{"data":{"id":13222,"title":"A SEPARATE LAW: PART SEVEN","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/13222-A-SEPARATE-LAW-PART-SEVEN","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/13222","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/13222","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":"\u201cYou copy?\u201d Gates slugged the live feed to the command terminal, then had a moment of vertigo as the view wobbled, Seabrook climbing out of the Caterpillar\u2019s conning chair and moving for the hatch.\n\n\u201cYes, quite clearly.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood. You ready?\u201d she asked, her hand appearing in the view as she reached for the access patch.\n\nHe gave the question a moment\u2019s honest thought as she moved from the bridge and headed toward the airlock. The op was cobbled together on short notice, with no real resources but the balls and brains the two of them brought to the table. That and the aged Avenger Seabrook had managed to track down.\n\nThey\u2019d had two breaks that made the plan feasible: first, while they still weren\u2019t sure Morgan was being held against his will, Seabrook had managed to find out where, as of five hours ago, Morgan was. Second: given the covert nature of Les Inconnus operations, there didn\u2019t appear to be heavy security on the station.\n\n\u201cGates?\u201d she asked, hand poised to open the airlock leading from her ship to the station.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a go,\u201d he answered.\n\n\u201cAll right.\u201d Seabrook put her hand to the panel and left her ship.\n\nIt would take some time for her to reach the core of the station, so Gates checked his navcomp feed. He\u2019d put the Avenger she\u2019d managed to scare up for him into a gradual approach vector meant to overtake the station in about ten minutes, at which point he\u2019d start talking to them about getting service. In the meantime, Gates scanned the ships currently docked: the Caterpillar Seabrook had IDed as the one transporting Morgan was still there. The two other vessels appeared legitimate customers, there for maintenance, upgrades or to meet the company\u2019s shipping needs.\n\nSeabrook had been the one to see the last group as their way in: she\u2019d falsified a manifest indicating she\u2019d been contracted to transport some parts for Nemonautics and was supposed to pick them up here. Gates didn\u2019t like counting on them not having the parts on hand, but the company reps seemed to have bought the story.\n\n\u201cHello,\u201d Seabrook said, dragging Gates\u2019 attention back to her.\n\n\u201cCaptain Tolliver, I\u2019m sorry for the delay, but we\u2019ve had some problems getting shipments in lately.\u201d\n\nThe view bobbed slightly as Seabrook shrugged. \u201cSo long as I\u2019m not in breach of contract and you\u2019ve got someplace I can cool my heels for a bit?\u201d\n\n\u201cSure, we can put you up \u2014\u201d the rep tapped a few commands into his console, \u201c\u2014 on deck thirteen, cabin eight.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks. I am a bit tired of looking at the same bulkheads, if you know what I mean \u2026\u201d\n\nCareful, he might start thinking you\u2019re into him, Seabrook. Ops have gone south with less reason \u2026\n\nThe rep smiled, waved his hands at their surroundings, \u201cTell me about it.\u201d\n\nRelieved, Gates sighed as his fellow agent stepped onto the lift and pressed the plate for deck thirteen. \u201cStill tracking?\u201d she asked after the door closed.\n\n\u201cYes, you\u2019re coming in clear. According to your data, we may have lucked out. Your room is just one deck down from Morgan\u2019s.\u201d\n\nSeabrook whistled tunelessly as the decks sped by without anyone else boarding. It seemed they\u2019d chosen well when deciding to extract Morgan late in the local night. The door opened, revealing a short hall. The room she\u2019d been given was on the right side about half-way down. She entered, put down her ruck, and started stripping off her flight suit.\n\nShe pulled the hood of her deadsuit up and held her breath as the mask settled into place. Once it started cycling her air and damping her heat signature to ambient, Seabrook unpacked her compromiser and a small holdout pistol, then slipped the empty ruck into the expandable backpack of the suit. Deadsuits scrambled her image on the cams and would spoof heat-sensors, but wouldn\u2019t do anything for actual eyes-on observers.