"Casting a Lure"

[Joe Manning 0]

Joe looked down on the common room of The Maze from the privacy of Pete's office, considering the scenario Pher had just outlined to him. The party was continuing at Nickles' table, the First Mate assessing each crew candidate and encouraging them to speak about their pasts, the first step of a process that would eventually be handed off to Pher for more thorough and discreet background checks. It all assumed that there would still be a ship for them to crew, that Qob would not be impounded by the Guardians. It all assumed that Pher would not be killed on the mission Joe had given her privately.

 

He needed to secure a meeting with Minos without going through Samus. Pher was his best option. Her ability to uncover information and work people was just what was required to get inside a criminal network like the Rainmakers.

 

It was a dangerous game, though. He wished he could take the risk himself. But he was Federation born. As far as the Rainmakers were concerned, he was the enemy, one of the usurpers. Pher was a native of Bull's Head. The Rainmakers would be far more willing to trust her, to say nothing of her skillset.

 

Drawing the attention of the Rainmakers was the problem. The Rainmakers' recruitment efforts primarily targetted colonists in outlying settlements well beyond the Hyades tidal boundary, where conditions had deteriorated to hopelessness in many cases. That avenue was not an option for anyone stuck on a planet at the very heart of Bull's Head. Beyond that, the best way for anyone to be noticed by the Rainmakers was to commit a showy criminal act, like a murder or a bombing, especially one that targetted vocal opponents of Federation control. Joe would authorize no such action, regardless of the potential gain.

 

Pher had uncovered a potential route, but it was not without its danger or its unknowns. She and Dash were in contact with a merchant who promised a reliable method of smuggling goods past port security -- a bribable Guardian officer. If this method proved viable, it would give them two useful commodities. One, knowledge of a bypass around port security, which could be used to gain the trust of any Rainmaker contacts. Two, a black market dealer who possessed such a bypass and had an established reputation on Tranquility; it was very possible that the Rainmakers would eventually contact him.

 

The danger was the obvious backlash of a failed attempt to get past Guardian security. Marshall Savoy was not aware that Joe was attempting to gain contact with Minos through his own means; she was quite clear that she wanted a meeting arranged through Samus. Tipping off the Guardians was not an option. But he could not afford Pher getting arrested, especially at a time when he was already in hot water with the Guardians.

 

With time running out and his options so limited, Joe's only course was one of trust. Pher would not have recommended this plan if she weren't confident she could pull it off.

 

He tapped the comm control on his ODRI and waited for Pher's acknowledgment; a holographic image of her face appeared above the emitter.

 

"Pher, let's see what this smuggler can produce. Try to get the goods past security. If his bribes don't work ... help him in any way you see fit.

 

"Whatever you do, don't get taken into custody."

[Pher 0]

He tapped the comm control on his ODRI and waited for Pher's acknowledgment; a holographic image of her face appeared above the emitter.

 

"Pher, let's see what this smuggler can produce. Try to get the goods past security. If his bribes don't work ... help him in any way you see fit.

 

"Whatever you do, don't get taken into custody."

 

Pher's "Yes, Master" came with less that total enthusiasm. Had she been succeeding to often? If she failed spectacularly a few times, might he give her vaguely plausible missions?

 

She tapped Audrey to kill the comm, and considered. All she had on this one was her ability to read people. The smuggler believed. He was risking a lot on success. He believed he could do it. She didn't doubt that in ordinary times he had pulled this off without trouble.

 

Thing is, this wasn't ordinary times. The Guardians wanted Minos bad, and they were about to walk through one of the obvious places Minos would have to pass. The smuggler gave competent vibes, but occasionally the Guardians could be competent too. This would be a risk.

 

The Master had said, "don't get taken into custody." She would assume that command applied to Dash as well. With his leg, he wasn't in shape to evade. With the absolute don't get caught rule, she couldn't afford unnecessary risks.

 

She would have to loose Dash.