{"data":{"id":13261,"title":"A SEPARATE LAW: PART TEN","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/13261-A-SEPARATE-LAW-PART-TEN","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/13261","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/13261","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":"\u201cThat\u2019s got it,\u201d Ferrera said, the strained hum of his tractor beam generator underlining the statement.\n\n\u201cVery good, Captain.\u201d Gates tried not to look at the gaping wound of the 325\u2019s cockpit. He had to consciously force his hands to relax from the fists they\u2019d made on seeing the wreck.\n\nHard to believe I made it through that.\n\n\u201cDamn, but she took a beating,\u201d Ferrara observed, looking at the readouts.\n\n\u201cYes, she did,\u201d Gates was surprised at how level he managed to keep his voice.\n\n\u201cAny idea what \u2014\u201c\n\nGates spoke over the salvage man, \u201cI have an idea, sure: it involves you asking questions when you agreed not to, and the provisions of our contract that allow me to deduct from your fee for every single question you ask.\u201d\n\nFerrara closed his mouth and busied himself with the nav comp.\n\nGates felt a twinge of regret. Shouldn\u2019t step so hard on the salver, might need some good will before all is said and done.\n\nFinished plotting a course back to his station, Ferrera spoke. \u201cGoing to be a day or so before I can pull her into the shop.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat was allowed for. Any comms from the shop?\u201d\n\n\u201cNo, the deliveries you\u2019re expecting haven\u2019t arrived yet.\u201d\n\nGates nodded. Good. Don\u2019t want that stuff on site before I\u2019m there to supervise the unpacking and get on the repairs myself.\n\nNever thought I\u2019d be grateful to Special Agent Constantine for pulling me off Special Action\u2019s flight team and forcing me to work Maintenance and Repair on the Black Box. He struggled a moment, trying to remember what it was he\u2019d done to earn that particular punishment. Oh, yeah, the Hadrian incident \u2026\n\nComing back to the present, Gates found his gaze drifting to the cockpit of the 325 again. Suppressing a shiver, he crossed his arms across his chest.\n\nGet a grip, Gates. Les Inconnus even did you a favor \u2014 the repairs will be easier with most of the armor already stripped or cooked off.\n\nSomehow, that was small comfort.\n\n\nThirty-six hours later, the 325\u2019s cockpit was restored and Gates was getting ready to pressurize the living spaces. It wasn\u2019t pretty, but it was functional.\n\nHe had the use of one of Ferrera\u2019s salvage frames to himself, and was keeping it unpressurized and free of gravity to ensure no one just walked in on him.\n\nHe\u2019d found the challenging physical labor helped set aside the fear that wearing a vac suit lit him up with. He didn\u2019t like to think about how he\u2019d react to getting in the pilot\u2019s seat.\n\nI\u2019m gonna need some serious down-time when this is over.\n\nIn the meantime \u2014 Gates activated the life-support system. It held steady amber, indicating the system was charging the compartments with breathable atmosphere and hadn\u2019t detected any leaks. He climbed around the framework to the wing, examining the site of his next project. The cooked missile pods.\n\n\u201cMister Zerezghi?\u201d the suit comm crackled with the cover name Gates was using.\n\n\u201cYes?\u201d\n\n\u201cYour parts are here.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood. Push it in the airlock and leave it to me, I\u2019ll take care of it.\u201d\n\n\u201cWill do, Mister Zerezghi. You hungry?\u201d\n\nGates realized he hadn\u2019t eaten since starting work some eight hours past. \u201cIn an hour or so. Checking life-support now.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou work fast.\u201d\n\n\u201cNeeds must, when the devil drives.\u201d\n\n\u201cI hear you. I\u2019ll have something ready for you in an hour.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks.\u201d\n\n\nGates tossed the empty food carton into the recycler and activated his MobiGlas. He had two new messages. The first was from Angelique:\n\nI\u2019m on it, Armi. My friend got a bit spooked when I asked her about it, said the man you\u2019re asking after is protected from on high. I\u2019ll let you know as soon as I learn anything.\n\nThe postscript was interesting: Oh, and congratulate me \u2014 I managed to quit the stuff.