From: Kurt Weinbaum Source: Ithaca Base To: Liberty Rogues Subject: Upstart Ventures
To whomever it may concern,
Hello, it's me again. You know, that upstart from near Alcatraz a while back? The name's Kurt. I represent the Black Hearts - a rag-tag crew in the Omegas, though we've been getting around lately.
You neglected to mention the name of your pack leader, whom I ought to clear things up with. That's alright - we got the message to stay out of your territory. But something's come up, and since you boys did right by me before by not shooting me on my way out, I thought I'd ask for an invitation this time.
Some of my boys disappeared in the Kepler system recently. I wanna come over and see if they are still alive - and recover what's left if there's anything to find in that hell soup.
I could use a place to stay for the duration of my search. Don't need anything fancy - just somewhere quiet to dock my ship and rest. We've not been hitting Liberty proper so far, but the Navy still won't let me come check in at my booked suite on Planet Manhattan. Can't imagine why.
So, can I crash at your place? I promise I'll behave.
Recipient(s): Kurt Weinbaum. Sender: Jack "Spade" Montes Location: ERROR
Well, I'm glad to see you upstarts finally figured out that the Neural Net exists.
The boss has bigger matters on hand at the moment, so you'll be dealing with me for the moment and before we go any further, there's just two quick little questions I need you to answer before we go any further with this conversation.
First, what did you piss off the Zoners on Ames?
And second, who're the friends you lost in the border region?
From: Kurt Weinbaum Source: Ithaca Base To: Jack "Spade" Montes Subject: Missing Crew
Don't worry, soon we'll figure out how cruise disruptors work. Then the real fun begins.
Anyway. Those are fair questions.
They were my scouts I sent to Noshima to keep an eye out for a ship that's on our mailing list. Before you ask - the ship is not one of yours, or even from Liberty. Last they checked in, they had a lead in Kepler they were going to follow up on. Messing with the Zoners is not our standard operating procedure, so either they ran afoul of a Navy patrol, or they found something else they couldn't handle.
Whatever it is, I want to know. Even if it's just frozen corpses at this point, if they died following my orders, they don't deserve to just be left there.
Recipient(s): Kurt Weinbaum. Sender: Jack "Spade" Montes Location: ERROR
Yeah, see last time one of your lot tried to relay a message, the idiot managed to run his mouth enough to buy himself a one way ticket to the wrong end of a gun.
So, since you just said you're welcome 'round Ames, tell me why you're actually asking to come knocking around and hanging around on our bases. And spare me the nonsense of your dead friends, radiation is likely to have melted away their corpses assuming the Navy or Xenos didn't disintegrate 'em already.
Oh, and considering the fact the idiot I mentioned before was running his mouth at someone I do biz with, I'm also going to need know who the friend he was doing a favour for was.
From: Kurt Weinbaum Source: Ithaca Base To: Jack "Spade" Montes Subject: Forget it
Heh.
What, it didn't occur to you that a pirate might prefer the company of other pirates to the ambiguity of a Freeport? Ames doesn't even have good liquor.
I told you this job doesn't concern you. If you want to know more, you're going to have to give me something. That's how the world works.
You wanna know who hired us? Should I tell you where my secret credit stash is while I'm at it? All you've done so far was be a waste of space and give me lip. I'm sure your Auxo masters would love to hear all about it, but I'm not about to indulge them.
Guess this was a waste of my time. I'll find my men without your help. Just don't go asking me for a favor when the tables turn.
Recipient(s): Kurt Weinbaum Sender: Jack "Spade" Montes Location: ERROR
See, all that might have meant something if you didn't start out pretending to know how the world works while lacking the self awareness to realise you didn't even follow your own damn advice.
You came to us, offering nothing and now here you are acting like a child whose parents didn't get them the Space Jumper Happy Bear they wanted when we don't do exactly as you want. And I'm the waste of space? So far all you've done is given me a few minutes of laughter with "they don't deserve to be left there." and now this.
Maybe it's time you consider a career in comedy, Kurt. In case you haven't noticed you can't negotiate to save your life, or in this case your friends melted remains, and you ain't exactly got the brains to be acting like a shot caller much less be one.
But don't worry, we can handle ourselves without begging for favors from upstarts out of their element and a long way from home. Something you and yours don't seem able to relate to.
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