u201cAny more good news?\u201d\n\nA partial return of that smile, \u201cJust a new ship for you, everything else we have is in the file on your MobiGlas.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere a time-limit on this?\u201d\n\nShe stood, \u201cSooner would be better \u2026 just close the case on whoever is behind the killings.\u201d\n\nClose it, with or without breathing suspects, Gates translated, climbing to his feet. \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am.\u201d\n\n\u201cFollow the blue line to your new ship, I think she\u2019ll be to your liking.\u201d\n\nThanking her, Gates withdrew.\n\nWith the Black Box\u2019s lack of viewports, Gates didn\u2019t know what he\u2019d been assigned until he read the Origin Jumpworks GmbH and platinum-chased 325a etched into the ID plate set in the docking ring of the ship.\n\nA 325a? A bit high-end for me, but I suppose I can play the well-to-do bounty hunter, if need be.\n\nThe absurdly-well-appointed cockpit was a shock after the Avenger, automatically powering up as he entered. He set the system to run a series of diagnostics while he examined her armament: a matched set of Omnisky VII laser cannon for close-in work and a pair of Talon SB missile pods to extend her reach. Not too high-profile for a successful bounty hunter\u2026 In fact, just about perfect.\n\nGates selected one of the 325\u2019s multiple tags and set up the first of many jumps. I\u2019ll have to contract a courier or two to send a few messages once I\u2019m away \u2014 see if any of my sources can scratch something up on what\u2019s going on.\n\nA number of jumps later and several frustrating days lingering in the shadier bits of Nexus had earned Gates nothing but a few outrageous bar tabs, a couple of hard looks from the local lawmen, and the sneaking suspicion he\u2019d have to break something to get anywhere.\n\nNow, Kantor, a small-time dealer and sometime informant, was late.\n\nOut of options, Gates stood waiting in the rain resulting from the non-stop operation of one of Nexus\u2019 giant terraformers, still churning to maintain and improve the minimally breathable atmosphere. He wiped his bald scalp and shrugged deeper into the dubious shelter of an advertisement for a chemical company that claimed the cure for his condition.\n\nNormally, Gates would have left and let the young dealer try and catch up with him some other day, but Kantor was the only crim Gates had spoken with who\u2019d shown the least interest in dropping information on Les Inconnus. Even then, he\u2019d asked for an exorbitant sum for his tidings. If a little rain and a few extra minutes were the only surcharge on the price of it, Gates would gladly pay.\n\nThe taverns, gambling halls and knocking shops, while open all hours catering to the stevedores that made up the bulk of Nexus\u2019 population, were also the least likely places Gates could get dependable intel. Everyone in them suspected the other guy was reporting to Les Inconnus, with a result that no one was willing to talk.\n\nGates almost admired the intensity of the paranoia Les Inconnus had established regarding the identity of its members. Even better, they maintained it with very little obvious violence: he\u2019d yet to see a single street killing, or even hear of one on the vidcasts. It all smacked of a highly professional outfit, which begged the question: why kill agents? Such was usually the death of quiet commerce as the Advocacy crawled up the ass of the offending organization and chewed its way out as messily as possible.