\n\nGood for you, Gates thought. He said as much in the return message, typed while using the head.\n\nThe second message was from Seabrook. The heavily encrypted message took a moment for Gates\u2019 MobiGlas to process: Gates, I know we aren\u2019t supposed to talk, but if this message is intercepted, we need to hire whoever manages it! Just don\u2019t reply. Your decrepit encoding will get stripped first thing. Anyway, I had to tell you: Stroller\u2019s interrogation led to another name, a high-level hitter for Les Inconnus name of Jahangir Kung. Everything indicates he\u2019s the \u2018corporate security contractor\u2019 who uncovered Agents Nawabi and Knowles. I like him for their murders, and he\u2019s also listed as Chief of Security for the White Stag.\n\nOn the other thing: I got you the funds you need for your \u2018big purchase\u2019 (I don\u2019t think I want to know), but you\u2019ve tapped me out completely.\n\nThings are adding up. Good luck.\n\nSmiling, Gates was back at work in minutes.\n\n\nThe air hissed out of Gates\u2019s borrowed pressure suit.\n\nThat\u2019s quite a wake up call, you moron!\n\nThe hiss became a high squeal, then cut off entirely as the suit sealed itself.\n\nPushing too hard. Too tired. Yawning, he\u2019d let his grip on the cutting torch slip, holing the suit above the opposite forearm.\n\nHands trembling, he shut down the torch.\n\nLucky, stupid, clumsy, tired, old man. Time to call it a night.\n\nFeeling every one of his many years, Gates left the bay.\n\n\nHe slept for eight solid, got up, and was at it again within the hour.\n\nThe missile pods were so much fused junk, which was easily solved by cutting them loose. Ferrera could salvage them for the material if nothing else.\n\nHe wasted the next few hours in mind-searing frustration trying to fit the new pods before realizing he\u2019d misread the schematics. Cursing, he corrected the simple issue and linked the ship to the new systems.\n\nThe attitude thrusters were next on the list. Four of them had to be scrapped, and two were looking a little anemic. Ferrara had secured three new thrusters and a pair of salvaged ones Gates would prefer not to use.\n\nThe main drive had, for a miracle, not been directly damaged in the fight. The comp links had been ravaged, however, and would need replacement.\n\nHis comm activated, \u201cAnother shipment, Mister Z.\u201d\n\n\u201cSame routine, please.\u201d\n\n\u201cI ain\u2019t touching this one, Mister Z.\u201d\n\n\u201cOh?\u201d\n\n\u201cMy hazmat detectors say the contents are milspec explosives. Quite a large quantity.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m on it, thanks.\u201d He made sure the thruster was in place before leaving.\n\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s some serious gear, Mister Z.\u201d\n\n\u201cI know. It\u2019s for serious business.\u201d\n\n\u201cJust sayin\u2019.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd I hear you. There\u2019s nothing that can be traced back to you.\u201d\n\n\u201cEasy for you to say.\u201d\n\n\u201cI mean it.\u201d\n\nFerrera shrugged. \u201cAgain, it\u2019s not your ass going to get worked over if it\u2019s otherwise.\u201d\n\nGates rolled his neck, tried to relax, force himself not to go where instinct wanted to take him. Instead he said, \u201cFerrera, I give you my word, this will not come back on you.\u201d\n\nFerrera went still, realizing too late that he\u2019d made Gates start thinking of him as a potential problem. Problems in this kind of thing usually had simple, fatal solutions.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mister Z. It\u2019s my natural state to worry.\u201d\n\n\u201cI get that, and I can only say I\u2019m doing everything I can to make sure this doesn\u2019t come back on you,\u201d Gates hiked a thumb at his chest, \u201cAnd I\u2019ve been doing this a while.\u201d\n\nFerrera looked at Gates a good long time, but eventually nodded. \u201cI accept your word. I\u2019m sorry to have doubted you.\u201d\n\n\u201cI understand your concern. I\u2019ll be out of your hair in forty-eight hours, assuming the test-flight goes without a hitch.\u201d\n\n\u201cWant to eat?\u201d Ferrera asked.\n\nGates accepted the olive branch.\n\n\nAn hour later he was back at work, pushing even harder. Ferrera might not \u2014 probably won\u2019t \u2014 betray me, but the sooner I\u2019m off, the better for everyone.