Lunar Conspiracy

Fair Trade

Tava dropped Athena below the atmosphere of the Human colonized planet and set her down in the bay just outside one of the bigger cities.  The place wasn't very densely populated yet, and had a good many species besides Humans living here.  But it was probably the closest thing to a home world the Humans had at this point.

Kit and Jornea were already waiting in the cargo bay, eagerly awaiting a chance to roam free.  Tava could only smile and shake her head as she lowered the ramp.

Jornea waved as she trotted down the cargo ramp and started off with a spring in her step. Kit stopped on the street and watched her go. He sneezed after her and then glanced up at Tava when she stopped beside him.

"Not going with her? I thought you two were inseparable."

Kit shook his head. "I'm not really into brothels. They don't typically have anyone compatible with my species, and I'm not really one for petting."

Tava blinked in surprise. "Brothel?!"

Kit shrugged, his tails lashing back and forth.  "Doesn't matter I suppose.  I should probably give Athena a check to make sure Jornea's wild ride didn't damage anything.  Right after a little time off."

He flicked his ears and started off towards the open market just down the street from the ship bay. Tava stared after Jornea as she disappeared into the crowd. She wasn't really a fan of prostitution. She wondered if Jornea would have a problem with Tava imposing her ideals on the young woman. Why Jornea felt the need to go to a brothel at all was beyond her.

"The brats are splitting up?"

Tava glanced back as Kartk came down the ramp, shouldering his rifle a little higher.  "Apparently.  Jornea has gone looking for a brothel and Kit decided not to follow her."  Kartk stiffened, his ears turning a little pink.  Tava could only shake her head and start for the government building.  Kartk followed along behind her, keeping just to her right to cover her vulnerability.

Tava kept a low profile as she slipped in and checked a board of office numbers next to names and titles.  She hummed as she read them all over, then chose one and started off towards an elevator.  "The Mayor seems like a good place to start."

They rode up to the top floor and Tava aimed for the grand waiting room with the secretary guarding the door.  She shot the young man a winning smile as she approached.  He still seemed wary of her when he got a look at the scarring visible around her eyepatch and her robotic limb.

"I'd like to speak with Mayor Cassar please."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No."

"I'm sorry, but-"

Tava cut in before the young man could give whatever excuse was about to roll off his tongue.  "No, I'm sorry, because I've had a very trying couple of weeks where people have tried to kill me, frame me, attack my family and anyone else close to me.  Not to mention losing my career, my eye, my arm, half my hearing, a hip, and most of my patience.  So.  I'd like to speak to Mayor Cassar.  Please."

The secretary was now trembling.  His eyes flicked over Tava's shoulder at Kartk, and whatever he saw on the big mans face broke the final straw.  He reached over to open up the com link between his desk and the Mayor's office.  "Madam Mayor?!"

The hint of panic in the young man's voice prompted a fairly speedy question.  "Everything alright Karu?"

"There's a..."

Tava noted the secretary's questioning look flicked her way and supplied her name.  "Tava Bismark."

"There's a Tava Bismark here to see you."  They waited through the brief silence and Tava could only imagine what was likely going through the Mayor's head.  Tava's name had been broadcast, and was probably still being broadcast, labeling her as a traitor to the Allied Systems.  Tava had entered the service early, and she knew not to believe everything she heard on the broadcasting channels.  That didn't mean others had picked up on the media's propensity to air partial and slanted truths.  Or even all out lies.

"Send her in."

Tava hadn't realized she'd gone tense until she relaxed at the words.  She waved off the young man's half hearted attempt to get up and show the way.  He settled back into his seat with a look of relief as Tava made her way to the office doors, trailing Kartk.

Inside, the office was probably supposed to look grand.  It only felt cramped with the boxes  of files, mounds of books, and mountains of paperwork stacked anywhere there was room.  The short, slight woman looked even more delicate as she battled the avalanche of bureaucracy.

"Tava Bismark.  Or is it still Colonel?"

Tava smiled as she picked her way through towards the desk as Mayor Cassar hopped up to clean off the chair set in front of her desk for guests.  "I'm afraid I've been discharged, so, just Tava.  Captain, only if you feel the need."

"Ah.  Sorry about the mess.  Keeping this place running smoothly is easier said than done.  So many immigrants and runaways..."  She blinked up at Kartk when he smoothly took the big pile of papers stacked on top of the box she was trying to move.  Mayor Cassar abruptly smiled in thanks and gestured where to set the papers down.  Tava noted the way she eyed the collar and bracelets around Kartk's neck and wrists as he turned away.

Mayor Cassar abruptly shook herself out of it and gestured to the now clean seat.  "Please.  Have a seat.  Tell me why the most wanted woman in Settled Space wants to see me."  She scurried back around her desk and sat down, idly tidying as she turned her attention to Tava.

Tava took the seat and tried to relax.  "I wanted to talk to you because I've got a warning, as well as a proposition, for you and your people."  Mayor Cassar raised a brow in interest and Tava forged ahead.

"If you've heard of me then you've also heard of General Hask.  Most people have.  What they haven't heard is his ambition to overthrow the Allied Council and set himself up as Supreme Ruler.  He's been slowly putting anyone he can use in his pocket while he takes over the Turnyin System.  Once he has the Turnyinites under his control, he'll march on the Central System and take over.  Any one who tries to stop him has been removed."

Mayor Cassar had gone pale.  Turnyinites did that to most people.  An army of them was simply terrifying.  Yet, she swallowed down that fear and straightened her spine.  "I suppose, he tried to have you...'removed'?"

Tava nodded.  "I was a little too stubborn to be removed completely."  She shifted a little in her seat, feeling the self-consciousness that she had tried to bury while she healed.  Kartk standing behind her right shoulder helped alleviate the sense of vulnerability.  "But what's been done to me is not why I'm here.  I'm here because I believe the Allied Systems should be allowed to choose.  Who they follow and which direction this Alliance goes should be up to the people, not a single man with his own ambitions for power and greatness."

Mayor Cassar went quietly thoughtful for a long moment, considering.  "How many have joined your cause?"

Tava winced.  "So far?  You would be the first.  Unless we're counting the four crazy people who decided to join me under my command."

Mayor Cassar frowned.  "What you're suggesting is akin to suicide then."

Tava grit her teeth, leaning forward in her seat, her only eye narrowed in resolution.  "What I am suggesting is defense of what is right.  What I am suggesting is a revolution.  And no one ever said that either of those things was easy.  But I'll go to the ends of the Universe to find support in this cause.  Because even if I die in this mission, at least they'll remember my name and not put the word 'coward' along with it."

Mayor Cassar eyed her intensity.  She abruptly sighed, half smiling as she settled back in her seat and started shuffling papers again.  "Well.  When you put it that way..."  She gave Tava a rueful look as she slid some papers aside and leaned her elbows on the desk.  "Look.  I can't just promise you our military and support.  I have to present it to the people."

Tava nodded.  "As you should."

Mayor Cassar relaxed a little and went on easier.  "However, to that end, I have a proposition for you as well.  If you can take care of a little problem for us, then it will eliminate the need for our military to be on alert and the people will be much more likely to lend you our support.  I can push a good many things through when I have a mind, but having a little leverage never hurt anybody."

Tava smiled, feeling like this could actually go her way.  A trade of favors was hardly a terrible way to do business.  "Alright.  What's the problem?"