The Venality Effect: Two Clients

By James E Taris

The most powerful organised crime families are under siege.

Unknown assailants are targeting powerful crime syndicates throughout the Carina Region. Suspecting that high ranking officials in the Interstellar Colonial Administration are involved, Commissioner Charles Rathau hires private investigator Ellie Reece to investigate.

Ellie begins her investigation and quickly finds herself hindered by legalities and a lack of verifiable evidence. A witness eventually leads her to seek assistance from Harrison Carver, the leader of a powerful organised crime syndicate who also has a vested interest in the killings. The alliance with Carver enables Ellie access to resources and information inaccessible to law enforcement agencies. The asking price for this assistance—information.

With Carver's backing, Ellie embarks on a quest that will take her into the dark underbelly of four star systems. Time runs short and Ellie's 'second' client comes under threat. Is this a gang war? The assailants are near undetectable, except for the fact they are using weapons and equipment right off I.C.A inventories. Ellie digs deeper and soon uncovers a conspiracy far, far worse than what the Commissioner fears. A conspiracy that has the potential to effect entire worlds and the lives of billions...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Oct 31, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543406184

Book preview

THE VENALITY

EFFECT

TWO CLIENTS

JAMES E TARIS

Copyright © 2018 by James E Taris.

Cover Artwork by Jamie Evans

                   ISBN:                   Softcover           978-1-5434-0619-1

                       eBook               978-1-5434-0618-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 10/31/2018

Xlibris

1-800-455-039

www.Xlibris.com.au

771436

To both the lovers of science fiction and crime fiction…read on.

The Author wishes to express thanks to Luke Gordon.

I would never have gotten this project off the ground without your gracious assistance.

The Author wishes to acknowledge the Atomic Rockets website by Winchell Chung, and it’s contributors for being an invaluable resource on ‘keeping the science accurate’…or the best that I could.

CONTENTS

Chapter One

The Client

Chapter Two

Olesya

Chapter Three

Gunner Davis

Chapter Four

Meeting At The Museum

Chapter Five

Alpine Retreat

Chapter Six

Boss Carver

Chapter Seven

Two Seperate Sources

Chapter Eight

The Enya Dixon Recordings

Chapter Nine

Carver’s Assertions

Chapter Ten

Justin Montague

Chapter Eleven

The Moon Of Xalau Iii

Chapter Twelve

The Smuggler’s Tale

Chapter Thirteen

The Faceless Man

Chapter Fourteen

An Offer

Chapter Fifteen

Captain Coffey’s Recollection

Chapter Sixteen

Different Theories

Chapter Seventeen

The Next Report

Chapter Eighteen

Xalau X

Chapter Nineteen

Captain Hunt’s Testimony

Chapter Twenty

Alicía D’ambra’s Account

Chapter Twenty–One

Alicía’s Dirty Little Secrets

Chapter Twenty–Two

Iredi

Chapter Twenty–Three

Gènesis Marucarío’s Statement

Chapter Twenty-Four

The Repthorne Hit

Chapter Twenty-Five

Tracking The Faceless Man

Chapter Twenty–Six

The Dé Oesté Family

Chapter Twenty–Seven

Diversions

Chapter Twenty–Eight

The Warehouse Investigation

Chapter Twenty–Nine

The Rising Body Count

Chapter Thirty

The Fall Of The Dé Oesté Crime Family

Chapter Thirty–One

Confronting The Faceless Man

Chapter Thirty–Two

Confrontation In The Board Room

Chapter Thirty–Three

The Pursuit Continues

Chapter One

THE CLIENT

Lake Callovia could be seen between the tall buildings, although the opposite shore was not visible. The yellow sun was edging closer to the water horizon. It was evident the days were becoming shorter as winter drew closer.

Early that morning the weather reporter on Metro News Early Edition forecast snow for this evening. Ellie adjusted the window tint against the bright afternoon sunlight. Through the wall-to-ceiling window she could see rows of gravitic aircars and trucks flying between the skyscrapers, high above large gravitic airships carried passengers and cargo northwards to the industrial suburbs and the spaceport beyond.

This large industrialised city seemed to be the perfect location for her client. It was more than just another huge industrial megalopolis, it was also the planet’s capital.

The world of Usinnia was chosen by the Anti-Corruption Commission for its Carina Region headquarters. Ellie assumed the decision was due to its distance from Tashen, the capital world of the Scorpii Association, and any undue influence of state politics.

Maintaining distances from political and bureaucratic influence was one aspect of how they operated. Impartiality was crucial for the Anti-Corruption Commission’s ability to function. Separation from planetary, state and Federal political influence enabled it to monitor and act against corruption within all three tiers of government.

The A.C.C did employ its own investigators, all of whom carried considerable legal powers. Yet, despite this, their investigation agents had jurisdictional limits. The most notable restriction was astrographic. Sometimes the A.C.C needed an investigator who can work beyond limitations imposed by interstellar space. Agents who could operate without the legal constraints imposed by borders. Selection of people with the desired criteria was done with extreme care. Sometimes the prerequisites sounded strange, but logical once all the details were revealed.

Specifically they had asked for someone who could speak Terranic as their native tongue regardless if the applicant was Terran or not. As there existed many worlds inhabited by humans from a non-Terran background where the language was spoken as the native tongue this request was easily met. Being human was mandatory as the A.C.C mentioned their concerns were mostly confined to worlds inhabited by humans.