\n\nEach thruster wasn\u2019t too difficult to hook up, but making sure they were properly linked to the comp was time consuming. Gates managed to get the new thrusters installed and working properly. The two thrusters he\u2019d thought to salvage proved beyond his ability to save. Disappointed, he went ahead with installing the used ones Ferrera had found. The first required some tinkering before it would function properly, but worked out. The other fit perfectly and the first time, surprising him.\n\nDespite the late hour, Gates started on the weapons systems. One of the Omnisky VIIs had been destroyed outright and two of the others were off-line because the power coupling had been destroyed. The new cannon proved harder to replace than the coupling, but not by much.\n\nThe mass driver had ammo feed problems that occupied his every waking moment for the next day and well into the next night before he was able to resolve them.\n\nThe enhanced sensor suite he\u2019d had was blown, but he managed to get basic fire control and navigation sensors back in working order by the simple expedient of replacing the entire system.\n\n\n\u201cShe\u2019s ready to go,\u201d Gates said as his host entered the galley. He\u2019d taken the time to lay out breakfast for the two of them.\n\n\u201cAhead of schedule?\u201d Ferrera asked, scrubbing sleep from his eyes. \u201cEver thought about salvage work? I could use someone works as hard as you.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll keep the offer in mind, if I\u2019m back this way,\u201d Gates said. I may actually need work, if I make it through. Suspension is likely the least of the punishments that\u2019ll be in order if Angelique can\u2019t come through for me on the other side of this.\n\n\u201cYou going to test-fly her?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, but if it doesn\u2019t need work, I won\u2019t be back,\u201d Gates said, holding out a coffee.\n\nFerrera grinned as he took the drink. \u201cIf you really screwed up the repairs, you may not be able to come back.\u201d\n\nThat startled a laugh from Gates. \u201cTrue.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou got everything you need?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes. And I left you a bit of a bonus, for your trouble.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks. Unnecessary, but thanks.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou did everything I asked you to, and without complaint.\u201d\n\nAnother grin, \u201cMore or less.\u201d\n\nGates answered with his own smile, \u201cYeah, more or less.\u201d\n\n\nThe 325 handled just as well as it did before, it was his own state of mind that concerned him. Never had nerves like that, just putting on a damn flight suit. Better not happen when things kick off. Got to be ready \u2026\n\n. . . to be continued","de_DE":"\"Das war's\", sagte Ferrera, das angespannte Summen seines Traktorstrahlgenerators unterstrich die Aussage.\n\n\"Sehr gut, Captain.\" Gates versuchte, nicht auf die klaffende Wunde im Cockpit des 325 zu schauen. Er musste bewusst seine H\u00e4nde zwingen, sich von den F\u00e4usten zu entspannen, die sie beim Anblick des Wracks gemacht hatten.\n\nKaum zu glauben, dass ich das \u00fcberstanden habe.\n\n\"Verdammt, aber sie wurde geschlagen\", beobachtete Ferrara und betrachtete die Messwerte.\n\n\"Ja, das hat sie\", war Gates \u00fcberrascht, wie gut er es geschafft hatte, seine Stimme zu behalten.\n\n\"Irgendeine Idee was?\"\n\nGates sprach \u00fcber den Bergungsarbeiter: \"Ich habe eine Idee, sicher: Es geht darum, dass du Fragen stellst, wenn du zugestimmt hast, es nicht zu tun, und die Bestimmungen unseres Vertrages, die es mir erlauben, von deinem Honorar f\u00fcr jede einzelne Frage, die du stellst, abzuziehen.\"\n\nFerrara schloss den Mund und besch\u00e4ftigte sich mit dem Navigationssystem.\n\nGates sp\u00fcrte einen Anflug von Bedauern. Sollte nicht so hart auf den Salver treten, k\u00f6nnte etwas guten Willen erfordern, bevor alles gesagt und getan ist.\n\nFerrera beendete die Planung eines Kurses zur\u00fcck zu seiner Station und sprach. \"Es wird etwa einen Tag dauern, bevor ich sie in den Laden ziehen kann.\"\n\n\"Das wurde ber\u00fccksichtigt. Irgendwelche Nachrichten aus dem Laden?\"\n\n\"Nein, die Lieferungen, die Sie erwarten, sind noch nicht angekommen.\"\n\nGates nickte. Gut. Ich will das Zeug nicht vor Ort haben, bevor ich dort bin, um das Auspacken zu \u00fcberwachen und die Reparaturen selbst durchzuf\u00fchren.