It almost brought a tear to my eye. A meager one, full of soldierly delight.
The sentients gathered around were much more open with their emotions than I was, so they didn't wait for my reaction or, God forbid, a speech, but simply broke into groups and began to celebrate the successful completion of our most difficult contract. And the most profitable.
Well, so I thought.
"After all expenses. Spending. Salaries. Resupply. We broke even."
"Bitch! I was planning to buy armor for everyone or at least get a couple of Fighters so we'd have something to cover the ship..."
"Don't get your hopes up. All the profit and the stash. Everything went to Ukio." Tapping a few keys on the PDA, the Shorty turned the screen toward me and Somnia, who sat down nearby. "We're bankrupt."
"Eh... I would grumble or start arguing... but the plan worked," leaning on the table, my old friend rested her palm against her cheek, lazily swirling the liquid in her glass, "although none of us believed in it."
Her gaze turned to me, as if finishing the phrase: "Unlike you."
"They would have managed without us; they just needed a push," indicating the size of our help with my fingers, I squinted my eyes contentedly, "a tiny one like that..."
"Pf, even so, we've become much more famous now, especially in this part of the galaxy." Obeying a non-verbal request, the Shorty opened the map of the Mandian Trade Route before us, where we had been operating for all three months. A small list of inhabited and large planets didn't scare any of us, because only individually did these places not represent interest... "Whoa, Ukio is a densely populated planet with an abundance of food. Once volunteers find out that we've opened a recruitment point there..."
"That won't happen for now. Einz and Zwei will select the best. Their budget is limited, and only if Rolo has nowhere else to spend money will they start expanding." Tossing a couple of nuts into my mouth, I crunch them loudly and annoyingly, trying to distract Somnia from her sad thoughts. "Don't worry, for now they'll only recruit a hundred people..."
"A hundred!? Are you completely out of your mind? And how will we pay them? And arm them?" Clutching her head, the girl was about to jump up, but noticing the looks from me and the Shorty, she pulled herself together, regaining the icy calm of a Helldivers deputy. "You've already thought of something, haven't you? Come on, spill it, you two banthas, so I don't look like a complete fool."
"Of course," nodding to the Shorty, who promptly began tapping on the tablet, and a list of the planets of interest in the Abrion sector lit up before us. "So, to pull off our scheme and help Tatooine, we need to acquire a resource base, ships, people, food, and industrial potential."
Looking at the ladies listening to me, though the little Jawa herself had helped me draw up our plan of approximate actions. For a moment my heart wavered because I was hiding my ultimate goals... but it's better to give information to comrades in doses, otherwise they'll run away immediately, thinking I'm a psychopath.
"As we've already learned, to our regret, Jabba is not at all the opponent we can contend with right now." Marking Tatooine with a red dot, we reduced it on the map, temporarily leaving it alone and focusing on the planets around us, and there were quite a few of them... especially for a small group of Assassins. "Molavar, Mende, Roon, Rishi, Greater Abrion, Ukio."
Listing the planets that lit up blue one by one, all except the last one, which turned green, like in the computer games of my distant first world.
"Initially, I planned to go in order, gaining a reputation on these planets and increasing our influence. Starting with Molavar, which isn't much different from Tatooine, and ending with Ukio—the most significant planet in the sector." Clearing my throat, I take a sip from the glass offered by Somnia. "But an opportunity came our way... and I didn't let it pass."
The other planets I listed lined up in order of their importance, and Molavar was in first place.
"I have no desire to poke my nose into the sands again," and we all understood her perfectly. After living on Tatooine... a long and not particularly good life, I might add. Seeing blue skies, endless seas... damn, rain! Somnia and her brothers simply burst into tears when water first dripped on them from above. So her reluctance to go back was understandable... but there was one among us who missed his simple former life, although, to put it more accurately, this individual believed he could do everything better alone than with us and wanted to prove it, ready to dash off to Tatooine right now, "oh, no. You want to send him there? Aren't you afraid your brother will put together a gang and rob everyone? Settle there like a king..."
Well, after a couple of months of working and living together, the kind friendly feelings for the neighbor boy had faded significantly.
"Don't overestimate him. He's a jerk, sure, but what you're attributing to him is too much."
"Agreed. With Somnia." The Shorty treacherously put in her word. "Kanta is careless and naive. A bit dumb. It's like you're not related. So many coincidences."
"He'll definitely do something stupid..."
"Girls, what makes you think I'll send him alone?"
Somnia was the first to guess my intentions.
"You want to send the Weequay with him? Aren't you afraid he'll slit our friend's throat?"
"His name is Kordo... and stop exaggerating." Brushing off my worried friend, I toss a new handful of nuts into my mouth. "They'll make an ideal team."
The picture rose before my eyes: the constantly shouting, sickly Kanta, the height of an astromech droid...
