Not yet.

“Not yet. I want to burn their entire fucking guild and everyone connected to this but they will do for starters.” I could feel the tightness in my body. I wanted to find them right here and now knowing how many people they had almost killed. I could have them killed on treason against the empire on this recording alone. “First I want you to find Anastasia's dad where ever he is and kill him so they won't have any leverage over her.”

“Heart attack like on Odin?”

“Should work.” I nodded. “You brought Harper on board. She any good under cover.”

“She has the training and she can handle herself under pressure.” Miranda nodded. Harper had served under Miranda. I knew many people who where smarter but none had her courage. Brains and balls were key ingredients for a battlefield technology specialist. Sadly she was a black sheep who had been passed over several times for promotion because of her mixed heritage.

“I will need to see her later. But I have something else to do first.” I nodded.

“What are you going to do?” Miranda looked at me.

“Fix a mistake I made.” I said and left the war room making my way down the hall toward the office where I figured Anastasia had gotten off to. I went inside to see Anastasia talking to Mistress Elizabeth. Both stood up when I entered.

“My lord.” Mistress Elizabeth said. I grabbed Anastasia by the neck and pulled her into a kiss.

“Well, I guess he did miss you. I will excuse myself to give you time to talk.”

“What was that for?” Anastasia asked.

“I just found out about the locket and how much danger I put you in. I am so sorry.”

“It wasn't your fault I am mixed up in this. I choose this to save my father.” She shook her head and grabbed me hugging me tightly.

“Why didn't you tell them I knew?” I rubbed her back.

“They would have had no use for me or my father. Plus because of you.” She held me tightly.

“What about me?”

“Everyone knew the Baron's relations with the courtesans. He would enjoy them for a time then throw them away. I figured that would be me. I would become his plaything. A toy to be used and tossed aside. I was fine with it. Serve him for a time. Play the good little pet so my father could get the help he needed.” She stepped back looking at me. I pulled out a pocket square from my jacket pocket for her to clean her eyes. “Then he died. I expected the same from the next lord. You. But you weren't nothing like I expected. You weren't some self obsessed noble born only interested in your own agendas. You didn't treat me like a plaything to have your way with me. Though I might not have minded that to much.” She smiled and took my hand. “I saw a man I could maybe fall in love with. Even if for a short time. He would not have hurt me because of who you are underneath. That gave me the strength I needed .”

“No. That strength comes from the girl who would do anything to save her father. You had that long before I meet you. I promise you when the time comes they will pay dearly for what they did to you. I will assign someone to you as your security detail at all times. Any contact you have with them will be through wireless communications only.”

“I want you to tell them I have contacted the duke about restocking the carriers weapon and defensive systems in case of any more pirate attacks and that I know who was behind the attacks.” I smiled. I wondered what their next move would be if they thought I knew. It would be a powerful bargaining chip to use against them.

“You think it was them?” She looked at me.

“Not directly but I know they are involved. They wanted the shipyards destroyed and everyone their dead.”

“Why did they do it?” She shook her head

“They wanted to destroy the shipyards. **** the freelancers and me to rely on their ships.”

“They would kill all those people for money?” Anastasia looked at me in shock. Sadly I had encountered people like that before. Once I exposed them they would come under attack both financially and probably even physically.

“Yes. I underestimated them just like I did with you. I will never underestimate you or them again.” I smiled and kissed her on the head.

The next few days flew by pretty fast. Baptiste father gladly took the retirement offer I had given him along with some of his cohorts who where smart enough to know when to run. In time many of the lower level players would make a move for power in the criminal underworld but that was a given I would have to live with and deal with as they came. Baptiste agreed to become my Minister of Industry which felt right considering how much his family had done for the industry of the planet all ready.

The Vanguard had finally reached orbit of the moon and was off loading mining equipment and personal. Things would pick up considerably once they where set up on the moon. I was told some of the miners enjoyed being on a ship as big as the Vanguard. Their had been a few minor incidents between the miners and the previous occupants but for the most part both sides stuck to their own and Jenkins had put their quarters on either side of the ship. Nova had laid the ground work for bringing her back online in a more organized fashion. The civilians had started working on her engines while the PDCs and missile turrets would be a priority for the military engineers so no one could board her like we had though their wasn't a lot of ammo for either as most where spent. I still wanted to know what had happened that had caused the crew to desert the ship so suddenly. Nova had some idea that it had to have been a powerful energy weapon to fry the circuits like they were and leave marks like we had seen on the haul of the ship. The few gunships that where functional would serve as planetary security and costumes as well as search and rescue if needed.

