After the ship comes to a stop, you unstrap yourself and head for the cargo bay. From the walkway, you can see the ramp is down and 3 Uggos are talking with Cookie and Meko. One of them is likely the Port Master, and the other two are local versions of maristos, Probably intraplanetary serifoj
As you get closer, you see Cookie tapping on a vidi on the wall. “Yes, here is our request and our stamps.” On the screen you see your flight path, an attached document stating that the Independent Freighter Libereco is currently chartered by a UMP doctor, providing medical assistance on the Rim. A copy of the request calling Doctor Ion Novak to return to the Core upon the death of his father. The last is a digital memo stating that the Libereco crew is to take time to “refresh and refuel” while Dr. Novak takes care of family business.
The Port Master looks closely at each of the electronic documents. “So where’s this Doctor Novak?” He asks.
You step closer and point to your flight plan. “Sir, as you can clearly see, we just left Sankta Koro where we dropped the doctor. According to our Captain, he will give us a link when it is time to get him. Until then we are..”
“Yes, yes, yes. Refuel and refresh. All very convenient.” He then turns to Cookie. “As Cargo Master, where is your SG registration?”
“Sir, we spent the past few jaros as a medical charter. No SG cargo registration required.”
She then taps the screen again. “But if you want to see it, here is our original Independent Cargo Handlers certification.”
He looks at it. “That’s only good while out on the Rim. You can’t transport cargo in the Core with this.”
You are about to make a comment when you hear “What the hell is going on? And why aren’t you three in the market picking up supplies?” Skipper comes down the walkway and walks up to the Port Master. While Cookie was about his height and size, Skipper looks small compared to him.
“Skipper we were…” Meko says.
“These men came onboard….” Cookie continues.
“We were trying to go…” you add.
She holds up her hand to silence all of you in a very dramatic gesture. You want to smile because you know that the Skipper has it from here.
For being a smaller woman, her voice carries well though the cargo bay.
“Go get supplies now!” She says in a forceful tone. “Port Master, what is your problem? Why are you delaying my crew? What is your business on My SHIP?”
You look over at Cookie, “Don’t you need to stay to help her?”
She shakes her head with a wide grin. “No. If I did that, that would take away from her ‘angry little woman’ routine that she is going to pull on them. All of our documents are good. Port master was being a dick because we are independents. Skipper won’t take that.”
You hear the beeping horn of a ground transport, and a skinny but muscular, tan young man waves to you. “Yo, Miggy, I got the kamiono from the shop. That should hold enough groceries and whatever else you buy.”
You look at Meko, “Is that your cousin Roberto?” but before he answers, he runs up and hugs him. You notice how similar they look.
“Beto, have you been working out?” He asks as he releases his embrace.
“Probably as much as you. Who are your lovely companions?”
“Roberto, this is Navs our navigator and Cookie our Chef and Cargo Chief.”
You shake his hand and then look at the cab of the kamiono. “Are we all going to fit?”
“It will be a tight fit, but the market isn’t far.” He says with a smile.
He was right, it was a tight fit, and the drive wasn’t that far, probably only a few kilometers.
You had to sit on Cookie’s lap, which was a better choice than sitting on Meko’s.
Walking through the market, you forgot how big everything is. Cookie leads you to a grocery store that is larger than the supply depot of most Rim worlds. Meko and ‘Beto head in a different direction. Cookie holds up her minividi and says “Link me if you find something.”
He nods and takes off.
She turns to you, “That’s okay. I think the two of us can get everything we need.” She taps her minividi and pulls up the list. She taps the screen again and a copy of the list pings your minividi.
With practiced efficiency, Cookie has deliveries set for the ship of skatolvaroj, frostviando, and frostlegormoj. The only thing that she and you pick up is the fresaj produktoj.
At the kamiono, you find Meko and ‘Beto loading various repair parts onto the truck. They look at your baskets of fresaj produktoj. “Is that all you got?”
Cookie shakes her head and smiles “No, all of the long lasting things I had delivered to the ship. But I didn’t trust them to bring the fresh items in one piece.”
They nod and load up. “Anything else, or just back to the ship?”
Meko says “We can drop them off at the ship and then I’ll help you at the shop. Like I told you earlier, I got a few days planetside and want to spend it with you and your parents.”
When the kamiono pulls up, you happily get out, and grab the baskets from the back. Carrying them up the cargo ramp, you notice that Skipper is sitting, relaxing, but watching who and what comes up the ramp.
“Skipper, where’s the Port Master?” you ask.
“He and his Uggo goons said they had more suspicious ships to look at. Once we have everything, lets blast off and head to Brila Monteto.”
You follow Cookie and help put things away in the galley. When you walk back down to the cargo hold, you see a couple of delivery transports offloading.
An amplified voice yells “Stop there. Don’t load anything until I say.”
It’s the Port Master again, with more Uggos flanking him.
