The Journal of Caius Oakley

[Coin]

It was both strange and familiar to be back at the controls of a train. I dithered over the purchase of a decent shield, but decided that it would serve good stead, in light of where I was headed. I picked up a load of Luxury consumer goods, and headed back down to Curacao, trying to pick up the cold trail.

I met some Lane Hackers just before Riverside station, who accepted 2 million from me.
Great, that just about cleans me out.
I had intended to pick up some level four turrets from California Minor, but with my funds running desperately low, I motored on to Curacao.

This visit was a marked contrast to the last; I made landfall and launched within 20 minutes, and not only did I successfully avoid the Welcome Home party, but I actually left Curacao in credit which has to be a first. Cruising away from Curacao towards the Coronado jump-hole, I hoped that an empty bay would deter any further attempts of unlicensed taxation. Coronado being completely empty, I continued onto Baffin, the only other exit. I had intended to dock with Shasta and pick up a little gossip, but as soon as I came within 5k, the base lit up, all turrets came on line and a fighter wing undocked and escorted me on my way towards Tau 29. They certainly seemed tetchy, and asking did a firefly come through here yesterday was completely ignored.

As I docked with Freeport 6, I considered greasing a few wheels, and doubling back and poking my nose around Shasta, but I ruled it out, reasoning that the theft HAD to be an inside job if a Zoner ship had docked, then eyebrows would have been raised, but if a pirates ship had managed to hit the landing pad, all hell would have broken loose.

I looped up to the Kishiro-owned Nago Station, and drawing a blank, I moved on to the Tau 23 jump-hole. As I passed through the densely packed asteroid field, I was pinballed by the asteroid field and ended up in a minefield, close to some automated asteroid miners. Centred in this field was the wreck of the Edmund Marshall, with half a load of beryllium on board. More interesting to me was the level four turrets she was sporting. A quick stop to de-rig them, tractor them in, and jink back out of the minefield on my way to the Tau 31 gate site. Drawing a blank here, I popped my head into Tau 31, intending to talk to the bar keeper on Holman, who always seems to know whats going on. This time, I was out of luck; all he could offer were promises to keep the ear to the ground and send out a few feelers.

I decided to make my search more methodical; all this jumping around covered a lot of ground fast, but i was going to have to double-back on myself a lot to cover all the stations. I headed to Lancaster Trade station in Newcastle, and no sooner was I clear of the jumphole when

Caius Oakley. This is Captain Stanley Nelson of the Bretonian Armed Forces. Deactivate your cruise engines immediately. Scanning.Scanning, yes, definitely the right name, but the ship has changed. Yes Sir, bringing him in.

What in the hells? Why? Whats this about?

Dont play innocent with me sunshine. You are under arrest for the crime of smuggling, and are to be escorted to the Battleship Derby, Leeds. Any hostile or evasive manoeuvres on your part will result in your destruction.

Take it easy! Just yell out if my super-fast and ultra-nimble transporter gets away from that sluggish Hussar of yours.

Very funny Mr. Oakley. Now get a move on

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