\n\nIch h\u00e4tte nie gedacht, dass ich Special Agent Constantine daf\u00fcr dankbar sein w\u00fcrde, dass er mich aus dem Flugteam von Special Action herausgeholt und mich gezwungen hat, Wartung und Reparatur an der Black Box zu arbeiten. Er k\u00e4mpfte einen Moment lang und versuchte sich zu erinnern, was er getan hatte, um diese besondere Strafe zu verdienen. Oh, ja, der Hadrian-Vorfall....\n\nUm auf die Gegenwart zur\u00fcckzukommen, fand Gates seinen Blick wieder auf das Cockpit des 325 gerichtet. Er unterdr\u00fcckte einen Schauer und verschr\u00e4nkte seine Arme \u00fcber seine Brust.\n\nRei\u00df dich zusammen, Gates. Les Inconnus hat Ihnen sogar einen Gefallen getan - die Reparaturen werden einfacher sein, da die meisten der R\u00fcstungen bereits ausgezogen oder abgekocht sind.\n\nIrgendwie war das ein schwacher Trost.\n\n\nSechsunddrei\u00dfig Stunden sp\u00e4ter wurde das Cockpit des 325 wiederhergestellt und Gates machte sich bereit, die Wohnr\u00e4ume unter Druck zu setzen. Es war nicht sch\u00f6n, aber es war funktionell.\n\nEr hatte die Verwendung eines von Ferreras Bergungsrahmen f\u00fcr sich allein und hielt ihn drucklos und frei von der Schwerkraft, um sicherzustellen, dass niemand einfach auf ihn losging.\n\nEr hatte festgestellt, dass die herausfordernde k\u00f6rperliche Arbeit dazu beitrug, die Angst beiseite zu legen, die das Tragen eines Staubsaugeranzuges bei ihm hervorrief. Er mochte nicht dar\u00fcber nachdenken, wie er darauf reagieren w\u00fcrde, auf den Pilotenstuhl zu steigen.\n\nIch werde einige ernsthafte Ausfallzeiten brauchen, wenn das hier vorbei ist.\n\nIn der Zwischenzeit - Gates hat das Lebenserhaltungssystem aktiviert. Es blieb konstant gelb, was darauf hindeutet, dass das System die F\u00e4cher mit atmungsaktiver Atmosph\u00e4re auflud und keine Lecks erkannte. Er kletterte um den Rahmen herum zum Fl\u00fcgel und untersuchte den Standort seines n\u00e4chsten Projekts. Die gekochten Raketenschoten.\n\n\"Mister Zerezghi?\" Der Anzug knisterte mit dem Decknamen, den Gates benutzte.\n\n\" Ja?\"\n\n\"Deine Teile sind hier.\"\n\n\"Gut. Schieb es in die Luftschleuse und \u00fcberlass es mir, ich k\u00fcmmere mich darum.\"\n\n\"Wird gemacht, Herr Zerezghi. Hast du Hunger?\"\n\nGates erkannte, dass er seit Beginn der Arbeit vor acht Stunden nichts gegessen hatte. \"In einer Stunde oder so. Ich \u00fcberpr\u00fcfe jetzt die Lebenserhaltung.\"\n\n\"Du arbeitest schnell.\"\n\n\"Muss, wenn der Teufel f\u00e4hrt.\"\n\n\"Ich verstehe dich. Ich habe in einer Stunde etwas f\u00fcr dich vorbereitet.\"\n\n\" Danke.\"\n\n\nGates warf den leeren Lebensmittelkarton in den Recycler und aktivierte sein MobiGlas. Er hatte zwei neue Nachrichten. Der erste war von Angelique:\n\nIch bin dabei, Armi. Meine Freundin wurde ein wenig erschrocken, als ich sie danach fragte, sagte, dass der Mann, nach dem du fragst, vor oben gesch\u00fctzt ist. Ich lasse es dich wissen, sobald ich etwas lerne.\n\nDas Postscript war interessant: Oh, und gratuliere mir - ich habe es geschafft, das Zeug aufzugeben.\n\nGut f\u00fcr dich, dachte Gates. Er sagte so viel in der R\u00fcckmeldung, getippt, w\u00e4hrend er den Kopf benutzte.\n\nDie zweite Nachricht war von Seabrook. Die stark verschl\u00fcsselte Nachricht dauerte einen Moment, bis Gates' MobiGlas verarbeitet wurde: Gates, ich wei\u00df, dass wir nicht reden d\u00fcrfen, aber wenn diese Nachricht abgefangen wird, m\u00fcssen wir denjenigen einstellen, der sie verwaltet! Antworte nur nicht. Deine altersschwache Kodierung wird als erstes entfernt. Wie auch immer, ich musste es dir sagen: Das Verh\u00f6r des Kinderwagens f\u00fchrte zu einem anderen Namen, einem High-Level-Hitter f\u00fcr den Namen Les Inconnus von Jahangir Kung. Alles deutet darauf hin, dass er der \"Corporate Security Contractor\" ist, der die Agenten Nawabi und Knowles aufgedeckt hat. Ich mag ihn wegen ihrer Morde, und er ist auch als Sicherheitschef f\u00fcr den wei\u00dfen Hirsch aufgef\u00fchrt.\n\nAuf der anderen Seite: Ich habe dir die Mittel besorgt, die du f\u00fcr deinen \"Big Purchase\" brauchst (ich glaube nicht, dass ich das wissen will), aber du hast mich komplett ausgeklammert.\n\nDie Dinge summieren sich. Viel Gl\u00fcck.\n\nL\u00e4chelnd war Gates in wenigen Minuten wieder bei der Arbeit.\n\n\nDie Luft zischte aus Gates' geliehenem Druckanzug.\n\nDas ist ein ziemlicher Weckruf, du Idiot!\n\nDas Zischen wurde zu einem hohen Quietschen, dann v\u00f6llig abgeschnitten, als sich der Anzug selbst versiegelte.\n\nIch dr\u00fccke zu stark. Zu m\u00fcde. G\u00e4hnend lie\u00df er seinen Griff auf den Schneidbrenner rutschen und hielt den Anzug \u00fcber den gegen\u00fcberliegenden Unterarm.\n\nDie H\u00e4nde zitterten, er schaltete die Taschenlampe aus.