{"data":{"id":16567,"title":"Hostile Negotiations: Part One","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/16567-Hostile-Negotiations-Part-One","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/16567","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/16567","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"Hostile Negotiations","images":[{"id":10498,"name":"HostileNegotiations.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/zn2zr14butlpgr\/source\/HostileNegotiations.jpg","alt":"","size":5021584,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2018-05-09T17:15:07+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/10498","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/10498\/similar"}],"images_count":1,"translations":{"en_EN":"Writer\u2019s Note: Hostile Negotiations was published originally as a Subscriber Exclusive on May 9, 2018.\nSettling into her customary seat on the small transport shuttle, Kayla took a sip from her thermos of mate and involuntarily grimaced. No sugar, she thought, the bitter taste of the tea lingering. Another of Susan\u2019s attempts at encouraging healthier habits. Back on Terra, Kayla had depended on a constant stream of sugar and caffeine to keep her fueled through 12-to-15-hour work days, but now that she was working a desk job, the extra calories had begun to \u201csoften her edges,\u201d as Susan politely put it. Sigh. Unsweetened mate it is. Bracing herself, she took another sip of the astringent brew, adding it to the long list of things on Crusader she needed to get used to.\n\nOne of the biggest hurdles so far had been trying to adjust to the gas giant itself. Out the window of the transport, the sun crested the horizon, casting a deep, desert rose hue over the endless sea of clouds. Knowing that there was no solid ground underfoot would still freak her out a bit if she thought about it too much. Sure was a pretty view though.\n\nKayla felt the ship slow and leaned forward to confirm they were approaching the commercial hub landing pad. Her stop. As she rose from her seat, a throng of shipyard workers riding the shuttle quickly cleared a path for her with smiles and nods. One of the perks of wearing the Crusader Security uniform.\n\n\u201cYou have a good one, Officer Frost,\u201d said the shuttle pilot as the side hatch unfolded, speaking loudly to be heard over the gusting wind outside.\n\n\u201cThanks,\u201d said Kayla, stepping down, one hand holding her cap in place. She quickly cleared the pad so the transport could continue on to its next stop at the neighboring shipyard complex. Once past the windbreak, she slowed her pace, used her badge to shortcut customs and turned towards the promenade.\n\nThe wide garden-lined walkway provided access to most of the various shopping plazas and services that comprised the bulk of the hub\u2019s structures, with the added bonus of serving up some of the best vistas of Crusader\u2019s massive vessels being constructed. Even at this early hour, tourists congregated along the length of the overlook, eagerly snapping vids as if someone was going to demand proof of their trip once they got back home. She had heard that the visitor numbers were down this year, but it hardly felt like it as she waded her way through the crowd.\n\nIt was a relief when she finally made her way inside the Crusader Security Office, a calm oasis from the buzz of activity outside. Though that was a bit disconcerting in itself. Most of the stations she had worked in were usually a jumble of officers, criminals and their unfortunate victims shouting, crying and yelling. Crusader\u2019s insistence on using contractors to handle the mounting workload in the sector left the office feeling a bit like a ghost town. The building itself stood in sharp contrast to the bleak functionality of the bullpen that had been her second home for a decade back on Terra. With its pleasant atmosphere and ergonomic designs, you could tell that \u201cteam flow experts\u201d and environmental psychologists who specialized in harmonizing workers with their surroundings had probably been consulted during construction. Basically, there was a lot of natural light, way too many potted plants and hallways that nearly all lead towards the \u201cinterface lounge,\u201d i.e., the break room. As she crossed on her way to her desk, she gave her traditional greeting to the two officers coming off shift. \u201cHey, Bautista. Hey, Gibbs. Good shift?\u201d\n\n\u201cThe usual nightmare,\u201d replied Gibbs.\n\n\u201cWasn\u2019t as bad as that,\u201d said Bautista, stirring some creamer into his coffee.\n\nLike her, the pair worked in the Liaison Division coordinating various contractor operations. But unlike her, they had the unsavory job of working the \u201clemonade stand\u201d \u2014 the small auxiliary community outreach office. She would take her job in dispatch any day. At least that way the people she interacted with had already cleared the first hurdle of screening. Bautista and Gibbs were supposed to be \u201caccessible,\u201d which, in practice, meant that they spent a lot of time dealing with every wanna-be-merc coming in off the promenade.