And next to him, the Weequay Kordo, who had barely said a couple of words to us in the two months we'd known him. Rescued from slavery, he swore to pay his debt for as long as he had been held as a slave, which was almost twelve years. Not that I was good at xenoculture and didn't know how devoted Weequay are to their word. But as far as I was concerned, Kordo had had plenty of chances to run away and rob us, and why he would do it now was unclear to me.
So I ignored Somnia's worries, as well as the Shorty's grumbling that this pair would wreck all the devices given to them and then go back to running around the desert in local rags.
Well, on that point, I was forced to agree with her.
"So, what's next?" Snapping her fingers in front of my face, my deputy poked a finger with short-trimmed nails at the map. "Will you tell us about the rest? Or will we wait for Kanta to do his thing?"
"No, that would be stupid and unproductive. We have too little time, and with every day Jabba becomes stronger, taking over local pirate gangs and drug bands," zooming in on the planet Mende, I revealed brief information about it, mostly showing it to the girl, since I had managed to read it inside and out myself. "I'll go here myself, on any ship from Rishi, where we'll part ways. On Mende, I want to visit the Merchant Fleet Academy; there are maps and knowledge of interest to me there that will later lead us to Roon."
"Well, that's clear; cursed Roon is famous for its gemstones," smirking unpleasantly, the girl opened her own PDA, where she was probably making similar notes... as, in fact, we all were, trying for days to make up for our lack of knowledge about the galaxy, "only it's hidden behind... e-e-em... the Cloak of the Sith. They sure have some names here."
"That's why I'm going to Mende; they have notes and some scattered information about the routes to that planet."
"I think if there were anything worthwhile there, they would have long ago laid a path there themselves..."
Ignoring the girl's grumbling speech, I point my finger at the next planet—Rishi.
"Together with the smugglers' data, we'll be able to draw up a new, much more accurate route. Twi'lek smugglers somehow haul drugs from Ryloth through this path; I think they'll agree to share their knowledge with us."
"They're eager. I'm sure."
"Don't be sarcastic," clicking my tongue at the Shorty, I point my finger at Rishi again, a planet known for its havens for smugglers of all stripes, "I think Somnia, with a little help from her family, can handle this..."
"What?"
Wiggling my eyebrows, I pointed her to Rishi again.
"You want to take over the smuggling spaceports? Have you completely lost it? And why me?"
"Rishi is a very important planet; through it we'll be able to control the traffic of illegal goods, and most importantly—sell stones from Roon. We need money, and Rishi is exactly what will bring it to us."
"That sounds too fantastic..."
"I understand. That is why most of our resources, people, and the ship itself—everything will be at your disposal while we carry out other tasks," I said, nodding toward the small Jawa, deciding to sweeten the pill. "Shorty will assist you technically, and the brothers with force."
"Why me? You're the Chief, you deal with it, and I..."
"Somnia... Natsuki," the girl reacted strangely to her name, averting her eyes slightly, her cheeks flushing red. "You worked with Kaoru for a long time and you know how these things are handled. You will have resources, people, and most importantly... a goal."
"And the authorities? The planet is inhabited."
I already knew I had won. Everyone at the table realized it, including the girl herself—she had already agreed and was now just stalling to find the resolve for what came next.
"The colonists and locals are quite tolerant... toward everyone. In principle, they don't care at all who runs business in their spaceports, as long as it doesn't lead to casualties or destruction."
"I... well..."
"I have no one else to send there, I'm not lying," I said, patting the girl on the shoulder and looking into her eyes, smiling warmly to show my full sincerity. "If I had even a shred of experience in this... but you understand."
"Yes, I understand."
Essentially, our constructive discussion ended there. Although we spent nearly two more hours discussing minor details, those were merely clarifications or exchanges of information, which we all gather on an industrial scale using any methods available.
As night approached and the celebration came to an end, I was the first to leave the table, sending my two tired assistants to bed.
The girls had much to think about, and I simply wanted to rest; the day had been far too eventful.
Today, the Helldivers would have a day off, so be it, but tomorrow... tomorrow we would begin marching toward the goal we set for ourselves—to bring freedom and democracy to these wild lands.
***
Morning on the planet Rishi began as usual, with the soft light of the sun breaking through the clouds. I stood on the deck of my spaceship, breathing in the atmosphere of this unusual place, which seemed to penetrate even the thick walls of the Freedom Rider. Palms and bright waterfalls below created a sense that life here was always full of secrets and opportunities.
Somnia, weary from long travels, calmly piloted the ship as we began our landing at a port near the colony. This port was like a treasure hidden from the eyes of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, where smugglers could conduct their business in peace. There was plenty of work here, and the locals understood this well, not bothering anyone as long as simple rules were followed.