\n\nGl\u00fccklich, dumm, ungeschickt, m\u00fcde, alter Mann. Zeit, die Nacht zu beenden.\n\nGates f\u00fchlte jeden seiner vielen Jahre und verlie\u00df die Bucht.\n\n\nEr schlief acht Stunden lang fest, stand auf und war innerhalb einer Stunde wieder dabei.\n\nDie Raketensch\u00e4chte waren so stark verschmolzener Schrott, dass sie leicht gel\u00f6st werden konnten, indem man sie losschneidet. Ferrera konnte sie f\u00fcr das Material bergen, wenn nichts anderes.\n\nEr vergeudete die n\u00e4chsten Stunden mit geistiger Frustration, als er versuchte, die neuen H\u00fclsen einzusetzen, bevor er erkannte, dass er die Schaltpl\u00e4ne falsch gelesen hatte. Verflucht, er korrigierte das einfache Problem und verband das Schiff mit den neuen Systemen.\n\nDie Lagetriebwerke waren die n\u00e4chsten auf der Liste. Vier von ihnen mussten verschrottet werden, und zwei sahen etwas an\u00e4misch aus. Ferrara hatte sich drei neue Triebwerke gesichert und ein Paar geborgene Triebwerke, die Gates lieber nicht benutzen w\u00fcrde.\n\nDer Hauptantrieb war zu einem Wunder nicht direkt im Kampf besch\u00e4digt worden. Die Comp Links waren jedoch verw\u00fcstet worden und m\u00fcssten ersetzt werden.\n\nSein Befehl lautete: \"Noch eine Lieferung, Herr Z.\"\n\n\"Dieselbe Routine, bitte.\"\n\n\"Ich werde das hier nicht anfassen, Mister Z.\"\n\n\" Oh?\"\n\n\"Meine Gefahrgutdetektoren sagen, dass der Inhalt milspec Sprengstoffe sind. Eine ziemlich gro\u00dfe Menge.\"\n\n\"Ich bin dabei, danke.\" Er stellte sicher, dass das Triebwerk an Ort und Stelle war, bevor er ging.\n\n\n\"Das ist eine ziemlich gute Ausr\u00fcstung, Mister Z.\"\n\n\"Ich wei\u00df. Es ist f\u00fcr ernsthafte Gesch\u00e4fte.\"\n\n\"Ich sage nur.\"\n\n\"Und ich h\u00f6re dich. Es gibt nichts, was auf dich zur\u00fcckgef\u00fchrt werden kann.\"\n\n\"Das ist leicht f\u00fcr dich zu sagen.\"\n\n\"Ich meine es ernst.\"\n\nFerrera zuckte mit den Schultern. \"Nochmal, es ist nicht dein Arsch, der sich dar\u00fcber aufregen wird, wenn es anders ist.\"\n\nGates rollte mit dem Hals, versuchte sich zu entspannen, zwang sich, nicht dorthin zu gehen, wo der Instinkt ihn hinbringen wollte. Stattdessen sagte er: \"Ferrera, ich gebe dir mein Wort, das wird nicht auf dich zur\u00fcckkommen.\"\n\nFerrera blieb stehen und erkannte zu sp\u00e4t, dass er Gates dazu gebracht hatte, ihn als potenzielles Problem zu betrachten. Probleme in dieser Art von Dingen hatten meist einfache, fatale L\u00f6sungen.\n\n\"Es tut mir leid, Mister Z. Es ist mein nat\u00fcrlicher Zustand, sich Sorgen zu machen.\"\n\n\"Ich verstehe das, und ich kann nur sagen, dass ich alles tue, was ich kann, um sicherzustellen, dass das nicht auf dich zur\u00fcckkommt\", wanderte Gates mit dem Daumen auf seine Brust, \"Und ich mache das schon eine Weile.\"\n\nFerrera sah Gates lange Zeit an, nickte aber schlie\u00dflich. \"Ich akzeptiere dein Wort. Es tut mir leid, dass ich an dir gezweifelt habe.\"\n\n\"Ich verstehe deine Sorge. Ich werde in 48 Stunden von dir los sein, vorausgesetzt, der Testflug verl\u00e4uft reibungslos.\"\n\n\"Willst du essen?\" fragte Ferrera.\n\nGates akzeptierte den Olivenzweig.\n\n\nEine Stunde sp\u00e4ter war er wieder bei der Arbeit und dr\u00fcckte noch h\u00e4rter. Ferrera mag mich vielleicht nicht verraten - und wird es wahrscheinlich auch nicht -, aber je fr\u00fcher ich weg bin, desto besser f\u00fcr alle.\n\nJedes Triebwerk war nicht allzu schwierig anzuschlie\u00dfen, aber sicherzustellen, dass sie richtig mit dem Bauteil verbunden waren, war zeitaufwendig. Gates gelang es, die neuen Triebwerke zu installieren und ordnungsgem\u00e4\u00df zu funktionieren. Die beiden Triebwerke, von denen er dachte, sie zu bergen, erwiesen sich als \u00fcberfordert. Entt\u00e4uscht installierte er die gebrauchten, die Ferrera gefunden hatte. Die erste erforderte einiges an Basteln, bevor sie richtig funktionieren w\u00fcrde, aber sie funktionierte. Der andere passte perfekt und das erste Mal und \u00fcberraschte ihn.\n\nTrotz der sp\u00e4ten Stunde begann Gates mit den Waffensystemen. Einer der Omnisky VIIs war vollst\u00e4ndig zerst\u00f6rt worden und zwei der anderen waren offline, weil die Stromkupplung zerst\u00f6rt worden war. Die neue Kanone war schwerer zu ersetzen als die Kupplung, aber nicht viel.\n\nDer Massenfahrer hatte Munitionsfutterprobleme, die ihn jeden wachen Moment f\u00fcr den n\u00e4chsten Tag und bis in die n\u00e4chste Nacht besch\u00e4ftigten, bevor er sie l\u00f6sen konnte.