Tri-Fleet Risuner Expedition: Deadbeats get involved
“So, let me get this straight.” The tall merchant massaged his forehead, visibly confused by the proposition.
“You want me to take my beautiful clipper, the Black Comet, and sail it all the way to the frigid wastes of Western Holo, while crawling alongside a squirrel-people fleet? Am I supposed to escort them?”
The Rear Admiral sighed. “This isn’t a chore, Gustus. This is a tremendous responsibility and opportunity. The Risuner people are an important exporter of affordable shipbuilding materials, much of the next generation of Frigates under construction will be of Risuner teak. Your role in this expedition is not to escort. You will bring representatives and Firebirds to their negotiations with the Council nations. The alien people of the fallen sky ship are a complete mystery at the moment, shipments of their rations have been coming irregularly recently. We suspect political turmoil in the station. Eyes there would be useful.”
“And the forest people, some ways to the South, are also strangers to us. Rumors are that they’re a prickly people, but we have no first-hand accounts. Should the Risuners accept, you will find among your passengers Lieutenants Justicia Kinui and Desuvius Akai. You will remain at the /who/ harbor, while Kinui, Akai and their retinues will accompany the Risuner delegations to /uuu/ and /nasa/ respectively.”
Gustus, career trader, shook his head, but he had a glint in his eye. “This is all well and good, but what’s in it for me, besides serving My Mori’s Holy Name in faraway lands? I still need to pay my men.”
The officer raised his hands, palm upwards. “I’m sure you have an idea already. Your hold will be divided in two. A part will be complementary supplies for the Risuner fleet. The greater fraction, you can fill with merchandise sold to you at a discount subsidized by the Black Fleet, which will net you a tidy profit once sold in the Hooman Republic.”
Arms crossed, Gustus smiled. “You know how to motivate a man, Rear Admiral.” The other man nodded in response. “Motivated, you should be. Your primary mission, and the Lieutenants', will be to provide a communication link to the HoloEmpire Deadbeat embassy. This is important. Through our Firebird network, we can get a message from West Holo to the Mother Island within weeks. Should anything go wrong, you’ll also be expected to hurry your ass back home, with all 18.5 knots your Black Comet can muster. The Lieutenants will be carrying bird cages to their respective destinations as well.”
The merchant raised an eyebrow. “Should anything go wrong?” The Rear Admiral smiled once more, but this time, it did not reach his eyes. “As I said, /uuu/ and /nasa/ are unknown quantities. Not only that, but this is a long trip through stormy and violent seas, unpatrolled by the Deadbeat Fleets. If the Risuners got caught in a hurricane, or pursued by a large pirate group, your clipper will have better odds of making it than the pinisi. You might have to rescue shipwrecked squirrelmen, or return with news of the fate of the fleet as the sole survivor. Moreover, should your ship or crew be attacked or destroyed, this would officially embroil Moriji into the conflict. This should give pause to any nation thinking of attacking the Risuners. This isn’t a camping trip, Gustus.”
Gustus looked over the contract once more, somber, and signed off on it.