\n\nWere it a small-scale and violent operation, I\u2019d just start offing street soldiers until they decided enough was enough and came after me. With this larger, more sophisticated group, that way\u2019ll only serve to get me smoked. Still, it would be easier, short term, than this.\n\nA shadow detached from the alley across the street, moved his way. Gates laid a hand on his weapon, turned to present a smaller target.\n\nThe shadow resolved into a young woman Gates didn\u2019t recognize. She stopped some ten meters from him.\n\n\u201cBounty hunter?\u201d she called, peering through the rain at him.\n\n\u201cWho\u2019re you?\u201d he asked.\n\n\u201cNobody, just here to tell you Kantor changed his mind, he don\u2019t wanna talk to you or anybody else about nothing.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhere is he?\u201d Gates asked, taking a step toward her.\n\nHer only answer was to turn and run.\n\nDamn.\n\nKnowing she had the advantage of a head start and intimate knowledge of the ground, Gates let her go. He turned and set out for the spaceport. Nexus is a dead-end just now, at least from the street. Grasping at straws here \u2026 but maybe D\u2019Ivoire or even Zara, with her corporate contacts, can run something down.\n\nHe sighed. Damn, I hope so.\n\nHe was wait-listed for permission to take off. The spaceport was busy, even this far into the local night, vessels of all types and vintage come to the surface to transship and cross-load cargoes from any number of systems. The five jump points connecting the system to nearby stars gave rise to the name of Nexus, its high volume of trade, and, ultimately, the delay for Gates. Even if a couple of the jump-point systems were pirate-infested trash heaps, they still linked to systems beyond that had things worth trading.\n\nPirates. The word surged free of his subconscious, dangling ropes of thought. I wonder if the Navy has any data on Les Inconnus. Of course, getting them to open their books to a civili\u2013 Wait, someone \u2014 Morgan! \u2014 was hooked up with a rear admiral or some such. And he\u2019s out here, somewhere \u2026 He tapped on the console, wracking his brain \u2026 Nemo? Yes, Nemo.\n\nA shark\u2019s grin. Time to call in that marker from Vega.\n\nThe comm console pinged, notification he was cleared for liftoff.\n\nGates slipped the 325 clear of her pad and smoothly built power until he was rocketing free of the thin, rainy tendrils of atmosphere and groping fingers of Nexus\u2019 gravity well.\n\nThis one\u2019s going to ruin me for any other ship.\n\nThe planet receding behind him, Gates called up the nav plot. Examining his options, he decided against making the run through Corel. If he had to come back and start asking questions on Corel IV, he didn\u2019t want some busybody noticing he\u2019d been through the system recently. He instead chose the Taranus jump point. The nav system began updating, switched to a sullen amber and displayed:\n\nNOTICE: YOU HAVE SELECTED A STAR SYSTEM THE NAVY HAS RECENTLY IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A HIGH INCIDENCE OF PIRACY. DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE OR SELECT AN ALTERNATE ROUTE?\n\nGates reached out and hit the \u2018Continue\u2019 key.\n\n. . .to be continued","de_DE":"Also t\u00f6tete derselbe Sch\u00fctze beide Agenten. Irgendetwas anderes, das die beiden verbindet?\" fragte Gates.\n\nUnsere Analysten denken, dass ihre Untersuchungen auf dasselbe kriminelle Unternehmen hinweisen.\"\n\nGates konnte den Kratzer nicht von seinen Lippen fernhalten: \"Eine so schwierige Zeit f\u00fcr die Analysten: Drogenschmuggel und Menschenschmuggel sind doch so unterschiedlich.