Editing Episode 417: Siege

You Go has this moon wrapped up in its pocket.  It’s pretty much a one-company town.  Not surprising, given it was You Ge’s private moon.  We catch sight of a transfer-plus job: we will be carrying four fuel tanks plus four half-container control devices to four different planets in the Georgia system, to outlying settlements there. A junior engineer would be sent along with the cargo to set them up as hydrogen power stations. Our payment for 150 tons for 7 weeks (3 weeks travel, 4 weeks set-up) plus the engineer passenger would be 1500 credits.  It’s more than enough to pay for all our repairs AND get us that jettison upgrade. Joshua and Nika discuss it over paperwork and coffee in the passenger lounge.<br><br>

You Go has this moon wrapped up in its pocket.  It’s pretty much a one-company town.  Not surprising, given it was You Ge’s private moon.  We catch sight of a transfer-plus job: we will be carrying four fuel tanks plus four half-container control devices to four different planets in the Georgia system, to outlying settlements there. A junior engineer would be sent along with the cargo to set them up as hydrogen power stations. Our payment for 150 tons for 7 weeks (3 weeks travel, 4 weeks set-up) plus the engineer passenger would be 1500 credits.  It’s more than enough to pay for all our repairs AND get us that jettison upgrade. Joshua and Nika discuss it over paperwork and coffee in the passenger lounge.<br><br>

Assuming we’re going to be staying for two weeks, we’ll have to blow 40 of the 1,500 on the stay itself.  There are dinners out to buy, shore leave amusements to indulge in, and such like that allows us to spend time away from the banging and clanking of the repair work on our girl.<br><br>  

Assuming we’re going to be staying for two weeks, we’ll have to blow 40 of the 1,500 on the stay itself.  There are dinners out to buy, shore leave amusements to indulge in, and such like that allows us to spend time away from the banging and clanking of the repair work on our girl.<br><br>  

Kiera is not idle during our downtime, either. She takes on clients looking for spa treatments.  And there is one client who doesn’t want a mani-pedi-massage package but something a little more … specialized. She rings his contact number up.<br><br>  

Kiera is not idle during our downtime, either. She takes on clients looking for spa treatments.  And there is one client who doesn’t want a mani-pedi-massage package but something a little more … specialized. She rings his contact number up.<br><br>  

He wants to meet her in a not very well traveled area of the moon, somewhere off in a shuttle bay. Kiera agrees and prepares her weapons. She’s going but she’s not going unarmed.  Knives, she decides.  They don’t arouse suspicion like guns do and they’re easier to conceal. <br><br>

He wants to meet her in a not very well traveled area of the moon, somewhere off in a shuttle bay. Kiera agrees and prepares her weapons. She’s going but she’s not going unarmed.  Knives, she decides.  They don’t arouse suspicion like guns do and they’re easier to conceal. <br><br>

So she remarks to Joshua as they leave to buy supplies.<br><br>

So she remarks to Joshua as they leave to buy supplies.<br><br>

So he remarks to Rina as he frisks her with his eyes.<br><br>

So he remarks to Rina as he frisks her with his eyes.<br><br>

So Kiera makes that meeting with her mysterious client. He’s a plain-looking guy. <br><br>

So Kiera makes that meeting with her mysterious client. He’s a plain-looking guy. <br><br>

He hands her the photos.<br><br>

He hands her the photos.<br><br>

He accompanies her back to her container.  It’s been detached during her absence and someone has thoughtfully hooked it up with power.  Nice!  No banging and clanging while she does her prelims.<br><br>

He accompanies her back to her container.  It’s been detached during her absence and someone has thoughtfully hooked it up with power.  Nice!  No banging and clanging while she does her prelims.<br><br>

The first thing he wants removed is a tattoo.  That’s always easy, she assures him. It’s lasered. And all the while, there’s something bugging her about the guy.  She talks on, letting the back of her mind work on the problem as she occupies the front of her mind with the prelims.  She asks to see his tattoo.  It’s a stylized eagle. Whoever did it, did it recently and with a low-grade ink. It’s not a prison tat or badly done, really. It was done quickly and well, just really lightly done.  As if with removal in mind.<br><br>

