Commander's Rounds Volume 1

Entry 78: Piano Woman

"You must know some very interesting people, if you found your way all the way here to talk to me about business without anyone helping you. I know what people who come here by accident look like."

Biloxi and Sheffield stood in the office of someone who was very dangerous to most people who weren't a living ship in his particular corner of Southeast Asia. The middle-aged "director" of the semi-illicit shipbreaking facility was a native to the region, and important enough that he didn't feel the need to go in on an especially flashy suit, either. He was comfortable in his own office as their commander was in his. He looked at his armed guards, and then back to his guests. "Might I know with whom I am speaking?"

Biloxi smiled. "Considering the business we have with you, it might be better not to know each other's names. Just know that our boss has an interest in a couple of clients of yours."

He considered this. "All right, you're the one doing the talking." He looked over at Sheffield. "And your quiet friend is...?"

"Her?" Biloxi needed a moment to figure out how to say it, and smiled once she did. "...She's the cleaner."

He smiled. "I see that you're more than prepared to do a certain kind of business. So, what do you need done? I assume you have something to say when it comes to ships."

The cruiser nodded. "We've heard that you have been receiving military transports. We're not interested in the ships so much as the people who have been delivering them to you. They likely haven't been forthcoming about important matters."

He shrugged, and turned his hands over. "Not many people are forthcoming with each other about certain vital matters in our business. I don't really discuss the matters of my clients, so unless you can tell me something extraordinary, I do not believe you will be helped."

Biloxi finally took a seat on the other side of the desk. "The people delivering the ships to you are Kansen."

He raised his eyebrows. "That's a start. But is this story merely words, or do you have some... illustrations?"

Biloxi opened her bag, and placed some photos in front of him. New Zealand, Australia, Princess Royal, and Tiger, all with their rigging out. "Consider the story illustrated."

He picked up the photos, and handed them off to an assistant to have them checked. "I ask, and you give. This is the beginning of a relationship, I think."

Biloxi shook her head. "We don't really care about your business, we care about what you know. As far as our own boss is concerned, what you do isn't really our problem. We just want to know one thing, and then we'll be on our way."

He smiled. "I obviously can't tell you everything, but we'll see what I might be able to remember, after seeing whether you have tried to trick me or not."

Biloxi smiled. "Of course. Our boss doesn't like being tricked either, but we can't wait forever."

He relaxed in his seat. "Neither can I."

After about half an hour had passed, the wiry assistant came back. "They're clean, or these are the best fakes I've ever seen."

The boss of the under-the-table shipbreaking facility smiled. "All right, I think my memory is quite sharp today."

Biloxi nodded. "We know that they unload the goods before turning the ships over to you for breaking. We want to know who might be helping them move the stuff."

He thought about it. "There are some people in the area who move things while asking a marked paucity of questions. I wouldn't normally betray the interests of a client, but I would rather not have continued visits from people who could be one bad mood away from leveling my entire operation with large-caliber artillery. This is, of course, under the grandiose assumption that you're connected to people who can stop them?"