Hans,
Not sure exactly what you’ve gotten yourself into, but I’m glad you
trusted me enough to let me help you out. If you manage to pull this off then
I’ll be waiting to spring you out when you get here. I should be able to hide
you for a bit, but there is no way you can go undetected for long on Earth outside
of a very few places like the Sanctuary.
I’ll get you a meeting with the Admiral. He knows the kind of person I
am and while he’s not a member, he does agree with us and approves of our goal.
I’m sure you’ll be able to trust him with whatever it is that you know. It’ll
be good to see you again if, or rather when, you make it.
Cheers, Alfonzo.
For the next few hours Hans sat and worked at memorizing all
the details he could so that they would be able to pull off what they had
planned. There were a few more things that he would need to make it a viable
plan as well that he hadn’t thought of before. He’d need to get a hold of
Chimmey for these items as well. It would look suspicious for him to buy these
things in the middle of the night.
Hans sent the message and was surprised at how quick Chimmey
replied telling him where and when to meet him. Hans wasted no time and headed
straight out for the meeting place mentioned – a small café that was actually
very close to where he lived. It was
always open and Hans had to admit that it was the perfect sort of place to
meet.
He had only been here once before, but it had left quite the
impression on him. It was bright, well lit with giant booths that almost
guaranteed privacy. There were always people in here, but it was never full.
Even at this time there were five other people in the place by the time Hans
arrived and that did not include Chimmey who was waiting in one of the back
booths where he said he would be.
Hans slid into the seat across from Chimmey and ordered a
drink from the automated menu. It was also one of the other good thing about
this place, no servers – just the automated system and the noticeable security.
“I was not expecting to hear from you so soon. What is it
that I can do for you?” Chimmey spoke in a low voice so as not to be overheard.
“I wasn’t expecting to have to contact you so soon either. I
need a few things by tomorrow as well. It’s important that I have these
things.” Hans pushed the list that he had made earlier across the table to Chimmey
at the same time as drink order arrived. Hans sipped at the caffeinated
beverage as Chimmey read carefully through the list.
“I can do this. It’s an interesting list, but as I said, it
is not my business what you do with my products, I am only in the business of
supply and demand not information.” Chimmey slid the list into his front pocket
and stood to leave, but stopped halfway out of his seat before sitting down
again. “I know I say this is none of my business, but after your warning
tonight I have to ask one thing.”
“I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to answer you.” Hans
decided that it was better to let the question be asked than to refuse it and
raise further suspicion.
“All your requests of me, they have all been related
somehow. I’m very curious about what you’ve been up to, but I won’t ask that.
What I want to know is if I’ll be able to find out one day why you are doing
what you’re doing?” Chimmey asked.
“I think one day everyone is going to know what we’ve been
doing.” Hans said. It was a safe enough answer because it was true. Everyone
would know soon enough if they succeeded.
Chimmey just nodded and got out of the booth. He tapped his
front short pocket and nodded at Hans before leaving. Hans finished off his
drink before leaving. It had been a late night already and tomorrow was going
to be even longer.
*****
Hans was nervous the next day at work as he waited for the
package to arrive via courier. Duke and Honora had both checked in several
times already. Anyone watching would have seen the stress on all their faces,
but for now they all had to act like business as usual.
At exactly 1400 hours the courier arrived with the package
and Hans signed for it directly. He took it straight into his office and looked
through the packages to be sure that everything he had asked for was in there. Hans
smiled as he opened the packages and discovered that there were a few extra
items that he hadn’t expected – including a small note from Chimmey.
I have a feeling
you’ll find some of these items useful. No charge.
Hans collected all
the items and placed them into a crate in the corner of his office. There were
just a few things that he needed to borrow from work to get everything they
needed. Hans locked his office door on his way out and walked across the
hangar. He smiled and acknowledged those who called out to him as he went by.
Hans opened a storage locker on the far side of the hangar
that contained some of the items that he needed. He grabbed three rebreathers
and glanced back over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching him. He
slipped the items into one of the stocking crates that were piled up beside the
locker. He walked over to the next locker with the crate.
Hans punched in the keycode for the locker and opened this
one with more an extra glance around, but no one was paying any attention to
what he doing. He grabbed three small arms from the locker and dropped those
into the crate as well. He closed the locker quickly and took another glance
around.
He had one last locker that he wanted to visit although
Chimmey’s additions to his package meant that it wasn’t quite as necessary, but
Hans wanted to be prepared. He carried the crate to the largest locker. He
didn’t pay much attention to what he was grabbing out of this one. He just pulled
random packages off the shelves and dropped them into the crate as well.
Hans started back to his office when one of the techs called
him over. Hans walked over and placed down the crate a few feet away, happy
that the guns were well covered by the food packages. “Hi Mattie, what’s up?”
“I was just doing the work for this new shuttle and I found
a few discrepancies between what we were told and what the PID is showing.”
Mattie held up her mobile diagnostic pad for Hans to see. He gave it the once
over.
“I’ll give them a call and I’ll see about getting this
sorted out. Just forward those results to my office.” Hans turned to go and
grab the crate as Mattie set about sending the details to him.
“Stocking up for a party boss?” Mattie called as he walked
away. Hans nearly froze in his tracks, but as he turned around he pinned a
smile to his face and laughed.
“Yup, nothing like a bit compressed food bars to lighten up
any party. Actually, I was just going to write these off these since they’re
about to expire soon. Might as well get to it now rather than have them
accidentally end up on a flight.” Hans smiled and headed back to his office
relieved that she hadn’t bothered to ask any more questions.
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