The first thing he wants removed is a tattoo.  That’s always easy, she assures him. It’s lasered. And all the while, there’s something bugging her about the guy.  She talks on, letting the back of her mind work on the problem as she occupies the front of her mind with the prelims.  She asks to see his tattoo.  It’s a stylized eagle. Whoever did it, did it recently and with a low-grade ink. It’s not a prison tat or badly done, really. It was done quickly and well, just really lightly done.  As if with removal in mind.<br><br>

She does a more thorough physical examination of his face and skin and something else pings her radar. His skin doesn’t have the usual responsiveness of everyone else’s to being pinched and pressed and prodded. In fact, he is very similar to Joshua—not in appearance but in that his connective tissues and his skin appear to have the same elasticity as Joshua’s.  If she had Joshua’s sonic caelum, she could zip this client into a new face in half the time a normal procedure would require. <br><br>

She does a more thorough physical examination of his face and skin and something else pings her radar. His skin doesn’t have the usual responsiveness of everyone else’s to being pinched and pressed and prodded. In fact, he is very similar to Joshua—not in appearance but in that his connective tissues and his skin appear to have the same elasticity as Joshua’s.  If she had Joshua’s sonic caelum, she could zip this client into a new face in half the time a normal procedure would require. <br><br>

Now Kiera’s heard of people in the Core getting blastomere skin implants. That’s nothing new or remarkable. It’s the combination of the blastomeres and the fact that the man’s obviously had work done to … what? Conceal something? Regain something? ''Something'' something.<br><br>

Now Kiera’s heard of people in the Core getting blastomere skin implants. That’s nothing new or remarkable. It’s the combination of the blastomeres and the fact that the man’s obviously had work done to … what? Conceal something? Regain something? ''Something'' something.<br><br>

He seems surprised and pleased.  And is that a tinge of relief coloring his words?<br><br>

He seems surprised and pleased.  And is that a tinge of relief coloring his words?<br><br>

Kiera examines his photos again, before and after the work he’d had done.  Normally when someone comes to a plastic surgeon to have work done, they want to end up prettier or handsomer than when they started.  This guy did it backward. His old face was an appealing trifecta of high cheekbones, straight nose and strong chin.  His current face is … unprepossessing and rounder in structure than the one he wears now.  The only really similar thing across both faces is the fact he’s Asian. no wonder he decided to change back, the real question is why change in the first place?<br><br>  

Kiera examines his photos again, before and after the work he’d had done.  Normally when someone comes to a plastic surgeon to have work done, they want to end up prettier or handsomer than when they started.  This guy did it backward. His old face was an appealing trifecta of high cheekbones, straight nose and strong chin.  His current face is … unprepossessing and rounder in structure than the one he wears now.  The only really similar thing across both faces is the fact he’s Asian. no wonder he decided to change back, the real question is why change in the first place?<br><br>  

She hides the sonic caelum in her lab coat pocket as he comes out of the general anesthesia.  He stirs, blinks awake, and tentatively feels his face.<br><br>

She hides the sonic caelum in her lab coat pocket as he comes out of the general anesthesia.  He stirs, blinks awake, and tentatively feels his face.<br><br>

She hands him one. He looks into it.  It takes a few minutes before he puts it down.  And as he’s inspecting his face, she’s just ticking off all the points on her mental list—he’s coming out of the anesthetic fast like Joshua, his skin is recovering fast like Joshua, he’s pretty calm about the change like Joshua …<br><br>

She hands him one. He looks into it.  It takes a few minutes before he puts it down.  And as he’s inspecting his face, she’s just ticking off all the points on her mental list—he’s coming out of the anesthetic fast like Joshua, his skin is recovering fast like Joshua, he’s pretty calm about the change like Joshua …<br><br>

So who the hell is in her chair?  Another Borrower like Joshua?<br><br>

So who the hell is in her chair?  Another Borrower like Joshua?<br><br>

He hands her the money.<br><br>

He hands her the money.<br><br>

A quick glance at the platinum pieces shows her it’s all in smaller denominations.  Not pennies, exactly, but more like nickels.  Kiera watches a moment as her client slides out of the chair far sooner than a normal patient would and checks another item off her list.<br><br>

