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Gek Guv Geq was still annoyed.
“Why are we shipping this? Why?”
Not for the first time, Shi’tra eyed his quartermaster. “This presented the best way to have this meeting.”
Shi’tra noticed Lori grinning as she said, “Now, now, Gek Guv Geq, does performing a totally legitimate job offend you so much?”
“Yes!” Gek Guv Geq spluttered. “We’re smugglers, raiders, marauders, occasionally cutthroats. We are not freight haulers.”
“You do understand that we are meeting a notorious chieftain?” asked Tvi’pra.
“By bringing her...xerz...whatever...a legitimate shipment? This is ludicrous.”
Lori chuckled. “Gek Guv Geq, this was the one and only way we could arrange to have this meeting. Up to now, Ducaine has been unwilling to meet in person.”
Gek Guv Geq snorted. “Hardly. She...oh, for the love of...xez has always operated outside of where we do and runs a rather impressive smuggling operation. We are small comets in comparison.”
Shi’tra now chuckled. He did enjoy seeing his quartermaster incensed over an unusual situation.
Ducaine was a shady figure, which was not unusual in their line of business. Xez was a non-binary Human, identifying as neither male nor female.
Ducaine also had two distinct identities.
Xez also went by the name Amiran. As Amiran, Ducaine did legitimate business, owning a trading company with a large number of freighters that crisscrossed Human space.
Ducaine was never seen, at least not outside of a full, armored body suit xez donned in holographic communications. Amiran also wore an armored body suit that hid xerz gender, but xerz face was not covered - though the armor cap xez wore made xerz largely indistinct.
Sixty years ago, Amiran Ducaine was the name of a wealthy heiress who had received her parent’s family business. Over the next forty years, two of her three siblings, an aunt, and three of her parent’s former company directors fought to remove her, destroy the business, and prevent her from growing it.
Twenty years ago, that all changed. The aunt had passed away, and two of the former directors were imprisoned for various frauds, as was one of her siblings.
The last director and other sibling died together in a shuttle accident.
All shares of the publicly traded company were bought out, and the company disappeared—only to return six months later, restructured and reformed under a new name and charters.
That was the public face. The private side of the company involved an operation that smuggled various goods to avoid taxes, tariffs, and sometimes just to feed the black markets.
Amiran Ducaine had faded away to a memory, replaced by the Amiran running the legitimate business and the shady Ducaine running the smuggling operation.
The crew of the Ravusqan Raider had once taken a cargo from one of Amiran’s starships. They had left the crew alive, as they had surrendered without resistance.
They were contacted about that by Ducaine and informed that they would not be hunted down if they presented the profit from their raid to xerz - and never again attacked one of Amiran’s freighters.
Shi’tra and Gek Guv Geq were smart enough to recognize that they had barely survived that, and had steered well clear of both Amiran and Ducaine ever since.
Now, though, with the threat of the Ditufgne and their role in spreading and sharing information with other raiders, they needed to meet with Ducaine. Since the smuggler chieftain never met in person, they had found a legitimate cargo for Amiran and were meeting with xerz instead.
Gek Guv Geq normally dealt with other smugglers, pirates, and black marketeers. To acquire a legit cargo seemed like an odd lie, and it had rankled him tremendously.
Shi’tra admitted that he saw his quartermaster’s point. But they had a job to do, and Lori believed that this might give them an in with Ducaine’s operation.
The Ravusqan Raider was descending through the atmosphere. Amiran’s operation had at least three separate headquarters, but the main was located on Druid, a world in the Frodi Imperium. It was on the outskirts of a large city called Dorian’s Keep.
Shi’tra thought most Human worlds and their governments had very little variation among them. He’d always found it odd that they were as divided as they were. Even the Ravusq and their independent Q’suvar were a more singular people.
Of course, to some degree this worked to his advantage. If there were not so many systems with their different taxes and restrictions—let alone the numerous worlds across each sector—there would be less need for smugglers to move illicit items.
