The Northwest Passage

[The Syndicate Leagues]

Location: Bering System, 27kilakimis from the Laptev Jump.

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Astrocartographer's Logs, UN|Sumpter.Populi;

Horst Delle - Ay look, I've been pegged to go fishing for info if I ran into any starpunters who took the long and fast way through Liberty. Well, I found one. An Outcast Imperial freighter - seemed friendly enough, - I guess Loyola doesn't pack the influence she says she does, huh?

There's no secrets in a smuggling route. It's anyone's game, just like a wreck in deep space. They find your rat run and they're going to share it. Share the wealth, says I. Maybe not the best smuggler's motto - but I'm in it for the living, not to reach top-monkey.

Well, there's a virtue even in a mud-covered coin - the Maltese have better sensors than this old Gun-steamer - and if they're taking the same trips, then cardi-coin can pave the highway high. I might be overthinking it. Taxing my brain a little too much - after all, I'm not a highminder like Kalli and the scopers. But even old me can pull out a hat-trick once in a blue eclipse. Smile - it's a leap year.

[14.02.2020 15:17:30] -|-Sebastian.Ros: We can only get smaller vessels down this way.
[14.02.2020 15:17:38] -|-Sebastian.Ros: Laptev, y'know.
[14.02.2020 15:17:53] Death: =LSF=Lakenheath suffered a self-inflicted catastrophic decompression.
[14.02.2020 15:17:55] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: *grinning* Aw! Your tribe always were the wiliest smugglers around.
[14.02.2020 15:17:55] -|-Sebastian.Ros: Won't see me hauling the Cagliari down through Texas, too hot.
[14.02.2020 15:18:17] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: Not suprised your boys found Laptev. It seems everyone's finding the Unioner smuggling routes.
[14.02.2020 15:18:34] -|-Sebastian.Ros: Having friends in Galileo helps.
[14.02.2020 15:18:35] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: We were the first Rheinlanders to find a route to Gallia, and the first trans-Beringians to find a way up to Galileo.
[14.02.2020 15:18:50] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: *grunts* Hm. Hackers, or rogues?
[14.02.2020 15:19:02] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: They both used to be our pals out there. *pauses*
[14.02.2020 15:19:04] -|-Sebastian.Ros: Chrysanthemums.
[14.02.2020 15:19:14] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: Chrysanthemums that far south? *whistles*
[14.02.2020 15:19:26] -|-Sebastian.Ros: The Rogues and the Hackers tend to be fairly, uh. Insular?
[14.02.2020 15:19:27] Death: [HF]-GammaBlue was put out of action by UN|Vorfahr (Collision).
[14.02.2020 15:19:30] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: We don't run into 'em often. They keep to the north sigmas, and we keep to the south.
[14.02.2020 15:19:44] Death: istanbul was put out of action by -|-Sebastian.Ros (Gun).
[14.02.2020 15:20:41] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: *cautious, if affable*
[14.02.2020 15:20:46] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: Well, welcome to the Tanner.
[14.02.2020 15:20:48] -|-Sebastian.Ros: Can't say we often run into your people!

My ma' always like to beat into my soft Union-fees owing hide that if you run into a relaxed tradesman, you pay him the dues owed. You don't screw with for a fast-swiper or those'll be the only data-brokers you put in business. True enough, he handed over his data in trade. I figured he must have felt like a guest here - strangers often do, even if we don't lay out a doormat with our name stamped on it. Bering for one and all raises us a glass every so often. I guess the news of the fight percolates, huh? Like a cup of tar-black synth-bean.

[14.02.2020 15:35:42] -|-Sebastian.Ros: Anywho. I'd better scoot.
[14.02.2020 15:35:54] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: Aye aye. *pausing*
[14.02.2020 15:36:04] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: Before you leave, Outcast...
[14.02.2020 15:36:21] -|-Sebastian.Ros: Before I leave, right.
[14.02.2020 15:36:31] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: can ya' download us your navidata on the Laptev passage? The Union bosses will want to know if the holes have...
[14.02.2020 15:36:34] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: changed phase alignment.
[14.02.2020 15:36:59] -|-Sebastian.Ros: Absolutely. Uh. Lemme just send the data over.
[14.02.2020 15:37:15] -|-Sebastian.Ros: It was all fairly standard when I flew through.
[14.02.2020 15:37:30] -|-Sebastian.Ros: Bit rough, mind.
[14.02.2020 15:37:38] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: *with evident relief* Aye. Well, that'll save a good few lives.
[14.02.2020 15:37:59] -|-Sebastian.Ros: Aaand. Data should be sent.
[14.02.2020 15:38:09] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: Handshake recieved. *grinning*
[14.02.2020 15:38:18] -|-Sebastian.Ros: Safe run, Unioner!
[14.02.2020 15:38:19] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: Have a safe flight, Outcast. Don't hit a rock, now.
[14.02.2020 15:38:27] UN|A-Sumpter.Populi: Horst: Here's a contribution for the data.
[14.02.2020 15:38:48] /givecash -|-sebastian.ros 5000000
[14.02.2020 15:38:48] [2020-02-14] 15:38:49 You have sent 5.000.000 credits to -|-Sebastian.Ros.
[14.02.2020 15:39:01] -|-Sebastian.Ros: Many thanks! Adios amigo!

Yeah. Adios amigo. He was as much a friend as any stranger gets out there in the void that sucks the living flesh cold. A lovely new phase alignment chart, bought-and-paid-for by Unioner coin, courtesy of that 'Casts's sensor brush. Feast your eyes on this LIDAR data. Like an opera for the eyeballs.

The Lane Hacks won't know what smacked 'em.

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"Though the past is scarred and the future untold"
" Be the boot heavy, the vacuum cold."
"I of the Liga,  do not fold"
"For suits or saints or beggar's gold.
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