A quick glance at the platinum pieces shows her it’s all in smaller denominations.  Not pennies, exactly, but more like nickels.  Kiera watches a moment as her client slides out of the chair far sooner than a normal patient would and checks another item off her list.<br><br>

As she talks, she’s gently ushering him out the door.  When he’s gone, she shuts the door and huffs in frustration.  If Rina had been more amenable, Kiera could have had faked documents ready for her client and made more money.  But no.  The engineer had refused to go along with the arrangement.  <br><br>

As she talks, she’s gently ushering him out the door.  When he’s gone, she shuts the door and huffs in frustration.  If Rina had been more amenable, Kiera could have had faked documents ready for her client and made more money.  But no.  The engineer had refused to go along with the arrangement.  <br><br>

So we go, quickly getting waved through the security gate. The noise from the repairs work is louder out here and Nika grimaces as we wait for Rina to pass through the gate. As usual, she’s getting a more thorough inspection.<br><br>

So we go, quickly getting waved through the security gate. The noise from the repairs work is louder out here and Nika grimaces as we wait for Rina to pass through the gate. As usual, she’s getting a more thorough inspection.<br><br>

Rina finally gets through the gate and when we’re around the corner, retrieves her usual suspects from Joshua.  We continue on to the training session. When we get there, we’re introduced to a youngish looking guy, the junior engineer tasked to train us and then go with us with the equipment when we leave. His name is Beglan Shea and he’s fresh-faced and earnest.  However, there’s something odd-seeming about him. He’s got more on the ball than he’s utilizing and it’s clear that he could get a better job if he applied himself.  That being the case, what’s a guy like him doing here? <br><br>

Rina finally gets through the gate and when we’re around the corner, retrieves her usual suspects from Joshua.  We continue on to the training session. When we get there, we’re introduced to a youngish looking guy, the junior engineer tasked to train us and then go with us with the equipment when we leave. His name is Beglan Shea and he’s fresh-faced and earnest.  However, there’s something odd-seeming about him. He’s got more on the ball than he’s utilizing and it’s clear that he could get a better job if he applied himself.  That being the case, what’s a guy like him doing here? <br><br>

He’s almost ridiculously polite. When we arrive at the hydrogen facility, there’s a moment when he and Joshua get stuck in an After-you/Oh-no-after-you exchange at the door. Kiera rolls her eyes and gives the pair of them a shove and walks in.<br><br>

He’s almost ridiculously polite. When we arrive at the hydrogen facility, there’s a moment when he and Joshua get stuck in an After-you/Oh-no-after-you exchange at the door. Kiera rolls her eyes and gives the pair of them a shove and walks in.<br><br>

Beglan Shea gives us a tour of the facility, showing us the hydrogen plant, the fueling station, the works. There’s even a tank in storage and he runs it through the process as a demonstration. <br><br>  

Beglan Shea gives us a tour of the facility, showing us the hydrogen plant, the fueling station, the works. There’s even a tank in storage and he runs it through the process as a demonstration. <br><br>  

Something that goes BOOM! if you’re not careful around it. Of course, it’s not five minutes before Rina starts jiggering with the design.  She pulls out one of her little notebooks and a pen and starts scribbling away in it, then holds up the page to show Beglan.<br><br>

Something that goes BOOM! if you’re not careful around it. Of course, it’s not five minutes before Rina starts jiggering with the design.  She pulls out one of her little notebooks and a pen and starts scribbling away in it, then holds up the page to show Beglan.<br><br>

And that’s all it takes.  Beglan launches into an explanation that is much more sophisticated than Rina’s implicit question and everyone gets a glimpse of the mind behind the polite exterior.  It’s obvious the man is wasted in his position and clearly he could be doing more elsewhere. Rina leans over to Joshua and says:<br><br>

And that’s all it takes.  Beglan launches into an explanation that is much more sophisticated than Rina’s implicit question and everyone gets a glimpse of the mind behind the polite exterior.  It’s obvious the man is wasted in his position and clearly he could be doing more elsewhere. Rina leans over to Joshua and says:<br><br>

It’s not clear if her warning is for Rina or Joshua. Then again, it could be for her.  Beglan Shea’s got a pronounced Irish accent—as befitting his name—and Nika’s currently enthralled by it. She’s not so much turned on by the man’s looks, she just likes his voice.  She closes her eyes and revels in it.<br><br>