\n\nDie verbesserte Sensor-Suite, die er hatte, war explodiert, aber er schaffte es, die grundlegenden Feuerleit- und Navigationssensoren wieder funktionsf\u00e4hig zu machen, indem er einfach das gesamte System austauschte.\n\n\n\"Sie ist bereit zu gehen\", sagte Gates, als sein Gastgeber die Komb\u00fcse betrat. Er hatte sich die Zeit genommen, das Fr\u00fchst\u00fcck f\u00fcr die beiden zu organisieren.\n\n\"Vor dem Zeitplan?\" fragte Ferrera und schrubbte den Schlaf aus seinen Augen. \"Schon mal an Bergungsarbeiten gedacht? Ich k\u00f6nnte jemanden gebrauchen, der so hart arbeitet wie du.\"\n\n\"Ich werde das Angebot im Hinterkopf behalten, wenn ich in diese Richtung zur\u00fcck bin\", sagte Gates. Ich brauche vielleicht tats\u00e4chlich Arbeit, wenn ich es schaffe. Die Suspendierung ist wahrscheinlich die geringste der Strafen, die in Ordnung sein werden, wenn Angelique auf der anderen Seite davon nicht f\u00fcr mich durchkommen kann.\n\n\"Wirst du sie testen und fliegen?\"\n\n\"Ja, aber wenn es keine Arbeit braucht, werde ich nicht zur\u00fcckkommen\", sagte Gates und hielt einen Kaffee aus.\n\nFerrera grinste, als er den Drink nahm. \"Wenn du die Reparaturen wirklich vermasselt hast, kannst du vielleicht nicht mehr zur\u00fcckkommen.\"\n\nDas erschreckte ein Lachen von Gates. \" Stimmt.\"\n\n\"Hast du alles, was du brauchst?\"\n\n\"Ja. Und ich habe dir einen kleinen Bonus hinterlassen, f\u00fcr deine M\u00fche.\"\n\n\"Danke. Unn\u00f6tig, aber danke.\"\n\n\"Du hast alles getan, worum ich dich gebeten habe, und das ohne Beschwerden.\"\n\nEin weiteres Grinsen, \"Mehr oder weniger\".\n\nGates antwortete mit seinem eigenen L\u00e4cheln: \"Ja, mehr oder weniger.\"\n\n\nDer 325 handelte genauso gut wie zuvor, es war sein eigener Geisteszustand, der ihn betraf. Ich hatte noch nie solche Nerven, nur einen verdammten Fluganzug anzuziehen. Besser nicht passieren, wenn die Dinge losgehen. Ich muss bereit sein....\n\n. ... wird fortgesetzt","zh_CN":"\u201cThat\u2019s got it,\u201d Ferrera said, the strained hum of his tractor beam generator underlining the statement.\n\n\u201cVery good, Captain.\u201d Gates tried not to look at the gaping wound of the 325\u2019s cockpit. He had to consciously force his hands to relax from the fists they\u2019d made on seeing the wreck.\n\nHard to believe I made it through that.\n\n\u201cDamn, but she took a beating,\u201d Ferrara observed, looking at the readouts.\n\n\u201cYes, she did,\u201d Gates was surprised at how level he managed to keep his voice.\n\n\u201cAny idea what \u2014\u201c\n\nGates spoke over the salvage man, \u201cI have an idea, sure: it involves you asking questions when you agreed not to, and the provisions of our contract that allow me to deduct from your fee for every single question you ask.\u201d\n\nFerrara closed his mouth and busied himself with the nav comp.\n\nGates felt a twinge of regret. Shouldn\u2019t step so hard on the salver, might need some good will before all is said and done.\n\nFinished plotting a course back to his station, Ferrera spoke. \u201cGoing to be a day or so before I can pull her into the shop.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat was allowed for. Any comms from the shop?\u201d\n\n\u201cNo, the deliveries you\u2019re expecting haven\u2019t arrived yet.\u201d\n\nGates nodded. Good. Don\u2019t want that stuff on site before I\u2019m there to supervise the unpacking and get on the repairs myself.\n\nNever thought I\u2019d be grateful to Special Agent Constantine for pulling me off Special Action\u2019s flight team and forcing me to work Maintenance and Repair on the Black Box. He struggled a moment, trying to remember what it was he\u2019d done to earn that particular punishment. Oh, yeah, the Hadrian incident \u2026\n\nComing back to the present, Gates found his gaze drifting to the cockpit of the 325 again. Suppressing a shiver, he crossed his arms across his chest.\n\nGet a grip, Gates. Les Inconnus even did you a favor \u2014 the repairs will be easier with most of the armor already stripped or cooked off.\n\nSomehow, that was small comfort.\n\n\nThirty-six hours later, the 325\u2019s cockpit was restored and Gates was getting ready to pressurize the living spaces. It wasn\u2019t pretty, but it was functional.\n\nHe had the use of one of Ferrera\u2019s salvage frames to himself, and was keeping it unpressurized and free of gravity to ensure no one just walked in on him.\n\nHe\u2019d found the challenging physical labor helped set aside the fear that wearing a vac suit lit him up with. He didn\u2019t like to think about how he\u2019d react to getting in the pilot\u2019s seat.