From a un-informed view, such as the view of Bob, the physical location of the Arpeligo seemed impractical. Rather than have the station orbit a planet or moon or any other habitable celestial body, the station was place literally in the middle of nowhere. There was no other inhabited location, artificially manufactured or not, within parsecs of the station.

When Bob questioned this, after the ship and crew departed the station without incident and was how half a day out to their origin destination, Jalldrid took great pleasure in explaining to Bob not only why the station was placed in the most optimal point in the sector, but also why it was inevitable that the station would end up there considering the historical, cultural, and sociological events in the sector.

“You see Bob,” Jalldrid spoke, for once dropping the title citizen from his name in his enthusiasm, “In the past, the sector wasn’t ruled so completely by the Asdred family like it is now. There were several other clans that occupied it, each with lots of their own influence. At times they fought in petty conflicts with one another, and at other times they got along semi-peacefully. The station was actually built in the Orcion cluster by the Hulian klan 250 years ago. The station took two years to complete and was created in thirds using the three shipyards that Ocrian has. Then each section of the station was hauled three parsecs over to Carsini and assembled there.”

“Why Carsini?” Bob asked with genuine interest. He, Jalldrid, and Jerall sat comfortably on the small bridge together. Rafel and the three other members of the crew were on the lower deck, prepping the roto-engine and performing some last minute training on the new grappling equipment.

Bob added with a rare display of geographical knowledge, “Isn’t Carsini an uninhabited asteroid?”

“It wasn’t then,” Jerall called out from behind the helm, “The Hulian Klan mucked it all up!”

“Its true,” Jalldrid said eagerly, “The Asteroid at that time a chuck of rock with huge deposits of valuable ore inside, Eridium, valahite, and so on. The asteroid at the time was technically part of Asdred territory and the mining operation occurring there was under Asdred jurisdiction. It was a not so subtle move on Hulian’s part to extend their reach of influence by planting a huge fat trading station right next the mine. In one stroke, the Hulians basically annexed the mining operation on Carsini. And of course, the space station came with defenses.”

“So what happened then?” Asked Bob, catching Jalldrid’s enthusiasm, “How did the Asdred family react?”

“How do you think?” Came the rough reply from the engine room down below. Rafel stuck his head up the unsealed shaft leading towards the bridge and growled at Bob, “The two families started blowing each other into space dust and getting all the foundationers and planets caught up in the crossfire, just like they always do!” He turned to Jalldrid and said, “The roto-engine’s got an alignment issue, Jall.”

“Right,” Jalldrid responded, swinging into action, “what’s the ARGO’s fame level?” He moved swiftly past Bob and swung himself down the shaft.

“Its holding steady at O-.235,” Rafel said, letting Jalldrid pass by, “but you know that won’t last once the engine is put into serious action.”

“Right, right.” Jalldrid replied absentmindedly out of sight, his words echoing up the ship.

Rafel turned back to Bob. His black beady eyes were unreadable to him, but he grinned and said, “Don’t let this fool fool you! He’s got himself a real lay education, but what good does the past do for you when you can’t keep up with the present?” Without a word he swung down the shaft after Jalldrid.

Staring the down empty causeway, Bob asked aloud, “What did Rafel mean by the term ‘Foundationers’?”

“He means us.” Jerall responded matter of factly. In a practiced motion, she swung up from the helm seat and stood up stretching in the center of the bridge. At Bob’s surprised look she laughed and said, “The ship flies itself mostly. It’s only when we need some real maneuvering that somebody needs to be in the seat. I pilot most of the time because it is what I am good at. That and ordering people around.”

Bob considered her words. “Foundationers is the term for the Syllicons?”

Jerall nodded, “Yes, Syllicons is the official term that Citizens use with us. But there are lots of names, some more pleasant than others. Second class citizens are the most accurate I would say, but I think many Citizens prefer not to mingle even their names with us. We like to refer to ourselves as Foundationers ‘cause it identifies us as the foundation on the hierarchy pyramid in the empire.”

Bob nodded in understanding. With a loud plop, Jerall sat down in the Captain’s seat and it creaked slightly as she leaned back comfortably in in. “We’ll be arriving at our origin in a couple of hours,” she said conversationally, “Once there it will take a couple more hours to secure the goods in the roto-engine and get all the docu-pads impressed. After that it is a short trip to pick up our hiker and then it will be a five day trip to our destination where we will unload the goods. Then it’s back to the station.”

“You head back empty handed?” Bob asked with a frown, “I would have thought that you would string moves together so that you could maximize your travel time.”

Jerall paused at the sudden probe, but responded readily, “You’re right, that would make more sense. It used to be that way, only a couple years ago even. We could be away from the station for more than a month at a time taking job after job and always using the destination of one to be the origin of the other. It took careful planning and as always, a bit of luck. But since the Asdred and Hulian family started disputing with each other over territory two years ago, the number of jobs available to us has dropped significantly.”