Skipper and Cookie meet him on the ramp and you stay by the vidi, in case you need to pull anything up. You also tap a message to Helm “Having problems with locals. Might have to make emergency take off.” He responds with “Prepped and ready”
Skipper and Cookie go back and forth, arguing with the Port Master. At first it is “purchase requests” then it is “delivery invoices” followed by “galley manifest”
This all seems just too irritating to be just local harassment, then it occurs to you, that he isn’t supported by Maristos. He’s using local Serifoj. He’s looking for a pay off but can’t say anything about it in front of witnesses.
You quickly look at the ship’s vault and assess what would be fair docking fees paid by SG, if you were an SG ship.
“Skipper” you yell and motion for her to come over to the vidi. When she is closer, you say in a low tone, “I think he is looking for a payoff. We expect that kind of thing from time to time on the Rim, but I think he’s working with the Fokalurbo crime families. If we were one of their smuggling ships, we wouldn’t have been bothered. If we were SG, we’d ask for Guild support. We’re neither so he thinks he can get something without coming out and asking for it.”
She nods slightly and looks at the vidi. “What do you recommend?”
You pull up SG docking fees paid by the guild. “If we offer to pay ‘standard docking fees’ directly to him this should all go away.”
She looks at the chart, then taps the screen and checks the vault. “That will cut into our holdings, but.”
“But if we can get things loaded, we can get out of here.” You finish.
She nods taps the screen and transfers the exact amount for Ciela Ripozo onto her minividi. Then disconnects from the ship, and closes the connection to the vault.
“Go to my cabin and disconnect the vault from the ship and put it back in my safe.”
She walks down the ramp and you hear, “Our navigator just reminded me that we forgot to pay our ‘docking fees’. We have been out on the Rim and forget about those things.”
You make your way up to Skipper’s quarters. You see the small black box connected to the ship’s system. You tap on the vidi on her wall and ensure that it is ready to be disconnected. You remove it and put it in the small security box she has mounted on wall.
With the vault disconnected, the valutos inside are as secure as they can be.
You tap another message on your minividi. “I’m coming up. Think things are okay now.”
“Understood” he responds.
In the cockpit, you see Helm changing everything from “stand by” to “launch”.
“Hey, lover, I think we are okay now.” You say as you take your seat.
He continues prepping “Uh-hu” he says absentmindedly. You see that the course is already set for Brila Monteto.
“I think Skipper has it all in hand.” You try to say reassuringly.
Without looking up he taps the main vidi. There is a small message in the corner “Get us off this damn rock when I say.”
“Oh.” You say softly. “Do you need help prepping?”
“Check all of your settings. The engines are going to continue cycling in ‘Pre-Launch’ mode.”
You nod and tap your screen. Nav points are locked in. Thrust levels are set. Everything is ready for an immediate take off if needed.
You tap your vidi and switch to Cargo bay view. Skipper and Cookie are directing the delivery drivers where to place things in the cargo hold. Cookie opened one of the ‘cold storage’ bins. You point this out to Helm. “Skipper must want to go. They aren’t even putting things in the galley.”
A few minutes later, Skipper’s voice comes over the vidi, as you watch the ramp raise.
“We are ready. Transmit our request and let’s go.”
“Will do” Helm says.
You link with Planetary Control. “This is the Libereco, ready to take off.” You say and send your flight plan.
A minute later a voice says, “Independent Freighter Libereco. You are cleared to leave. Your launch window is open.”
“Thank you Planetary Control”
Once you are in orbit, Skipper comes up. “Good job. Both of you. Navs, I should have recognized his greed for what it was when Cookie’s documents weren’t good enough.”
“It’s okay Skipper. I wasn’t sure at first, but when I realized that he didn’t use Maristos, but local Sarifoj, I remembered back to my training.”
Helm smacks his forehead with the palm of his hand. “When local authorities are delaying you, either contact UGA forces or meet the local’s demands.”
“Yes and it wasn’t worth calling in the Maristos for something they probably had turned a blind eye to, so I thought a ‘pay off’ was in order.” You explain.
“I should have thought of that. I thought he was just trying to throw his weight around, and show that it was his port.” Skipper says.
“We hit our window to leave orbit.” Helm says and adjusts the thrusters. You feel the artificial gravity compensate for the change in inertia.
“Thanks again. I’m going back to my cabin. Link me if you need.” Skipper comments as she turns and leaves.
You get up from your seat and lean over to Helm and kiss him on the cheek. “You are so smart and sexy.”
He turns his head and kisses your mouth with a bit more force and passion. “You are the smart and sexy one. When Skipper takes her shift, I’ll show you how much I really want you.”
You return his kiss. “Promises, promises. I’m going to get some rest. Link me if you need anything.”
You head straight for your quarters. You feel a little tired after everything you did planetside.
(If you enjoyed this, then come back tomorrow for the next part. If you enjoy my writings, leave a comment, follow, and subscribe. See you next time.)
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