\n\nShe used the compromiser to kill the door logs and returned to the hall. Instead of heading to the lift, Seabrook made her way to the emergency shaft and ran the compromiser over the panel. It took a bit longer than the hatch to her quarters, but eventually popped. The emergency escape shafts were meant to be easy to open, but Seabrook didn\u2019t want the automated escape protocol activating. She entered and started up the ladder.\n\n\u201cHow we doing for time?\u201d she asked, breathing easily.\n\n\u201cGood. I\u2019ll start hailing the rep in about two minutes.\u201d\n\n\u201cThought he was going to hit on me.\u201d\n\nGates grinned, glad she couldn\u2019t see him. \u201cMe too. Good job keeping it professional.\u201d\n\n\u201cMen. My figure is about as obscured as it gets wearing this thing under a flight suit, yet you still want some action.\u201d\n\n\u201cHey, you won\u2019t catch me ogling.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo you admit you have been?\u201d\n\n\u201cI admit nothing.\u201d\n\nSeabrook chuckled, came to a halt. She tapped a command into her compromiser. The live feed from it was simulcast to his feed, taking the place of her view. The hallway outside the emergency hatch wasn\u2019t empty: a thick-necked man, his entire being screaming goon, stood at the end, right in front of the hatch to Morgan\u2019s.\n\nPoor placement, a part of Gates\u2019 mind reflected even as Seabrook cursed under her breath.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s not good,\u201d Seabrook said.\n\n\u201cNo, it\u2019s not. Ideas?\u201d\n\n\u201cShould have checked the security system before making a move, dammit!\u201d her frustration was quiet, but no less intense for it.\n\n\u201cCouldn\u2019t risk tipping them off before you got on-site. Any new ideas?\u201d\n\n\u201cScrew it, I\u2019ll do it now.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt?\u201d\n\n\u201cTap in and take over the system. I\u2019ll get this guy out of the way. Be ready to pick up the pieces.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou sure?\u201d\n\n\u201cGates, don\u2019t ask me that. You want this jackass or not?\u201d\n\n\u201cYou know the answer.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen shut up and let me work.\u201d Seabrook leaned against the far side of the shaft, stripped the flexible keyboard from her compromiser, and set to work.\n\nGates\u2019 comm showed another incoming transmission. He took the call. \u201cVagra Five Five \u2014\u201d it took Gates a moment to recognize the Avenger\u2019s identifier, \u201d\u2014 this is Harmony Maintenance Station Alpha. We show your course as an intercept. Do you require service?\u201d\n\nGate keyed the mic, \u201cHarmony Maintenance, this is Vagra Five-Five. My ship does need maintenance, can you send me a list of services and your rates for an Avenger?\u201d\n\n\u201cCertainly.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks. Do you have an open berth?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, sir, what do you need?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m a few hours over the scheduled maintenance on my drives.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow many?\u201d\n\n\u201cA couple hundred.\u201d\n\nAn almost suppressed snort, \u201cJust a few, eh?\u201d\n\n\u201cMoney\u2019s tight just now.\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, we have plans for every budg\u2013\u201c\n\n\u201cI\u2019m in, Gates,\u201d Seabrook\u2019s transmission over-rode the service call.\n\n\u201cAll right, I was just on th\u2013\u201c\n\n\u201cYeah, he\u2019s not going to be calling you back, bigger problems just started lighting up his boards. I\u2019m going in. Be ready.\u201d\n\n\u201cCopy.\u201d Gates pushed the throttle up.\n\nIn the feed, Seabrook took a deep breath and pressed a final key. The station\u2019s emergency sirens started blaring, deafening even through the speakers.\n\nIn the security cam, the goon turned toward the hatch to Morgan\u2019s room.