K's Personal Log

[eigos]

Date: 23-JUN-823; Time: 16:10

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My extensive search across the less popular places of the Neural Net brought me to a promising result for a guy, who is supposedly very good at handling IFF transponders. The info about him is scarce to say the least, but I did read through the positive reviews of his “customers” – he looks like the right dude for the job. There is one detail that maybe confirms his expertise – he never does “home visits” for his clientele, nor does he care about “their convenience” in choosing a place to meet. And it makes perfect sense, if you are walking the thin line between the law and chaos – you just don’t take unnecessary risks with people.

I managed to get a hold of him on his secure voice chat and recorded the whole conversation just in case.

Jett Tao - He fixes things... if you can afford it. Some guy: Greetings, I am looking for a guy they call Jett Tao. I hope I am in the right place. Unknown: Who is looking for him. Some guy: Tough question, not really into talking about myself much. Let’s say I am a nobody, with a little bit of cash and a transponder problem that needs some “attention” from a specialist. From what I hear, Jett is the guy… and he calls the shots here. Unknown: *laughs* He calls the shots, bahaha-ha-ha-ha, damn! Hehehehe, you did some homework there, I like that! Now, I will ask you again – what are you – and you better answer that. Some guy: It depends on who you ask, really. For some, I am dead somewhere around Gallia. For others, I look like an uneducated freelancer. One thing is certain – the people who think I’ve kicked the bucket – I intend of really keeping them think that. I will not say anything more now. Unknown: What if I told you to piss off right now. Some guy: Then I’d say it’s time for me to go make that waterfall in the little boys room. Ain’t no use in wasting eachother’s time then – Unknown: Hahahaha, damn! Looks like we do speak the same language, kid. Call me Jett. What can I do you for? Some guy: Alright, Jett… I’ve got a civilian transponder here that’s missing all kinds of data, including the ship classification. It’s so blank, I could brag about it – even the secret service ain’t got nothing like this on their most classified space toys. Jett Tao: Heh, so you wanna tell me it’s even more blank than an off-the-shelve new box? The hell did you get that thing from, I’m lookin’ for that kind’a stuff everywhere!! Some guy: Like I said, I am considered dead by my former employers. This box was my way out of a hairy situation that no wax in the world could have fixed. Sometimes a simple transponder swap can do more for you than a cloaking device. Jett Tao: My man, your way of thinking is something of a rare sight among people – believe me. I’ve worked with a bunch of folks in my life and most of them are slower than a slug on dope. The reason I asked those questions was to check you out, who I was dealing with. I can work with a dumbass just fine, but I am careful around people with brains… I sensed the same about you. Now tell me, who are you running from and how will that transponder help you, if I decide to work on it. Some guy: Jett, I was part of an operation for the Outcasts in Gallia, that went a 100% according to the commission’s plans. They were expecting to lose men out there… it was an assessment course for how tough the gallics were. My escape was only possible due to an old friend’s help, who went to hell and back to make sure I got out in once piece. To my credit, I managed to save the ship I was sent to fly there and I intend on keeping it. Jett Tao: What kind’a ship are we talkin’ here? Some guy: An off-the-books special that costs less than a tricked-out Montante. Does the code RM-1 ring a bell? Jett Tao: You son of a mother duck, hahaha… *laughs hard* …now that’s what I like to hear! If you take something, then it better be worth taking, am I right? We are in business, hombre. I will work on your transponder, under one extra condition – after I pick the meeting spot, you are coming there in something small and incognito, you hear? You will talk to nobody about this, the deal will be $13,800,000 credits for the job. Some guy: Jett, it looks like I didn’t quite catch the number… there was some static, can you repeat that? Jett Tao: Hehehe, alright you weasel, $11,000,000 flat – that’s the best you’re gonna get. Any lower and you are gonna piss me off. Some guy: Where are we meeting? Jett Tao: At Holmfirth Base in Manchester. TODAY. I will be waiting for you in the bar until 22:00. If you miss the appointment, then don’t bother showing up. Unless you wanna pay some big guys the “late-coming-fee”. Be careful when you walk into that base, amigo – it belongs to the Gaians… meet you there.

I have to give it to that guy – he knows his stuff. In that kind of business he is in, there ain’t much competition… so he can make his own rules and I’m sure most clients follow them. I rented a Kingfisher fighter for the trip to Manchester and managed to arrive early at 12:11 inside Holmfirth Base there. Met the guy in person… what can I say – big, bald-headed, tattooed, walked around like he owned the whole bar (and I think that’s not far from the truth). I told him what I wanted done: a Freelancer IFF tag, ship’s name showing up as “The Shovel” and classification set as “Heavy Gunship”. Gave him the transponder, paid 50% of the sum in advance… he didn’t like that, but it took just one joke from me to convince him otherwise. Either way, if I ended up unable to pay the rest, he was getting a blank transponder that can fetch him a few millions - these are always in demand. Especially the ones like mine, with no manufacturing details, no hidden software and fully able to be reprogrammed for whatever purpose. The deadline for this to be finished is a week from now and he told me to wait for his message about when and where our next meeting will be. Looks like I will have to busy myself with trading in the mean time… that will make up for the hole in my pocket (again). But if this works out, first thing I'm doing is sending Diego a message back home. I am starting to miss that old fart and I sure as hell have a lot of things to tell him.