My days were spent sitting in meetings with the Minsters listing off problems and possible solutions. Thompson sat in as Minister of Justice, Miranda as Minister of Security, and a holo image of Jenkins sat in as Minster of the Fleet. Still a few seats left that I are the old man where handling but I had put in a few calls to people of world. I had meetings with trade ambassadors from other systems who all wanted a piece of the uranium being mined on the moon. After I had delivered on my promise to the emperor of course. After letting them sweat I contacted the Shipping Guilds representatives. I had wondered if they would try and run but they had stayed though keeping their heads down letting me make the next move.

“Gentlemen. Glad you came.” I smiled as they walked into the office.

“Thank you for seeing us Baron, we where delightfully surprised to get your call.” Mister Jones bowed as did his lackey. I could see the tenseness in their bodies.

“I admit we did not get off on the right foot. And I still have many reservations about doing business but after the Vanguards arrival in the system things have changed.” I said and held out my hand toward the chairs for them to sit.

“We where glad to hear that you managed to stop the attack on the Titans moons. I am sure a great many people owe you there lives.” He said. That was a load of bullshit.

“If only that made my job any easier. That is part of the reason I am asking you here.”

“Owe?”

“I can not say rather or not the Alliance had anything to do with the attack directly however....”

“You suspect it was them?” He smiled. It was a smile of relief.

“Most likely. Could have been a move to make us draw back our forces from the front lines. Slow the mining operations on the moon. Who knows. This is all speculation of course but it would not be unreasonable. The bridge crew of the ship where all killed in the attack so we will never know for certain.” Not all but the pilot knew very little and nothing about the meeting between themselves and the others.

“That is a shame.” Mister Jones said as he sat back against the chair and relaxed.

“Yes it is.” I nodded. “So I have needs of your services and will pay you two times your usual rate for several shipment with half up front in advance and half on delivery. Depending on if you can meet my demands?”

“I am sure we can work things out. What is the cargo?”

“Military. I can't give you specifics but here is the tonnage.” I handed over a data pad. Stanton took it and looked it over.

“This will require several ships to move this much.” He said.

“That would be the first problem. This would be the first of many such shipments. The Imperial Navy can not spare the ships with the war ongoing and several ships moving from place to place could compromise everything. Pick up location will be undisclosed until a day of and in an uninhabited system as to not attract suspicion.” I said. Standard military procedure. Especially to rearm something as big as a battle carrier.

“We might be able to do that but we would need security if it is as dangerous as you say.” Jones nodded.

“You shall have it. Half of the ships in the sector will go with you to provide protection. However I would need security measures on your end as well.”

“Such as?” He shrugged.

“A small military security detail on all of your ships as an extra precaution in case of boarding. Loading and unloading will be handled by military personal only to insure secrecy.”

“Of course.” He smiled. That meant they didn't have to pay people to do it.

“Two. False documentation on the manifest or none at all. The alliance has intelligence operators under cover within the empire.”

“Easily done.” He smiled.

“Your ships will have to run dark. No transponders or communications to insure the safety of your ships and cargo.”

“I don't see a problem with that.” He nodded.

“The last one however might not be so easy. Loose lips sink ships, old earth saying. Never understood it but my grandfather used to say it. I am worried about the fact that one of your ships crew might talk. If this operation is compromised in any way it could cost us both men, resources, and money and could jeopardize future business arrangements.”

“Yes, I see your concerns.” He nodded.

“We could use bots.” Stanton responded. “We have been testing them out as of late with the lack of navigators due to the war. They don't ask questions and follow orders without hesitation. We can wipe their data banks afterwards to ensure complete confidentiality.”

“That should do it.” I nodded.

“What about others in management positions finding out. What I am asking isn't standard operating procedures for your guild.”