\n\n\u201cHad a chance to send out a few of our newer prospects on a job, and they seemed to handle the contract pretty competently as far as these things go,\u201d he explained. \u201cAt least two of them have the potential to be regulars.\u201d\n\n\u201cSure, but tell Frost what the contract was,\u201d said Gibbs.\n\n\u201cKareah,\u201d said Bautista with a sigh.\n\n\u201cSeriously? Again?\u201d asked Kayla.\n\n\u201cAgain and again. Why the hell the execs would build that station, just to let it rot, is beyond me. Four years of telling us how having the new security post was gonna fix all our problems and now instead of opening the damn thing, we have to deal with it being raided twice a week.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe chief talked to Harris about getting some kind of regular staff posted there,\u201d said Kayla, \u201cbut apparently it\u2019s cheaper to deal with the raids.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy am I not surprised?\u201d\n\n\u201cBut on the bright side,\u201d said Bautista, \u201cat least we have a good idea of where most of the outlaws will be at any given time.\u201d\n\nJust then a shrill chime sounded and all three of their mobiGlas pulsed red. Kayla keyed open the emergency comm alert. A starliner had been hijacked.\n\n\u201cAnd now we know where the rest are.\u201d\n\nOwned by an independent tour operator, the starliner Baba\u2019s Gift catered to visitors by offering close-up views of the shipyards and Crusader\u2019s three moons. At 09:32 SET, the first officer aboard the Gift sent an ECN broadcast with a short message announcing that they had been boarded by hostiles as they left the surface of Daymar. There had been no more communication since.\n\nIt was Kayla\u2019s responsibility as the dispatch officer on duty to re-establish contact with the ship. From her workstation, Kayla followed the protocol prompts to ensure that everything was by the books and all recordings were active. Taking a moment to settle herself with a deep breath, she hailed the ship.\n\n\u201cAttention, Baba\u2019s Gift. This is Officer Kayla Frost of Crusader Security. Please respond.\u201d\n\nBefore she could repeat the message, the comm channel clicked open, audio only.\n\n\u201cHey, Officer Frost. We\u2019ve taken the ship and got around thirty-two hostages,\u201d replied the digitally-altered voice. \u201cYou make sure to let every sec in the area know that if we even get a whiff of them on radar, that number\u2019s gonna start droppin\u2019 fast.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd who am I speaking with?\u201d\n\nThe brief pause told Kayla she was gonna get an alias.\n\n\u201cYou can call me Jack.\u201d\n\n\u201cOkay, Jack. Let\u2019s talk about how we get those people you have on board home safely.\u201d Humanize. Humanize. Humanize. One of the most important rules when dealing with a hostage situation. Never refer to them as hostages. Hostages are a thing that can be gotten rid of. People, on the other hand, have homes and families.\n\n\u201cEasy. All you have to do is return some lost property. Twenty crates taken from an outpost on Yela.\u201d\n\nKayla immediately knew the crates in question. Two weeks prior she had run an op to clear out a suspected drug lab. It had been a huge win for Crusader, thanks in large to the team of contractors successfully seizing a large shipment of pure WiDoW before it could hit the distribution network. Crusader\u2019s PR exec, Harris, had seen to it that the story made headlines all over the local spec. With the amount of coverage the score had gotten, it was hard to say if she was talking to someone connected to the lab, or just an ambitious criminal who saw the chance for a big payout.\n\n\u201cOkay, I can look into that for you, but I\u2019m going to need something first.\u201d Always negotiate. Try not to concede anything without getting something in return, even if it\u2019s purely symbolic. This helps establish you as an equal and makes later, bigger concessions easier to secure. \u201cI need to know that the people with you are still okay.\u201d\n\nThe line muted, but the channel was still open. Good. That meant they were taking her request seriously.\n\nA moment later a shaky, stilted voice came on. \u201cThis is Captain Donovan. Please. Do what they say.\u201d\n\n\u201cAny injuries? Casualties?\u201d Kayla asked, knowing that the captain wouldn\u2019t have long to respond.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a couple people hurt, but no one \u2014\u201d\n\nThe line muted, cutting the captain off. The next voice she heard was the assailant. \u201cYou have six hours.\u201d\n\nAnd then the channel went dead.\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s the issue?