\n\nI\u2019m gonna need some serious down-time when this is over.\n\nIn the meantime \u2014 Gates activated the life-support system. It held steady amber, indicating the system was charging the compartments with breathable atmosphere and hadn\u2019t detected any leaks. He climbed around the framework to the wing, examining the site of his next project. The cooked missile pods.\n\n\u201cMister Zerezghi?\u201d the suit comm crackled with the cover name Gates was using.\n\n\u201cYes?\u201d\n\n\u201cYour parts are here.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood. Push it in the airlock and leave it to me, I\u2019ll take care of it.\u201d\n\n\u201cWill do, Mister Zerezghi. You hungry?\u201d\n\nGates realized he hadn\u2019t eaten since starting work some eight hours past. \u201cIn an hour or so. Checking life-support now.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou work fast.\u201d\n\n\u201cNeeds must, when the devil drives.\u201d\n\n\u201cI hear you. I\u2019ll have something ready for you in an hour.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks.\u201d\n\n\nGates tossed the empty food carton into the recycler and activated his MobiGlas. He had two new messages. The first was from Angelique:\n\nI\u2019m on it, Armi. My friend got a bit spooked when I asked her about it, said the man you\u2019re asking after is protected from on high. I\u2019ll let you know as soon as I learn anything.\n\nThe postscript was interesting: Oh, and congratulate me \u2014 I managed to quit the stuff.\n\nGood for you, Gates thought. He said as much in the return message, typed while using the head.\n\nThe second message was from Seabrook. The heavily encrypted message took a moment for Gates\u2019 MobiGlas to process: Gates, I know we aren\u2019t supposed to talk, but if this message is intercepted, we need to hire whoever manages it! Just don\u2019t reply. Your decrepit encoding will get stripped first thing. Anyway, I had to tell you: Stroller\u2019s interrogation led to another name, a high-level hitter for Les Inconnus name of Jahangir Kung. Everything indicates he\u2019s the \u2018corporate security contractor\u2019 who uncovered Agents Nawabi and Knowles. I like him for their murders, and he\u2019s also listed as Chief of Security for the White Stag.\n\nOn the other thing: I got you the funds you need for your \u2018big purchase\u2019 (I don\u2019t think I want to know), but you\u2019ve tapped me out completely.\n\nThings are adding up. Good luck.\n\nSmiling, Gates was back at work in minutes.\n\n\nThe air hissed out of Gates\u2019s borrowed pressure suit.\n\nThat\u2019s quite a wake up call, you moron!\n\nThe hiss became a high squeal, then cut off entirely as the suit sealed itself.\n\nPushing too hard. Too tired. Yawning, he\u2019d let his grip on the cutting torch slip, holing the suit above the opposite forearm.\n\nHands trembling, he shut down the torch.\n\nLucky, stupid, clumsy, tired, old man. Time to call it a night.\n\nFeeling every one of his many years, Gates left the bay.\n\n\nHe slept for eight solid, got up, and was at it again within the hour.\n\nThe missile pods were so much fused junk, which was easily solved by cutting them loose. Ferrera could salvage them for the material if nothing else.\n\nHe wasted the next few hours in mind-searing frustration trying to fit the new pods before realizing he\u2019d misread the schematics. Cursing, he corrected the simple issue and linked the ship to the new systems.\n\nThe attitude thrusters were next on the list. Four of them had to be scrapped, and two were looking a little anemic. Ferrara had secured three new thrusters and a pair of salvaged ones Gates would prefer not to use.\n\nThe main drive had, for a miracle, not been directly damaged in the fight. The comp links had been ravaged, however, and would need replacement.\n\nHis comm activated, \u201cAnother shipment, Mister Z.\u201d\n\n\u201cSame routine, please.\u201d\n\n\u201cI ain\u2019t touching this one, Mister Z.\u201d\n\n\u201cOh?\u201d\n\n\u201cMy hazmat detectors say the contents are milspec explosives. Quite a large quantity.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m on it, thanks.\u201d He made sure the thruster was in place before leaving.\n\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s some serious gear, Mister Z.\u201d\n\n\u201cI know. It\u2019s for serious business.\u201d\n\n\u201cJust sayin\u2019.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd I hear you. There\u2019s nothing that can be traced back to you.