“Our guild works on a general need to know bases and we offer our clients the up most discretion. I report directly to the guild master and him alone though he need not know of our business here until it is done. As long as we provide reliable results the head office could care less how we run business as long as it is profitable.” He smiled slyly. I was certain he planned to pocket a good amount of the profits since I had offered him double.

“Then it would appear gentlemen we have a deal. If this works out maybe we can do so again.” I smiled and stood up offering my hand.

“Here is hoping.” He said shaking it.

“Before you go. My concubine tells me you like cigars.” I said and opened a drawer to my desk.

“She is correct. I was sorry to here about her father. Very sad.” He lied. The only sad part was he had lost a bargaining chip.

“These are from earth. The Sierra Maestra islands in what used to be Cuba. I am told they are the best money can buy but I do not partake myself. They where a gift to me but I think they should go to someone who would enjoy them.” I said opening the box and sliding it over. It had a gold plated lighter and cigar cutter as well. Very few military personal smoked and never on ship because it fucked with the air recycling systems and could set of the fire suppression systems. Unless one wanted to spend a week cleaning the waste vacs with a toothbrush.

“You are very gracious my lord. I assure you I will very much.” He said taking the box.

“Good day gentlemen.” I said and they bowed and left. After they where gone I head to the security room where Miranda was waiting.

“He took the cigars I see.” She said looking at the holographic projection of them being escorted from the palace. It was at about half scale so she looked like a giant standing over them. Except in a few places which required secrecy she could watch over the entire palace from this room and track the movements of everyone on the palace grounds.

“Yep.” I nodded. With any luck he will put them in his office. If it was close to his computer we could access it remotely and see what he is up to.

“Still say I should have soaked them reactor for a few hours. Let him die of lung cancer a little faster.” Miranda smiled.

“And you wondered why I had you check all my presents.” I looked at her. Their image shrank as they went outside and headed toward the small craft they had arrived in. As they got in the image began to scramble.

“Ah. They have a coms scanner.” She smiled and picked up her pad off of her desk.

“Problem?” I teased.

“Nope.” She responded. “Thought they might wise up so I had Nova cook up a little something.” She said and began to run different frequencies. “Even if they are jamming...” She smiled when an image of them appeared.

“They would leave a line open.” I nodded.

“Downloading the crafts logs now.” She said.

“ All of them are fairly small so it doesn't look like they saved any inbound or outbound calls but the destination data should be intact. That's a start.” I smiled. There was no sign of data encryption so that would make things easier. Least we would know who they where talking to.

”Can you believe the nerve of that man.”

“Yes. But he has us over a barrel with the carrier in orbit. Hell every pirate outfit out their has turned tail and ran for other systems. We could raise the prices in those sectors but it won't compare to what we are losing here. He knows he can make any terms he like and we will have to take them now. If we want a share of the profits from that moon we will have to capitulate to any terms he sets. At the very least he didn't suspect us of orchestrating the attack of leviathan.”

“What about the smugglers, they might be able to move some on the side.”

“Not with Lord Baptiste cut and running. He knows that battle carrier in orbit will hurt business so he is going to get while the getting is good and leave his son will run the legitimate business holdings. With him gone the smugglers will be **** to fend for themselves and they will collapse into anarchy with every man for himself. They will get greedy and get caught and many won't pay us a credit for looking the other way as we have in the past. More money out of our pocket.”

“You think he wants us to supply the weapons for battle carrier?”

“Yes. From what the little bitch told us before her dad died and the fact that it is military it has to be but there is one good side. No paperwork. No names. No records. A few shipments and we will be set for life. We tell the guild what ever we like and they will never be the wiser. Buy a little beach front property on Terra nova and spend the rest of our days under the two suns. Leave someone else to deal with this asshole.”

“Seems they are in it just for themselves.” She shook her head.

“I want to be certain before we make that call.” I replied. I would give them time for now. Until the weapons arrived I would string them along and let them get comfortable.

“Understood. I will put Carver on it. He likes reality shows. He can make you a best of playlist.” Miranda smiled.