Another requirement, and one stipulated often in the briefing, was for an investigator to originate from a world that is not part of the Scorpii Association, Carina Union or the Carina Borderworlds. This request further stipulated the investigator must not come from any world within any of the colonial territories adjacent to these three states. Details as to the reasons had not been elaborated on other than ‘impartiality’ issues. No emotional attachments, at least not within 100 light-years of the Scorpii Association’s spinward border was another requirement. In the original message this last point sounded more like a hinted warning.

Standard legal issues were mentioned…more as an addendum. Requirements such as a valid private investigator’s licence, weapons licences and permits and valid interstellar travel documentation, the usual. Naturally they wanted someone familiar with the Carina Region, its worlds, species, races and cultures. Possession of, or access to, spacecraft capable of interstellar travel was mandatory, which sounded rather obvious given all the previous demands.

Ellie met all these requirements, although she did not personally own a starship, she could access one easily enough at any spaceport, and if necessary, she could always get a charter.

An official A.C.C Personal Messenger Courier drone delivered instructions for her appointment. The PMC also delivered her prearranged hotel booking documentation. Ellie was to be collected at a specific time in the lobby of the Capital Plaza Downtown Hotel, in the city centre.

At fourteen-forty hours Ellie took the elevator down to the lobby. Like the lobbies in other five star rated hotels, this hotel’s lobby was a grand affair. Towering gold columns over wide open spaces with the long reception desk on one side. Manning the ornate reception counter was several smartly dressed human staff.

Human staff not robots or realistic holograms controlled by the hotel’s artificial intelligence, but real, flesh-and-blood people. Employment of such salaried staff in these positions indicated the hotel was both upmarket and profitable.

Ellie looked around at the other guests as she walked across the lobby. She spotted guests checking in and others checking out, many accompanied by porter drones or robots. Some guests were accompanied by self propelled robotic suitcases. Many of these people appeared to be business types dressed in expensive suits. For the majority, their clothing followed the two toned colour schemes of black and grey or black and white with shades in-between that was in the current winter fashion. The sound of their polished footwear clacked loudly on the gold and black marbled floor tiles.

One man she noticed standing near the entrance stood out from the other guests and visitors, although he too was dressed in an expensive black and grey business suit. She noticed this gentleman had not taken off his heavy winter coat. She noticed this individual’s body language was different. In her estimation this man was not acting suspicious, instead he seemed to be waiting so she decided to approach him.

The man did not walk away, instead he just stood there…waiting. He appeared local, or at least his body language indicated familiarity with his surroundings. Ellie noticed his toned muscular physique pressing against his suit. His hair was neat and cut short, brown in colour with shots of grey and the top spiked. He looked at her with distant familiarity with his hazel eyes. His expression indicated he recognised her from images or holograms he had seen on some official file. When he spoke it was with a Usinnian accent, confirming he was a local.

The man took out his small palmputer from his coat pocket and activated with his thumb. Ellie recognised it as an Opticon 80 Mobile Office palmputer. He glanced at the small blue holographic display and then turned it off and put it back in his pocket. Tall in stature he had to look down at her. Elektra Reece? he asked.

Yes, but Ellie is just fine. Although ‘Elektra’ is her correct first name she was not overly fond of it.

As you wish, I’m Marott, I’m here to take you to Commissioner Rathau, He tilted his head to indicate the door, I have a car waiting outside.

I’m ready, Ellie said, she indicated the door with a gesture of her hand.

Marott lead the way outside where it was cold, so cold their breaths crystallised in the air.

Just over here, Marott said as he pointed at the white aircar sedan parked nearby.

Ellie assumed he must have been either a skilled navigator of the city’s roads or the car had the best SatNav system because he actually managed to find a parking spot close to the hotel amongst the heavy traffic. The road was full of wheeled ground traffic and above them the flight corridors were swarming with aircars.

Marott tapped his finger on the driver side window. Nanofibres inside the glass scanned his fingerprint and the car’s computer confirmed his identity before unlocking the door. Another tap on the accessories display and he had the front passenger door opened.

Ellie sat in the passenger seat and placed her attaché case between her feet. Marott’s car was warm with heaters built into the black leather seats.

Like all ground and aircars on Usinnia the steering controls were located on the left with right-hand traffic rules for both roads and flight corridors, opposite to what it was on Ellie’s homeworld. These little things were all part of the adjustment any traveller between different worlds needed to be aware of. Language, culture and customs were other aspects the wise traveller noted.

Language, for example, was no problem as everyone on Usinnia spoke Terranic. For currency, Ellie had converted her money to the Scorpii Association’s currency at the bureau de change at the spaceport (where their were no additional fees charged, unlike the banks in the city).

As Marott raised the car into the upper expressway flight corridor, Ellie thought on the cultural part of the wise traveller’s awareness, specifically the culture of law and order.

Every planet had its rules and regulations. First came Federal laws that every world in the vast Galactican Federate followed. Then came the state laws (territorial laws in the territories) all member worlds adhered to. Finally, planetary laws imposed by each planet’s government. Differences existed between each world and visitors needed to be aware of these deferences, besides, it was considered polite to respect the laws of the world being visited, or so she believed.

Have you been to Usinnia before? Marott asked.

Once before, Ellie replied. The first time I was just passing through, a brief stopover on the way to Solis-Carinae.

Marott appeared to be uninterested in the traditional tourist talk. Conversations that normally began with personal questions such as what planet are you from? Before proceeding into dull two-way travelogues, besides, Marott had information on where she came from along with other personal details on his palmputer, and he had already read them back at the hotel, still it did limit conversation options.

Did you enjoy your flight here? Marott asked.

Yes, I did, Ellie replied. Her interest was more on the city’s features and layout. Assuming she might have to work on Usinnia for some time she thought it prudent to learn as much about the planet as possible, starting with this city. Ellie recalled entries from the Galactic Tourist Guide about this city called Dessen.