\n\nSeabrook popped the emergency hatch and launched herself at the goon. She was on him, fast: open hands connecting with his shoulder, arm and back. The deadsuit discharged with a dull crackle each time she struck. The goon sagged to the floor, out cold after the second strike. The third was either caution or nerves; either way, Gates approved.\n\nThe hatch opened under her hand.\n\nMorgan was standing, naked and bleary-eyed, in the middle of a small, unfurnished room that certainly looked like a prison cell.\n\nRelief flooded Gates, surprising him. Guess I hadn\u2019t realized how much I hated the thought of his betraying me.\n\n\u201cMorgan, you want out?\u201d Seabrook asked.\n\n\u201cHell, yes!\u201d\n\n\u201cOn me, then,\u201d she turned and started for the emergency hatch.\n\n\u201cWhere we going?\u201d he asked, following her.\n\n\u201cOut.\u201d\n\n\u201cOut!? I ain\u2019t even dressed!\u201d\n\n\u201cI noticed, but the last thing you need just now is clothes.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo?\u201d\n\nShe pulled the hatch open. \u201cEmergency bubbles ain\u2019t that big, you know.\u201d\n\n\u201cDamn,\u201d he said, turning to face Seabrook, then back to the emergency tube.\n\nSomething coughed several times in quick succession. A red hole appeared in Morgan\u2019s chest. Red spattered the inside of the lift tube behind him.\n\nSeabrook grunted, swung around and raised her pistol, snapping several shots down the hall. Gates had a glimpse of the open lift door and a fresh pair of goons standing inside, one of them holding a carbine.\n\nBoth goons ducked back into cover. Seabrook shoved Morgan through the open hatch, watched as the automated life-pod system deployed. Morgan, blood smearing the life-pod, shot from view as the system sent him to safety.\n\nMore mechanical coughing from behind Seabrook. She staggered against the hatch, grunted, \u201cDamn, that stings.\u201d\n\nRealization struck Gates: The goons are using frangible bullets to avoid piercing the habitat \u2014 pounding on her, but the deadsuit should hold.\n\nShe rounded on them, sent them back into cover with several more shots, then stepped into the emergency chute, slamming the hatch closed. The pod activated, quickly surrounding her.\n\nGates slowed, saw Morgan\u2019s pod shoot from the station, and altered course to pick him up. That done, he set up a comm link, \u201cMorgan?\u201d\n\nA cough, a wet, organic one this time, then: \u201cLook at that, I\u2019m bleeding.\u201d Another cough, \u201cGates. Should have known it would be you. I\u2019m sorry. Don\u2019t have much time, so listen: Commander Gilles Stroller, Naval Intelligence. He\u2019s the inside man. Based on Nemo. Got the address for you \u2026 Get him \u2026 Make him pay \u2026\u201d\n\n. . . to be continued","de_DE":"\" Verstanden?\" Gates schlug die Live-\u00dcbertragung zur Kommandozentrale ein, dann hatte er einen Moment Schwindelanfall, als die Aussicht schwankte, Seabrook kletterte aus dem Steuerstuhl der Raupe und bewegte sich zur Luke.\n\n\"Ja, ganz klar.\"\n\n\"Gut. Bist du bereit?\" fragte sie und ihre Hand erschien in der Ansicht, als sie nach dem Zugangspatch griff.\n\nEr gab der Frage einen Moment des ehrlichen Nachdenkens, als sie von der Br\u00fccke ging und sich auf die Luftschleuse zubewegt. Der Einsatz wurde kurzfristig zusammengeschustert, ohne wirkliche Ressourcen, au\u00dfer den B\u00e4llen und Gehirnen, die die beiden an den Tisch brachten. Das und der alte Avenger Seabrook hatten es geschafft, aufzusp\u00fcren.\n\nSie hatten zwei Pausen eingelegt, die den Plan machbar machten: Erstens, w\u00e4hrend sie sich immer noch nicht sicher waren, ob Morgan gegen seinen Willen festgehalten wurde, hatte Seabrook es geschafft, herauszufinden, wo Morgan vor f\u00fcnf Stunden war. Zweitens: Angesichts des verdeckten Charakters der Les Inconnus-Operationen schien es keine hohe Sicherheit auf der Station zu geben.\n\n\"Tore?\" fragte sie, von Hand bereit, die Luftschleuse zu \u00f6ffnen, die von ihrem Schiff zur Station f\u00fchrt.\n\n\"Es ist ein Versuch\", antwortete er.\n\n\"In Ordnung.\" Seabrook legte ihre Hand auf die Tafel und verlie\u00df ihr Schiff.