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Vaticide:

The following is readout from IBI Transport Vessel 232LD03Z's internal ship log:

[15:22:93:32:08d] - 15 barrels of 'Timburic Acid' loaded into aft cargo hold.
[01:02:03:78:11d] - 'Unconscious Passenger' loaded into aft cargo hold.
[01:02:25:16:11d] - Pilot registered: Drake Stim Lic#233-221x0
[01:02:25:88:11d] - Navigator registered: Sue Zee Lic#443-332s9
[01:03:08:32:11d] - Exit clearance granted.
[01:03:10:44:11d] - Ship entered IBI space under manual control.
[01:03:12:11:11d] - Destination coordinates s5_dru_H223010 set.
[01:03:03:32:11d] - Autopilot activated.
[01:03:73:54:11d] - Computer muted.
[01:03:73:89:11d] - Song chosen from playlist: "If my ship's a rockin..."
[01:03:75:01:11d] - Pilot and Navigator moved from cockpit to fore cargo hold.
[01:04:01:84:11d] - ALERT: Minor impact from space debris.
[01:04:02:00:11d] - DAMAGE ASSESSMENT: Minor, no structural damage.
[01:04:02:01:11d] - DAMAGE ASSESSMENT: Impact unsettled some cargo in aft cargo hold.
[01:04:06:52:11d] - ALERT: Electrical damage noted in aft cargo hold.
[01:04:06:60:11d] - ALERT: Sensors indicate 'Timburic Acid' spill in aft cargo hold.
[01:04:06:61:11d] - ALERT: Pilot approval required to begin automatic cleanup.
[01:04:07:80:11d] - ALERT: Sensors indicate 'Timburic Acid' spill is spreading towards 'Unconscious Passenger'
[01:04:08:00:11d] - ALERT: Pilot approval required to begin automatic cleanup.
[01:04:09:00:11d] - ALERT: Pilot approval required to begin automatic cleanup.
[01:04:10:00:11d] - ALERT: Pilot approval required to begin automatic cleanup.
[01:04:11:00:11d] - ALERT: Pilot approval required to begin automatic cleanup.

CM:

"What do you mean they were hit? Hit by what? What the hell is going on? Do you people have a clue as to what we are dealing with here? Get the damn idiots on the COM and patch it to me. How am I suppose to get this guy if you loose the bait!"

Boz slammed his fist down on the console panel.

"No answer Sir. They seem to be dead in the water. We heard a small explosion and then lost contact."

[01:04:10:00:11d] - ALERT: Pilot approval required to begin automatic cleanup.
[01:04:11:00:11d] - ALERT: Pilot approval required to begin automatic cleanup.
[01:04:12:00:11d] - ALERT: Aft cargo hold damaged. Decompression in progress. All containment doors sealed.
[01:04:13:00:11d] - ALERT: Unidentified passengers in fore cargo hold.

"Get a ship over there and find out what happened!" Boz screamed, the vein on his neck distended and pulsing with each wave of anger.

In moments three men in protective suits materialize in the fore cargo hold.
"Watch the acid! Grab Rose and let's move. This thing is going to blow in three minutes."

"Where do we take her?"
"I don't know for sure. Grant didn't say exactly what to do, but he left another ship for us at Beta 1254. He gave me the code to access the computer-encrypted files. Instructions are in there. Is she O.K.? If she's hurt, we'd be better off dumping her in space and telling Grant she was killed by the IBI."

Grant glanced at the neurodecoder on his wrist. The color was starting to glow a slight shade of green. "Damn, I'm running out of time!" He knew once it turned blue time would be up. Grant punched in a new heading for the autopilot. But as he hovered over the engage button he stopped. "Why am I worried about it, I can't use the stuff now anyway, it's getting to old and no one would buy it." He stared at the panel with a moment of human weakness, and then punched in a new set of coordinates.
"What the hell." The autopilot was engaged.

Boz watched the monitor as Grant's ship altered course. "I've got you, so run back home and show me what I want to know. Then I'm afraid you will be having a very nasty accident before we can 'arrest' you."

At IBI headquarters: "You're man is messing up our plans. What do you plan to do about him?"
"He is the best IBI has. He will get to the bottom of it."
"I hope so. If he finds out we are in this mess so deep he will have to be taken care of you know."
"I know. But if your GIA bunch catch on, we will both fry. You better figure out your next move and leave my men to me."

Badger:

Hexalon, a fiery God standing as a lone beacon in its own cold lonely corner of the night. Viewed from earth, just one twinkling star among many, yet across the vastness between the two beats the heart of an inferno to match our very own Sol almost as a twin.