Despite their illegal and unlawful activities, Shi’tra and his crew had certain scruples. Illegal drugs, toxic materials, and weapons were the kind of things they wouldn’t move.
For this particular situation, they had legally acquired a shipment of expensive, nonperishable foodstuffs. It was nothing that Shi’tra would consume. Lori, Hakk, Kaeri, and Kyyl said there was nothing there that they would desire to eat, no matter how fancy it was.
Shi’tra appreciated a well-prepared meal - but had never been over-excited by a specific dish or preparation. The Humans and Zathru on his crew, though, would go out of their way to acquire certain meals and the like.
Hakk was completing the landing, and Shi’tra could see that the spaceport was nothing unusual, save more stonework than concrete.
Half an hour later, Shi’tra, Gek Guv Geq, and Lori were in front of a large warehouse door. They had been sent a robo-flatbed to transport them and their cargo to Amiran’s storage facility.
The rest of the crew had gone into Dorian’s Keep on other missions. Hakk and Kaeri were getting supplies for the ship, and Kyyl was checking in with the Spacer’s Guild, while Tvi’pra, Roy, and Rhi were following a couple leads that Gek Guv Geq had found for their next cargo.
The robo-flatbed was now hovering into the bay, and the enormous door closed behind them.
When the vehicle came to a halt, the trio disembarked. They waited as a pair of larger Human men approached.
“This is the delivery from the Neptium system?” one of them asked.
“Yes,” replied Gek Guv Geq.
The man who had spoken gestured, and the other began to inspect the crate. Shi’tra noticed both were armed, but then, so were all three of his crew.
“Looks good,” the inspector said.
The other man nodded, then gestured. “That way. Amiran appreciates your being on time. Straight through the double doors and down the corridor. Amiran’s secretary will meet you and take you the rest of the way.”
“Thank you,” Shi’tra said.
The threesome headed through the doors, and the light in the hallway was much more muted than it had been in the bay. A Human woman was waiting at the end.
“Shi’tra Juukamn?” she asked after consulting a data pad.
“Yes.”
“Come this way, please,” she addressed them all.
After about a minute, they arrived at another double door. The secretary touched a panel.
After a moment’s pause, the doors swung inward.
Shi’tra, Lori, and Gek Guv Geq were led into a large, octagonal office. It was awash in natural light from four large windows, as well as a stained-glass ceiling maybe fifteen feet above them. The four walls without windows featured impressive works of art and, in two cases, tall cabinets.
Just before one of the walls there was an impressive, U-shaped desk. Before it were six chairs, and on the other side stood a figure in an armored body suit.
Shi’tra could immediately see that the suit effectively removed any sign of gender. Though xerz face was visible, it was impossible to tell either age or gender.
As the group reached the desk, the armored figure offered a hand.
“I am Amiran,” xez said. The voice was soft, but also could not be identified as male or female.
Shi’tra took xerz hand. “Shi’tra Juukamn.”
After they shook hands, the rest of the crew did so as well. Amiran gestured. “Please, take a seat. Mya, that will be all.”
The secretary said nothing before departing. As she went, the doors to the office closed.
Once they were sealed, though, Amiran’s demeanor changed. “I remember you, Shi’tra Juukamn. Or rather, Ducaine remembers you.”
“He is rather unforgettable,” Gek Guv Geq commented flippantly.
“I thought that you might,” Shi’tra admitted. “But you still agreed to meet us.”
“Your reputation interests me,” Amiran remarked, leaning back in xerz chair and steepling xerz fingers. “A mixed crew of Humans, Doolari, Zathru, and Ravusq with a reputation for carefully considering what cargo to steal or products to smuggle—at least, most of the time.”
“You won’t let that go, will you?” said Gek Guv Geq.
Amiran smiled at him. “Oh, but I have, Gek Guv Geq. If I hadn’t, this conversation would not be taking place.”