\n\nEs w\u00fcrde einige Zeit dauern, bis sie den Kern der Station erreicht hatte, also \u00fcberpr\u00fcfte Gates seinen Navcomp-Feed. Er hatte den R\u00e4cher, den sie f\u00fcr ihn aufzustehen vermocht hatte, in einen allm\u00e4hlichen Ann\u00e4herungsvektor gesteckt, der die Station in etwa zehn Minuten \u00fcberholen sollte, woraufhin er anfing, mit ihnen \u00fcber den Service zu sprechen. In der Zwischenzeit scannte Gates die derzeit angedockten Schiffe: Der Caterpillar Seabrook hatte sich identifiziert, als derjenige, der Morgan transportierte, noch dort war. Die beiden anderen Schiffe erschienen als legitime Kunden, sei es f\u00fcr Wartungsarbeiten, Upgrades oder zur Deckung der Schifffahrtsbed\u00fcrfnisse des Unternehmens.\n\nSeabrook war diejenige gewesen, die die letzte Gruppe als ihren Weg hinein gesehen hatte: Sie hatte ein Manifest gef\u00e4lscht, aus dem hervorging, dass sie mit dem Transport einiger Teile f\u00fcr Nemonautics beauftragt wurde und sie hier abholen sollte. Gates mochte es nicht, darauf zu z\u00e4hlen, dass sie die Teile nicht zur Hand hatten, aber die Vertreter der Firma schienen die Geschichte gekauft zu haben.\n\n\"Hallo\", sagte Seabrook und lenkte Gates' Aufmerksamkeit auf sie zur\u00fcck.\n\n\"Captain Tolliver, es tut mir leid f\u00fcr die Versp\u00e4tung, aber wir hatten in letzter Zeit einige Probleme, Lieferungen zu bekommen.\"\n\nDie Aussicht wackelte leicht, als Seabrook mit den Achseln zuckte. \"Solange ich nicht vertragswidrig bin und du einen Ort hast, an dem ich meine Abs\u00e4tze ein wenig abk\u00fchlen kann?\"\n\n\"Sicher, wir k\u00f6nnen dich aufh\u00e4ngen -\" Der Repr\u00e4sentant hat ein paar Befehle in seine Konsole getippt, \"- auf Deck 13, Kabine 8.\"\n\n\"Danke. Ich habe es ein wenig satt, die gleichen Schotten zu betrachten, wenn du wei\u00dft, was ich meine....\"\n\nVorsicht, er k\u00f6nnte anfangen zu denken, dass du auf ihn stehst, Seabrook. Die Einsatzkr\u00e4fte sind aus weniger Grund nach S\u00fcden gegangen.....\n\nDer Repr\u00e4sentant l\u00e4chelte, winkte mit den H\u00e4nden nach ihrer Umgebung, \"Erz\u00e4hl mir davon.\"\n\nErleichtert seufzte Gates, als sein Kollege auf den Lift trat und die Platte f\u00fcr Deck 13 dr\u00fcckte. \"Verfolgt sie noch?\" fragte sie, nachdem die T\u00fcr geschlossen war.\n\n\"Ja, du kommst klar. Nach Ihren Angaben haben wir vielleicht Gl\u00fcck gehabt. Dein Zimmer ist nur ein Deck tiefer als das von Morgan.\"\n\nSeabrook pfeifte klanglos, als die Decks vorbeifuhren, ohne dass jemand anderes an Bord ging. Es schien, als h\u00e4tten sie gut gew\u00e4hlt, als sie sich entschieden hatten, Morgan sp\u00e4t in der Ortsnacht zu extrahieren. Die T\u00fcr \u00f6ffnete sich und enth\u00fcllte einen kurzen Saal. Der Raum, der ihr gegeben worden war, befand sich auf der rechten Seite, etwa auf halbem Weg. Sie trat ein, legte ihren Ruck ab und begann, ihren Fluganzug auszuziehen.\n\nSie zog die Kapuze ihres Deadsuits hoch und hielt den Atem an, als sich die Maske an Ort und Stelle setzte. Als es anfing, ihre Luft zu radeln und ihre W\u00e4rmesignatur an die Umgebung anzupassen, packte Seabrook ihren Kompromissler und eine kleine Holdout-Pistole aus und schob den leeren Ruck in den erweiterbaren Rucksack des Anzugs. Deadsuits verzerrten ihr Bild auf den Kameras und w\u00fcrden die W\u00e4rmesensoren verf\u00e4lschen, aber sie w\u00fcrden nichts f\u00fcr echte Beobachter tun.\n\nSie benutzte den Kompromissler, um die T\u00fcrkl\u00f6tze zu t\u00f6ten und kehrte in die Halle zur\u00fcck. Anstatt zum Lift zu gehen, machte sich Seabrook auf den Weg zum Notfallschacht und fuhr den Kompromissler \u00fcber das Panel. Es dauerte etwas l\u00e4nger als die Luke zu ihrem Quartier, aber es ist schlie\u00dflich geplatzt. Die Notfall-Fluchtsch\u00e4chte sollten leicht zu \u00f6ffnen sein, aber Seabrook wollte nicht, dass das automatisierte Fluchtprotokoll aktiviert wird. Sie trat ein und startete die Leiter.\n\n\"Wie l\u00e4uft es mit der Zeit?\" fragte sie und atmete leicht.\n\n\"Gut. Ich beginne in etwa zwei Minuten, den Repr\u00e4sentanten zu rufen.\"\n\n\"Ich dachte, er w\u00fcrde mich anmachen.\"\n\nGates grinste, froh, dass sie ihn nicht sehen konnte. \"Ich auch. Gute Arbeit, es professionell zu halten.\"\n\n\"M\u00e4nner. Meine Figur ist ungef\u00e4hr so verdeckt, wie sie dieses Ding unter einem Fluganzug tr\u00e4gt, aber du willst trotzdem etwas Action.\"\n\n\"Hey, du wirst mich nicht beim Glotzen erwischen.\"\n\n\"Also gibst du zu, dass du es warst?\"\n\n\"Ich gebe nichts zu.