It’s not clear if her warning is for Rina or Joshua. Then again, it could be for her.  Beglan Shea’s got a pronounced Irish accent—as befitting his name—and Nika’s currently enthralled by it. She’s not so much turned on by the man’s looks, she just likes his voice.  She closes her eyes and revels in it.<br><br>

Grinning, Rina decides to get some of her own back from Nika’s needling. <br><br>

Grinning, Rina decides to get some of her own back from Nika’s needling. <br><br>

And it takes a minute for the crew to work through the chit chat that follows. Arden is bored with the small talk and ignores it as he stands there and looks around.  We’ve been in hydro facilities before—most recently on Meridian, where Joshua shot Rina.  Or Rina shot Rina.  (The jury is still out on that one.)  The logos painted on the pipes are different and we’re standing inside a cavernous room housing the equipment to protect it from the variable weather outside but pretty much everything else is the same. Way over to the side, Arden notices a red light flashing over the door we came through and it’s shut now, instead of open as we’d left it.  Arden looks to see who’s closest.  It’s Joshua.<br><br>

And it takes a minute for the crew to work through the chit chat that follows. Arden is bored with the small talk and ignores it as he stands there and looks around.  We’ve been in hydro facilities before—most recently on Meridian, where Joshua shot Rina.  Or Rina shot Rina.  (The jury is still out on that one.)  The logos painted on the pipes are different and we’re standing inside a cavernous room housing the equipment to protect it from the variable weather outside but pretty much everything else is the same. Way over to the side, Arden notices a red light flashing over the door we came through and it’s shut now, instead of open as we’d left it.  Arden looks to see who’s closest.  It’s Joshua.<br><br>

Apparently Joshua’s not good enough.<br><br>

Apparently Joshua’s not good enough.<br><br>

She points to Rina. Beglan catches up with the side conversation and looks at the door.<br><br>

She points to Rina. Beglan catches up with the side conversation and looks at the door.<br><br>

He trails off and consults a security console. It’s screen is flashing a message: ''You Go Security Alert''. He taps the screen and reads the text that scrolls across it. He turns, his accent making him seem insouciant.<br><br>

He trails off and consults a security console. It’s screen is flashing a message: ''You Go Security Alert''. He taps the screen and reads the text that scrolls across it. He turns, his accent making him seem insouciant.<br><br>

He turns back to the keyboard and types in a few things.  Pulls up something.  Reads.  Sighs.<br><br>

He turns back to the keyboard and types in a few things.  Pulls up something.  Reads.  Sighs.<br><br>

The corporate offices, mind, that’s attached to the building we’re currently in.  Rina straightens up and focuses.<br><br>

The corporate offices, mind, that’s attached to the building we’re currently in.  Rina straightens up and focuses.<br><br>

Cuz for some reason, the designers of this place thought it was a good idea to have a liquid hydrogen processing facility in the basement of their corporate offices, instead of farther away.  If the hydro plant went up … <br>

Cuz for some reason, the designers of this place thought it was a good idea to have a liquid hydrogen processing facility in the basement of their corporate offices, instead of farther away.  If the hydro plant went up … <br>

They watch Rina as she starts looking around the room. You can practically see the woman switch gears from engineer to twitchy lab rat, head wires sparking, trying to figure the way out of the maze.<br><br>  

They watch Rina as she starts looking around the room. You can practically see the woman switch gears from engineer to twitchy lab rat, head wires sparking, trying to figure the way out of the maze.<br><br>  

Joshua goes over and takes Rina by the arm, pulls her aside: ''calm down''. <br><br>

Joshua goes over and takes Rina by the arm, pulls her aside: ''calm down''. <br><br>

The layout of the spaceport and city is a touch unusual thanks to the weather.  Everything is pretty close to everything else. One, there’s the spaceport, which is kinda small.  Two, we have the shops and the corporate offices just outside the spaceport.  And three, there’s this vast underground complex—the one we’re currently standing in—running below everything to protect it from the weather.  Tidal locking, you know, plays havoc with the climate.<br><br>