\u201d asked Harris. \u201cWe give them the drugs and we get the hostages back safe.\u201d\n\nKayla, for the second time that day, had to choke down a bitter taste in her mouth.\n\nAfter speaking to the hijackers, she had commed her section chief who had immediately tossed it up the ladder. A few minutes later, she had found herself explaining the situation directly to the PR exec himself. So far, his main concern had been if the press had gotten wind of the situation and if there was anyone \u201cimportant\u201d aboard.\n\nShe attempted to voice her objections again, hoping this time they would get through. \u201cAs I said, sir, there\u2019s no guarantee that if we comply with the request that the hostages will be safe. And even if we do get through this without any casualties, by capitulating to the demands we will ensure that this will happen again.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have to say that I agree with Officer Frost, sir,\u201d said Chief Pontayo. \u201cHer plan to stall and prepare a viable extraction route is the course of action I would recommend.\u201d\n\n\u201cLook, I get it. Trust me, I do,\u201d said Harris. \u201cBut if we go in there and even a single one of these hostages dies, that\u2019s on us. You know what that headline says? \u2018Crusader gets a bunch of civilians killed.\u2019 On the other hand, we meet this asshole\u2019s demands and they kill the hostages anyway? That\u2019s on them. Then we get to sell the story of how these evil monsters killed a bunch of innocent people. We\u2019re the victims. Hell, we spin this right maybe we can finally convince UEE to send some Advocacy out here to actually do their job.\u201d\n\n\u201cSir, please \u2014\u201d Kayla begun.\n\n\u201cNo. It\u2019s done,\u201d interrupted Harris. \u201cArrange for the drugs to be delivered. I\u2019m gonna go prep the boss and start working out the press statements. Let me know as soon as the crates are in-flight.\u201d With that, Harris disconnected.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Frost,\u201d said Chief Pontayo. \u201cBut even if it\u2019s not ideal, there is still a strong chance that we will be able to get these people out of this safe and sound, so I need you with me on this.\u201d\n\n\u201cI know, sir,\u201d said Kayla. \u201cI\u2019m with you.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood. I\u2019ll contact evidence lock-up and have them begin prepping the crates for release. I\u2019ll leave arranging the transport to you.\u201d\n\nKayla nodded. She already had the perfect team in mind for the job.\n\nAs soon as Pontayo was off the channel, Kayla contacted her best contractor, Maneet \u2018Diamond\u2019 Corvin. The same contractor, in fact, that she had hired to raid the drug lab in the first place.\n\n\u201cDiamond. You free? Have a covert job for you and your crew. Might get messy.\u201d\n\nDiamond smiled into her mobi, \u201cWe\u2019re wrapping up something now, but should be able to squeeze you in, Frosty. How soon you need us?\u201d\n\n\u201cDepends. How quickly can you get your hands on a hauling ship?\u201d\n\nTO BE CONTINUED","de_DE":"Kayla setzte sich auf ihren gewohnten Platz in dem kleinen Transport-Shuttle, nahm einen Schluck aus ihrer Thermoskanne von Mate und grimassierte unwillk\u00fcrlich. Kein Zucker, dachte sie, der bittere Geschmack des Tees verweilte. Ein weiterer von Susans Versuchen, ges\u00fcndere Gewohnheiten zu f\u00f6rdern. Zur\u00fcck auf Terra war Kayla auf einen konstanten Strom von Zucker und Koffein angewiesen, um sie durch 12 bis 15 Stunden Arbeitstage zu treiben, aber jetzt, da sie einen Schreibtischjob hatte, hatten die zus\u00e4tzlichen Kalorien begonnen, \"ihre R\u00e4nder zu mildern\", wie Susan es h\u00f6flich ausdr\u00fcckte. Seufzer. Unges\u00fc\u00dfter Partner ist es. Sie st\u00fctzte sich und nahm einen weiteren Schluck des adstringierenden Gebr\u00e4u. Sie w\u00fcrde es einfach zu der langen Liste der Dinge auf Kreuzritter hinzuf\u00fcgen, an die sie sich gew\u00f6hnen musste.\n\nEine der gr\u00f6\u00dften H\u00fcrden war bisher der Versuch, sich auf den Gasriesen selbst einzustellen. Aus dem Fenster des Transports schien die Sonne \u00fcber dem Horizont und warf einen tiefen, w\u00fcstenroten Farbton \u00fcber das endlose Wolkenmeer. Zu wissen, dass es keinen festen Boden unter den F\u00fc\u00dfen gab, w\u00fcrde sie immer noch ein wenig ausflippen lassen, wenn sie zu viel dar\u00fcber nachdachte. Aber die Aussicht war wirklich sch\u00f6n.\n\nKyla f\u00fchlte, wie die Triebwerke langsam wurden und lehnte sich nach vorne, um zu best\u00e4tigen, dass sie sich dem kommerziellen Hublandeplatz n\u00e4herten. Ihr Stopp. Als sie von ihrem Platz aufstieg, r\u00e4umte eine Schar von Werftarbeitern, die das Shuttle fuhren, mit L\u00e4cheln und Nicken schnell den Weg f\u00fcr sie. Einer der Vorteile, wenn man die Kreuzrittersicherheitsuniform tr\u00e4gt.\n\n\"Sie haben einen guten, Officer Frost\", sagte der Shuttle-Pilot, als sich die Seitenluke entfaltete, und sprach laut, um \u00fcber den b\u00f6igen Wind drau\u00dfen geh\u00f6rt zu werden.