“Trade has stagnated?”

Jerall shook her head, “No, the volume of hauling shipments hasn’t decreased significantly; their conflicts don’t disrupt the sector that much yet. But more and more areas are become danger zones. In the past two years, the number of danger zones increased significantly, logically lowering our available areas of business. Our contract with DRIAS has us only performing moves that occur within areas that are safely and away from any possible danger, you see. As you can probably tell,” Jerall threw her arm out appraisingly, “This ship would not do well if any kind of attack was thrown against her.”

Bob contemplated that and asked, “What would it take to be able to perform the moving in these “danger zones”? I take it the pay is better in the danger zones as well.”

Jerall sat forward and laughed. “Of course. But we would need a different ship!”

Bob raised an eyebrow, “Perhaps one you would purchase if I were with you?”

Jerall lost her smile. “Not even then,” she said bluntly, “Firstly, we weren’t planning on getting a different ship with at all. The plan would be to change our arrangement with Asdred and transform our agreement from a lease into a lease-to-own which would include a more reasonable payment schedule.” Bob nodded in acknowledgment. “Secondly,” she continued, “If we wanted to perform these so called, ‘danger moves’, it would require a special licensing and along with that an inspection to make sure the ship clears all the codes and standards for that that kind of work. As much as I love the renegade, it doesn’t have the shields, the armor, or even the coded engine power to obtain clearance.”

“But it meets the weaponry requirement?” Bob asked with a light smile.

Jerall rolled her eyes, “Its illegal for ships to have weapons. Only specifically authorized ships can have those. Professional mercenaries have them and when they are needed they are hired along with the transport as part of the contract in specific danger zones. Those kinds of zones are mainly threatened by pirates rather than the families.”

“And getting another ship is out of the question? One that could handle the danger moves?”

Jerall shook her head, “We couldn’t afford it, even if we had a generous payment schedule,” she turned and eyes him with a small smile, “Unless, of course, you provide a bunch of capital.”

Bob didn’t even respond, but looked away towards the starry setting outside the viewport. In the pause, the sounds of muted words and the groans of machinery moving filled the ship.

“Jerall…” Bob started.

“Please call me Captain when we are on board the ship,” Jerall interrupted calmly, “I’m sorry and I don’t mean it maliciously at all. When we are not on a job, you can keep calling me Jerall, but on the ship it is important to maintain a clear flow of command in case of a possible issue arising. All my crewmen do it, even my brother.”

“I understand, Captain,” Bob responded, and then added with a grin, “How did you two decide who was captain, anyway?”

The Captain huffed, “As if I’d let my little brother command the ship. Sure he’s got brains, but he doesn’t have the vision or the aptitude for command. He’s too soft!”

“I’m amazed at how well you too get along, considering how different you two are.”

Jerall shrugged, “We make up for each other’s weaknesses. Even I understand that without him Freeline wouldn’t exist.”

“Why did you two decide to do this any way? What were your goals?”

Jerall smiled at Bob, “Aren’t these questions getting a little personal?”

“Not at all.”

Bob’s reply was serious and Jerall cleared her throat apprehensively. “Well,” she said, thinking back, “It was my dream, not his. Our father had lived his life as one of the dispatchers within DRIAS and when he died I felt a terrible sense of uselessness in his career. Jalldrid says I should respect our father’s work more, but I don’t see the value in that type of desk job.”

“At the time I was working as an employee of Asdred Transportation, their hauling branch. When Dad went I decided that I needed to get out and do my own thing and since my skills were in this industry, it only made sense.”

“You dragged your brother along?”

Jerall smiled, “I took him with me just as much for him as it was for me. He actually had an education from the University of Terarsis and had only recently come back to the station. He would have been content with a mundane life like Dad’s but I knew that would be a waste of his talents. With his brains, we were able navigate our way through the bureaucracy and actually obtain company status.”

“How did you get the funds to start up the business?” Jerall scowled and Bob replied defensively, “hey, I am sorry if the questions seem too personal, but you must understand my need to understand this company completely.”

With a continued scowl, Jerall replied, “I had been planning to start my own enterprise for as long as I can remember and had been saving up as much as I could. However, that really wasn’t much. We got money from DRIAS when Dad died, and with that we were able to up front expenses and also set up an operating agreement with Asdred in regards to the ship. Also, business was good back then. If we had tried in this current climate we wouldn’t have made it.”

Bob nodded in acknowledgement. “Does Freeline have any mission statement of sorts, or official goals?”

Jerall blinked. “Goals? Yes we have a goal, our goal is to make money by doing the jobs.”