“You ready to give or condolences to the dearly parted window.” I looked at her and she nodded. We headed out and jumped in a small private shuttle with me behind the controls. I took her up and headed north over the vast waist lands of brown and red rocks till a few hours later we came upon the valley and the large lake with in. I could see people at work below planting orchards of trees. It be a couple of years for they bore fruit but it was a start. Mostly it was more of an experiment to see what grew and what didn't. Sure they had a good idea of what could grow from terraforming other worlds but theory and application didn't always produce the same results.

Of course I didn't come here for that but it was nice to have a look. I flew past the lake to the small settlement of modular houses that had been moved here to provide residence to the dozen or so terraformers. I landed to the south and we walked up toward the houses. A soft breeze from the large lake felt refreshing as I caught a whiff of the water on the air. The sound of waves breaking along the shoreline reminded me a few of my happier times on earth..

“Evening.” I said as I come up to the house where a woman sat outside watering some plants that I would assume was grown somewhere else because of their size and transplanted here.

“Baron, this is a pleasant surprise.” She said as she stood up and bowed. Anastasia's mother looked like her daughter in the face. Same red hair and green eyes that faded a little in color with time but she was still a very lovely woman none the least. “It is good to finally meet you.”

“Likewise Ma'am. Anastasia has told me much about you.” I smiled.

“Who is your friend?” She looked at Miranda.

“Miranda. She runs my security detail. We served together.”

“Ma'am.” Miranda nodded.

“The girls are out walking along the beach. Their is something I thought I would say in my life time.” She smiled.

“Never thought I would miss it myself.” I nodded.

“Can I get you some tea? We grew it ourselves.”

“Yes please.” I smiled.

“This the man who killed me.” I heard a voice say. Out came a older gentleman with balding hair.

“Yes dear.” The woman smiled

“My lord.” He smiled and leaned forward to bow but began to cough.

“Please that isn't necessary. Have a seat.” I said as I helped him to one of the chairs they had set outside facing the lake.

“Listen to the baron. Sit and rest dear.”

“I hope the heart attack and everything wasn't to much of a shock for you.” I smiled. It had been the only way to get him out from the medical care center without raising the shipping guilds suspicions. Without him they had no way to threaten Anastasia.

“Ha. Best sleep I had in ages. Hell knows I am glad to get the hell out of the hospital.” He smiled.

“How do you feel?” I said as I sat across from him.

“Much better then I did. Doc said the salt water is good for me but you already knew that when you sent me here. Nicky says you know everything or at least more then most folks.” He nodded.

“She is just being polite.” I smiled

“I think you are just being modest. Here you go gentlemen.” His wife said as she came over with two glasses. I took a sip.

“This is really good. Thank you.” I smiled.

“Thank you my lord.” She nodded then looked at Miranda. “Can I get you some dear?”

“No. But thank you ma'am.” Miranda nodded.

“I have to admit I didn't like my daughter well... you know but there isn't a damn thing one can do when she puts her mind to something. Ann has always been stubborn.” The old man said.

“I wonder where she gets that from?” His wife teased.

“But she says you don't treat her like a piece of meat and actually care about her. That means a lot to me and my wife. I had to admit I didn't like the thought of an off worlder taking the throne. Especially someone so young given the last one we had but you have given many people the kick in the ass they needed.” The old man smiled.

“I appreciate your support.” I raised my glass and took a drink.

“Ann says she actually works for you?” His wife smiled.

“Yes. As my secretary. Least for now. I want her to have a more predominant position in the house. To run the household as fitting of a lady of her station. She has been receiving training under Mistress Elizabeth who was the former lady of the house. Of course I have to deal with the shipping guild first.”

“You make those bastards pay...” The old man began to say before he started coughing.

“Easy dear. Don't get to worked up.”

“I promise you I will see justice done.” I nodded.

“Thank you.” The old man nodded.

“Hey.” A voice said and I saw Anastasia and her little sister being followed by Harper as they came along the beach. The youngest cam running up and stopped a few feet away.

“My lord.” She did a curtsy and she panted to catch her breath.

“My lady.” I nodded trying to hold back a laugh. “You must be Nicky.”

“Yep.” She smiled as she put her hands behind her back. Seeing her in person their was no mistake that her and Anastasia where sisters.

“I take it is time to go?” Anastasia smiled as she got closer.

"Oh. Want you stay for lunch?" Nicky asked.