\"\n\nVasser spannte den Kopf und der Ausdruck enth\u00fcllte nichts: \"Da steckt mehr dahinter. In den letzten zwei Jahren sind wir auf einige ungew\u00f6hnlich eng anliegende Verbrechen gesto\u00dfen, die zwischen Corel-, Magnus- und Nexus-Systemen hin und her arbeiten. Wir verhafteten irgendeinen Tr\u00fcbsal blasen f\u00fcr irgendein Verbrechen und gingen das \u00dcbliche mit ihnen um: reduzierte Strafen und Zeugenschutz im Austausch f\u00fcr ihre Aussage, aber jeder h\u00f6rte auf, uns damit zu besch\u00e4ftigen.\"\n\n\"Jemand wurde beim Zeugenschutz erwischt?\", fragte er.\n\n\"Nicht, dass der Zeugenschutz bereit w\u00e4re, uns davon zu erz\u00e4hlen.\" Sie zuckte mit den Schultern: \"So oder so, jemand hat es sich wahrscheinlich zur Ehre gemacht, einen Zeugen get\u00f6tet zu haben, indem er allen seinen Dienern sagte, dass sie dasselbe mit ihnen gemacht h\u00e4tten, wenn sie die Organisation einschalten w\u00fcrden.\n\nEtwa zur gleichen Zeit, als die beste Quelle f\u00fcr Informanten, die wir hatten, auszutrocknen begann, begannen einige weniger n\u00fctzliche lokale Verm\u00f6genswerte, sich \u00fcber den Wettbewerb im Bereich des Drogenhandels zu beschweren. Les Inconnus, sie nannten die neue Gruppe.\"\n\n\"Irgendeine elektronische Intelligenz, eine Computeraufzeichnung ihrer Existenz?\"\n\nSie sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf, \"Sehr wenig, und immer von Gruppen, die mit ihnen in Konflikt stehen, nie von jemandem innerhalb von Les Inconnus.\"\n\nGates hat eine Stirn aufgerichtet.\n\nSie nickte, \"Ungew\u00f6hnlich, ich wei\u00df. Deshalb hat mein \u00c4quivalent bei Narcotics Investigations Knowles geschickt. Die Geschichte war mehr oder weniger die gleiche wie bei Nawabi.\"\n\n\"Schien einer von beiden etwas erreicht zu haben?\"\n\n\"Es steht alles in den Akten, aber die kurze Antwort ist: Nein, sie hatten nicht viel erreicht. Knowles war in einige kleine lokale Vertriebsnetze eingedrungen, und Nawabis letzter Kontakt mit seinem H\u00e4ndler erw\u00e4hnte ein Treffen, das auf Nexus stattfinden sollte, aber wir haben nicht einmal best\u00e4tigt, dass er aufrecht stand und ging, als er Corel verlie\u00df.\"\n\n\" Nein?\"\n\n\"Die Verm\u00f6genswerte der Anwaltschaft in diesem Sektor sind d\u00fcnn besetzt, und wir wollten den Gegner nicht darauf hinweisen, wie d\u00fcnn er ist, indem wir zu viele Fragen stellen. Auch hier kommt Ihnen Ihre Aussetzung und Ihr Ruf zugute.\"\n\n\"Verleugnung.\"\n\nSie nickte. \"Sie werden eine vollst\u00e4ndige und \u00f6ffentliche Wiedereinstellung haben, sobald Sie die Auftraggeber in diesem Fall identifiziert haben, wenn Sie es w\u00fcnschen. Andernfalls k\u00f6nnte ich dich bitten, au\u00dferhalb der B\u00fccher zu bleiben.\"\n\nUnd da ist es - ein Versprechen auf zuk\u00fcnftigen Ruhm f\u00fcr ein altes Schlachtross oder eine ruhige Weide, sollte ich versagen.\n\n\"Irgendwelche Vorschl\u00e4ge, wo man anfangen sollte, B\u00e4ume zu sch\u00fctteln?\"\n\n\"Nexus. Wir wissen, dass beide Agenten dort waren, wenn auch nur kurz.\"\n\n\"Gibt es jemanden, mit dem ich f\u00fcr die Lage des Landes sprechen kann?\"\n\n\"Niemand, dem wir vertrauen k\u00f6nnen, angesichts der j\u00fcngsten Ergebnisse.\"\n\n\"Noch mehr gute Nachrichten?\"\n\nEine teilweise R\u00fcckkehr dieses L\u00e4chelns: \"Nur ein neues Schiff f\u00fcr dich, alles andere, was wir haben, ist in der Akte auf deinem MobiGlas.\"\n\n\"Gibt es daf\u00fcr ein Zeitlimit?\"\n\nSie stand da: \"Fr\u00fcher w\u00e4re besser.... schlie\u00dfen Sie einfach den Fall ab, wer auch immer hinter den Morden steckt.