\"\n\nSeabrook kicherte, kam zum Stillstand. Sie hat einen Befehl in ihren Kompromissler getappt. Die Live-\u00dcbertragung davon wurde gleichzeitig mit seiner \u00dcbertragung \u00fcbertragen und trat an die Stelle ihrer Ansicht. Der Flur au\u00dferhalb der Notluke war nicht leer: Ein dickk\u00f6pfiger Mann, sein ganzes Wesen schreiend, stand am Ende, direkt vor der Luke zu Morgan's.\n\nSchlechte Platzierung, ein Teil von Gates' Geist spiegelte sich wider, w\u00e4hrend Seabrook unter ihrem Atem verfluchte.\n\n\"Das ist nicht gut\", sagte Seabrook.\n\n\"Nein, ist es nicht. Ideen?\"\n\n\"H\u00e4tte das Sicherheitssystem \u00fcberpr\u00fcfen sollen, bevor sie einen Zug macht, verdammt!\" Ihre Frustration war ruhig, aber nicht weniger intensiv f\u00fcr sie.\n\n\"Ich konnte es nicht riskieren, sie abzulenken, bevor Sie vor Ort waren. Irgendwelche neuen Ideen?\"\n\n\"Schei\u00df drauf, ich mache es jetzt.\"\n\n\" Es\"?\n\n\"Tippen Sie ein und \u00fcbernehmen Sie das System. Ich werde diesen Kerl aus dem Weg schaffen. Sei bereit, die St\u00fccke aufzuheben.\"\n\n\" Bist du sicher?\"\n\n\"Gates, frag mich das nicht. Willst du diesen Esel oder nicht?\"\n\n\"Du kennst die Antwort.\"\n\n\"Dann halt die Klappe und lass mich arbeiten.\" Seabrook lehnte sich an die andere Seite des Schachtes, entfernte die flexible Tastatur von ihrem Kompromissler und machte sich an die Arbeit.\n\nGates' Kommunikation zeigte eine weitere eingehende \u00dcbertragung. Er nahm den Anruf entgegen. \"Vagra Five Five Five -\" Es dauerte einen Moment, bis Gates den Identifikator des R\u00e4chers erkannte, \"- das ist Harmony Maintenance Station Alpha. Wir zeigen Ihren Kurs als Schnittpunkt. Brauchst du einen Service?\"\n\nGate kodierte das Mikrofon, \"Harmony Maintenance, hier ist Vagra Five-Five. Mein Schiff braucht Wartung, kannst du mir eine Liste der Dienstleistungen und deine Tarife f\u00fcr einen R\u00e4cher schicken?\"\n\n\"Sicherlich.\"\n\n\"Danke. Hast du einen offenen Liegeplatz?\"\n\n\"Ja, Sir, was brauchen Sie?\"\n\n\"Ich bin ein paar Stunden \u00fcber der geplanten Wartung meiner Laufwerke.\"\n\n\" Wie viele?\"\n\n\"Ein paar hundert.\"\n\nEin fast unterdr\u00fccktes Schnauben, \"Nur ein paar, was?\"\n\n\"Das Geld ist gerade knapp.\"\n\n\"Nun, wir haben Pl\u00e4ne f\u00fcr jeden Keim.\"\n\n\"Ich bin drin, Gates\", Seabrook's \u00dcbertragung hat den Serviceeinsatz \u00fcberschrieben.\n\n\"In Ordnung, ich war gerade dabei...\"\n\n\"Ja, er wird dich nicht zur\u00fcckrufen, gr\u00f6\u00dfere Probleme haben gerade angefangen, seine Boards zu beleuchten. Ich gehe rein. Sei bereit.\"\n\n\" Verstanden.\" Gates dr\u00fcckte das Gaspedal nach oben.\n\nIm Feed atmete Seabrook tief durch und dr\u00fcckte eine letzte Taste. Die Notsirenen der Station begannen zu schreien und bet\u00e4ubten sich sogar durch die Lautsprecher.\n\nIn der Sicherheitskamera drehte sich der Schl\u00e4ger zur Luke zu Morgans Zimmer.\n\nSeabrook sprang die Notluke und st\u00fcrzte sich auf den Schl\u00e4ger. Sie war auf ihm, schnell: offene H\u00e4nde, die sich mit seiner Schulter, seinem Arm und seinem R\u00fccken verbinden. Der Deadsuit entlud sich mit einem dumpfen Knistern, jedes Mal, wenn sie zuschlug. Der Schl\u00e4ger fiel auf den Boden, kalt nach dem zweiten Schlag. Das dritte war entweder Vorsicht oder Nerven; so oder so, Gates genehmigte.\n\nDie Luke \u00f6ffnete sich unter ihrer Hand.\n\nMorgan stand, nackt und trief\u00e4ugig, inmitten eines kleinen, unm\u00f6blierten Raumes, der sicherlich wie eine Gef\u00e4ngniszelle aussah.\n\nDie Erleichterung \u00fcberflutete Gates und \u00fcberraschte ihn. Ich sch\u00e4tze, ich hatte nicht bemerkt, wie sehr ich den Gedanken hasse, dass er mich verraten hat.\n\n\"Morgan, willst du aussteigen?\" fragte Seabrook.\n\n\"Zur H\u00f6lle, ja!\"\n\n\"Dann auf mich\", drehte sie sich um und startete zur Notluke.\n\n\"Wohin gehen wir?\" fragte er und folgte ihr.\n\n\" Raus.\"\n\n\"Raus! Ich bin nicht mal angezogen!\"\n\n\"Ich habe es bemerkt, aber das Letzte, was du im Moment brauchst, sind Kleider.\"\n\n\" Nein?\"\n\nSie zog die Luke auf. \"Notfallblasen sind nicht so gro\u00df, wei\u00dft du.\"\n\n\"Verdammt\", sagte er und drehte sich zu Seabrook um, dann zur\u00fcck zum Notfallrohr.\n\nEtwas hustete mehrmals in schneller Folge. Ein rotes Loch erschien in Morgans Brust. Rot spritzte auf die Innenseite des Aufzugsrohres hinter ihm.