“Of course,” Bob replied with a smile, “but it is the goal of every business adventure to make money, true? I meant some sort of statement that defines the company’s policies and decision making whenever times get tough. You could even think of it as the company’s value and drive. Like say for instance you mission statement was, ‘To Achieve a sustainable enterprise through integrity and honest work’ or something or other like that.”

“Our goal when we started,” Jerall added persistently, “Was to be as independent from Asdred as possible. That is still our goal, but you won’t see that slogan framed up anywhere in the ship, if that is what you are asking.”

“No, but that’s okay.”

“I mean,” Jerall added earnestly, “I understand why those type of things may be important to big companies, but for us out here, we have to get along as best we can, scrapping out a living with every other creature. Those mission statements sound nice on paper, but in the reality, we have to what has to be done to survive.”

“I understand what you are saying,” Bob replied, holding his ground, “But I still believe it is a good idea for every company to have a least a guiding principle to support them during times of crisis. I fear that without one, a company could find themselves led astray.”

“Your line of thinking,” Jerall said looking hard at him, “Is one of romanticism only.”

Bob let that slide without comment and looked out the view port again. Jerall sighed and asked, “What is it you have on your mind, Citizen? I can tell you have something you want to say but are afraid to say it. As potential business partners, we need to be open with each other. Ask me any questions you have!”

Bob looked back, “I think that Freeline will need a new strategy and that the current way of things will not let it last, even if I were to join you. You believe that your trade will get better in the next few years?”

“Of course,” she boomed, “The petty fights between the families happen all the time, at least once a decade. Its always the same cycle, they start fighting over some planet or such, the free trade dwindles, after a couple years the fighting ends with different boundaries on either side and trade resume its normal course. It’s as Rafel said, we get caught in the crossfire every time the families have a bad day, but it always rebounds in the end. This time too, I believe that we have already past the low point in the fighting. It will be all uphill from here.”

“The conflict this time is bigger than you think,” Bob replied, “And it won’t end anytime soon.”

Jerall leaned back in her chair again. “On what basis have you determined that?” she demanded, then she added with light mockery, “Do you know the inner politics in the conflict?”

“I did some research into the industry last night,” Bob replied conversationally, “And you are correct when you talk about the swings the industry has taken in the last century due to the families inner fighting. As you say, it has happened many times before. But the current situation is different. Instead of fizzling out like it usually does, the fighting has only intensified. Both sides have suffered big losses over the last year, but neither side is anywhere near reaching a settlement. The differences between the two families are too great, and this particular conflict has been brewing for decades.”

“Nonsense,” Jerall challenged with a smile, “You do “some research” and now you are an expert? Where are you getting your information from? The Asdred’s and Hulain’s have fought countless times before and always reached a peaceful end. Why should this be any different?”

“A variety of reasons,” Bob answered thoughtfully, choosing his words with care, “In a way, you could say that all those previous fights were leading towards this culmination. Obviously, this is not my own analysis, but this is what I was reading last night. I can give you my sources if you want. The biggest factor here is simply the decline of imperial influence in this sector. In every other conflict in the past, it was the imperial family that forced peace. Other factors include a near equal balance of power between the two houses this time, Asdred economically and Hulains militarily, preventing either one from dominating the other. Another is also the quiet backing on both sides from allied houses in the form of supplies and sometimes actual military support. Not to mention that the fighting over the centuries between the two houses has created a deep hatred with one another and probably negates any ability to settle thing peacefully. Without an influx of strong imperial presence, I foresee not only this entire sector becoming embroiled in this, but other nearby ones as well.”

Jerall stared at Bob in disbelief and responded grumpily, “And how can you possibly know all this? Are you some banished prince from the Hulian house?”

Bob replied grumpily, “Hardly.”

“Seriously,” Jerall asked, sitting forward in her chair with agitation. “Where are you getting your information from? It sounds to me like bunch of words of doom and nothing more. The universe, much less the trade in this sector isn’t going to end because a couple families can’t keep their temper under control!”

“Why are you angry at me?” Bob asked, “Of course, the foundationers like yourselves will be affected less by the growing conflict than other people. But like you said, trade for you has had a significant decline. I suggest, for your own benefit, to get Freeline qualified to handle danger zones shipments if you wish to survive the continued conflict. The conflict is just going to get worse; the signs are everywhere.”

“What signs?” Jerall demanded, “Things are quiet at the station, I haven’t heard any of this stuff you are talking about. I stay up to date on industry news and trends too you know, but I haven’t seen anything like what you are talking about. Business is going on as usual and there are none of these signs you are talking about, unless you mean superstitious omens you might see around.”