A large, sprawling urban area along the eastern shoreline of Lake Callovia. It was one of many such cities on this industrialised planet and differed only in the fact it was the planetary capital. More useful information included various cultural sites and tourist attractions she could use as landmarks and reference points.

Ellie studied the architecture of the buildings as the aircar flew above the city. She noticed how the buildings reflected Usinnia’s status as the ‘economic powerhouse’ of the rimward half of the Scorpii Association. Blocky and industrialised in appearance, they all had pipes, conduits and external heavy duty utility systems along the walls and rooftops. Spires were common on the tallest buildings, but it was the ornate stained glass windows and artistic ornamentation adorning the rooftops and façades that caught her attention.

Stone, marble and brickwork appeared to be the favourite building materials, and this did give the city an old fashioned look, especially when the external pipes and conduits were added.

Ellie found the glass work impressive both in scale and artistic expression. Many windows in the buildings had various colours and patterns, some abstract others depicting images of people and events. Sky bridges and elevated railroads and freeways were just as common with the largest structures being connected by multiple sky bridges. Capping the tallest skyscrapers were gravitic airship terminals.

Marott flew out of the city centre and high over the inner suburbs. Below buildings became shorter but still retained the same architectural styles as the skyscrapers in the city centre. Further out was another cluster of towering skyscrapers, all surrounding one massive two kilometre high hyperscraper.

Marott noticed Ellie had turned her attention towards the buildings. That’s the governmental district, the tall building in the centre is the seat of the planetary government.

The seat of the planetary government, Ellie thought, a tower of power.

The Anti-Corruption Commission is located in the Federal Government District not far from here, Marott said. He pointed at the planetary government tower.

Ellie looked at the cluster of buildings surrounding the central planetary government. To the north-east was the twin towers of the Federate Centre and the Scorpii Association State Government Office. The buildings of the various government departments was located east and west of the two towers. Marott turned the car towards the twin towers.

Ellie noticed the change in the flight corridor designation on the dashboard display, it was still listed as green—unrestricted civilian access.

You can access any government service you need down there, Marott said. I even go there every year to renew my drivers licence.

Why not do it online? Ellie asked.

Sometimes you just have to get out of the house, Marott replied.

In this weather? Ellie asked. With winter starting being inside a nice warm house was preferable to being outside in the cold.

I don’t mind the cold weather, you get use to it after a while, Marott replied. If I had the cash I’d be up there, he said as he pointed at the snow-capped mountains far to the east.

Winter sports were popular on Usinnia, according to Worlds of the Galactican Federate. Usinnia boasted hundreds of different types of winter activities, festivals and sports. Up in the mountains the ski resorts were preparing for the busy winter holiday season.

Marott changed course again and the flight corridor display on his dashboard changed to yellow indicating they were approaching a restricted corridor. Marott tapped out a series of numbers and letters on the holographic keyboard above the dashboard. The flight corridor display changed to blue and the keyboard deactivated. He turned east again and flew toward another building located at the edge of the Federal Government Centre.

As they flew past the twin towers Ellie looked at the large open plazas and roadways below where she saw people with business to conduct with government departments. She also spotted the thirty story car park tower and the adjacent shopping complex.

That’s the Supreme Court over there, Marott said as he tilted his head left.

Ellie looked out the window at the huge ornate building of polished grey marble and thick conduits sitting in the centre of an immense open plaza. In the centre of the plaza was a six hundred foot tall, solid gold statue of a woman with her arms stretched out holding a sword in one hand and balanced scales in the other—the traditional statue of justice. Cyanophoric nanoemitters in the sword blade made it glow with blue light at night. The light of justice shines down upon the darkness of corruption—Ellie recalled some politician saying that on the holovision.

Ahead was the Department of Agriculture building, an ugly looking thing that appeared to have been built out of pipes and connected by six sky bridges to the adjacent Department of Mines and Primary Industries, both state government departments.

Further north was the thick solitary tower of the Department of Defence, also known by the locals as The Fortress, and for good reason. Four thousand years ago it was the planet’s Federate Military Command Centre for Usinnia until expansion of the capital city swallowed it up.

Now that is one ugly looking building. The DoD could have at least asked one of their defence contractors to come up with something distinctive, perhaps a pentagon or something, Ellie thought.

Not far now, just up ahead, near the Federate Department of Justice building, Marott said.

Ellie looked at the area Marott had mentioned, Impressive…in their own unique way.

The Federal Department of Justice building was the tallest at eight hundred meters. Four smaller towers surrounded it, each one representing either a related or subordinate department—the Galactic Law Enforcement Agency, the Federal Investigation Agency, the Internal Security Service and lastly the Anti-Corruption Commission. The A.C.C building was on the south-west corner of the set and like the other buildings it was a tower of utilitarian grey lined with rows of silver reflective glass and thick conduits running up the sides in parallel rows. Its spire was capped by a small iridium statue of the Lady of Justice similar to one outside the Supreme Court.

Marott decreased both speed and height before flying towards the middle section of the A.C.C building and through one of the access apertures to the aircar parking bay.

There will be a security checkpoint you’ll have to go through, Marott said.

I’d assumed so, Ellie said. Security checks were standard procedure at all government department headquarters, generally the checks were similar in format to those she had seen at spaceports, airports and courthouses. Ellie had prepared for this by having all her documentation up to date and ready for examination in her attaché case.

They’re pretty efficient so the line should be short…unlike it was at the airport last week, Marott said as he shook his head at the memory of some inconvenient delay he experienced while returning from his holiday.