\n\nSeabrook grunzte, schwang sich umher und hob ihre Pistole und schoss mehrere Sch\u00fcsse den Flur entlang. Gates hatte einen Blick auf die offene Hubt\u00fcr und ein frisches Paar Schl\u00e4ger, die drinnen standen, von denen einer einen Karabiner hielt.\n\nBeide Schl\u00e4ger sind wieder in Deckung getaucht. Seabrook schob Morgan durch die offene Luke und beobachtete, wie das automatisierte Life-Pod-System ausgel\u00f6st wurde. Morgan, Blut, das den Rettungsring verschmiert, wurde aus dem Blickfeld geschossen, als das System ihn in Sicherheit brachte.\n\nMehr mechanischer Husten von hinter Seabrook. Sie taumelte gegen die Luke, grunzte, \"Verdammt, das sticht.\"\n\nDie Erkenntnis traf Gates: Die Schl\u00e4ger benutzen zerbrechliche Kugeln, um zu vermeiden, den Lebensraum zu durchdringen - sie schlagen auf sie ein, aber der Deadsuit sollte halten.\n\nSie rundete sie ab, schickte sie mit weiteren Sch\u00fcssen zur\u00fcck in Deckung, trat dann in den Notfallschacht und schlug die Luke zu. Die Kapsel aktivierte sich und umgab sie schnell.\n\nGates verlangsamten sich, sahen Morgans Kapsel vom Bahnhof schie\u00dfen und \u00e4nderten den Kurs, um ihn aufzuheben. Nachher hat er eine Kommunikationsverbindung eingerichtet, \"Morgan?\"\n\nEin Husten, ein nasser, organischer Husten, diesmal dann: \"Sieh dir das an, ich blute.\" Noch ein Husten, \"Gates. Ich h\u00e4tte wissen m\u00fcssen, dass du es sein w\u00fcrdest. Es tut mir leid. Ich habe nicht viel Zeit, also h\u00f6r zu: Kommandant Gilles Kinderwagen, Marine-Geheimdienst. Er ist der Insider. Basierend auf Nemo. Ich habe die Adresse f\u00fcr dich.... Hol ihn... Lass ihn bezahlen...\"\n\n. ... wird fortgesetzt","zh_CN":"\u201cYou copy?\u201d Gates slugged the live feed to the command terminal, then had a moment of vertigo as the view wobbled, Seabrook climbing out of the Caterpillar\u2019s conning chair and moving for the hatch.\n\n\u201cYes, quite clearly.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood. You ready?\u201d she asked, her hand appearing in the view as she reached for the access patch.\n\nHe gave the question a moment\u2019s honest thought as she moved from the bridge and headed toward the airlock. The op was cobbled together on short notice, with no real resources but the balls and brains the two of them brought to the table. That and the aged Avenger Seabrook had managed to track down.\n\nThey\u2019d had two breaks that made the plan feasible: first, while they still weren\u2019t sure Morgan was being held against his will, Seabrook had managed to find out where, as of five hours ago, Morgan was. Second: given the covert nature of Les Inconnus operations, there didn\u2019t appear to be heavy security on the station.\n\n\u201cGates?\u201d she asked, hand poised to open the airlock leading from her ship to the station.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a go,\u201d he answered.\n\n\u201cAll right.\u201d Seabrook put her hand to the panel and left her ship.\n\nIt would take some time for her to reach the core of the station, so Gates checked his navcomp feed. He\u2019d put the Avenger she\u2019d managed to scare up for him into a gradual approach vector meant to overtake the station in about ten minutes, at which point he\u2019d start talking to them about getting service. In the meantime, Gates scanned the ships currently docked: the Caterpillar Seabrook had IDed as the one transporting Morgan was still there. The two other vessels appeared legitimate customers, there for maintenance, upgrades or to meet the company\u2019s shipping needs.\n\nSeabrook had been the one to see the last group as their way in: she\u2019d falsified a manifest indicating she\u2019d been contracted to transport some parts for Nemonautics and was supposed to pick them up here. Gates didn\u2019t like counting on them not having the parts on hand, but the company reps seemed to have bought the story.\n\n\u201cHello,\u201d Seabrook said, dragging Gates\u2019 attention back to her.\n\n\u201cCaptain Tolliver, I\u2019m sorry for the delay, but we\u2019ve had some problems getting shipments in lately.\u201d\n\nThe view bobbed slightly as Seabrook shrugged. \u201cSo long as I\u2019m not in breach of contract and you\u2019ve got someplace I can cool my heels for a bit?