\n\n\"Danke\", sagte Kayla und trat zur\u00fcck, eine Hand hielt ihre Kappe an ihrem Platz. Sie r\u00e4umte schnell das Pad, damit der Transport bis zur n\u00e4chsten Station im benachbarten Werftkomplex fortgesetzt werden konnte. Nach dem Windschutz verlangsamte sie ihr Tempo, benutzte ihr Abzeichen, um den Zoll zu umgehen und wandte sich der Promenade zu.\n\nDer breite, von G\u00e4rten ges\u00e4umte Weg erm\u00f6glichte den Zugang zu den meisten der verschiedenen Einkaufspl\u00e4tze und Dienstleistungen, die den gr\u00f6\u00dften Teil der Strukturen des Hubs ausmachten, mit dem zus\u00e4tzlichen Vorteil, dass einige der besten Aussichten auf die massiven Schiffe des Kreuzritterherstellers, die gebaut wurden, geboten wurden. Schon zu dieser fr\u00fchen Stunde versammelten sich die Touristen entlang des Aussichtspunktes und schnappten eifrig Videos, als ob jemand nach der R\u00fcckkehr nach Hause den Nachweis ihrer Reise verlangen w\u00fcrde. Sie hatte geh\u00f6rt, dass die Besucherzahlen in diesem Jahr r\u00fcckl\u00e4ufig waren, aber es f\u00fchlte sich kaum danach an, als sie versuchte, sich durch die Menge zu k\u00e4mpfen.\n\nEs war eine Erleichterung, als sie schlie\u00dflich in das Kreuzritter-Sicherheitsb\u00fcro eindrang, eine ruhige Oase vor dem Summen der Aktivit\u00e4t drau\u00dfen. Obwohl das an sich schon etwas beunruhigend war. Die meisten Stationen, in denen sie gearbeitet hatte, waren normalerweise ein Durcheinander von Offizieren, Kriminellen und ihren ungl\u00fccklichen Opfern, die schrieen, weinten und schrieen. Crusaders Beharrlichkeit, die wachsende Arbeitsbelastung in diesem Sektor mit Hilfe von Auftragnehmern zu bew\u00e4ltigen, lie\u00df das B\u00fcro ein wenig wie eine Geisterstadt erscheinen. Das Geb\u00e4ude selbst stand in scharfem Kontrast zur trostlosen Funktionalit\u00e4t des Bullpen, der seit einem Jahrzehnt ihr zweites Zuhause auf Terra war. Mit seiner angenehmen Atmosph\u00e4re und der F\u00fclle an Ergonomie konnte man feststellen, dass \"Team Flow Experts\" und Umweltpsychologen, die sich auf die Harmonisierung der Mitarbeiter mit ihrer Umgebung spezialisiert haben, wahrscheinlich w\u00e4hrend des Baus konsultiert wurden. Im Grunde genommen gab es viel nat\u00fcrliches Licht, viel zu viele Topfpflanzen und Flure, die fast alle zur \"Interface-Lounge\", also zum Pausenraum, f\u00fchrten. Als sie auf dem Weg zu ihrem Schreibtisch kreuzte, begr\u00fc\u00dfte sie die beiden Offiziere, die aus der Schicht kamen, mit ihrem traditionellen Gru\u00df. \"Hey, Bautista. Hey, Gibbs. Gute Arbeit?\"\n\n\"Der \u00fcbliche Alptraum\", antwortete Gibbs.\n\n\"War nicht so schlimm wie das alles\", sagte Bautista und r\u00fchrte etwas Kaffeesahne in seinen Kaffee.\n\nWie sie arbeitete das Paar in der Verbindungsabteilung und koordinierte verschiedene Arbeiten der Auftragnehmer. Aber im Gegensatz zu ihr hatten sie die widerw\u00e4rtige Aufgabe, am \"Limonadenstand\" zu arbeiten - dem kleinen Hilfsb\u00fcro der Gemeinde. Sie w\u00fcrde ihren Job in der Disposition jeden Tag annehmen. Zumindest auf diese Weise hatten die Menschen, mit denen sie interagierte, bereits die erste H\u00fcrde des Screenings genommen. Bautista und Gibbs sollten \"zug\u00e4nglich\" sein, was in der Praxis bedeutete, dass sie viel Zeit damit verbrachten, sich mit jedem wanna-be-merc zu besch\u00e4ftigen, der von der Promenade kommt.\n\n\"Ich hatte die Chance, ein paar unserer neueren Interessenten f\u00fcr einen Job zu entsenden, und sie schienen den Vertrag ziemlich kompetent zu handhaben, was diese Dinge angeht\", erkl\u00e4rte er. \"Mindestens zwei von ihnen haben das Potenzial, Stammg\u00e4ste zu werden.\"\n\n\"Sicher, aber sag Frost, was der Vertrag war\", sagte Gibbs.\n\n\"Kareah\", sagte Bautista mit einem Seufzer.\n\n\"Im Ernst? Schon wieder?\" fragte Kayla.\n\n\"Immer und immer wieder. Warum zum Teufel die Exekutivbeamten diese Station bauen w\u00fcrden, nur um sie verrotten zu lassen, ist mir unbegreiflich. Vier Jahre lang haben wir uns erz\u00e4hlt, wie der neue Sicherheitsposten all unsere Probleme l\u00f6sen w\u00fcrde, und jetzt m\u00fcssen wir, anstatt das verdammte Ding zu \u00f6ffnen, damit umgehen, dass es zweimal pro Woche \u00fcberfallen wird.\"\n\n\"Der Chief sprach mit Harris dar\u00fcber, eine Art Stammpersonal dorthin zu schicken\", sagte Kayla, \"aber anscheinend ist es billiger, sich mit den \u00dcberf\u00e4llen zu befassen.\"\n\n\"Warum bin ich nicht \u00fcberrascht?\"\n\n\"Aber auf der anderen Seite\", sagte Bautista, \"haben wir zumindest eine gute Vorstellung davon, wo die meisten Gesetzlosen zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt sein werden.\"\n\nGerade dann ert\u00f6nte ein schrilles Glockenspiel und alle drei ihrer mobiGlas pulsierten rot. Kayla hat den Notfallalarm ge\u00f6ffnet. Ein Starliner wurde entf\u00fchrt.\n\n\"Und jetzt wissen wir, wo der Rest ist.