Bob replied crossly, “Don’t omen me! These are clear factual events; let me list them off for you! Just yesterday the conflict area expanded into three new zones, and it’s predicted no zone will be clear of that stigma anytime soon. Heavy fighting occurred in the Orius system last night and there the Asdred forces were routed. New contracts have been signed with local mercenaries by the Asdred in response and the Frain family just promised to send additional supplies to them, this time not limited to food and medical supplies, but real weapons. Things are only escalating here, there is even rumor that Asdred has acquired an ICG Sential ARC wave and will be bringing it online soon. What other signs do you need?”

“How can you know that?!” Jerall final exploded leaping up from her seat.

“Why do you keep asking me that?!” was Bob’s heated reply.

For a moment Jerall was aghast. She ground her fingers together and spoke slowly as if every word had to be ripped off a hard loaf of bread, “Maybe because I want to know where you are getting your information from, Citizen??? None of this was reported on the galactic newsfeed this morning and the Orius system is a hundred parsecs away, no such communication can be sent that quickly!”

Bob looked back at her, his own disbelief on his face, “I got all from my head piece. That should be obvious. I course I can get reports that quickly from the netsphere.”

“No! Of course not,” Bob replied angrily, “don’t you know what a head piece is?”

“It’s a piece of metal made to make the citizens feel better about themselves.” Jerall snapped back.

Bob glared at Jerall. “You playing me, Captian? Are you telling me you don’t know?”

“Know what!?” Jerall snarled, looking ready to tear the offending man apart.

“its…” Bob started, “That’s not it at all! The head piece is the most advanced mechanism ever created. It what really sets Citizens and second class people apart; the access to the headpieces. How can you not know that?” Jerall only responded with a mute glare. Bob sighed and added, “Look, I’m sorry, I thought everybody knew. The Headpiece isn’t just some ceremonial wear, it’s an advanced piece of hardware that connects every wearer with every other wearer in the galaxy instantly. From it, I can gather practically any kind of data I may want. Last night, I looked into the current events in this sector along with several reports from journals as well as university studies. I did a proper market analysis, you know. You don’t have access to this stuff?”

Jerall only responded fierce whisper, “What?”

Bob shifted uncomfortably, “Look, I’m sorry; I didn’t know you didn’t know. But, I used it when I first met you in order to communicate, right? I had downloaded a program that translated for me. Obviously now I am using a standard comm link in order to speak, but I didn’t have that on me before.”

“Why aren’t you wearing it now?”

Bob paused, and then answered, “It’s in my quarters at the moment. I don’t like using it because it gives me a terrible headache and makes me nauseous. I’m not used to using it yet.”

Jerall stared down at Bob, who again shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t believe you.” She snapped after a moment.

Bob snarled back at her. “Fine.” he spat, throwing his hands in the air, “I don’t even care; believe what you want.” He turned and left the bridge, heading up towards the second deck. “I’m only an observer here anyway!”

Watching him leave, Jerall sat down slowly into her Captain’s chair and nibbled on the ends on of her long brown fingers. She stared out the view port vacantly.

Loud clumping sounds indicated the approach of her brother from down below. “I thought I heard some yelling up here,” Jalldrid said as he climbed up into the bridge. He looked around as he entered, “Where did the Citizen go? You didn’t yell at him did you?” When Jerall didn’t respond, he added uncertainly, “Captain?”

“He’s gone to his quarters,” she suddenly spoke bringing her attention to her brother. “He said he was tired.”

“Oh,” Jalldird replied, shifting his weight from on leg to another and wiping his dirty hands on a rag. “You know,” he added, “Try not to upset the Citizen, Captain. I know he’s not like any citizen… I mean, he’s not like how we imagined citizens would act like. But still, he is a citizen; we should be treading carefully around him. Don’t forget section 17.”

“Right.” she said absently.

“Right,” Jalldrid replied slowly. He clapped his hands together, “well, the roto-engine has been re-aligned; we should be ready to go when we reach origin. Any particular orders before we arrive?”

“no, nothing special.”

“great,” he said already on his way up to the upper deck, “in that case I’ll make my way to the galley and prepare a little something for the guys. Would you like anything?”

“What is your take on the current family conflict?” Jerall asked suddenly twisting around to see her brother halfway gone.

“Err,” he responded, flat footed, “Well, what do you mean?”

“I mean, is this conflict really going to end soon? We won’t survive in this environment much longer.”

Jalldrid shrugged, “Its gotta’. I understand you are worried, but these all end the same way. The families throw a fit; throw the sector into chaos for a little bit. The imperial family steps in and calms things down and then it turns back to normal. It’s how they entertain themselves, I guess. It’ll end soon, you see. I think things are already looking up.”

Jerall nodded, looking away again.

“Soooo, did you need anything?”

With a flick of her hand she replied that she was good.

“Good.” With a twist he was gone. In under an hour later the renegade arrived at their origin.