\"\n\nSchlie\u00dfen Sie es, mit oder ohne atmende Verd\u00e4chtige, \u00fcbersetzte Gates und kletterte auf seine F\u00fc\u00dfe. \"Ja, Ma'am.\"\n\n\"Folge der blauen Linie zu deinem neuen Schiff, ich glaube, sie wird dir gefallen.\"\n\nGates dankte ihr und zog sich zur\u00fcck.\n\nDa es an Viewports f\u00fcr die Black Box fehlte, wusste Gates nicht, was ihm zugewiesen worden war, bis er die Origin Jumpworks GmbH las und die platinverchromte 325a in das ID-Schild im Andockring des Schiffes ge\u00e4tzt wurde.\n\nEin 325a? Ein bisschen High-End f\u00fcr mich, aber ich nehme an, ich kann den wohlhabenden Kopfgeldj\u00e4ger spielen, wenn n\u00f6tig.\n\nDas absurd gut ausgestattete Cockpit war ein Schock nach dem R\u00e4cher, der sich beim Betreten automatisch einschaltete. Er stellte das System so ein, dass es eine Reihe von Diagnosen durchf\u00fchrte, w\u00e4hrend er ihre Bewaffnung untersuchte: einen passenden Satz Omnisky VII-Laserkanonen f\u00fcr Nahaufnahmen und ein Paar Talon SB-Raketengondeln, um ihre Reichweite zu erweitern. Nicht allzu hochkar\u00e4tig f\u00fcr einen erfolgreichen Kopfgeldj\u00e4ger.... Tats\u00e4chlich fast perfekt.\n\nGates hat einen der mehreren Tags des 325 ausgew\u00e4hlt und den ersten von vielen Spr\u00fcngen eingerichtet. Ich muss einen oder zwei Kuriere beauftragen, ein paar Nachrichten zu senden, sobald ich weg bin - sehen Sie, ob eine meiner Quellen etwas \u00fcber das, was vor sich geht, aufkratzen kann.\n\nEine Reihe von Spr\u00fcngen sp\u00e4ter und mehrere frustrierende Tage, die in den schattigeren Teilen des Nexus verweilen, hatten Gates nichts als ein paar unversch\u00e4mte Bar-Tabs, ein paar harte Blicke von den lokalen Gesetzesh\u00fctern und den schleichenden Verdacht eingebracht, dass er etwas brechen m\u00fcsste, um irgendwo hin zu gelangen.\n\nNun kam Kantor, ein kleiner H\u00e4ndler und manchmal auch Informant, zu sp\u00e4t.\n\nAussichtslos stand Gates im Regen, der durch den ununterbrochenen Betrieb eines der riesigen Terraformer von Nexus entstand, und wartete immer noch darauf, die minimal atmungsaktive Atmosph\u00e4re aufrechtzuerhalten und zu verbessern. Er wischte seine kahle Kopfhaut ab und zuckte tiefer in den zweifelhaften Unterschlupf einer Werbung f\u00fcr ein Chemieunternehmen, das die Heilung seines Zustandes forderte.\n\nNormalerweise w\u00e4re Gates gegangen und h\u00e4tte den jungen Dealer versuchen lassen, ihn eines anderen Tages einzuholen, aber Kantor war das einzige Verbrechen, mit dem Gates gesprochen hatte, der das geringste Interesse gezeigt hatte, Informationen \u00fcber Les Inconnus zu ver\u00f6ffentlichen. Schon damals hatte er um eine exorbitante Summe f\u00fcr seine Nachricht gebeten. Wenn ein wenig Regen und ein paar zus\u00e4tzliche Minuten der einzige Aufpreis auf den Preis w\u00e4ren, w\u00fcrde Gates gerne bezahlen.\n\nDie Tavernen, Spielhallen und Klopfladen, w\u00e4hrend sie die ganze Zeit ge\u00f6ffnet sind, um die Stauer zu bedienen, die den Gro\u00dfteil der Bev\u00f6lkerung von Nexus ausmachten, waren auch die unwahrscheinlichsten Orte, an denen Gates zuverl\u00e4ssige Informationen erhalten konnte. Alle in ihnen vermuteten, dass der andere Kerl sich bei Les Inconnus meldete, was dazu f\u00fchrte, dass niemand bereit war zu reden.\n\nGates bewunderte fast die Intensit\u00e4t der Paranoia, die Les Inconnus hinsichtlich der Identit\u00e4t seiner Mitglieder entwickelt hatte. Noch besser, sie hielten es mit sehr wenig offensichtlicher Gewalt aufrecht: Er w\u00fcrde noch keinen einzigen Stra\u00dfenmord sehen oder sogar von einem in den Videocasts h\u00f6ren. Es war alles von einem hochprofessionellen Outfit gepr\u00e4gt, das die Frage aufkommen lie\u00df: Warum Agenten t\u00f6ten? So war normalerweise der Tod des ruhigen Handels, als die Advocacy der beleidigenden Organisation in den Arsch kriechte und sich so schmutzig wie m\u00f6glich herauskaute.