The layout of the spaceport and city is a touch unusual thanks to the weather.  Everything is pretty close to everything else. One, there’s the spaceport, which is kinda small.  Two, we have the shops and the corporate offices just outside the spaceport.  And three, there’s this vast underground complex—the one we’re currently standing in—running below everything to protect it from the weather.  Tidal locking, you know, plays havoc with the climate.<br><br>

And that’s why we’re in a largish hangar-sized room with processing equipment at one end and big tanks filled with liquid hydrogen at the other.  There are ships that scoop the hydro from the gas giant, bring it here, transfer it to get it purified, put into tanks and shipped out.  Some of the tanks are huge themselves, destined for the big ships. Others are smaller.  All are explosive.<br><br>   

And that’s why we’re in a largish hangar-sized room with processing equipment at one end and big tanks filled with liquid hydrogen at the other.  There are ships that scoop the hydro from the gas giant, bring it here, transfer it to get it purified, put into tanks and shipped out.  Some of the tanks are huge themselves, destined for the big ships. Others are smaller.  All are explosive.<br><br>   

Beglan picks up a comm and as he’s calling in for news, says to us:<br><br>

Beglan picks up a comm and as he’s calling in for news, says to us:<br><br>

He patches through to a headset and though we cannot hear what’s pouring into his ear, we can see his expression change.<br><br>

He patches through to a headset and though we cannot hear what’s pouring into his ear, we can see his expression change.<br><br>

Beglan returns to deliver the news. Concern colors his tone, as does his Irish accent.<br><br>

Beglan returns to deliver the news. Concern colors his tone, as does his Irish accent.<br><br>

Beglan is thrown by Kiera’s statement—both in content and the matter of fact way she delivers it.<br><br>

Beglan is thrown by Kiera’s statement—both in content and the matter of fact way she delivers it.<br><br>

Good to hear him say it.  For a minute there, it looked like his grasp of the obvious was faulty. Rina draws breath to say something but Joshua stops her.<br><br>

Good to hear him say it.  For a minute there, it looked like his grasp of the obvious was faulty. Rina draws breath to say something but Joshua stops her.<br><br>

Arden sits down at the terminal and starts hacking into it. He gains access to the security grid and decides against shutting down the system to the entire complex—it would call attention to our presence.  Instead, he uses the grid to look at the area just on the other side of the two doors leading out of the tank room. Beglan watches over his shoulder.<br><br>

Arden sits down at the terminal and starts hacking into it. He gains access to the security grid and decides against shutting down the system to the entire complex—it would call attention to our presence.  Instead, he uses the grid to look at the area just on the other side of the two doors leading out of the tank room. Beglan watches over his shoulder.<br><br>

Usually we’d be reining in Rina’s runaway paranoia right about now, but she says nothing. Which is pretty amazing, considering our associations—We, who foiled the Lex Talionis attempt to capture Mike on Highgate.  We, whose engineer is on their watch list. So what are the odds that the Lex Talionis would just unknowingly hit an installation we also happen to be at? <br><br>

Usually we’d be reining in Rina’s runaway paranoia right about now, but she says nothing. Which is pretty amazing, considering our associations—We, who foiled the Lex Talionis attempt to capture Mike on Highgate.  We, whose engineer is on their watch list. So what are the odds that the Lex Talionis would just unknowingly hit an installation we also happen to be at? <br><br>

We hustle over to the terminal and huddle around it to watch. Sure enough, a middle-aged man identifies himself as Ito Nakatomi and he has a list he’s reading from. We actually recognize some of the names from Mike’s trial: high ranking members of the PDF, other people in the Blue Sun body legislative.  He also mentions a couple of people who may be Lex Talionis members who were held on Highgate after some incident there.  (Never mind which, thank you … ) He is asking for the members to be released and the others to be surrendered to the Lex Talionis or a representative of the Alliance. Otherwise they will blow up the building. <br><br>  

We hustle over to the terminal and huddle around it to watch. Sure enough, a middle-aged man identifies himself as Ito Nakatomi and he has a list he’s reading from. We actually recognize some of the names from Mike’s trial: high ranking members of the PDF, other people in the Blue Sun body legislative.  He also mentions a couple of people who may be Lex Talionis members who were held on Highgate after some incident there.  (Never mind which, thank you … ) He is asking for the members to be released and the others to be surrendered to the Lex Talionis or a representative of the Alliance. Otherwise they will blow up the building. <br><br>  