\u201d\n\n\u201cSure, we can put you up \u2014\u201d the rep tapped a few commands into his console, \u201c\u2014 on deck thirteen, cabin eight.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks. I am a bit tired of looking at the same bulkheads, if you know what I mean \u2026\u201d\n\nCareful, he might start thinking you\u2019re into him, Seabrook. Ops have gone south with less reason \u2026\n\nThe rep smiled, waved his hands at their surroundings, \u201cTell me about it.\u201d\n\nRelieved, Gates sighed as his fellow agent stepped onto the lift and pressed the plate for deck thirteen. \u201cStill tracking?\u201d she asked after the door closed.\n\n\u201cYes, you\u2019re coming in clear. According to your data, we may have lucked out. Your room is just one deck down from Morgan\u2019s.\u201d\n\nSeabrook whistled tunelessly as the decks sped by without anyone else boarding. It seemed they\u2019d chosen well when deciding to extract Morgan late in the local night. The door opened, revealing a short hall. The room she\u2019d been given was on the right side about half-way down. She entered, put down her ruck, and started stripping off her flight suit.\n\nShe pulled the hood of her deadsuit up and held her breath as the mask settled into place. Once it started cycling her air and damping her heat signature to ambient, Seabrook unpacked her compromiser and a small holdout pistol, then slipped the empty ruck into the expandable backpack of the suit. Deadsuits scrambled her image on the cams and would spoof heat-sensors, but wouldn\u2019t do anything for actual eyes-on observers.\n\nShe used the compromiser to kill the door logs and returned to the hall. Instead of heading to the lift, Seabrook made her way to the emergency shaft and ran the compromiser over the panel. It took a bit longer than the hatch to her quarters, but eventually popped. The emergency escape shafts were meant to be easy to open, but Seabrook didn\u2019t want the automated escape protocol activating. She entered and started up the ladder.\n\n\u201cHow we doing for time?\u201d she asked, breathing easily.\n\n\u201cGood. I\u2019ll start hailing the rep in about two minutes.\u201d\n\n\u201cThought he was going to hit on me.\u201d\n\nGates grinned, glad she couldn\u2019t see him. \u201cMe too. Good job keeping it professional.\u201d\n\n\u201cMen. My figure is about as obscured as it gets wearing this thing under a flight suit, yet you still want some action.\u201d\n\n\u201cHey, you won\u2019t catch me ogling.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo you admit you have been?\u201d\n\n\u201cI admit nothing.\u201d\n\nSeabrook chuckled, came to a halt. She tapped a command into her compromiser. The live feed from it was simulcast to his feed, taking the place of her view. The hallway outside the emergency hatch wasn\u2019t empty: a thick-necked man, his entire being screaming goon, stood at the end, right in front of the hatch to Morgan\u2019s.\n\nPoor placement, a part of Gates\u2019 mind reflected even as Seabrook cursed under her breath.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s not good,\u201d Seabrook said.\n\n\u201cNo, it\u2019s not. Ideas?\u201d\n\n\u201cShould have checked the security system before making a move, dammit!\u201d her frustration was quiet, but no less intense for it.\n\n\u201cCouldn\u2019t risk tipping them off before you got on-site. Any new ideas?\u201d\n\n\u201cScrew it, I\u2019ll do it now.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt?\u201d\n\n\u201cTap in and take over the system. I\u2019ll get this guy out of the way. Be ready to pick up the pieces.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou sure?\u201d\n\n\u201cGates, don\u2019t ask me that. You want this jackass or not?\u201d\n\n\u201cYou know the answer.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen shut up and let me work.\u201d Seabrook leaned against the far side of the shaft, stripped the flexible keyboard from her compromiser, and set to work.\n\nGates\u2019 comm showed another incoming transmission. He took the call. \u201cVagra Five Five \u2014\u201d it took Gates a moment to recognize the Avenger\u2019s identifier, \u201d\u2014 this is Harmony Maintenance Station Alpha. We show your course as an intercept. Do you require service?\u201d\n\nGate keyed the mic, \u201cHarmony Maintenance, this is Vagra Five-Five. My ship does need maintenance, can you send me a list of services and your rates for an Avenger?