\n\nW\u00e4re es eine kleine und gewaltt\u00e4tige Operation, w\u00fcrde ich gerade anfangen, Stra\u00dfensoldaten zu stellen, bis sie entschieden, dass genug genug war und hinter mir her waren. Mit dieser gr\u00f6\u00dferen, anspruchsvolleren Gruppe wird dieser Weg nur dazu dienen, mich zu rauchen. Dennoch w\u00e4re es einfacher, kurzfristig, als das hier.\n\nEin Schatten, der sich von der Gasse auf der anderen Stra\u00dfenseite l\u00f6ste, bewegte sich seinen Weg. Gates legte eine Hand auf seine Waffe, drehte sich um, um ein kleineres Ziel zu pr\u00e4sentieren.\n\nDer Schatten l\u00f6ste sich in eine junge Frau auf, die Gates nicht erkannte. Sie hielt etwa zehn Meter von ihm entfernt an.\n\n\"Kopfgeldj\u00e4ger?\" rief sie und blickte durch den Regen auf ihn.\n\n\"Wer bist du?\", fragte er.\n\n\"Niemand, nur um dir zu sagen, dass Kantor seine Meinung ge\u00e4ndert hat, er will nicht mit dir oder jemand anderem \u00fcber nichts reden.\"\n\n\"Wo ist er?\" fragte Gates und machte einen Schritt auf sie zu.\n\nIhre einzige Antwort war, sich zu drehen und zu rennen.\n\nVerdammt.\n\nIn dem Wissen, dass sie den Vorteil eines Vorsprunges und einer intimen Kenntnis des Bodens hatte, lie\u00df Gates sie gehen. Er drehte sich um und machte sich auf den Weg zum Raumhafen. Der Nexus ist im Moment eine Sackgasse, zumindest von der Stra\u00dfe aus. Hier nach Strohhalmen greifen.... aber vielleicht kann D'Ivoire oder sogar Zara mit ihren Firmenkontakten etwas herunterspielen.\n\nEr seufzte. Verdammt, das hoffe ich doch.\n\nEr wurde auf die Warteliste gesetzt, um die Erlaubnis zum Start zu erhalten. Der Raumhafen war bis weit in die Nacht hinein ausgelastet, Schiffe aller Art und Jahrg\u00e4nge kommen an die Oberfl\u00e4che, um Ladungen aus einer Vielzahl von Systemen umzuschlagen und zu \u00fcberladen. Die f\u00fcnf Sprungbretter, die das System mit nahegelegenen Sternen verbinden, f\u00fchrten zu dem Namen Nexus, seinem hohen Handelsvolumen und schlie\u00dflich zur Verz\u00f6gerung von Gates. Selbst wenn ein paar der Sprungpunkt-Systeme von Piraten befallene M\u00fcllhalden waren, verbanden sie sich immer noch mit Systemen, die dar\u00fcber hinaus Dinge hatten, die es wert waren, gehandelt zu werden.\n\nPiraten. Das Wort wogte frei von seinen unterbewussten, baumelnden Gedankenstr\u00e4ngen. Ich frage mich, ob die Navy irgendwelche Daten \u00fcber Les Inconnus hat. Nat\u00fcrlich, sie dazu zu bringen, ihre B\u00fccher f\u00fcr eine Zivilisation zu \u00f6ffnen - Warte, jemand - Morgan! - mit einem hinteren Admiral oder so etwas verbunden war. Und er ist hier drau\u00dfen, irgendwo.... Er hat auf die Konsole geklopft, sein Gehirn zerquetscht... Nemo? Ja, Nemo.\n\nEin Hai grinst. Zeit, diesen Marker von Vega anzurufen.\n\nDie Kommunikationskonsole wurde angepingt, die Benachrichtigung, dass er f\u00fcr den Start freigegeben wurde.\n\nGates schob den 325er von ihrem Pad und der sanft aufgebauten Kraft weg, bis er frei von den d\u00fcnnen, regnerischen Ranken der Atmosph\u00e4re hochschoss und die Finger von Nexus' Schwerkraft gut tastend.\n\nDieser hier wird mich f\u00fcr jedes andere Schiff ruinieren.