Chapter 9: Convoluted Plan
It was now day number 2 of prison life when Raina raised questions about my plan.
"What?, you don't trust me." I teased
"No... Um.... It's just..." she was at a loss at how to respond.
"Chill, I'm just messing with you, but that sure was a cute reaction"
She puffed out her cheeks in mock anger "You're still messing with me, hmph" she turned her head away from me.
"Hahahahahaha, No I'm not lying, you really are cute, while beautiful is the most apt description for your sister."
"Now for you to understand my plan, there are some things that you have to know, before hand"
"1, you know about the war between this country, and its neighbor the Bellium Kingdom, right?" seeing her node I continued.
"And I'm pretty sure you know that to get to the front lines, supplies need to pass through this system because of that a small armada of pirates are now attacking that supply line and stealing those supplies, but the thing is that pirates are smarter than that, well most of them that is, they know if they do this the Grakken Empire will come down on them with all they have, and none of them are going survive that, that's why I think that they're being manipulated by Bellium spies."
"From here things become more interesting, the Governor here is known to have connections to this pirate armada, it's more of an open secret, but no proof has ever been found"
"2 is that the Empire has sent in A lieutenant who is also a Marquis's Daughter, to turn the situation around, but so far the operations they have led against them, have all ended in failure, because of a mole from their side, he's leaked deployment schedules, ensuring the enemy always flees in time, this all leads back to the governor, but without proof she can't do anything to him as it will set a bad precedent for military men to abuse their power and forcibly occupy colonies and low level planets.
"3. Is that my suit, has been customized to record all that happens in my vicinity, what do you think happens if we combine all three of these things and I just happen to know this lieutenant?"
She looks like about to release steam. "Do you want me to repeat everything?"
She looks down "Yes please"
"No need to act down, it's no trouble, I like hearing the sound of my own voice" I repeated it all again but slower and simpler this time.
"I think I get it, or at least I think so, but I still don't get how that will get us out of here?"
"Simple, if the lieutenant can find proof of the governor's misdeeds, that means she can overthrow him without worry, doing so means that she can stop the pirates and spies with ease, and therefore eases the pressure to the front lines, then if I as the guy who helped her do all this ask to get a free pass on a little bit of mischief I think she will comply"
"How did you even help her get the proof?" Raina asks to get a more clear picture of the plan.
"While I was scouting the Governor's compound I found things that can be incriminating so when I was heading for you after leaving the governor's I sent her a message Detailing all the places the governor hides all the good stuff, they were not even that well hidden, the only reason he hadn't been caught yet was that there was no reason for the investigators to search his house, but after we had gone crazy in there, they had all the reason, they would need, plus I have him on video admitting to wanting to kill the citizens he was ordered to protect"
"But how do you know she will honor her agreement and come free us?"
"I might not know her that well but I believe she's what is known as a true noble, one who embodies Nobel's Oblige"
At that moment a guard comes to us and calls us
"You have a visit from Lieutenant Holtz, both of you come with me."
Using all my strength to stand up I smile at Raina
"See, she came through, for us".
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We were escorted to a room that looked like a visitation room.
Standing at attention the guard gave a salute to the woman already in the room, "Prisoners, are here as ordered Lieutenant Holz"
"At ease cadet, thank you for the good work, now you are dismissed" lieutenant Holz responded.
After the guard left the lieutenant kept giving me this look, we all just stayed like that for a while, she giving me a look, me acting like I didn't see it and then Reina feeling the full brunt of the awkwardness.
"So?, do you have anything to say?" seeming to have gotten enough of the silence, lieutenant Holz spoke.
"Ahh! Seems you got my message, thats good"
It seemed just as intended that response got under her nerves.
"Ugh!, I really want to leave you where you are, just to spite you, because while it did lessen my workload, it brought in a slew of other problems." she spoke with a mild case of anger.
"But it did help you with your main job? Right?" I need to know if my small plan has worked.
"Yes, while your assistance has indeed helped but, I just have to know, how did you know all that about the happenings of this system, did your grandfather tell you" Oh she's curious about my source is she.
"I just happened to run into this information-broker after leaving the armory shop, Nami I think her name was, I helped her out of a sticky situation and she gave me some info, plus some I got it from observation"
"Is she still here?"
"No, from what she said at the time, I'm sure she long left the colony, doesn't want to get caught up in the war"
"That's too bad, she could have had information that could make our last fight easier"
"So, what happened to the governor and his men"
"Oh him?, he shay be imprisoned for 100,years due to disregard of duty, but he did help us is some way we couldn't have expected"
"He had information about something we have after for a long time Baroque Works, it seems that the Governor was a minor member, I've already sent that information over to capital HQ, and while it's not much, it's something"
"uhhh!" The name got a reaction out of Reina, leading to her being questioned by the lieutenant. "Does that mean anything to you? "
"No, No, it's nothing," it seems like she is hiding something, but I don't want to pry too much, I'll wait till she can tell me on her own.
"That's all well and good on your part but what happens to us now?" I needed to know if she was going to let us go or let us rot in jail.
"Well the two of you are free to go, as for your things that got confiscated when you were arrested, you can retrieve them at the front desk, Zoran we even have the swords you described they were retrieved from the governor's compound" since she did not know of the story between Zoran and Reina she called Reina, Zoran.
As we were now at the door about to leave, the lieutenant spoke up.
"You owe me one, and as a way to pay it, you will accept the mass assignment from the IMG, for mercenaries in the quadrant." The smile she's giving me is going to GG be giving me nightmares for a while.
"Wait, you want me to join a war?" I was well beyond shocked
" It's not a war, it's just a minor skirmish, and you can't get out of this, you owe one right"
'This woman,I just met her but I know, she will be the death of me'
Taking a look at Reina I ask "So what you say Reina, you want to join a war with me" I don't want to make such a major decision without the input of my crew.
She just smiles and says"You're the captain, so you decide" that made me smile.
'Like you said Shanks, lead your crew with courage and they will trust you enough to jump into the Jaws of death with you'
Turning back to the lieutenant "After this, I'm not having you do me a favor again, your favors are expensive" that snack remark didn't even faze her, she just gave me a nightmare worthy smile.