Nuevo Amanecer

[Chenzo-]

The day was bright and of an exact temperature only experienced on Malta, just as any other day.

Chenzo and lucky had walked, sat, walked and talked for hours when an armed man approached them from behind a dilapidated storage barn. His clothing not of uniform but tidy none the less, Chenzo looks at Lucky on his approach and Lucky just nodded to confirm all is well.

Armed Guard: "Senors, I'm sorry for interrupting but can I offer you some food? A drink?"

Chenzo immediately thanked but declines the offer, however Lucky at almost the exact same time had graciously said yes.

Chenzo stood and apologised to Lucky, he'd lost track of time and there was so much that had happened in the his absence. Crimes committed by even the Maltese Dons and those beneath them which would have seen them killed or exiled for their nature. Lucky kindly asked for a few things and the guard whisked himself away to make it happen.

Chenzo had absorbed all of the information available to him from the back and fourth conversation with Lucky. There was still much to learn but from their conversations, the only reason Granja Justa had survived so long without the 101st's iron fist of defence was due to not appearing to be more than a bunch of well organised farmers, despite the entire community which thrived within. Children born of the slaves kept out of sight and schooled every day of the week on the skills required to be a part of Granja Justa. Drummed into them that the greatest form of life could only be experienced here. In depth family tree's were kept of everyone and made up a large part of the community backbone, to know who came from what family, what each family's traits and specialist skill sets were. There were of course those who came as adults with no children, no family or friends to speak of. These were the most frequent to seek the option of leaving in a starflier, to re-attempt life with better prospects. They of course were taken away by the weekly Shetland Trains which had become more and more frequent with Granja Justa's continued growth. No wonder he'd never been called to Malta. Everything was running much better than expected.

Lucky and his family had gone above and beyond Chenzo's wildest expectations. How so many self proclaimed Don's had come to power and fallen in Chenzo's time away. How things were now so backward, so un-just.

Chenzo turned to Lucky and asked if there was anything he wanted from him, anything needed. Lucky had responded with great caution, the curiosity clearly overwhelming him.

Lucky: "Where have all these shipments and people been going all this time? If you don't wish to tell me, that's fine. But it's something I get asked as enough material to build over a hundred of each class of warship has left here in those Shetlands since you've left. Also, over ten thousand people too, we've never heard anything back and it's the largest worry that everyone here faces."

Chenzo had never thought of what had happened to all of the ship and station materials, but then it had hit him. Where had he been living all of this time? How had the large station which would have taken but a short time to fly around in a Sabre now turned into the mass it was now?

Chenzo: Do you remember Nuevo Amenecer, senor?

Lucky: "Si, of course? I mean, I know of it in orbit of Carnea from your mentioned before you left, also people talking of it a very long time ago. But that's something of myth isn't it? Nobody has ever found it. There's a new installation there or at least close by called "Santa Verne" now?"

Chenzo: "Santa What? Yes, senor. it very much exists. The Junkers Congress had indeed supplied me with everything required to build the modular installation but that was its most basic form. From there, and with the help of the spirits and indeed the input from your phenomenal efforts the station, guarded by every warship I personally own removed the station from its orbit, almost a thousand miles off any patrol path, deep within Omicron Alpha. Beyond any scanners range and beyond. It is there these supplies have been used and stockpiled. That's where the Shetlands go, senor."

He stands up and looks Luciano directly in the eye.

"The people? I've seen many, many come and go but I've never interacted with them personally. People of all shapes and sizes, ethnicities. I don't think I've ever walked from one end of Nuevo Amanecer to the other, senor. in over a decade. It does explain the amount of Starfliers that seem to go up and down as they do across the docking bays. does that satisfy your question?".

Chenzo had never lied to anyone he'd trusted. Nor mislead the truth. Luciano was the most trusted person he remembered that even existed still. He wasn't about to lie to or mislead him, Luciano knew this.

A look of total bewilderment falls over Luciano's face as Chenzo explained. He was trying to comprehend how one station, ship or structure could accommodate even a quarter the supplies sent over the years. A few minutes passed whilst he thought before Chenzo broke the silence.

"Senor, What about here, Granja Justa? Do you wish to continue? Is there somebody else you'd see take over so you can be relieved? Your hard work here goes well beyond that of what one ever expected, your family deserves the best of the best from your clear precision management to you excellent diplomacy and bargaining skills."

He shook his head without hesitation, Chenzo could feel his passion for Granja Justa, it was his blood by now.

The guard approached again, this time Chenzo stood up first and vowed Luciano that he'd be in touch more often. That if anyone of old asks for him that they are to notify the pilot of the Shetlands, that if anyone comes by mentioning his name, to treat them friendly but insist he has not been seen. Not to allow them to see what Granja Justa really is.

Chenzo got back into his sabre after wishing Luciano good day and to enjoy his meal, he set course to take a tour of Omicron Alpha in depth.

---