\n\nDer Planet zog sich hinter ihm zur\u00fcck, Gates rief die Navi-Plot an. Bei der Pr\u00fcfung seiner M\u00f6glichkeiten entschied er sich gegen den Lauf durch Corel. Wenn er zur\u00fcckkommen und anfangen musste, Fragen zu Corel IV zu stellen, wollte er nicht, dass einige Leute merkten, dass er das System k\u00fcrzlich durchlaufen hatte. Stattdessen w\u00e4hlte er den Taranus-Sprungpunkt. Das Navigationssystem wurde aktualisiert, auf einen m\u00fcrrischen Bernstein umgestellt und angezeigt:\n\nHINWEIS: SIE HABEN EIN STERNSYSTEM AUSGEW\u00c4HLT, DAS DIE MARINE K\u00dcRZLICH ALS SEHR STARK VON PIRATERIE BETROFFEN EINGESTUFT HAT. M\u00d6CHTEN SIE FORTFAHREN ODER EINE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE W\u00c4HLEN?\n\nGates streckte die Hand aus und dr\u00fcckte die Taste \"Continue\".\n\n. ...wird fortgesetzt","zh_CN":"So the same shooter killed both agents. Anything else linking the two?\u201d Gates asked.\n\nOur analysts think their investigations point to the same criminal enterprise.\u201d\n\nGates couldn\u2019t keep the snark off his lips: \u201cSuch a difficult stretch for the analysts: smuggling dope and smuggling people are so very different, after all.\u201d\n\nVasser cocked her head, expression revealing nothing, \u201cThere\u2019s more to it than that. For the last two years we\u2019ve been running up against some unusually tight-lipped crims working back and forth between Corel, Magnus, and Nexus systems. We\u2019d arrest some mope for whatever crime and run the usual on them: offering reduced sentences and Advocacy Witness Protection in exchange for their testimony, but everyone stopped taking us up on it.\u201d\n\n\u201cSomeone get popped in Witness Protection?\u201d he asked.\n\n\u201cNot that Witness Protection is willing to tell us about.\u201d She shrugged, \u201cEither way, someone probably took credit for killing a witness, telling all their minions they\u2019d have the same done to them if they turned on the organization.\n\nAt about the same time the best source of informants we had started drying out, some less useful local assets started complaining about competition in the narco-trafficking arena. Les Inconnus, they called the new group.\u201d\n\n\u201cAny electronic intelligence, some computer record of their existence?\u201d\n\nShe shook her head, \u201cVery little, and always from groups in conflict with them, never from anyone inside Les Inconnus.\u201d\n\nGates cocked a brow.\n\nShe nodded, \u201cUnusual, I know. That\u2019s why my equivalent over at Narcotics Investigations sent Knowles in. The story was more or less the same with Nawabi.\u201d\n\n\u201cDid either of them seem to be getting somewhere?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s all in the files, but the short answer is: no, they hadn\u2019t accomplished much. Knowles had penetrated some small-time local distribution networks and Nawabi\u2019s last contact with his handler mentioned a meet that was supposed to go down on Nexus, but we haven\u2019t even confirmed he was upright and walking when he left Corel.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo?\u201d\n\n\u201cAdvocacy assets in this sector are stretched thin and we didn\u2019t want to tip the adversary off as to how thin by asking too many questions in the clear. Again, that\u2019s where your suspension and reputation comes in handy.\u201d\n\n\u201cDeniability.\u201d\n\nShe nodded. \u201cYou\u2019ll have full and public reinstatement once you\u2019ve identified the principals in this case, should you wish it. Otherwise, I may need you to stay on in an off-the-books capacity.\u201d\n\nAnd there it is \u2014 a promise of future glory for an old warhorse, or a quiet pasture, should I fail.\n\n\u201cAny suggestions on where to start shaking trees?\u201d\n\n\u201cNexus. We know both Agents were there, however briefly.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnyone in place I can talk to for the lay of the land?