Tales of the Mandalorians

[Dieter Schprokets]

Billy Bishop waved back at the Zoner pilot in the transport that had returned him to Coronado. Diane Blane was waiting in the hanger.

"Well?" Billy had left in a "Roc" bomber. He didn't return in one. She thought there was some 'splainin to do.

"I got my kill. A Bounty Hunter Battleboat that the Zoners had some trouble with."

"And lost your ship." Diane fell in beside Billy, and they walked quickly.

"Yeah, funny story that."

Diane doubted that. Her expression was not happy. Billy stopped to try to explain.

"Omicron Delta is a nuthouse.", he started, "And I went in on my quarry after the Zoners did their best to get him to leave. The Zoners do fight well enough, but it certainly isn't their focus in life."

"Anyway," he continued, "The zoners brought two capital ships to the party. The stayed in as long as they could, but eventually one had to withdraw, and the other was destroyed."

"I thought I was done for. I kept shooting the Battleboat, but figured it was hopeless. Then I thought I was really cooked, because a Benitez came along."

Billy laughed aloud.

"But he was dropping Supernovas on the Battleboat! And I wasn't about to turn down a free wingman!"

Diane chuckled and shook her head. "This business can result In some strange bedfellows."

Billy laughed again. "Yeah, he must not have realized who I was in the confusion."

"What did you do?"

"What COULD I do? I let the Corsair keep the boat's shields down, and I chewed up its hull. It was hard work, but it got done. Then after we got him, I tried to nonchalantly make my way back to the Freeport."

"That's when he realized who his wingman was, and my ship was in no shape to fight. Suffice to say my pod made it to the Freeport, but the ship didn't. Then one of the Zoner boys gave me a lift here. That was riskier than the fight, I think; guy was high six ways from Sunday."

Diane grimaced. "So scratch one Roc. Means we don't even break even on the job."

Billy shrugged. "Promotional expense for the Zoners? Means we can drop it on the expenses side of the ledger in two places. Technically, it means we still make money on it, if the Auditors don't notice. If they do, we say it was a mistake."

Diane, realizing he was right, nodded slowly. The Mandalorians were still incorporated in Bretonia, and the perversity of their tax laws did make such oddities possible.

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After making his deliveries, the Zoner transport lifted off from Crete. The pilot was sobering up. It was not his natural state, and once on autopilot he sought substances in the cargo hold to alleviate the unwelcome condition.

Several hours later, on the surface of Crete, a certain Aurelio Benitez received a small package, with no return address. Puzzled, and curious, he opened it quickly.

It was a bottle of excellent single malt scotch.

Aurelio laughed aloud as he read the inscription, then poured himself a glass, with an ironic shake of his head. It was good.

"Nice shooting. And thanks for leaving my pod be.

Consul William Bishop."

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