\"\n\nDer Starliner Baba's Gift, der sich im Besitz eines unabh\u00e4ngigen Reiseveranstalters befindet, sorgte f\u00fcr die G\u00e4ste, indem er einen Nahblick auf die Werften und die drei Monde des Kreuzzugs bot. Um 09:32 Uhr SET schickte der erste Offizier an Bord des Geschenks eine ECN-Sendung mit einer kurzen Nachricht, in der er ank\u00fcndigte, dass sie von Feinden entert worden waren, als sie die Oberfl\u00e4che von Daymar verlie\u00dfen. Seitdem hatte es keine Kommunikation mehr gegeben.\n\nEs lag in Kaylas Verantwortung als Einsatzleiter, den Kontakt mit dem Schiff wiederherzustellen. Von ihrem Arbeitsplatz aus folgte Kayla den Anweisungen des Protokolls, um sicherzustellen, dass alles nach Vorschrift war und alle Aufnahmen aktiv waren. Sie nahm sich einen Moment Zeit, um sich mit einem tiefen Atemzug zu beruhigen und rief das Schiff an.\n\n\"Achtung, Babas Geschenk. Hier ist Officer Kayla Frost von der Kreuzrittersicherheit. Bitte antworten Sie.\"\n\nBevor sie die Nachricht wiederholen konnte, klickte der Kommunikationskanal auf \u00d6ffnen, nur Audio.\n\n\"Hey, Officer Frost. Wir haben das Schiff genommen und etwa 32 Geiseln bekommen\", antwortete die digital ver\u00e4nderte Stimme. \"Du musst jede Sekunde in der Gegend wissen lassen, dass, wenn wir \u00fcberhaupt einen Hauch von ihnen auf dem Radar bekommen, diese Zahl schnell fallen wird.\"\n\n\"Und mit wem spreche ich?\"\n\nDie kurze Pause sagte Kayla, dass sie einen Decknamen bekommen w\u00fcrde.\n\n\"Du kannst mich Jack nennen.\"\n\n\"Okay, Jack. Lassen Sie uns dar\u00fcber reden, wie wir die Leute, die Sie an Bord haben, sicher nach Hause bringen.\" Vermenschliche dich. Vermenschliche dich. Vermenschliche dich. Eine der wichtigsten Regeln im Umgang mit einer Geiselsituation. Bezeichne sie niemals als Geiseln. Geiseln sind eine Sache, die man loswerden kann. Die Menschen hingegen haben H\u00e4user und Familien.\n\n\"Sachte. Alles, was Sie tun m\u00fcssen, ist, etwas verlorenes Eigentum zur\u00fcckzugeben. Zwanzig Kisten, die von einem Au\u00dfenposten auf Yela genommen wurden.\"\n\nKayla kannte die fraglichen Kisten sofort. Zwei Wochen zuvor hatte sie eine Operation durchgef\u00fchrt, um ein verd\u00e4chtiges Drogenlabor zu r\u00e4umen. Es war ein gro\u00dfer Gewinn f\u00fcr Crusader gewesen, was zum gro\u00dfen Teil darauf zur\u00fcckzuf\u00fchren war, dass das Team der Auftragnehmer eine gro\u00dfe Lieferung reiner WiDoW erfolgreich beschlagnahmt hatte, bevor es das Vertriebsnetz erreichen konnte. Harris, der PR-Manager von Crusader, hatte daf\u00fcr gesorgt, dass die Geschichte Schlagzeilen in der gesamten lokalen Szene gemacht hatte. Mit der Menge der Abdeckung, die die Kerbe erhalten hatte, war es hart zu sagen, wenn sie mit jemand sprach, das mit dem Labor verbunden wurde, oder gerade ein ehrgeiziger Verbrecher, der die Wahrscheinlichkeit f\u00fcr eine gro\u00dfe Subvention sah.\n\n\"Okay, ich kann das f\u00fcr dich \u00fcberpr\u00fcfen, aber ich werde zuerst etwas brauchen.\" Immer verhandeln. Versuchen Sie, nichts einzugestehen, ohne etwas zur\u00fcckzubekommen, auch wenn es rein symbolisch ist. Dies hilft, Sie als Gleichgestellten zu etablieren und macht sp\u00e4tere, gr\u00f6\u00dfere Zugest\u00e4ndnisse leichter zu sichern. \"Ich muss wissen, dass es den Leuten bei dir immer noch gut geht.\"\n\nDie Leitung war stumm geschaltet, aber der Kanal war noch offen. Gut. Das bedeutete, dass sie ihre Anfrage ernst nahmen.\n\nEinen Moment sp\u00e4ter kam eine wackelige, gestelte Stimme auf. \"Das ist Captain Donovan. Bitte. Tu, was sie sagen.\"\n\n\"Irgendwelche Verletzungen? Verluste?\" fragte Kayla und wusste, dass der Kapit\u00e4n nicht mehr lange antworten w\u00fcrde.\n\n\"Es gibt ein paar Verletzte, aber niemand -\"\n\nDie Leitung wurde stummgeschaltet und der Kapit\u00e4n wurde abgeschnitten. Die n\u00e4chste Stimme, die sie h\u00f6rte, war der Angreifer. \"Du hast sechs Stunden.\"\n\nUnd dann ging der Kanal aus.\n\n\"Was ist das Problem?\" fragte Harris. \"Wir geben ihnen die Drogen und bringen die Geiseln sicher zur\u00fcck.\"\n\nKayla, zum zweiten Mal an diesem Tag, musste einen bitteren Geschmack in ihrem Mund ersticken.\n\nNachdem sie mit den Entf\u00fchrern gesprochen hatte, hatte sie ihren Sektionsleiter eingeholt, der sie sofort die Leiter hinaufgeworfen hatte. Wenige Minuten sp\u00e4ter hatte sie die Situation direkt dem PR-Verantwortlichen selbst erkl\u00e4rt. Bisher war seine Hauptsorge, ob eine Presse von der Situation Wind bekommen hatte und ob es jemanden gab, der \"wichtig\" an Bord war.\n\nSie versuchte, ihre Einw\u00e4nde erneut zu \u00e4u\u00dfern, in der Hoffnung, dass sie diesmal durchkommen w\u00fcrden. \"Wie ich bereits sagte, Sir, gibt es keine Garantie daf\u00fcr, dass, wenn wir der Bitte nachkommen, die Geiseln in Sicherheit sind. Und selbst wenn wir das ohne Verluste \u00fcberstehen, werden wir durch Kapitulation vor den Forderungen sicherstellen, dass dies wieder geschieht.