25 April, 3134 (RoTSA)

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=By Cannonshop=
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===A man on a mission===
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03:30 AM local time, somewhere in the Republic of the Sphere
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"I was surprised that a planetary governor would have such shit security." a cool woman's voice said in the darkness. "You really ought to be more careful, Mister, strangers can walk in when it's least convenient."
The lights in the bedroom came on. 
She sat on the back of a chair, perched. "Hi, I'm Peregrine. Tell the woman who's not your wife to get lost, we have business."
 
His eyes went wide, "What's the meaning of this intrusion!!"
"Well, aside from I've got dirt on you with the hooker here, and honey, you need to start running now, sweetie pie, you don't want to be a witness someone has to clean up, do you? Now off you go!" she focused on him again. "I am here…" the Governor's…companion hurried to get dressed enough to flee, while Peregrine flicked a knife open, then closed, "...because we have business to conduct, the kind you don't want getting out, unless you like being the target of a lynch mob, anyway."
His hand slammed the emergency call.
"Oh sorry, all lines are currently down." she told him, "Don't worry, they're not dead, they're just …not answering-don't forget your purse, sweetie!!"
"What do you want?? Who are you with??"
"I am…a concerned citizen." she hopped off the chair back, and strode over, flicking the knife in a complex pattern. "Well, not really, I don't give a shit and I'm not a citizen. More of a traveller. You signed some executive orders, Mister Governor, and you need to unsign them."
"Which orders? What orders?"
She flourished a ComPad, and read off of it, "Warrants of seizure under emergency provisions." she explained, "you're using your position to jack ships from independent traders, then you're selling them to a third party, all under color of law." she tossed it on the bed, "Now, some folks are very interested in where those seized vessels are going, and how much wealth is entering your private accounts. I just want you to drop the seizure of one ship in particular, and in exchange, you get to go back to your corruption, on account of I'll be gone."
"If I don't?"
"Let's examine that for a moment…there are two hundred and twelve bones in the adult human body. Some of those bones are absolutely necessary to have a normal life, a fracture of any one of them and you're a cripple. There are numerous nerve endings too, sometimes damage can result in permanent pain, or even…" she flicked the knife into the headboard, it sank nearly thirty milimeters into the wood, "...impotence. No more stepping out on your old lady while she's volunteering with the churches. Give me what I want, and I'll go away, keep me trapped here, and everyone will know all of your side business, and you'll need their good-will to keep breathing. Can you guess how much good will you won't have if that happens?"
"I can make a deal-how do I know you'll keep your end?"
"Imagine my surprise. Come, let us reason together, you have no guarantees, because I can give you no guarantees you will believe…except that if I don't get to go my way, your life will become very complicated. You'll lose your protection once the Mercs find out you stiffed them."
"I didn't-"
"Well, who are they going to believe?" she asked sweetly, "You, or their accounts? It's not like Jake Bannson's going to bail you out this time-he's busy, if it gets around you were part of his supply line, that you funneled Republic property to his little mob of criminals? What do you suppose your supporters here will do with that, hmm? Release my ship, and it all goes away, quietly."
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Finis
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25 April, 3134
25 April, 3134
25 April, 3134