The TPG trade councillors office was very large, including its own chainglass window to show the docking bays. Probably the room with the highest ceiling apart from the working areas, it was meant to impress. More than one deep spacer had had bouts of agoraphobia inside. Ecka still felt the walls and ceiling closing on him as he was being grilled by the furious councillor.
"The relationship between the guild of free traders and The Propeller Group, " you could hear how he was emphasising the size difference, " has been damaged immensely by this lack of protection. I give you 72 hours to come up with an explanation, or I will file a lawsuit to cover our losses. Any news and contact will be to the security council. You. Are Dismissed." The last came out not as a sentence but as single words, the contempt barely contained.
Ecka turned and left without a single word. Surbius waited in the reception, and without a single word he got up and followed his commander. Once outside of TPG controlled area, Ecka finally lost his self control and punched his fist into the bulkhead, rupturing the plastic and burying his hand to above the wrist. Snarling he pulled his fist out and picked a plastic fragment that had stuck between his knuckles.
"I must say, I am impressed," Surbius said. "I wasn't sure you were going to make it this far."
Ecka looked at Surbius who held out a small hip flask. He took the flask and drank deep from it. Helio Mists, balm to the soul. Somewhat calmer, he looked at Surbius.
"We need information, and we need it now. Do you have anything from Moda yet?"
Surbius looked at the now empty flask and re-pocketed it. "No, he is going over it as we speak with Zathras. They think they can jury rig the black box and get the footage up to the powerout."
"And Hortan? Is he awake?"
"No, the psychologist insisted to keep him sedated for now. I had to listen to him reprimanding me, as he thinks I had pushed Hortan into flying. So until necessity dictates otherwise, I am going to keep him under."
Ecka was not happy with that, but he trusted in the opinions of his specialists. They walked down to Modas hangar, and entered the large hall. Silent, so very unusual Ecka thought. Only a fizzle and crack came from the left of the hall. They went over to find Zathras bent over a holodisplay, wires in all directions.
"I need information, and I need it now," Ecka growled. Zathras looked up, startled and bumped his head into the compartment above the holodisplay.
"Oh, yes, sorry. We have some information, but none of it is good I'm afraid," Zathras replied. He looked over behind Surbius and called for Moda.
"Anything is valuable right now," Surbius smiled at Zathras.
Moda came over and sat in his favourite chair.
"Ok, Zathras show them the holo."
Zathras activated the recording. Ecka stood in silence as he saw the [PA]Mick warthog fly to the XC.
Moda stood and pointed to the collection of space debris spread on the floor. "In the wreckage, we have found one armour plate with what looks like a bonfire with what may be a wing in flames. And one of the suit pieces have the letter "iance" in flames written on the shoulder. I can only see one suggestion, however impossible it sounds. The Phoenix Alliance."
Ecka grimaced, surely this was not true. Surely it could be explained by....he drew a blank.
"Thank you gentlemen. Good work so far. I need a copy of the recording and you findings in writing ten minutes ago. Surbius, call the PA liaison office for a meeting in the OPS cell. No subject, I want her to be unprepared." He walked out of the hangar. If Modas findings were correct, they were in deep trouble.
The small PDA chimed twice, making Tohasandra Chi drop to neutral stance. Her close combat instructor did the same. Sometimes during practice the instructor would have set his own PDA to call Chi's, and so maybe throw Chi's concentration. All part of the Krav Maga training he said. But two fast chimes meant TGFT. And he had never messed with that. She walked over to take the call. Puzzled, she looked back at her instructor.
"Sorry, we have to finish another day. Business. I have been summoned by Ecka"
John Eldritch nodded. He would have liked to train some more, the strain in his back from yesterdays marathon combat patrol aching badly, but the Boss was not to keep waiting. Especially not for the PA liaison.
"Just say when Ms. Chi, you know how to reach me." He went to the free weights and looked for the 75 pounders.
Chi looked at John and smiled. She had almost had him this time. Next time there would be no mercy. She went to her room and changed to regulation flightsuit. The proud rising phoenix on her right side of her chest, her nametag on the left, and her councillors bars on her slender shoulders looked good on her, and she walked with all the confidence of a major guild official. The OPS room was strangely silent and empty. Only Ecka in his chair. Strange, she thought. This was the first time ever she had seen the OPS room empty.
"Hi Ecka, so what is so urgent?" she asked cheerily.
Ecka merely pointed to a chair. Once she had seated herself he activated the holo screen in the centre of the room. Pictures of the tumbling XC, hurt and sedated Hortan, the [PA]Mick Warthog, the debris..
"Feel free to break in with an explanation at any time councillor." Ecka's voice rasped, the anger only barely contained.
"I am not sure.." Chi started, "I mean, this must be fabricated. Is this some kind of joke?" she asked and looked at Ecka. The look on his face suggested otherwise. Actually, she now had an idea of how it felt to be a mouse sitting in front of an Eo Pit Viper. Ecka looked directly into her eyes.
"I have a copy for you to present for your council. I suggest you move fast. I need proof that PA did not do this within 24 hours, or you can consider yourselves as KOS. Yourself included. If you have questions, consult Surbius. Dismissed."
Chi rose as if in a daze. All of PA KOS? Something was fishy. She accepted the disc and practically ran to her cubicle to open a secure channel to PA HQ.