\u201d\n\n\u201cNo one we can trust, given recent results.\u201d\n\n\u201cAny more good news?\u201d\n\nA partial return of that smile, \u201cJust a new ship for you, everything else we have is in the file on your MobiGlas.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere a time-limit on this?\u201d\n\nShe stood, \u201cSooner would be better \u2026 just close the case on whoever is behind the killings.\u201d\n\nClose it, with or without breathing suspects, Gates translated, climbing to his feet. \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am.\u201d\n\n\u201cFollow the blue line to your new ship, I think she\u2019ll be to your liking.\u201d\n\nThanking her, Gates withdrew.\n\nWith the Black Box\u2019s lack of viewports, Gates didn\u2019t know what he\u2019d been assigned until he read the Origin Jumpworks GmbH and platinum-chased 325a etched into the ID plate set in the docking ring of the ship.\n\nA 325a? A bit high-end for me, but I suppose I can play the well-to-do bounty hunter, if need be.\n\nThe absurdly-well-appointed cockpit was a shock after the Avenger, automatically powering up as he entered. He set the system to run a series of diagnostics while he examined her armament: a matched set of Omnisky VII laser cannon for close-in work and a pair of Talon SB missile pods to extend her reach. Not too high-profile for a successful bounty hunter\u2026 In fact, just about perfect.\n\nGates selected one of the 325\u2019s multiple tags and set up the first of many jumps. I\u2019ll have to contract a courier or two to send a few messages once I\u2019m away \u2014 see if any of my sources can scratch something up on what\u2019s going on.\n\nA number of jumps later and several frustrating days lingering in the shadier bits of Nexus had earned Gates nothing but a few outrageous bar tabs, a couple of hard looks from the local lawmen, and the sneaking suspicion he\u2019d have to break something to get anywhere.\n\nNow, Kantor, a small-time dealer and sometime informant, was late.\n\nOut of options, Gates stood waiting in the rain resulting from the non-stop operation of one of Nexus\u2019 giant terraformers, still churning to maintain and improve the minimally breathable atmosphere. He wiped his bald scalp and shrugged deeper into the dubious shelter of an advertisement for a chemical company that claimed the cure for his condition.\n\nNormally, Gates would have left and let the young dealer try and catch up with him some other day, but Kantor was the only crim Gates had spoken with who\u2019d shown the least interest in dropping information on Les Inconnus. Even then, he\u2019d asked for an exorbitant sum for his tidings. If a little rain and a few extra minutes were the only surcharge on the price of it, Gates would gladly pay.\n\nThe taverns, gambling halls and knocking shops, while open all hours catering to the stevedores that made up the bulk of Nexus\u2019 population, were also the least likely places Gates could get dependable intel. Everyone in them suspected the other guy was reporting to Les Inconnus, with a result that no one was willing to talk.\n\nGates almost admired the intensity of the paranoia Les Inconnus had established regarding the identity of its members. Even better, they maintained it with very little obvious violence: he\u2019d yet to see a single street killing, or even hear of one on the vidcasts. It all smacked of a highly professional outfit, which begged the question: why kill agents? Such was usually the death of quiet commerce as the Advocacy crawled up the ass of the offending organization and chewed its way out as messily as possible.