\"\n\n\"Ich muss sagen, dass ich mit Officer Frost einverstanden bin, Sir\", sagte Chief Pontayo. \"Ihr Plan, eine brauchbare Extraktionsroute aufzuhalten und vorzubereiten, ist die Vorgehensweise, die ich empfehlen w\u00fcrde.\"\n\n\"Schau, ich verstehe schon. Vertrau mir, das tue ich\", sagte Harris. \"Aber wenn wir da reingehen und auch nur eine einzige dieser Geiseln stirbt, ist das unsere Schuld. Wei\u00dft du, was die Schlagzeile sagt? \"Kreuzritter bringen einen Haufen Zivilisten um. Auf der anderen Seite erf\u00fcllen wir die Forderungen dieses Arschlochs und sie t\u00f6ten die Geiseln trotzdem? Das liegt an ihnen. Dann k\u00f6nnen wir die Geschichte verkaufen, wie diese b\u00f6sen Monster einen Haufen unschuldiger Menschen get\u00f6tet haben. Wir sind die Opfer. Verdammt, wir drehen das richtig, vielleicht k\u00f6nnen wir UEE endlich davon \u00fcberzeugen, ein paar Advocacy hierher zu schicken, um ihren Job zu erledigen.\"\n\n\"Sir, bitte -\" Kayla begann.\n\n\"Nein. Es ist erledigt\", unterbrach Harris. \"Sorgen Sie daf\u00fcr, dass die Medikamente geliefert werden. Ich werde den Chef vorbereiten und anfangen, die Presseerkl\u00e4rungen auszuarbeiten. Sag mir Bescheid, sobald die Kisten im Flug sind.\" Damit trennte sich Harris von der Verbindung.\n\n\"Es tut mir leid, Frost\", sagte Chief Pontayo. \"Aber selbst wenn es nicht ideal ist, gibt es immer noch eine gro\u00dfe Chance, dass wir diese Menschen aus diesem sicheren und gesunden Leben herausholen k\u00f6nnen, also brauche ich dich dabei.\"\n\n\"Ich wei\u00df, Sir\", sagte Kayla. \"Ich bin bei dir.\"\n\n\"Gut. Ich werde die Beweissicherung kontaktieren und sie dazu bringen, die Kisten f\u00fcr die Freigabe vorzubereiten. Ich \u00fcberlasse es dir, den Transport zu organisieren.\"\n\nKayla nickte. Sie hatte bereits das perfekte Team f\u00fcr den Job im Sinn.\n\nSobald Pontayo den Kanal verlassen hatte, kontaktierte Kayla ihren besten Auftragnehmer, Maneet 'Diamond' Corvin. Der gleiche Auftragnehmer, den sie angeheuert hatte, um das Drogenlabor zu durchsuchen.\n\n\"Diamant. Bist du frei? Habe einen geheimen Job f\u00fcr dich und deine Crew. K\u00f6nnte schmutzig werden.\"\n\nDiamond l\u00e4chelte in ihre Mobi: \"Wir packen jetzt etwas ein, aber wir sollten in der Lage sein, dich hineinzudr\u00e4ngen, Frosty. Wie schnell brauchen Sie uns?\"\n\n\"Kommt darauf an. Wie schnell k\u00f6nnen Sie ein Transportschiff in die H\u00e4nde bekommen?\"\n\nWIRD FORTGESETZT","zh_CN":"Writer\u2019s Note: Hostile Negotiations was published originally as a Subscriber Exclusive on May 9, 2018.\nSettling into her customary seat on the small transport shuttle, Kayla took a sip from her thermos of mate and involuntarily grimaced. No sugar, she thought, the bitter taste of the tea lingering. Another of Susan\u2019s attempts at encouraging healthier habits. Back on Terra, Kayla had depended on a constant stream of sugar and caffeine to keep her fueled through 12-to-15-hour work days, but now that she was working a desk job, the extra calories had begun to \u201csoften her edges,\u201d as Susan politely put it. Sigh. Unsweetened mate it is. Bracing herself, she took another sip of the astringent brew, adding it to the long list of things on Crusader she needed to get used to.\n\nOne of the biggest hurdles so far had been trying to adjust to the gas giant itself. Out the window of the transport, the sun crested the horizon, casting a deep, desert rose hue over the endless sea of clouds. Knowing that there was no solid ground underfoot would still freak her out a bit if she thought about it too much. Sure was a pretty view though.\n\nKayla felt the ship slow and leaned forward to confirm they were approaching the commercial hub landing pad. Her stop. As she rose from her seat, a throng of shipyard workers riding the shuttle quickly cleared a path for her with smiles and nods. One of the perks of wearing the Crusader Security uniform.\n\n\u201cYou have a good one, Officer Frost,\u201d said the shuttle pilot as the side hatch unfolded, speaking loudly to be heard over the gusting wind outside.\n\n\u201cThanks,\u201d said Kayla, stepping down, one hand holding her cap in place. She quickly cleared the pad so the transport could continue on to its next stop at the neighboring shipyard complex. Once past the windbreak, she slowed her pace, used her badge to shortcut customs and turned towards the promenade.\n\nThe wide garden-lined walkway provided access to most of the various shopping plazas and services that comprised the bulk of the hub\u2019s structures, with the added bonus of serving up some of the best vistas of Crusader\u2019s massive vessels being constructed. Even at this early hour, tourists congregated along the length of the overlook, eagerly snapping vids as if someone was going to demand proof of their trip once they got back home. She had heard that the visitor numbers were down this year, but it hardly felt like it as she waded her way through the crowd.