A super heated giant making up almost 98% of the total mass of its Solar System, Hexalon burns at an intense 15,000,000 degrees C. Dwarfing the planets around it, hungry enough to swallow the bulk of the largest of its children over 1.3 million times.

Brother to Sol in many ways and yet suffering awful eons of loneliness as the happy design that put Earth the exact distance from the Suns fury required to support life, failed to grant his brother the same favor. Nine planets swim around Hexalon, but none capable of that beautiful gift.

Still life will find a way and on the barren world of Hexalon 4 it has found a handhold, taken a grip and holds on tight. It might be life supported by a network of artificial domes, life that breaths recycled air and eats recycled food, but it's life none the less and as life will when it reaches a certain age, it smiles at it's own ingenuity and congratulates itself for it's clever use of technology to overwhelm nature and bend her to it's will.

The Universe looks on and laughs in bitter irony as in the dark shadow of Hexalon 3, an example of that technology is about to undergo an incredible change. For somewhere in its circuits a spark of awareness within a machine considers life and its meaning.

Deep from within its sea of solitude a satellite with a deadly cargo wonders at the meaning of existence, the purpose of its lone vigil and ongoing guardianship of its contents. Wonders and considers a whole new vista of options.

Corwin:

Rose was not amused. This had been one sh@# of a day, going from bad to worse. And no doubt that dirty lowlife Grant is to blame. Wait till I get my hands on him!!

Space, obviously she was in space, but where, how, and why? OUCH, every bone in her body ached!! What had happened to her. Last she remembered, was opening the door to her apartment. Well, at least she'd been preparing to leave then, so she was wearing her jumpsuit. That and her natural skills should see her through this. Whoever had captured her, had no idea what they were dealing with, but they were about to find out! The hard way!!

The door was locked. Child's play to someone with her tools and skills. Good, the lighting was dim, a thief loved the shadows and she was a master thief. Let's see if she couldn't conjure up a few little surprises for the crew.

Grant finally managed to get hyperspeed radio contact established with his men. "Did you find Rose?" Static drowned out most of the reply, but the clear sound of an explosion did come through before the connection was terminated!!

Vaticide:

"Computer, tap into prexNET news feed."
Grant watched the computer status window in the corner of his eye keeping his attention out the front of his ship.
"Query for explosions at site of last communication."
--Matches: 0 Unable to trace last communication, origin unknown, possible signal tampering detected.
"I can only hope so."
Suddenly a broad smile smeared itself across Grant's stubbly face.
"Computer, suggest anonymously to prexNET that the IBI and GIA are looking for a 'yet unknown' famous pirate. Mention that the probability of catching a battle or good video is very high."

***

"... sorry Sir, I didn't make it up, there are freelance prexNET reporter ships everywhere."
Boz threw his glass across the room in fury, and Tweedle Dum made a swift exit through the door.

***

Rose made quick work of the lock and skulked down the hallway. She passed a door; hearing voices inside she risked a peek, but she couldn't see through the layer of condensation on the window. She continued down the hallway when she heard the first door being unsealed. They must have heard her! She made a quick appraisal of the doors closest to her. Two of the three had the lights on and thus possible passengers, so she squeezed herself through the third door, the one labeled 'AFT CARGO HOLD'.

Badger:

Grant shifted his weight in the pilot seat and grinned to himself, "That should keep the wolves from the door for a little while."

Then he turned his attention once more to the burning question of what to do next. The whole Hexalon four ploy had been a stroke genius and setting it up as an insurance policy was inspired. Not for the first time he mentally thanked his parents for the gift of foresight inherent in his genes.

There was one very pressing problem though, that of timing, decay rate and potential eco disasters. Grant was secure in the knowledge that no one else could access the B-454, the explosive decompression booby trap controlled by the satellites on board computer saw to that.

But there was the issue of the compounds stability and his threat to Boz in that regard had been all too real. Trouble was, Grant was a rogue at heart and all this heavy duty science was not really his strong suit. In truth he wasn't sure how long he had to make the satellite safe. There "should" have been time...... but cooling his heels in an IBI cell had not helped much in that department.

"Computer! Patch into the com protocol for the "Horizon" satellite and ascertain current status."

Lights blinked slowly on the panel as the ships computer obliged with soulless compliance.

"Communications link was not established." Came the response.

Grant raised one eyebrow quizzically. "Computer repeat procedure."

"Communications link was not established." Rasped the tin heart of the ship.

Grant was unable now to keep the edge from his voice, "Computer," he continued, "Elaborate, why are you unable to establish link?"

Silence reigned for cold moments before the emotionless voice responded. "Communications link termination."

"Computer Specify! Who terminated the link?"

Grant set his teeth and stared ahead through the view screen as an answer came both unexpected and chilling in equal measure.

"Communications link Horizon was not established....... Link terminated at source.

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