\n\nWere it a small-scale and violent operation, I\u2019d just start offing street soldiers until they decided enough was enough and came after me. With this larger, more sophisticated group, that way\u2019ll only serve to get me smoked. Still, it would be easier, short term, than this.\n\nA shadow detached from the alley across the street, moved his way. Gates laid a hand on his weapon, turned to present a smaller target.\n\nThe shadow resolved into a young woman Gates didn\u2019t recognize. She stopped some ten meters from him.\n\n\u201cBounty hunter?\u201d she called, peering through the rain at him.\n\n\u201cWho\u2019re you?\u201d he asked.\n\n\u201cNobody, just here to tell you Kantor changed his mind, he don\u2019t wanna talk to you or anybody else about nothing.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhere is he?\u201d Gates asked, taking a step toward her.\n\nHer only answer was to turn and run.\n\nDamn.\n\nKnowing she had the advantage of a head start and intimate knowledge of the ground, Gates let her go. He turned and set out for the spaceport. Nexus is a dead-end just now, at least from the street. Grasping at straws here \u2026 but maybe D\u2019Ivoire or even Zara, with her corporate contacts, can run something down.\n\nHe sighed. Damn, I hope so.\n\nHe was wait-listed for permission to take off. The spaceport was busy, even this far into the local night, vessels of all types and vintage come to the surface to transship and cross-load cargoes from any number of systems. The five jump points connecting the system to nearby stars gave rise to the name of Nexus, its high volume of trade, and, ultimately, the delay for Gates. Even if a couple of the jump-point systems were pirate-infested trash heaps, they still linked to systems beyond that had things worth trading.\n\nPirates. The word surged free of his subconscious, dangling ropes of thought. I wonder if the Navy has any data on Les Inconnus. Of course, getting them to open their books to a civili\u2013 Wait, someone \u2014 Morgan! \u2014 was hooked up with a rear admiral or some such. And he\u2019s out here, somewhere \u2026 He tapped on the console, wracking his brain \u2026 Nemo? Yes, Nemo.\n\nA shark\u2019s grin. Time to call in that marker from Vega.\n\nThe comm console pinged, notification he was cleared for liftoff.\n\nGates slipped the 325 clear of her pad and smoothly built power until he was rocketing free of the thin, rainy tendrils of atmosphere and groping fingers of Nexus\u2019 gravity well.\n\nThis one\u2019s going to ruin me for any other ship.\n\nThe planet receding behind him, Gates called up the nav plot. Examining his options, he decided against making the run through Corel. If he had to come back and start asking questions on Corel IV, he didn\u2019t want some busybody noticing he\u2019d been through the system recently. He instead chose the Taranus jump point. The nav system began updating, switched to a sullen amber and displayed:\n\nNOTICE: YOU HAVE SELECTED A STAR SYSTEM THE NAVY HAS RECENTLY IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A HIGH INCIDENCE OF PIRACY. DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE OR SELECT AN ALTERNATE ROUTE?\n\nGates reached out and hit the \u2018Continue\u2019 key.\n\n. . .to be continued"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":30,"created_at":"2013-07-25T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"12 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-09 00:14:38","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":13164,"next_id":13169}}