\n\nIt was a relief when she finally made her way inside the Crusader Security Office, a calm oasis from the buzz of activity outside. Though that was a bit disconcerting in itself. Most of the stations she had worked in were usually a jumble of officers, criminals and their unfortunate victims shouting, crying and yelling. Crusader\u2019s insistence on using contractors to handle the mounting workload in the sector left the office feeling a bit like a ghost town. The building itself stood in sharp contrast to the bleak functionality of the bullpen that had been her second home for a decade back on Terra. With its pleasant atmosphere and ergonomic designs, you could tell that \u201cteam flow experts\u201d and environmental psychologists who specialized in harmonizing workers with their surroundings had probably been consulted during construction. Basically, there was a lot of natural light, way too many potted plants and hallways that nearly all lead towards the \u201cinterface lounge,\u201d i.e., the break room. As she crossed on her way to her desk, she gave her traditional greeting to the two officers coming off shift. \u201cHey, Bautista. Hey, Gibbs. Good shift?\u201d\n\n\u201cThe usual nightmare,\u201d replied Gibbs.\n\n\u201cWasn\u2019t as bad as that,\u201d said Bautista, stirring some creamer into his coffee.\n\nLike her, the pair worked in the Liaison Division coordinating various contractor operations. But unlike her, they had the unsavory job of working the \u201clemonade stand\u201d \u2014 the small auxiliary community outreach office. She would take her job in dispatch any day. At least that way the people she interacted with had already cleared the first hurdle of screening. Bautista and Gibbs were supposed to be \u201caccessible,\u201d which, in practice, meant that they spent a lot of time dealing with every wanna-be-merc coming in off the promenade.\n\n\u201cHad a chance to send out a few of our newer prospects on a job, and they seemed to handle the contract pretty competently as far as these things go,\u201d he explained. \u201cAt least two of them have the potential to be regulars.\u201d\n\n\u201cSure, but tell Frost what the contract was,\u201d said Gibbs.\n\n\u201cKareah,\u201d said Bautista with a sigh.\n\n\u201cSeriously? Again?\u201d asked Kayla.\n\n\u201cAgain and again. Why the hell the execs would build that station, just to let it rot, is beyond me. Four years of telling us how having the new security post was gonna fix all our problems and now instead of opening the damn thing, we have to deal with it being raided twice a week.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe chief talked to Harris about getting some kind of regular staff posted there,\u201d said Kayla, \u201cbut apparently it\u2019s cheaper to deal with the raids.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy am I not surprised?\u201d\n\n\u201cBut on the bright side,\u201d said Bautista, \u201cat least we have a good idea of where most of the outlaws will be at any given time.\u201d\n\nJust then a shrill chime sounded and all three of their mobiGlas pulsed red. Kayla keyed open the emergency comm alert. A starliner had been hijacked.\n\n\u201cAnd now we know where the rest are.\u201d\n\nOwned by an independent tour operator, the starliner Baba\u2019s Gift catered to visitors by offering close-up views of the shipyards and Crusader\u2019s three moons. At 09:32 SET, the first officer aboard the Gift sent an ECN broadcast with a short message announcing that they had been boarded by hostiles as they left the surface of Daymar. There had been no more communication since.\n\nIt was Kayla\u2019s responsibility as the dispatch officer on duty to re-establish contact with the ship. From her workstation, Kayla followed the protocol prompts to ensure that everything was by the books and all recordings were active. Taking a moment to settle herself with a deep breath, she hailed the ship.\n\n\u201cAttention, Baba\u2019s Gift. This is Officer Kayla Frost of Crusader Security. Please respond.\u201d\n\nBefore she could repeat the message, the comm channel clicked open, audio only.\n\n\u201cHey, Officer Frost. We\u2019ve taken the ship and got around thirty-two hostages,\u201d replied the digitally-altered voice. \u201cYou make sure to let every sec in the area know that if we even get a whiff of them on radar, that number\u2019s gonna start droppin\u2019 fast.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd who am I speaking with?\u201d\n\nThe brief pause told Kayla she was gonna get an alias.\n\n\u201cYou can call me Jack.\u201d\n\n\u201cOkay, Jack. Let\u2019s talk about how we get those people you have on board home safely.\u201d Humanize. Humanize. Humanize. One of the most important rules when dealing with a hostage situation. Never refer to them as hostages. Hostages are a thing that can be gotten rid of. People, on the other hand, have homes and families.\n\n\u201cEasy. All you have to do is return some lost property. Twenty crates taken from an outpost on Yela.