Vex Chronicles 3: Hunt

The first trader

Codra Minor, space port

Vex slipped out of the Minerva's Spear. He had chosen to march out in force. Even Cassilia and Hasthia followed behind him. And both eredian troopers were present. Vex hoped that a show of force would speed this meeting up.

Vex allowed himself to feel a little bit of pride swell in his chest. Corporal Muntis and trooper Tadalia had rejoined the squad thanks to his help. Corporal Muntis' eye augment sat in her left eye socket as a lens with a sinister red glow. And Tadalia could again hold her rifle in her new mechanical hands. Dr. DeLague had outdone himself to wire the implants of Vex design into singed nerve ends.

Their gunship had set down on the main spaceport of Factory-City-2, Codra Minor's central manufacturing and trading city. Codra Minor was not only a minor forgeworld. It was also a minor shrineworld. But two minor did not made a major. The production rare was in decline, people left and sooner or later Codra Minor would disappear into obscurity.

Codra Minor had barely any vegetation or remaining water. But it had an abundance of minerals and ores. Its severe lack of food industry made the world dependent on imports like wheat from Eredius. No wonder the Majoris trade ship had planned a stop here.

Captain Jellick had been more than shocked to be stopped by an inquisitorial priority signal. But he had quickly agreed to meet with Vex. The captain of the freighter waited for them in the meeting room Vex had requested from the space port. This way he could meet with captain Jellick in a neutral location.

Jellick was a typical captain from a smaller trade house. Keen, adventurous and with so much self-confidence that it bordered on arrogance. His face that was so perfect that it had to be the work of a skilled surgeon. Jellick's cloth was equally expensive. A sign that the captain was an established trader, even without the backing of a large trade family.

"I will come straight to the point, Captain Jellick," Vex said with commanding tone. "I order you to destroy the goods you bought from Eredius III."

The captain looked at the inquisitor and his retinue. And Vex had to give the captain credit that he didn't falter at that sight.

"With all due respect, inquisitor Ilvex. This will ruin me. All I have is that Eredian produce. And I need that income to..."

Vex interrupted him by slipping the mask off of his gaunt face. And the inquisitor's harsh stare quickly silenced the trade captain.

"Captain Jellick. There are two ways this will end. We'll either burn the infected wheat with your assistance. Or we'll burn it without. In one choice you and your crew stays unharmed. So choose wisely."

The captain swallowed and nodded. "My ship is your ship. However all the wheat has already been unloaded. The priests won't be happy to see their wares destroyed..."

"You brought the trade documents with you?," Vex asked

Captain Jellick nodded and his assistance reached the scrolls to him. The captain and Vex both knew that the loss would in the end fall back to his trade house. With a torn expression he handed the scrolls of trade to Vex. The inquisitor passed them along to his interrogator and Markos was underway to see to the wheat's destruction.

With the captain giving in, Vex let the hard stare slip off of his face. "A wise choice, captain Jellick. You and your small trade house do not want to be known to spread the influence of Imperial enemies through the stars. It would not only be your fall but also that of your house."

"I do not want that." Captain Jellick shook his head.

"Listen, captain," Vex continued. "I am a fair man. And I do not like to see good men leave beaten." Vex put some papers into the captains hands. "Those are blank trade bonds for the world of Hader. You might not make the profit you had planned to make. But my name on those bonds will open you doors to new trade partners on Hader. I trust you to not abuse that influence. Are we in agreement?"