That’ll save time, Ellie muttered, she wondered why the appointment had been scheduled so late in the afternoon…unless the issue was not as serious as she first thought. Does the commissioner normally schedule his appointments so late in the day?

It depends on the importance of the appointment, Marott replied.

What do you mean? Ellie asked him.

On Usinnia all regular duties and low priority appointments are done early in the day so time is freed up for more important matters, Marott replied.

I see, Ellie muttered. Well then, it seems this matter must be important.

Marott guided the aircar slowly into the parking bay and sat it down in its designated motor pool parking bay.

My clearance won’t allow me beyond the security entrance, you’ll be guided to where you need to go by one of the escorts, Marott said, he tapped his finger on the functions screen to open the doors.

Ellie got out of the car and looked around at the parking bay. Thanks for the ride.

I’ll be waiting in the driver’s tea room, call me when you’re done and I’ll take you back to your hotel, Marott said.

I shouldn’t be too long, Ellie replied. She headed for the security gate.

The first thing she noticed when walking across the parking bay was how well organised the place was. All motor pool vehicles had been assigned designated parking bays. Visitors vehicles had separate parking and were separated from employee and motor pool sections by a glass partition. The glass had directions and notices projected on its surface by nanoemitters. She followed the direction arrows glowing on the walkway until she came to the small queue waiting in line to be screened.

At the security entrance another glass wall displayed notices on prohibited items such as firearms, specifically laser guns. Other notices informed visitors and employees of numerous regulations such as displaying identity tags and staying within authorised areas. Standard notices like the no smoking sign were so common that Ellie ignored them, she did re-read the notices regarding firearms.

Ellie recalled the planet’s firearm laws as she read though the prohibition notice. Ballistic guns were permitted under the law, however, owners needed gun licences. To obtain a firearm licence the applicant had to have a legitimate reason. Generally, the most common reason cited related to employment. Laser guns were banned outright.

Manning the security entrance was a dozen or so human guards dressed in black and red uniforms. Each guard was armed with a ballistic pistol and stun gun. All of them had small black earpiece communicators linked to the security control room.

Black and red coloured humaniform robots assisted the human staff. Manufactured from morphic plastic each robot was capable of mimicking human facial expressions. Androgynous in appearance they all spoke in the same semi-masculine monotone that sounded incredibly polite. Ellie noticed the robots had built into their arms an assortment of electrified restraining weapons, tasers, and as a last resort, a retractable semi-automatic coilgun.

Ellie recalled these guns fired bullets accelerated out of the barrel by electromagnetic coils. Once fired, the bullets travelled faster than the traditional ballistic firearm rounds. Most of the security robots worked at the front of the security checkpoint with the humans counterparts working on the other side of the glass partition.

Good afternoon, how may I assist you? The nearest security robot asked.

I have an appointment with Commissioner Rathau, Ellie replied. She handed the robot the small business card the PMC drone gave her at the spaceport.

Thank you. He took her card and placed it on the smooth black surface of the scanning pad next to the entrance door.

The security robot activated the scanner to access her details. He correlated it with the information stored with the central A.I. Above the door another scanning device activated. Non-intrusive, this scan was designed to look for any concealed weapons, explosives or nanoweapons. The A.C.C even did this to its own employees as Ellie could see just by looking at the employee entrance.

Ellie stepped onto the scanning pad and the scanner illuminated a thin line of red light over her body. Safety notices and emergency evacuation information appeared on the glass wall for her to read during the scanning process..

Holographic signs indicated where she should place her attaché case and where to stand while her case was being scanned. Seconds later an indicator light signalled the completion of the scans.

Your clearance has been granted, please proceed through the checkpoint and wait by the illuminated pad, an escort shall take you to your appointment destination.

The glass doors parted as nano-linkages along the edges separated. Visually it appeared as though the door just separated from the glass wall without any indication of any joining seams. Ellie picked up her attaché case and proceeded inside to stand on the area marked out on the floor by glowing white light.

She walked under four metallic frames lined with security cameras and additional scanners. Some of the sensors were calibrated to detect biological pathogens and nanomachines within her clothing and body. Other cameras scanned her physical appearance. The cameras and those who watched them noted every detail.

Physically attractive, Ellie had a light skin tone that had become slightly more pale from the side effects of spending considerable time under the artificial lights of spacecraft. Her eyes were gold and her thick hair was black, wavy and long. She had tied it back in a conservative ‘corporate’ style.

Like many human females, she preferred her hair long and for this reason she had deliberately chose to ignore some recent advice regarding this. ‘Long hair is a big disadvantage in a fight.’

Of course this was someone else’s opinion, given by someone with short hair who was in the military. It was not uncommon for Ellie to partake in conversations, and listen in on other passengers in the starliner’s restaurants and bars, heeding their advice was something else entirely. On the advice regarding hair length and melee combat, it all depended on the fight mechanics…or simple vanity or overriding common sense. Any observer of the security cameras could only guess from her body language, which she tried to keep as neutral as possible.

By species, she was human and when she spoke to the security robot it was in fluent Terranic, however she was not Terran, but Draconian. Ellie originated on one of the many Draconian worlds where Terranic was the official language. How this came about was something for historians, ethnologists, archaeologists and anthropologists to discuss in the halls of the history department at the nearest university, not the halls of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Greetings, Elektra Reece. I am ES4T, I am an official department escort, I am here to take you to Commissioner Rathau’s office. said the escort robot.

This machine spoke with the same insufferably polite tone as the security robots and based on his design it was clear he had been manufactured by the same robotics company. The escort robot had transparent dark blue morphic plastic outer body casing with all his internal components visible.