\u201d\n\nKayla immediately knew the crates in question. Two weeks prior she had run an op to clear out a suspected drug lab. It had been a huge win for Crusader, thanks in large to the team of contractors successfully seizing a large shipment of pure WiDoW before it could hit the distribution network. Crusader\u2019s PR exec, Harris, had seen to it that the story made headlines all over the local spec. With the amount of coverage the score had gotten, it was hard to say if she was talking to someone connected to the lab, or just an ambitious criminal who saw the chance for a big payout.\n\n\u201cOkay, I can look into that for you, but I\u2019m going to need something first.\u201d Always negotiate. Try not to concede anything without getting something in return, even if it\u2019s purely symbolic. This helps establish you as an equal and makes later, bigger concessions easier to secure. \u201cI need to know that the people with you are still okay.\u201d\n\nThe line muted, but the channel was still open. Good. That meant they were taking her request seriously.\n\nA moment later a shaky, stilted voice came on. \u201cThis is Captain Donovan. Please. Do what they say.\u201d\n\n\u201cAny injuries? Casualties?\u201d Kayla asked, knowing that the captain wouldn\u2019t have long to respond.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a couple people hurt, but no one \u2014\u201d\n\nThe line muted, cutting the captain off. The next voice she heard was the assailant. \u201cYou have six hours.\u201d\n\nAnd then the channel went dead.\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s the issue?\u201d asked Harris. \u201cWe give them the drugs and we get the hostages back safe.\u201d\n\nKayla, for the second time that day, had to choke down a bitter taste in her mouth.\n\nAfter speaking to the hijackers, she had commed her section chief who had immediately tossed it up the ladder. A few minutes later, she had found herself explaining the situation directly to the PR exec himself. So far, his main concern had been if the press had gotten wind of the situation and if there was anyone \u201cimportant\u201d aboard.\n\nShe attempted to voice her objections again, hoping this time they would get through. \u201cAs I said, sir, there\u2019s no guarantee that if we comply with the request that the hostages will be safe. And even if we do get through this without any casualties, by capitulating to the demands we will ensure that this will happen again.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have to say that I agree with Officer Frost, sir,\u201d said Chief Pontayo. \u201cHer plan to stall and prepare a viable extraction route is the course of action I would recommend.\u201d\n\n\u201cLook, I get it. Trust me, I do,\u201d said Harris. \u201cBut if we go in there and even a single one of these hostages dies, that\u2019s on us. You know what that headline says? \u2018Crusader gets a bunch of civilians killed.\u2019 On the other hand, we meet this asshole\u2019s demands and they kill the hostages anyway? That\u2019s on them. Then we get to sell the story of how these evil monsters killed a bunch of innocent people. We\u2019re the victims. Hell, we spin this right maybe we can finally convince UEE to send some Advocacy out here to actually do their job.\u201d\n\n\u201cSir, please \u2014\u201d Kayla begun.\n\n\u201cNo. It\u2019s done,\u201d interrupted Harris. \u201cArrange for the drugs to be delivered. I\u2019m gonna go prep the boss and start working out the press statements. Let me know as soon as the crates are in-flight.\u201d With that, Harris disconnected.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Frost,\u201d said Chief Pontayo. \u201cBut even if it\u2019s not ideal, there is still a strong chance that we will be able to get these people out of this safe and sound, so I need you with me on this.\u201d\n\n\u201cI know, sir,\u201d said Kayla. \u201cI\u2019m with you.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood. I\u2019ll contact evidence lock-up and have them begin prepping the crates for release. I\u2019ll leave arranging the transport to you.\u201d\n\nKayla nodded. She already had the perfect team in mind for the job.\n\nAs soon as Pontayo was off the channel, Kayla contacted her best contractor, Maneet \u2018Diamond\u2019 Corvin. The same contractor, in fact, that she had hired to raid the drug lab in the first place.\n\n\u201cDiamond. You free? Have a covert job for you and your crew. Might get messy.\u201d\n\nDiamond smiled into her mobi, \u201cWe\u2019re wrapping up something now, but should be able to squeeze you in, Frosty. How soon you need us?\u201d\n\n\u201cDepends. How quickly can you get your hands on a hauling ship?\u201d\n\nTO BE CONTINUED"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":27,"created_at":"2020-04-08T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"6 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-07 23:16:04","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":16566,"next_id":16571}}