Our corvette slipped into the atmosphere, weaving through the clouds, and soon the first image of the port appeared on the screen—trading droids scurried about, surrounded by other ships that looked like old freighters but were actually hiding their own secrets.
I was certain the guts of half of them were stuffed with spice, Ryll, and other narcotic filth being hauled to the Core Worlds and Inner Rim... perhaps some ship even concealed exotic slaves or beasts...
But the time had not yet come to pounce on every bastard with shouts of freedom. I would wait; I had learned to wait and not rush headlong. My "friends" from Tautin taught me that the long game always pays off, even in the smallest increments.
So I would wait...
For now, let all these illegal Traders rejoice and live in this city of lawlessness and pirate freedoms. Though the latter were quite rare here.
There it was, the planet of smugglers—Rishi. Nature here was green, the mountains majestic, with Rishii houses hanging from the cliffs like jewels. I felt like an explorer and a smuggler at the same time. Here, I could act freely.
Or rather, Somnia would.
We landed, and I was enveloped by the scents of a secret market where people exchanged goods ranging from rare minerals to ancient relics. The noise and clamor of droids and Traders created an atmosphere of life and energy as I descended the ramp. On one side, I was greeted by locals, while on the other, I felt the slight arrogance of the Rishii and the various rabble who considered themselves lucky Captains and hardened space wolves.
"Damned bandits. Soon I will bring democracy and law to this planet; we'll see what faces you make then."
I stepped off the ship and immediately felt the warm, humid air of Rishi. It was an unexpectedly pleasant combination that brought to mind thoughts of tropical islands.
Life teemed all around me—Traders shouted loudly, hawking their wares, while droids moved restlessly, assisting with cargo. My heart pounded with excitement, for I knew that every second here could bring new opportunities or dangerous surprises.
The market was a true center of gravity for adventurers and smugglers. I noticed several Rishii discussing something with Alien buyers; some "not entirely legal" deal was definitely underway.
I couldn't help but notice the glint of rare crystals on display for sale—they sparkled in the sunlight, and I grew curious to know where they came from.
Heading toward one of the stalls where an old man with deep wrinkles on his face was laying out his goods, I stood directly opposite him, pointing a finger at a glowing green stone.
His eyes filled with anticipation. The old man practically glowed with joy; he was so incapable of hiding his delight at the prospect of swindling a sucker, and I realized I had to be careful with him.
"What brings you to Rishi?" he asked, rubbing his hands as if he knew he had something I might need.
Keeping a stone face, I shook my head nonchalantly.
"I'm interested in rare minerals and goods. They say you can find things here that can't be found anywhere else."
The old man chuckled and invited me closer. He showed me his wares—small pieces of "gold" disguised as ordinary green stones. I knew this could be a risky business, but the goal stood above all else.
"Everything I sell is legal," he continued, though I knew that wasn't quite true. "But you'll have to haggle. Do you have anything to trade?"
We had absolutely nothing. Only a couple of dozen brutes currently guarding the ship while Somnia and the brothers went to scout the situation and find me a ship to the planet Mende.
"I've got a bit of this, a bit of that... you name a price, and we'll start there and see where we end up."
The old bastard almost fooled me. Fortunately, Shorty found me in the crowd and, grabbing my hand, tossed ten Peggats onto the old man's table—the currency used by the Hutts... and those who do business with them. Or rob them, like various fools... or us.
The old man initially wanted to shout something after us, but seeing the denomination of the coins, he quickly bit his tongue, hiding the treasures away from the greedy eyes of Traders and the numerous thieves circling the market in packs.
"What's the rush? I found something interesting here..."
"Later. Ship. Leaving now. Cheap."
"I hope you didn't sell me into slavery back there."
"Too cheap. Not profitable."
"Well, thanks... I was joking, by the way."
"..."
"Hey, you were joking too, right? You didn't actually check how much I'd sell for? Hey! Shorty!"
But the little brat ignored me, though I swear to God—I'm certain she was smiling under that black mask!
While the Jawa dragged me through the market, I pulled the purchased stones from my tunic. They looked somewhat like classic ore, but instead of the inclusions I recognized, they had strange bits of green material...
"Shorty, make sure to check what this is. What if we get lucky? I wouldn't be surprised if these local savages use this to stoke their stoves or burn dung, only for it to turn out to be an analog for Beskar or something like that..."
"Stupid and naive. Didn't I tell you? Fine. I'll check."
Satisfied with my optimism, which had apparently rubbed off on Shorty, I took the lead, pushing through the numerous smugglers, Rishii, and other settlers crowding around.
If Somnia had found me a ship that quickly, it meant it was worth it, and soon I would be on the planet I needed.
"And the guys will handle the other plans for now... It's good to have a proper team motivated for success."
Smirking at my thoughts, I tossed a small piece I decided to keep for myself. Maybe if Shorty finds nothing, they'll tell me something interesting on Mende?
***
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