\u201d\n\n\u201cCertainly.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks. Do you have an open berth?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, sir, what do you need?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m a few hours over the scheduled maintenance on my drives.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow many?\u201d\n\n\u201cA couple hundred.\u201d\n\nAn almost suppressed snort, \u201cJust a few, eh?\u201d\n\n\u201cMoney\u2019s tight just now.\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, we have plans for every budg\u2013\u201c\n\n\u201cI\u2019m in, Gates,\u201d Seabrook\u2019s transmission over-rode the service call.\n\n\u201cAll right, I was just on th\u2013\u201c\n\n\u201cYeah, he\u2019s not going to be calling you back, bigger problems just started lighting up his boards. I\u2019m going in. Be ready.\u201d\n\n\u201cCopy.\u201d Gates pushed the throttle up.\n\nIn the feed, Seabrook took a deep breath and pressed a final key. The station\u2019s emergency sirens started blaring, deafening even through the speakers.\n\nIn the security cam, the goon turned toward the hatch to Morgan\u2019s room.\n\nSeabrook popped the emergency hatch and launched herself at the goon. She was on him, fast: open hands connecting with his shoulder, arm and back. The deadsuit discharged with a dull crackle each time she struck. The goon sagged to the floor, out cold after the second strike. The third was either caution or nerves; either way, Gates approved.\n\nThe hatch opened under her hand.\n\nMorgan was standing, naked and bleary-eyed, in the middle of a small, unfurnished room that certainly looked like a prison cell.\n\nRelief flooded Gates, surprising him. Guess I hadn\u2019t realized how much I hated the thought of his betraying me.\n\n\u201cMorgan, you want out?\u201d Seabrook asked.\n\n\u201cHell, yes!\u201d\n\n\u201cOn me, then,\u201d she turned and started for the emergency hatch.\n\n\u201cWhere we going?\u201d he asked, following her.\n\n\u201cOut.\u201d\n\n\u201cOut!? I ain\u2019t even dressed!\u201d\n\n\u201cI noticed, but the last thing you need just now is clothes.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo?\u201d\n\nShe pulled the hatch open. \u201cEmergency bubbles ain\u2019t that big, you know.\u201d\n\n\u201cDamn,\u201d he said, turning to face Seabrook, then back to the emergency tube.\n\nSomething coughed several times in quick succession. A red hole appeared in Morgan\u2019s chest. Red spattered the inside of the lift tube behind him.\n\nSeabrook grunted, swung around and raised her pistol, snapping several shots down the hall. Gates had a glimpse of the open lift door and a fresh pair of goons standing inside, one of them holding a carbine.\n\nBoth goons ducked back into cover. Seabrook shoved Morgan through the open hatch, watched as the automated life-pod system deployed. Morgan, blood smearing the life-pod, shot from view as the system sent him to safety.\n\nMore mechanical coughing from behind Seabrook. She staggered against the hatch, grunted, \u201cDamn, that stings.\u201d\n\nRealization struck Gates: The goons are using frangible bullets to avoid piercing the habitat \u2014 pounding on her, but the deadsuit should hold.\n\nShe rounded on them, sent them back into cover with several more shots, then stepped into the emergency chute, slamming the hatch closed. The pod activated, quickly surrounding her.\n\nGates slowed, saw Morgan\u2019s pod shoot from the station, and altered course to pick him up. That done, he set up a comm link, \u201cMorgan?\u201d\n\nA cough, a wet, organic one this time, then: \u201cLook at that, I\u2019m bleeding.\u201d Another cough, \u201cGates. Should have known it would be you. I\u2019m sorry. Don\u2019t have much time, so listen: Commander Gilles Stroller, Naval Intelligence. He\u2019s the inside man. Based on Nemo. Got the address for you \u2026 Get him \u2026 Make him pay \u2026\u201d\n\n. . . to be continued"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":20,"created_at":"2013-08-23T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"12 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-08 11:30:54","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":13221,"next_id":13223}}