Papuru Star: Coalition Carnage

Chapter 24: Good Morning, Papuru Galaxy

Day 34

Roxy Boss sat behind a desk, scanning her galaxypad as a serv-tek applied her makeup. The studio is abuzz with activity as several cam-bots floated about her to cover every angle. Lights are adjusted and last second commands issued as the serv-tek hovers away. Roxy clears her throat and smooths her sparkling blue feathers around her neck and shoulders as a voice orates her intro.

Announcer
Coming to you live from Galaxy Station, with news that concerns you, it's Roxy Boss.

The lights over her brighten and she smiles at the cam-bot floating in front of her.

Roxy
Good morning, Papuru Galaxy. I'm Roxy Boss. It's early morning Universal Time, but no matter what time of day it is on your world, we have the news to start, end, or keep your day going.

Above her head, holographic displays of dozens of space worthy vessels either being loaded with cargo or taking off into Dycord's atmosphere, play out.

Roxy
The Coalition Carnage Competition finished up its tour of this year's host planet, Dycord, and will be moving on to Pia. The sixteenth planet of our galaxy will also play host to the upcoming battleball championship game, where Unity United face off against either the Yuni Fireballs or the Cyclones of Cy.

Watching the broadcast from a comfortable couch within a opulent office was Jerry Lake, President of the sky country, Utopia.

Lake
I'm going to be there, you know.

Behind him, a small man took a plastic disk from a rack of similar objects and throws it over lush green grass, between trees, out of sight. The holographic environment blurs as it zeroes in on where the disk landed, meters from a flock of geese, next to a body of water.

Man
Yes, you told me last time I summoned you.

Lake was grateful the man couldn't see his face just then, for it didn't match his happy demeanor.

Lake
And, like before, I have nothing extra to report.

Man
I know.

Lake
Then why fly me all the way here?

Man
Were you in league with Gilbert and McDonald?

Lake
No, but that doesn't mean I don't agree with their reasoning.

The man was tossing the disk again, this time, it lands closer to an electronic net. Lake waited until the disk fell before speaking.

Lake
Mr. Haim, I don't see the harm in attempting a backdoor deal with one of the lower Finan families.

Haim
We need to manufacturer heligium ourselves.

Lake
That means learning how they produce it exactly. The Finan excell at corporate espionage; the right bribe-

Haim
Quil's inflated prices have little to do with profit. It's to keep us dependent on them. We will learn how to make it, I guarantee. And who knows? Maybe Kane Urasa will win. With Blessing, our attempts at heligium creation is foolproof.

Lake
That's a big if, sir.

Haim
I brought you here to answer my question. You may go.

The President stood and was about to leave, when he turned back and saw the man toss the disk in the device, which signaled he made a birdie.

Lake
By the way, some tabloid has you mentioned in a top ten of 'who might be in the Illuminati' and it was them that were behind the president assassinations.

Haim
I started that rumor to distract the people. Focusing on this will help them forget that any day now, they could fall out the sky.

Day 35