9

Because the Revenants were out in the Magistracy playing pirate hunting, our force was a bit different; this time I took with me the Tramp, the two Jumbos and the Trojan. For extra firepower we had to rely on my own ride, the two Wasps and the Merkava tank; basically the forces that didn't go to the Magistracy. Deep down I knew I was at risk; after all I had created the Revenants to support these kind of missions and now I was doing one without them. But I had decided that the risk was worth the reward.

X432-C775-45T0

Another airless moon, this one orbiting a gas giant in an unnamed, uninhabited system north-east of the Concordat.

During the approach, our DropShips were challenged by an automated request for an access code – thankfully the ones we had were accepted. We saw after landing how lucky we had been, because half a dozen of automated, heavy turrets were protecting the entrance of the base. Strangely, they were similar to the heavy ones in HBS game.

This base was made of a series of underground massive warehouses.

All empty…

The only thing salvageable in this operation was that while empty, the base was still operational, so we could get our hands on a massive fusion reactor, able to power an entire city, the complete computer system that the base had to manage the stockpiles, the comms array and twenty four Buster Industrial 'Mechs that we later discovered had been modified with power cells instead of the standard ICE engine, allowing them to operate in vacuum.

Not good, but not a complete disaster. Oh, we also took with us the heavy turrets and the detection systems, thanks to the Industrial 'Mechs that were very useful in dismantling and carrying them.

967P-7AV5-00X0

A small planetoid orbiting a brown dwarf star. Strange, no signal asking for our identification this time.

We were even less lucky this time; this place had been completely looted long ago. This trip had been a total waste of time. Yep, this trip was officially a total, unmitigated financial disaster. The defensive turrets were also present, but this time, they had obviously been destroyed.

C47U-231Z-603F

This time, the target was a big asteroid that these maniacs of the Star League Engineer Corps had excavated to create a store station. You could say what you wanted about them but they didn't think or play small, no Sir.

At last, this one was not empty and it was in good conditions. Jackpot at last – well, kind off.

The problem was that it was a naval base, nothing for us, ground ponders.

We found warehouses after warehouses – some empty, some half full, but the majority at a third or less - with all types of naval grade armors from Standard one to the very expensive Lamelor Ferrous-Carbide, several capital missiles, one entire warehouse had even twenty two Killer Wales (these monsters were as big as the ICBM's of my time) and NAC rounds of all sizes, hundreds of Helium seals and several gigantic Hydrogen and Helium tanks, some even half full.

And all kinds of electronics and other components used in the SLDF warships.

What could I do with that? Nobody outside Comstar had WarShips and there was no way I was going to talk with those crazy lunatics. Wait a minute… the Concordat still had a derelict warship – the TCW Vandenberg if I remembered correctly.

Mmmmm maybe this was an idea. I ordered my people to do a video inventory of the findings and also to make a copy of the computer inventory.

I think the Concordat Navy was going to like the news very much as I was going to be of great help in restoring their WarShip .

We took samples of each of the most valuable items, letting almost all of our ground components here to protect the treasure and we headed towards the Concordat but this time, the target was Taurus and not New Vandenberg.

Arranging a meeting with a high ranked member of the Concordat Navy was not an easy task but I finally managed to do it or so I thought. Here I was sitting and waiting in an empty room. I had completely forgotten these power games that kept me waiting for several hours in a room. Maybe they think it will work on me and it might have on the young me but the older me knew these games well enough and I had more than patience to stay here almost forever.

Finally, a young, rather pretty, blond woman in the uniform of a Cornet (these Taurians and their strange ranks, couldn't they name a Lieutenant, Lieutenant?) came to me.

'Mister Bassot? Space Master Shoguwa is waiting for you. Please follow me.'

Only a Space Master (Ship Captain for the rest of the world)? I had hoped to get at least a Commodore but this was to be expected

We entered a small, austere cabinet full with archives and where an older man, in his mid sixties I guess, in the uniform of a Space Master of the Concordat Navy stood behind a big desk.

'Sir, Mister Jean-Luc Bassot.' After announcing me, the young Cornet discretely went away, closing the doors behind her.

'Mister Bassot, I'm very busy, so please go directly to the reasons of you requesting an audience with the Concordat Navy.'

'Well, Space Master, in my last voyage I found a SLDF Navy storehouse. In this data-chip you will find the inventory and a video of the interior of several warehouses. I have also in one of my DropShips in orbit several samples of the items we found there. I think the Concordat Navy might be interested in getting the information about the location of said base and its resources.'

While reviewing the data provided, Shoguwa's expression changed, a rather interesting experience as we got through the 'his precious time part' and he completely focused on the data, writing some notes from time to time.

'You said you had samples in orbit? How fast can I send a team to verify the authenticity of said samples?'

'As soon as you can get said team, Space Master. Obviously, the samples are free of charge. Do I need to say that the navigational memories of my DropShip have been erased?'

After a few quick calls, Shoguwa turned to me and extended a sheet of paper.

'Please instruct your DropShip to land at these coordinates. A tech team is going to verify your findings. If they are true, someone is going to talk with you about making a deal. If they are an elaborate hoax, the penalty will be very high. You do understand me young man, don't you?'

'Crystal clear, Space Master. I'm staying at Hôtel du Cygne for the time being. If necessary, you know where to find me.'