Ianthe Reichlend stepped into the bar, looking around himself at the assortment of people already seated inside. there didn't seem to be anyone in there who he recognised, but that in itself wasn't surprising. many of his friends and business partners were long gone, either on the other side of Sirus on some finiacial mission, or in many cases, were simply clouds of expanding gas in some remote and hostile system.
he needed a drink. the trip Manhattan had been longer and harder this time around. pirates seemed to be everywhere these past few months and no matter whether he had an escort from his merchant Train they always seemed to have something more.
he brought a knife, they brought a needle rifle. He brought three fighters and a gunboat...
he shook his mind clear of the thoughts clouding his mind. thought that made him tremble with a mixture of rage and terror as his mind flashed back only a year previously. those, things hadn't been pirates, that's for sure...
with a sigh he sat down behind the bar, deep in thought as he ordered himself the hardest shot of alcohol that the bar sold. maybe with the drink an idea might come about what he should do next. working trade runs for Universal was becoming something akin to a nightmare...
![[Image: freelancersig2hh7.jpg]](http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/9601/freelancersig2hh7.jpg)