I’m ready, Ellie said.

Please follow me, the ES4T said. He took her past the scanning area to the gravitic chutes, elevators without elevator cars where people stepped inside and were taken up or down by controlled gravity manipulation. ES4T used the transmitter inside his body to activate the chute and to select the desired floor.

After stepping out of the gravitic chute, Ellie followed ES4T down a carpeted corridor. She passed by several people dressed in suits, each person carried small silver pins on their upper right breasts that denoted their position and department.

Prior to her appointment, Ellie did some fashion research so she could blend in amongst people who either worked in the building or conducted business there. So she dressed in clothing similar to what the other women in the corridor wore. Business style, corporate or bureaucratic, the black skirt, vest and jacket, the expensive red shirt and black tie (ties being in fashion this winter on Usinnia), black stockings with subtle patterns up the sides illuminated by her body heat, and finally the black high-heeled boots, another winter fashion trend.

ES4T lead her to another corridor, this one with fewer office doors. Halfway down the corridor he stopped in front of a set of double doors and remotely opened them. Please step inside, someone will be with you shortly.

Ellie walked inside. She glanced back and watched the doors close behind her before stepping further inside. The higher the rank, the higher the privileges.

The office was enormous with the entire floor covered in polished marble tiles. Each tile was the size of a dinner table, all in gold and black streaks, the polishing so fine Ellie was able to see her own reflection.

Walls of massive stone bricks, brass and gold covered with immense frescos made of bronze depicted epic scenes. Ellie looked at the largest of these. Impressive, in a grand old school sort of way.

Depictions of men and women, all buff and proud looking, stood before romanticised backdrops of factories, smoke stacks and heavy mining platforms with repulsive, blocky Usinnian designed starships flying above. She continued surreptitiously looking around the office, aware of the watchful eyes behind the screens of the subtly hidden audiovisual security cameras, some in the walls and others in the ceiling.

Supporting the ceiling were numerous thick, dark maroon coloured stone columns. Rectangular shaped. Each column had at its base the busts of famous politicians, military commanders and galactic explorers sitting on golden marble pedestals. She examined some of the closest busts. Some were of humans, others Antali and yet more were Veesi or other Carina Region species.

Along the wall between the frescos she noticed shelves with rows of optronic datatubes. One set glowed with orange light, the other yellow light. Set in-between the datatubes was another set of shelves filled with books.

Physical books filled with paper (some might have had polymer pages) and bound within covers. Such information storage was rare on Usinnia due to the popularity of optronic datatubes, although books were common on other worlds, on Usinnia they are a status symbol of the elite. Out of curiosity, Ellie walked over to the shelves and examined some of the titles.

The first set she looked at consisted of works on economics and law. The next three rows contained books on history and archaeology, including such familiar tomes as The History of Interstellar Civilisation and Old Carina. She noticed an old copy of The Riftrule. This well known historical reference book detailed the time when the Carina Region was dominated by the First Empire of the Rifts. Other books contained history on earlier times. One such book was titled An Archaeological History of Earth. Ellie ran her finger along the book’s spine.

Earth—where many of the hotels had history as a theme.

Ellie recalled her last visit to Earth, the origin world of the human species. Steeped in millennia of history they held guided tours of actual archaeological sites. It was an experience described exactly as the interactive sign she read when passing through customs at Lake Michigan Starport—Welcome to Earth, where you can experience history live.

How true. She remembered the time she spent an entire day touring the Museum of Antiquities in the city of London. This museum was so large it took up an entire city block.

Next to the collected works on history were rows containing books on politics and administration. Boring subjects for most people, she understood the commissioner of a government agency would need to be well versed on the subject of politics.

Next to the book shelves was something she had not seen anywhere on else on Usinnia, although she had seen it before on many other worlds. Worlds like Auralon, Sagitta, Taris, Draconis and Carboria—all Draconian worlds where this type of display was a cultural practice.

On the wall and set in ornate frames were expensive hand painted portraits of powerful past political leaders and military commanders. Unfamiliar with local history she found them unrecognisable. Still, she found them depicted exactly like the Draconian versions. All stern-looking with their eyes seemingly looking down at her. Know your place, little girl. They all had the powerful aura of supreme authority.

Examining the remaining trappings of power suddenly had no appeal so she walked over to the huge aquarium along the northern wall and looked at the strange aquatic creatures inside, Hello fishies.

Ellie examined the aquarium set-up. Two thick pipes connected to each end of the tank cover, both covered with soft icy condensation. She tapped her finger on the glass. When her finger touched the glass she felt intense cold. Looking closer she noticed it was specialised glass with nanotubes inside that insulated the contents from the outside temperature. The amber coloured fluid inside the tank was not water but an octane/gasoline type liquid. The digital display on the corner showed the tank’s inside temperature was -50°C.

The creatures inside the aquarium resembled fish. Closer examination showed each fish appeared to be composed of complex polymers. They consumed mineral rich food with much of the waste minerals stored inside their scales, which give them a shimmering, semi-metallic appearance. Plants inside the tank were purple and yellow and difficult to distinguish between real living plants and cheap ornamental plastic versions.

So engrossed in watching the petrochemical aquatic scene Ellie failed to notice someone walking up behind her until the footsteps on the marble floor became louder than the aquarium’s chiller pumps.

Fascinating display, isn’t it? Asked the woman from behind.

Ellie turned around. Yes…it is.

Its an unusual aquarium, the plants and fish had been imported from the planet Geedis, in the Carina Union, the woman said.

This knowledgeable woman was dressed in an expensive grey suit consisting of a knee length pencil skirt and matching blazer over a white shirt. She had straight, medium length mahogany coloured hair and brown eyes.

