Even before the ground car before it came to a full stop at Ground Base Tihab for Empire Wide Transit, Lia Du Passa got out. She didn’t even wait for her body guards to go ahead of her as she usually did and ignored her friends, Biana Lee Appa of the planet Roina, call to wait. One of the few people who actually could do that, Biana was almost as rich as Lia but much less threatening intellectually. Therefore she was comfortable for Lia.

Struggling out of the car behind them both was Lia’s assistant, Lilly Nanta, a very bright woman from a poor planet in the sixth cluster. Originally sent to higher education on a scholarship, she had joined a star builder affiliate and come to the notice of a senior executive. Becoming his mistress, she had wormed her way into the position of assistant to the owners’ sister and was feared for a vindictive nature, almost as bad as her mistresses.

Where they had arrived was the loading area for private craft. As required, Lilly showed her credentials followed by the others. Accepted by the system, each member of the boarding party was given a biometric scan. The two were correlated and the five were allowed into the boarding lounge. Their luggage would go separately.

Not even trying to hide her impatience, Lia stalked into the lounge area. Even though it was almost the twenty second period, there were still a large number of people around.

“How long?” She snapped at her assistant. A fit and attractive woman of medium height and dark hair, she was dressed in expensive but comfortable traveling clothes. Long dark hair fell down her back contrasted with her rather pale skin, Dark eyes that never seemed to smile were separated by a fashionably thin nose.

“Lia sweetie,” Biana, her best and only friend cooed, “don’t be such a bag, it will be fine.” She dropped into a chair and signalled a waiter. “I don’t know why you have to leave in such a rush anyway.” The waiter arrived and took the order, a cool drink with a fair amount of punch.

“The company shuttle is ready, they just have to complete formalities with ground control and get a slot with the SS White Blaze. Then we can board.” Lilly Nanta informed her employer.

“We can’t board and wait?” Lia frowned.

“Sorry, Miss Lia, we can’t.” The comm unit pinged. “Ground clearance is given and the captain expects a slot any time.”

“Good.” Lia settle back in her chair. The two body guards, ex troopers both of them, took positions on either side of the group. Armed only with a spring loaded baton, they were not allowed to carry any lethal weapons on Tihab, never mind that criminals flouted the law as regards this regularly. While they might have ignored the law on occasion, trying to get a firearm of any type through transit security was not recommended. The Legion and the police would have been notified, and they would have no sense of humour over such an item.

Biana’s drink arrived and was tasted with appreciation.

Finally, although it was less than point oh five of a fraction later, permission to board was given. Lia’s look of relief was palpable. Biana kept her drink as they boarded. “I so love space travel, don’t you Lia sweetie.”

Lia grunted, she thought at times that Biana was a pain to be around, but Lia didn’t have that many friends, besides, Biana was easy to deal with. A rather plain woman, Biana was equally well dressed although more relaxed and easy going.

“Come on.” Her friend said. “You build the things, you must like it.”

“Never thought of it.” Lia replied.

“Why are you so tense anyway, you have never been like this before?” Biana looked puzzled.

“I had to rush this trip, got an urgent message, and you know how I hate being rushed.” Lia smiled. Biana was the only person she could be comfortable with so she didn’t want to upset her. Besides, Biana was totally unaware what was going on around her. That made her easy company.

*********

Sitting a few seats back, Lilly Nanta was on her comm unit. Officially she did not know what her employer was up to. No fool however, Lilly was aware in general what was going on. Carefully, she had worked to cover their tracks, as like her employer, she wanted out of this system. The return of the Dark Lord had upset her mistress, but it had terrified Lilly who had grown up with many of the stories detailing the powers and actions of their sovereign, including the riot at the end of the last Day of Hearing, stories grown in the retelling.

*********

The cabin attendants expertly checked their charges, liberating Biana’s drink with a smiling promise to return it. Seeing that the cabin was in order, they informed the shuttle captain.

With no felt acceleration the shuttle lifted off. They travelled in silence, Biana, having recovered and consumed her drink. Half a period later they were closing onto their destination, a Galaxy class luxury star ship called SS White Blaze. This craft was renowned for two things, the opulence and ostentatious of its decor, as well as the high quality of its service to their guests. The costs of travelling on such a craft was beside the point to those who travelled on the White Blaze, they could afford it.

