The Camaleon Chronicals

[oZoneRanger]

The Last crates were loaded onto the LadyLuck. The dockworkers were sad to see it go. It had been the bright spot on lonely Toronto station for over 2 weeks. The wine and beer had flowed freely. First as an inauguration party for the open route to Gallia, something that was still in doubt as a venture, then as a going away party for the move to Kepler.

"But boss, why you have to take us all to Kepler...what is out in Kepler?" Maria was not all to happy about moving the offices to Kepler.

"Maria, you don't have to go to Kepler. You have made it clear that you plan to live on board "MY" yacht. So come and go as you please. Keep tabs on things in New York." DeLaFontain, had not filled her in on everything.

It was probably best not to have her roaming around Ames Station. He would though have to hire a Scientist and assistants. And one that new how to play ball. He made a mental note about it.

"What about Gallia Boss, and the Neon.." Maria, trying hard to look confused.

She is prying again, he thought to himself. "I'm sending Brown down to set up shop in the Pennsylvania system. We need as much information on Neon and who is mining it as we can." He gave her a bit of what she was most interested Pennsylvania and avoided the misgivings he had about Gallia.

He had received a broken vid recording from a Junker. No video, only sound, for some reason the code was not compatible with Sirian systems.

Ramos had evidently arrived in Gallia, but not a word since then. The loss of a ship, by the sound of what Ramos was relating, was almost a certainty. War zone, minefields, pirates the whole way. Almost to much of a risk for an uncertain payback. Better to stay close to home, close to what you know.

"You, can just hang around the New York social scene in this nice ship." He needed to give her a purpose or she would rebel. "Get us some contracts, keep track of shipments."

"OK boss, you know what you are doing" Maria turned and walked back toward her suite aboard the LadyLuck.

The lead steward was now her tame puppy, He followed 3 steps behind her. "Pinche Yorkie," Maria thought to herself. "He is up to something." She would ignore it for now, because she had other things to attend to.

She was pondering how far from New York she could take the LadyLuck, and head out to find Capt. Marcos.

"Mr. Montrose what does one wear to a rescue party?" She asked her attendant, he now cured by 3 days in a dark cargo hold, evidently forgotten during the party, of any ill feelings he may have toward her.

She had been the one to release him from his confinement, very close to going mad and only by coincidence. When she opened the door to the cargo hold where he was held, she looking for more wine, he desperate to get out of his soiled linens. He pledged his loyalty to her, till she deemed him no longer of need, if she would released him. He was of an older code, and his pledge he would keep.

"Well ma'am, I would obviously go with something black, and flexible and definitely a .." Shelby Montrose chimed off the many options available for proper decor during a rescue party. Another part of his brain began multitasking. What kind of music for a "Rescue" themed party would be most proper....

"She is up to something." DeLaFontain thought to himself as she walked off with the Steward in tow. But at least she would be out of his hair while he was up in Kepler on "Business".