I’m Felicia, the woman said.

Ellie Reece.

She discreetly noticed Felicia’s mannerisms and the confident way she stood and spoke. No ordinary personal assistant this woman, she is someone of importance. Ranked under the Commissioner but holding a position quite close.

This way, Felicia said, she gestured her hand towards an immense glass table.

Ellie looked at the impressive table. made from black glass and surrounded by black leather chairs with tall thin backs it looked more like a conference table than an office desk. She stood next to one of the chairs and ran her finger along the surface. Soft golden-yellow light emanated along lines of optronic circuitry. This light matched the bright golden light of the late afternoon sunlight coming through the huge glass wall-to-floor window.

Impressive view, Ellie commented, although she refrained from criticising the architectural styles of the ugly skyscrapers. She turned around to face Felicia, Are you sure this is the commissioner’s office? It looks more like the boardroom.

It does, doesn’t it? Asked another voice.

Ellie looked at the man who had just spoken. He was taller than her and Felicia and was dressed in an expensive black suit with ash grey trimmings. His skin was fair, and his hair chocolate in colour, thicker at the top yet it still appeared to be of an executive style. He looked at Ellie with clear sky blue eyes.

I had my office specifically designed. I particularly like the view over the lake, especially in the late afternoon, the man said.

Elektra Reece, this is Commissioner Charles Rathau, Felicia said.

Commissioner Rathau walked around the table and sat down in his chair with his back towards the window. He gestured to the chair opposite with his hand. Felicia, please make sure we are not disturbed.

Of course, Commissioner, Felicia said, she then turned around and walked towards the main doors.

Commissioner Rathau waited until Felicia had left and the doors closed before he tapped his finger on the desk to activate the holographic display containing Ellie’s personal file.

Ellie sat down and placed her attaché case near her feet. She waited until Commissioner Rathau had completed reading through the holo-display.

You’ve worked for the Anti-Corruption Commission before. Twice for the Draconis office…and then again on Sagitta.

Yes, I also did a job for them on Rigel Kentaurus, but it was a small job that only took a couple of days, Ellie replied.

You’ve also done investigations for the Colonial Development Corporation and the Carina Mercantile Alliance, the Commissioner said. He moved his finger over another section of the display and continued. Along with the Rosette Nebula Trading Company.

Yes.

It’s clear you’re familiar with the Carina Colonies.

I am. I’ve worked there before and again in the Xartherac Frontier.

Commissioner Rathau scrutinised the display again, Bounty hunter licence… He looked back up at Ellie, You apprenticed under John Branson.

Under Interstellar Colonial Administration Law you have to have a bounty hunter’s licence before you can obtain the Justice Agents Permit, and you need that in order to obtain a Colonial Commercial Investigators Licence to be allowed to legally work in the Territories as a private investigator.

According to your file you have all of the necessary licences, Commissioner Rathau said.

The I.C.A likes its bureaucratic formalities, Ellie said.

They will be of benefit, Commissioner Rathau said.

I was told there’d be specifics, Ellie said.

To a certain degree, Commissioner Rathau said, I see you’ve done some hostage-ransom exchange arrangements for both private individuals and state governments including both the Carina Union and the Scorpii Association.

The last two were off the record, of course.

Naturally. No authority wants it known ransom deals are done, especially when they tell the media the complete opposite.

All exchanges are done through intermediaries, I was just one such intermediary, Ellie said.

When dealing with corruption within governments it is sometimes best to avoid any situation where conflicting interests can arise, including personal connections within the astrographic area of concern, Commissioner Rathau said.

Ellie nodded her agreement.

We recently received information regarding a matter of concern that needs to be investigated by someone without direct connection to our organisation, Commissioner Rathau said. He tapped his finger on the holo-display to show several official reports.

The initial source remains anonymous, we think at their own volition.

That could be problematic, especially when it comes to verification of their claims, Ellie said while thinking, or they fear for their safety.

Agreed, but not uncommon, I am aware that it is common for planetary law enforcement agencies to initiate an investigation following a tip-off from anonymous sources, however, the Anti-Corruption Commission tends to be more cautious.

What are your concerns?

I’ll show you, The Commissioner replied. He activated a recording made in holographic form, This hyperwave message was sent from the primary Hyperpulse Communications Array on Beremacia. The anonymous source took measures to keep their identity secret.

Ellie noticed the technique employed. Using a black light holosphere to hide their body with the voice deliberately masked by an electronic voice synthesiser. This was a common method of concealing one’s identity when delivering messages audio-visually.

You need to see this in greater detail, the anonymous source said.

The hologram changed and the Commissioner pointed out some details. This holo-recording had been traced to a multiple homicide in a place called Highmount Base on the planetoid Djian Secondus.

Looks like some kind of cold storage room, Ellie noted.

The recording showed a long room with thick frost covering the walls and ceiling. Images of Djian Belts Security Service personnel in dark red and gold trimmed uniforms took up positions at the entrances and exits while others assisted forensic examiners in evidence gathering.

The next image was truly disturbing. Suspended on meat hooks from the ceiling were numerous dismembered body parts, including torsos, heads and limbs. Each part was covered with a light dusting of frost. Frozen pools of blood covered large sections of the floor and Ellie watched as the recording showed a female forensic examiner collect several samples of the frozen blood. Like the forensic pathologist in the recording, Ellie found it difficult to not feel revulsion.

The recording showed one of the stainless steel packaging tables with severed heads and limbs stacked neatly in rows. Nearby the official police photographer was taking pictures of the crime scene.