Docking was quickly accomplished, both the flight and cabin crew being experienced and professional. They had also flown with Lia Du Passa before and while they never had experienced any major delays, they knew that even a minor one was enough to incur her wrath. The craft entered into the appropriate bay and waited out the pressurising routine.

“Finally, let’s get out of here.” Lia muttered. Without a word to the crew she disembarked and stalked with her body guards to the entry lock into to the star ship.

With a smile and a tipsy thanks, Biana followed her, while Lilly completed the groups exit. The cabin crew refrained from exchanging glances and kept their smiles firmly pasted to their faces, meanwhile the docking bay crew transferred the luggage, strangely light on this occasion.

*********

The very attractive senior cabin attendant adjusted her tight fitting jacket and with a nod to her equally attractive partner, touched the icon that closed the door. They took their seats and signalled the control deck that they were ready to depart. “Thanks,” the pilot replied then switched to comm the White Blaze.

“White Blaze, Shuttle Star Builder ready to depart.”

“Depressurising now.” A fraction later. “Bay clear, you may depart.”

“Thank you … Shuttle is clear. Good flight.”

“Thanks, safe trip down.” The SS White Blaze closed their com out.

“Thanks, shuttle out.” The com was switched to the ground frequency.

“Ground, Shuttle Star Builder. On way back in. Request landing instructions’.”

“Star Builder, ground, stand by for instructions. There is a change. Maintain heading.”

Surprised, the two pilots looked at each other. There should not be any changes to their routine.

*********

Back in the cabin, the two attendants relaxed. “She was quieter than normal.” The junior of the two said after a fraction.

“Thank whatever god you honour that was the case.” The senior replied.

“Well that trip was good for a change.” The junior commented, looking out a viewing port she suddenly sat up. “Hey we are going past the transfer station.”

“Must be picking something up urgent.” The senior attendant kicked of her shoes.

*********

On the flight deck, the crew was getting anxious. “Ground control, Star Builder, request instruction on landing procedures please.”

“Star Builder, ground, transferring you to Legion control.”

The two pilots starred at each other. “Ah ground, what is going on?” The second officer asked quietly, legion control replied.

“Shuttle Star Builder, Legion control. Change course to 292 and engage auto landing Z2245. Do not deviate, we have you on screen.”

“Legion control, shuttle, changing course, auto landing engaged as instructed.”

“What the hell is going on?” the pilot muttered to the second officer. That worthy just shook his head. Both were nervous. Both having served as pilots in the legion, they knew just what we have you on screen, meant. They were being tracked and a weapon was locked on them.

A fraction later, they were landing a Legion fleet base, and had a reception.

“By the fire god that looks like a platoon,” The second stared, “and they have heavy weapons out there. What are they expecting?”

“Better warn the cabin.” The pilot touched a stud. “Cabin, we are landing at a fleet base,” he paused, “we have guests, a lot of them.”

*********

The two attendants exchanged stares, shocked. The senior scrambled upright and put her shoes on as the craft touched down. Before either could stand, the door opened and two armed troopers bounced in.

“Stay put,” had the two women frozen in place. More troopers and ratings came onboard and there were the sounds of cargo doors opening.

An officer ran forward, followed by two pilots, the control deck was suddenly crowded.

*********

A senior officer boarded just as the two shuttle pilots were escorted from the control deck. The officer, a General Major by his rank insignia, cast an impassive glance at the two attendants, then glanced at the pilots, to their surprise he laughed.

“Told you not to take that job! Now look what it got you Marven!”

The senior pilot grimaced and then laughed. “I guess that you were right Coll. Opp's you’re a general now I see, always the go-getter.”

“That’s right.” He nodded to the officer escort. The Pilots were escorted off as another nod went to the officer now with the attendants. They were also removed.

With a mental shrug, the General left the shuttle and reported to the marshals’ office. The crew were all interviewed by cleared members of the security police, revealing minor gems from conversations over heard. They would all, after interrogation, be released without charges.

From the shuttles log several more gems were also extracted, places that had been visited that were not on the list of places owned by either Slav di Naska or Lia Du Passa, Star Builders or any of their affiliates. The coordinates and addresses were passed onward and the new locations came under surveillance.