Maintaining the Chain

The initial test run has been a success, and I'm now getting a steady stream of income. It's not much, but the demand is decent. The next batch of blueprints is ready, but my Gallentean associate's been focusing his efforts on discovering all of the hidden Ammatar nightclubs instead of asteroid belts, so I'm forced to rely on other suppliers for now. Getting the Nocxium, Pyerite and Mexallon for the next production batch was not a problem, but Tritanium.. the market's as bad as I expected. The only reasonable sources with sufficient volume are around the Barvigrard constellation. I know the place well, which is exactly why I don't want to go there. The prices are cheap for a reason. The dead-end constellations that are easily defensible due to limited routes, which makes it a potential deathtrap. I made my first billion running those routes, and some of the locals might still remember me. Still.. if I want to maintain the ROI I need to go there. I set the course and fire up Silent Whisper's engines. I open NeoCom.

"Miss Ashley."

"Yes sir?"

"It's time to fulfill your contractual obligations. Meet me in these coordinates."

"You're going to stir the hornet's nest?"

"Your task will be to notify me if these.. hornets come out of hibernation."

"Rules of Engagement?"

"No engagement. Observation only. You owe me enough already."

"Aaw.."

"Observation only. I'll brief you when you get here. Bring something discreet."

While AURA's flying the Whisper I prepare the buy order, but I don't complete it yet. Some of the locals tend to use lucrative sell orders as bait, and there's no need to give them a heads-up too soon. Eventually, I arrive at the staging area.

"Present as ordered."

"You'll enter before me, and assess the situation. If everything looks clear, I'll follow and retrieve the cargo. You are to provide me with advance warning if necessary. This will take several trips, so I need to know when I start to attract attention."

"Got it."

...

"Status?"

"A Rupture pilot. He his vector puts him in activation range in ten seconds. The Dominix and the Falcon on scanner are inert.. The Rupture pilot is activating the gate."

"Jumping."

The first few batches go through without incident.

"A fleet of three Iteron Vs at the gate."

"A Probe and.. a Tempest."

Apparently the locals seem disinterested, because not even more vulnerable targets are engaged.

"Solo Mammoth."

"A Stabber."

"A Wreathe.. just sitting at the gate."

...

"That's the last batch. You're relieved, but I expect to see those bounties you've been collecting on my account within the hour."

"You're awfully testy today."

"Good day, miss Ashley."

I deliver the first batch to the factory and board the Middleman to haul the rest from the staging area. The long trip give me plenty of time to ponder. Of course, Miss Ashley was right. This operation was nowhere the highest risk I've taken, and even if it had gone bad I've absorbed larger losses before. I took the proper precautions. So why am I so agitated?

It was a risk that should have never been taken. I open NeoCom and call my contact at the Justice Department.

"I need someone found."