Six human males and three human females had been counted amongst the bodies, Commissioner Rathau said. Djian Belts Security also recovered the dismembered body of one Carina Aerii female and three Antali men.

What is that? Ellie asked as she pointed at the wall in the holo-recording.

Commissioner Rathau hit the pause holo-icon on the side of the recording.

It looks like some kind of insignia drawn in blood, Ellie said.

This insignia has been appearing more frequently on worlds in the Carina Colonies, Commissioner Rathau replied.

Ellie looked closely at the insignia. Drawn with the blood of the victims it appeared as a skull with large angled eye sockets and two sharp fangs, however the right fang was far larger and curved like a sabre.

The anonymous caller continued. I obtained this footage of a recent murder investigation and have added it to my collection. As you can clearly see, the insignia of those responsible. This one fang skull insignia has appeared at every single murder scene. This alone signifies the all the killings are being carried out by the same group of people.

Serious as this is, it still seems to be something the Federal Investigation Agency should be handling, Ellie said.

True, and from what I have been told they are doing just that. However, there is more…

The anonymous caller explained the Commissioner’s point. This organisation is being supported by people high up within the I.C.A and I have the proof.

Has this proof been presented? Ellie asked the Commissioner.

Only this footage and another one that came later and appears more recent, the Commissioner replied. He turned off the first holo-recording and activated the second recording.

Ellie looked at the new holo-recording and determined from the details at the bottom that it was another police recording. This was confirmed when she saw police officers in dark blue uniforms accompanied by blue and white police robots and drones. Men and women dressed in white uniforms worked on the scene, they were assisted by white and blue forensic robots that moved about on gravitic emitters. Forensic nanoswarms went about the place gathering evidence unseen by the naked eye.

This crime scene was located in an office attached to a hangar complex at a spaceport on the planet Aranei, Commissioner Rathau said.

Ellie nodded, In the Scorpii Expansion.

Strewn about the room were multiple bodies. Most of the victims had died from gunshot wounds. The recording showed a police ballistics expert conducting a preliminary examination with his hand held scanner. At each body he shook his head.

I take it they were all shot dead by assailants using laser guns? Ellie asked as she pointed at the frustrated ballistics expert.

That does seem to be a common pattern, Commissioner Rathau replied.

By species she noticed the bodies at this crime scene were human and Antali. Both male and female and all dressed in civilian clothing with some dressed in ground crew work wear, others in free trader crew uniforms. The police officer recording the footage moved the camera to the wall near the entrance. Impaled on the wall were those who survived the initial gunfight.

They don’t like leaving witnesses alive, Commissioner Rathau said.

Ellie looked at the bodies on the wall. All were naked with some cut in half down the centre, others simply eviscerated with six more suspended from the ceiling upside down. These people had been decapitated. Ellie noticed the wounds appeared to have been caused by laser weapons. The sadistic way in which these bodies had been left indicated some degree of psychosis in the attackers…or intense hatred. However, this was still speculative so Ellie refrained from commenting on this for now, instead she concentrated on the murder weapons. Laser guns. They make life difficult for ballistics experts to pin a particular weapon to a body…unless… Ellie said as she scratched her head in thought.

The security cameras had been wiped, Commissioner Rathau said.

I knew that was coming, now the homicide detectives will have more difficulties solving the case, Ellie thought.

The one fang skull insignia is at this crime scene was also drawn in one of the victims blood, the Commissioner said.

The recording then showed the insignia and one of the homicide detectives talking to the police photographer about it.

I’ve seen enough, Ellie muttered, Chopped up bodies is something I find difficult to look at.

Understandable, Commissioner Rathau agreed, he turned off the hologram.

Other than this anonymous caller, has there been anyone else who has made similar claims? Ellie asked.

Yes, that is why we have decided to proceed with an investigation, to verify the veracity of the claims, especially allegations against Interstellar Colonial Administration personnel, Commissioner Rathau said. He activated more holo-displays.

The first display was from an optronic com-net site belonging to some news agency. Ellie was unable to read the language, however she did take note of the picture of the young woman dressed in a dark suit wearing sunglasses stepping down the front steps of some official-looking building, perhaps a courthouse. The second image was from Usinnia and came from the website of Metro News.

The first image is from Xalau III and is in the Nvir language, I’ll translate it for you, Commissioner Rathau said. He tapped his finger on his desk’s computer optronic interface to change the text on the news report from Nvir to Terranic.

"The woman’s name is Hisara Seony, she is currently facing smuggling related charges. This picture was taken right after she had been granted bail. The story from Metro News is about a local man named Calvin Davis. He was arrested not long ago at Callovia Downport by customs officers for transporting stolen goods."

What was he caught with? Ellie asked out of curiosity.

Allegedly he was carrying jewellery reported as stolen, Commissioner Rathau replied.

Stolen from offworld, I take it?

Commissioner Rathau nodded once, "Yes, police allege the consignment Davis was allegedly in possession had been taken by the Carina Corsair, Captain Redeye when he raided the starliner Arianna."

Ellie read through both media articles. They contained the usual reports on the offences and trial dates. Both contained details on submitted plea bargains. This was not in itself unusual as many defendants tried to make plea deals. Typically this involved disclosing information that was even more valuable to law enforcement agencies in exchange for sentence reductions or downgrades to lesser charges.

Naturally this came with risk. Any felon who assists in turning in co-conspirators would become very unpopular in prison where snitches are loathed by the other inmates. Squealing on smuggler bosses and organised crime identities was guaranteed to make dangerous enemies.

However, both Seony and Davis had not, according to the media, made any such deals, in fact neither came close to ratting out their associates or employers.