\u201d\n\n\u201cEasy for you to say.\u201d\n\n\u201cI mean it.\u201d\n\nFerrera shrugged. \u201cAgain, it\u2019s not your ass going to get worked over if it\u2019s otherwise.\u201d\n\nGates rolled his neck, tried to relax, force himself not to go where instinct wanted to take him. Instead he said, \u201cFerrera, I give you my word, this will not come back on you.\u201d\n\nFerrera went still, realizing too late that he\u2019d made Gates start thinking of him as a potential problem. Problems in this kind of thing usually had simple, fatal solutions.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mister Z. It\u2019s my natural state to worry.\u201d\n\n\u201cI get that, and I can only say I\u2019m doing everything I can to make sure this doesn\u2019t come back on you,\u201d Gates hiked a thumb at his chest, \u201cAnd I\u2019ve been doing this a while.\u201d\n\nFerrera looked at Gates a good long time, but eventually nodded. \u201cI accept your word. I\u2019m sorry to have doubted you.\u201d\n\n\u201cI understand your concern. I\u2019ll be out of your hair in forty-eight hours, assuming the test-flight goes without a hitch.\u201d\n\n\u201cWant to eat?\u201d Ferrera asked.\n\nGates accepted the olive branch.\n\n\nAn hour later he was back at work, pushing even harder. Ferrera might not \u2014 probably won\u2019t \u2014 betray me, but the sooner I\u2019m off, the better for everyone.\n\nEach thruster wasn\u2019t too difficult to hook up, but making sure they were properly linked to the comp was time consuming. Gates managed to get the new thrusters installed and working properly. The two thrusters he\u2019d thought to salvage proved beyond his ability to save. Disappointed, he went ahead with installing the used ones Ferrera had found. The first required some tinkering before it would function properly, but worked out. The other fit perfectly and the first time, surprising him.\n\nDespite the late hour, Gates started on the weapons systems. One of the Omnisky VIIs had been destroyed outright and two of the others were off-line because the power coupling had been destroyed. The new cannon proved harder to replace than the coupling, but not by much.\n\nThe mass driver had ammo feed problems that occupied his every waking moment for the next day and well into the next night before he was able to resolve them.\n\nThe enhanced sensor suite he\u2019d had was blown, but he managed to get basic fire control and navigation sensors back in working order by the simple expedient of replacing the entire system.\n\n\n\u201cShe\u2019s ready to go,\u201d Gates said as his host entered the galley. He\u2019d taken the time to lay out breakfast for the two of them.\n\n\u201cAhead of schedule?\u201d Ferrera asked, scrubbing sleep from his eyes. \u201cEver thought about salvage work? I could use someone works as hard as you.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll keep the offer in mind, if I\u2019m back this way,\u201d Gates said. I may actually need work, if I make it through. Suspension is likely the least of the punishments that\u2019ll be in order if Angelique can\u2019t come through for me on the other side of this.\n\n\u201cYou going to test-fly her?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, but if it doesn\u2019t need work, I won\u2019t be back,\u201d Gates said, holding out a coffee.\n\nFerrera grinned as he took the drink. \u201cIf you really screwed up the repairs, you may not be able to come back.\u201d\n\nThat startled a laugh from Gates. \u201cTrue.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou got everything you need?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes. And I left you a bit of a bonus, for your trouble.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks. Unnecessary, but thanks.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou did everything I asked you to, and without complaint.\u201d\n\nAnother grin, \u201cMore or less.\u201d\n\nGates answered with his own smile, \u201cYeah, more or less.\u201d\n\n\nThe 325 handled just as well as it did before, it was his own state of mind that concerned him. Never had nerves like that, just putting on a damn flight suit. Better not happen when things kick off. Got to be ready \u2026\n\n. . . to be continued"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":34,"created_at":"2013-09-13T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"12 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-18 09:42:55","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":13259,"next_id":13263}}