Amiran’s tone changed. “Since your unfortunate encounter with Ducaine, you have done as asked. Our paths have not crossed since you stole that shipment from me. One of your few losses, I believe?”
“True,” Lori replied, casting a glance at Gek Guv Geq before he could reply.
“Why have you acquired and brought me the shipment that you have?” asked Amiran. “I admit that when you reached out to me about this, I was intrigued. I don’t believe you have become traders and freight haulers, have you?”
“No,” Shi’tra replied. “But we have come into a situation that may warrant your attention and wanted to discuss it with you. Since Ducaine does not meet anyone in person, we thought it better to see Amiran.”
Again, Amiran leaned back in xerz chair and steepled xerz fingers. “Go on.”
Lori began. “What do you know about the Ditufgne?”
Amiran made a dismissive wave. “A nuisance that does not trouble my operations.”
“Maybe not,” said Lori. “But that could change. Do you know about the Xorcerizts?”
“Word has reached me about these extragalactic peoples,” Amiran said. “I fail to see how this is my concern.”
“It may not be,” admitted Shi’tra. “At least, not yet. But the Frodi Imperium is a Human government. That means that you may eventually come to their attention.”
“It is my understanding that they only attack military forces,” said Amiran. “My operations have nothing to do with the Imperium Navy.”
“Of course not,” said Lori. “But what happens if they do come, and you get caught in the crossfire?”
Amiran leaned forward, placing xerz hands on xerz desk. “Explain why this should matter to me, and why it matters to you.”
Shi’tra, Lori, and Gek Guv Geq proceeded for the next fifteen minutes to explain their arrangement with the crew of the Dawnstrider, showing the recording of the Dawnstrider’s encounter with the Ditufgne, witnessing the meeting with Avra and the Xorcerizts, and the satellite remaining in neutral territory to provide the Multi-Phasic Universal Source Shield Generator to independents.
When they finished, Amiran was silent for a few moments. Finally, xez said, “What has brought you here to me?”
Shi’tra and Lori exchanged a look before Shi’tra said, “Both Amiran’s and Ducaine’s operations fall outside of any government. Further, both cross multiple borders and cover many territories. As such, it is possible you may find yourself in the crossfire. It would be in your best interest to start sending ships to the satellite.”
“But why do you care?” asked Amiran.
Before Shi’tra could reply, Gek Guv Geq did. “Because the Ditufgne are a threat to everyone. That threat knows no boundaries when it comes to Humans, Ravusq, Zathru, Doolari, or Yalifira. No government can stand against them, and those of us independent of governments, legitimate or otherwise, need to look out for ourselves.”
“Everything we know is threatened,” Lori added.
Amiran looked from Gek Guv Geq to Lori to Shi’tra. Then, xez said, “What do you get from this?”
“Truth be told, nothing,” Shi’tra said. “But this is more important than payment. This threat is too great to go unaddressed. Your operations, as well as those of Ducaine, could suffer. You have a great many contacts—and you can use them to help to spread this information.”
“Ah,” Amiran said, leaning back in xerz seat once again. “So, you think that I will share this? Why shouldn’t I let my competitors and any who could threaten my position fall to the Ditufgne?”
“Because that’s not your way,” said Gek Guv Geq.
“Indeed,” took up Shi’tra, gesturing to the walls. “This place reflects one who is successful. The few of your employees we have met, as well as Ducaine’s associates, respect you. One does not get respect without giving it.”
Amiran nodded xerz head. “You are indeed a smart one, Shi’tra Juukamn. But there must be more.”
“Only one small bit,” said Gek Guv Geq. “If you gain any information about the Ditufgne or the Xorcerizts from any of your associates, do what you can to get it to us.”
Amiran eyed him curiously. “Are the Xorcerizts not allying with us? Have they not offered, free of charge, this amazing defense?”
“They have,” said Shi’tra. He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “But we know nearly as little about them and their true motivations as we do about the Ditufgne.”