The media claimed on numerous occasions both were members of organised crime syndicates with connections to the notorious Pendleton-Salt Gang, one of the most powerful smuggling organisations in the Carina Region. The media on Xalau III had alleged Seony was a member of the Beremacia-based Cartier Family while the Usinnian press accused Calvin Davis of being a member of the Usinnian Cartel. The wording was done carefully enough to avoid any legal issues arising out of the accusations, but they still came across clear enough. Both were smugglers connected to organised crime syndicates.

These two plea bargains stood out because the two accused made similar claims, Commissioner Rathau said.

Have they ever worked together? Ellie asked.

According to my sources Seony and Davis have never worked together, however, they do know each other through dealings with the Pendleton-Salt Gang.

Are all the victims in the holo–recordings are all members of smuggling gangs? Ellie asked.

No, I have police reports on the murders of people alleged to be members of organised crime syndicates, Commissioner Rathau replied.

So, are these killings all connected? Ellie asked.

Circumstantial evidence suggests a connection, Commissioner Rathau replied.

Ellie looked at the reports again. Gang war…perhaps? I need to see more to be sure…

Commissioner Rathau continued. Attacks against outlaw groups, bandits and various marauder groups have been reported. Also, on two occasions, this unknown group had murdered several people facing allegations of involvement with the Carina Corsairs, however it must be noted that the I.C.A Justice Administration is continuing its investigations into these cases.

Assuming the person who sent the message is telling the truth, then any I.C.A investigation could be problematic, especially if the accusation that I.C.A personnel are involved is factual, Ellie said.

Agreed. The decision to have this matter looked into was made after this hyperwave message was viewed, Commissioner Rathau said. He tapped his finger on his desk again.

The hologram displayed the features of a human woman who was Arashia by background. Ellie looked at the image closely and remembered the woman’s features, as well as the scenery of skyscrapers through the window behind her. She had smooth, youthful looking skin and both her make-up and jewellery was on the expensive side. Her skin was light brown in tone and her almond shaped eyes were cobalt blue in colour. She had long straight black hair that was pulled back tight in a pleated ponytail held in place by an intricate gold hair piece.

Ellie could not see all of the woman’s clothing so she made assumptions based on what she could see—the collar and shoulders. Dark blue with gold trimming, it looked neat, almost brand new and very expensive, it seemed to go well with the natural sapphires set in her earrings and necklace.

My name is Persephone Nori and I represent the Carina Regional Investment Group, the woman said.

This is going to be interesting, Ellie muttered. She leaned back in her seat and listened.

The situation out in the Carina Colonies has become much more chaotic in recent months, especially with increased corsair attacks and the rise of the Overvoid Marauders…

Ellie half listened as this woman, Persephone Nori, waffled on in corporate–speak in what amounted to nothing but complaining about an issue for the Interstellar Colonial Administration.

Commissioner Rathau noticed the irrelevancy of what Persephone was saying so he tapped the fast forward button. I think it best we viewed the more relevant portion.

Oh, I wholeheartedly agree.

Commissioner Rathau found the part he wanted so he tapped the play icon to resume the recording at normal speed. Persephone resumed her complaint.

Borderline Shipping facilities on several worlds in the Carina Region have become crime scenes following several multiple murders. All investigations conducted by the Justice Administration have failed to either solve or even stop these murders. Some of those murdered were contract spacers for Borderline Shipping, and others for other companies, whom I am told are just as displeased about the matter as we are…

She sounds very unhappy, Ellie muttered. Personally the impression she got from Persephone was she viewed all this as nothing more than an embarrassing inconvenience.

My employer is of the opinion that the Justice Administration is deliberately dragging its feet with the investigations, Persephone said.

She’s hinting at possible corruption, or she’s just being arrogant, Ellie muttered as she pointed at the hologram of Persephone Nori.

Her arrogance is difficult to tolerate, but she does have a point, I’ve received numerous records that support her claims, Commissioner Rathau added.

From her?

Yes, however, she sent reports from the Carina Mercantile Alliance and the Rosette Nebula Trading Company. Both provided information on the contract spacers who had been killed. The Borderline Shipping Company appears to have the highest number of incident locations. Explanations from each company had been vague or even evasive. I think this might be due to some of the contract spacecraft crews being involved with smuggling groups.

What about the I.C.A Justice Administration? Have they been dragging their feet as this woman claims? Ellie asked.

Commissioner Rathau paused the hologram of Persephone Nori. From what we’ve seen so far indicate normal procedures for investigating such crimes have been followed, although the recent frequency of crimes and the number of fatalities involved has resulted in some degree of pressure on the Justice Administration, mostly from the media and some of the large megacorporations. The colonial governors are facing potential public backlashes have also expressed concern at the pace of the investigation. Personally, I am concerned no arrests have yet been made.

The ‘perception’ of lawlessness in the Carina Colonies! Talk about a massive understatement, the whole place is a lawless shithole, Ellie thought.

The Director of the Colonial Security Service has publicly voiced his concern over the issue, however, he has yet to formally request any internal investigation into the I.C.A itself, Commissioner Rathau said.

He must be concerned at the prospect of bent officials being involved with the people carrying out all these murders? Ellie half stated and half asked.

He has expressed his frustrations on more than one occasion, Commissioner Rathau muttered.

It must be pretty frustrating, Ellie agreed. Did Davis or Seony accuse people within the I.C.A of supporting the killers?

Not that I am aware of, Commissioner Rathau replied. However, I don’t have information on what they are using as the basis of their plea deals.

"In the anonymous first message, he or she implies the possibility of I.C.A officials being