Pictures of several dead bodies replace his head and shoulders on the screen. Interestingly enough, one of the dead people is Kiera’s client from the day before ...  '''''before''''' she worked on him. How is that possible?  Of course, Kiera is the only one who recognizes the body and she doesn’t say anything about it to the others.<br><br>

Pictures of several dead bodies replace his head and shoulders on the screen. Interestingly enough, one of the dead people is Kiera’s client from the day before ...  '''''before''''' she worked on him. How is that possible?  Of course, Kiera is the only one who recognizes the body and she doesn’t say anything about it to the others.<br><br>

Joshua turns from the screen to Beglan.<br><br>

Joshua turns from the screen to Beglan.<br><br>

On the screen we can see the terrorists have gathered the majority of the people in the building underneath a large observation dome with gardens and executive suites at the top of the building.  We look at the pictures closely, hoping to find any details that could help us.  The pictures are time and date stamped with our current time and day of the week and beyond the glass of the dome, we can see the weather outside has turned stormy.  Clouds roil just on the other side of the glass. <br><br>

On the screen we can see the terrorists have gathered the majority of the people in the building underneath a large observation dome with gardens and executive suites at the top of the building.  We look at the pictures closely, hoping to find any details that could help us.  The pictures are time and date stamped with our current time and day of the week and beyond the glass of the dome, we can see the weather outside has turned stormy.  Clouds roil just on the other side of the glass. <br><br>

Arden’s on the one door likeliest to let us out onto a corridor that might lead us back to our ship. He’s hacking into the lock mechanism.  Meanwhile Nika’s asking more questions.  How many people in the building?  Oh, about a hundred.  How many terrorists are there? We do a headcount of who we can see in the feeds.  About half a dozen.<br><br>

Arden’s on the one door likeliest to let us out onto a corridor that might lead us back to our ship. He’s hacking into the lock mechanism.  Meanwhile Nika’s asking more questions.  How many people in the building?  Oh, about a hundred.  How many terrorists are there? We do a headcount of who we can see in the feeds.  About half a dozen.<br><br>

Arden gets that door open handily enough and with a hiss, it slides aside.<br><br>

Arden gets that door open handily enough and with a hiss, it slides aside.<br><br>

Nika eyes the door with a critical eye.  It’s heavy duty, likely a blast door—considering what’s on our side of it, it makes sense.  She sticks her head past the jamb and looks around.  There’s a corridor outside but nothing that looks like a way immediately to outside or our ship.  We’re too deep into the facility for escape to be that easy and we’re not sure of the path out of here.  She regards the door again. If it closed behind us and we had to double back to the tank room …<br><br>  

Nika eyes the door with a critical eye.  It’s heavy duty, likely a blast door—considering what’s on our side of it, it makes sense.  She sticks her head past the jamb and looks around.  There’s a corridor outside but nothing that looks like a way immediately to outside or our ship.  We’re too deep into the facility for escape to be that easy and we’re not sure of the path out of here.  She regards the door again. If it closed behind us and we had to double back to the tank room …<br><br>  

She goes back to the feeds to watch the broadcast for a little longer, hoping to glean more intel on the terrorists.  Who’s rotating in and out? How long before they return? How many swap places? And so on. Watching it for an hour or so, it appears to be the same basic five people.  Some are moving around.  One has something like a lawn dart, but with a safety tip, and it sticks to the roof of the dome.  A little light comes on.  Those with demolitions experience (read: Rina) thinks it’s a wireless detonator. It’s well out of people’s reach, being 30 feet overhead.<br><br>

She goes back to the feeds to watch the broadcast for a little longer, hoping to glean more intel on the terrorists.  Who’s rotating in and out? How long before they return? How many swap places? And so on. Watching it for an hour or so, it appears to be the same basic five people.  Some are moving around.  One has something like a lawn dart, but with a safety tip, and it sticks to the roof of the dome.  A little light comes on.  Those with demolitions experience (read: Rina) thinks it’s a wireless detonator. It’s well out of people’s reach, being 30 feet overhead.<br><br>