GWS-2

==Chapter 2 - Bosses==
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===Intrigue in the Floating City===
06/18/3046 - Location: Masamori - Hachiman, Draconis Combine
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Sounds of snoring filled the air, blackout curtains kept out Hachiman's afternoon sun. A lava lamp undulated slowly in a room half-lit with a neon orange light. Beside one of the youths a comm-pad buzzed. The vibration woke the nearby boy who groggily looked toward the lock screen displaying the latest Hachi holo-idol. He blinked the crud out of his eyes and opened the interface. “What is it, Franklin?”
Franklin Sakamoto looked out over the river from a balcony smoking the cigarette that had been denied him for the past hours of meetings and ISF interrogation. 
“Jerri, I will be entertaining company tonight. Any chance you can make the place presentable and prep the kitchen with a list I give you?”
“Depends on how long you give us.” Jerri said
“You have three hours. I would also appreciate a ride from the Expo Center.”
Jerri looked at the clock and his activity roused the others from their bed rolls. “Traffic is going to be impossible. Didn't you take that Isesaki car this morning?”
A red Mach V exited the garage not even bothering to stop for pedestrians. Only through fast reflexes did a man pull another out of the way. On a nearby balcony Franklin watched a pair of rough looking 'salary men' observing him. “I did, but I figure you can find someone willing to take it for a joy ride to the body shop and another to pick up me up in the tender.”
Murmuring started as Jerri looked over the now waking crowd who looked at him gesturing at them in their own secret code which transmitted the basic idea. “I don't think that is going to be a problem. Where do you expect us to go for the evening?”
“Well, I would avoid the normal places you layabouts frequent. If you spend to much time in the cyber cafes and not studying you'll end up my minions forever. The Kwaidon's berths are empty and the galley is full. It will put you closer to work tomorrow morning.” he told Jerri
“If by closer you mean there.” Jerri commented
Franklin finished the cigarette and rubbed it into the built in ash trays on the balcony. “Exactly what I mean. Everyone starts moving boxes, pushing cable, and splicing wires. Been doing it all my life.”
“I am sending Tim and Arrow out to you. Based on the comm-pad it will take an hour and some for them to reach you.” Jerri told him
Bright neon lights began to power up as the sun lowered and shadows of buildings grew. Ferry boats dispatched from berths on opposite bank disembarked the 'welcoming committee' near the Expo Center. Beautiful people advertising the temptations of the world beyond. Already corporate yachts were clearing the piers heading toward The Floating City.
“That's fine the view is good.” Franklin said 
He looked at the motionless salary-men whose eyes were hidden by the sun reflecting from their mirror-shades. “and I'm not in a hurry to go anywhere alone.”
His fingers flew across the touch screen. “Transmitting the shopping list now. Tell Jen to put it on my tab.”
A beat up heavy duty Osaka Heavy Metrics 6000 truck with four rear and two front wheels a faded Isesaki Shipping logo on its doors pulled into the rapidly emptying parking garage barely making the clearance. Arrow's slim form opened the passenger side door looking toward Franklin in dismay. “What happened to it?”
Clatters echoed off the walls as a side view mirror fell to the concrete surface. Franklin looked toward his work crew rather than the battered mess of a car his palm was resting on. Neon purple spray pain marred its sleek clearcoat and velvety black colorcoat. “Fujio's people I guess. It's why Isesaki keeps insurance on it.”
Arrow's shoulders slumped and his face held the agony of broken promise. “I can't pick up girls in this.”
Even though it was shadowed by the overhead lights Franklin's sly smile was visible. “That's not true, I picked up two this morning. I'll let you borrow it for a night when its fixed.”
“Sure. We are going to have to work on your...”
All three held their breath as Franklin came up with the best word. Arrow was not much to look at, another youth raised by his noteputer. Franklin brushed his suit and handed him the keys. 
“Presentation, however. I'll give you some pointers.” said Franklin to the younger man.
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===Dinner with Franklin and the girls===
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Laughter filled the bare apartment as one of the women caught a shrimp tossed by Franklin's spatula. Their cheery host had donned a costume of double breasted white jacket and bright red hat. His female guests couldn't help but think of it a parody on the DCA officer uniform or vice versa.
“Good catch, Cas.”
A less made up Caskata blushed as Franklin refilled Juliana's sake cup from the bottle warming on the far edge of the griddle. Upon receiving her drink she looked over the griddle overflowing with sizzling vegetables, rice, and prime cuts of fish. All fresh from the market and expertly sliced and spiced by the skillful hands and sharp knives of Franklin Sakamoto.  “Why does your kitchen have such a large griddle?”
The spatula pointed over to the loft overlook and a smaller door set into the wall. “One of the rooms here is given over to a bunkhouse for some of my interns. You can not imagine how much these guys can eat in a day. We needed a large kitchen or they would just eat microwaved garbage all day.”
They looked at each other and a picture of six young men engaged in some kind of martial art with Franklin standing behind them like a coach or big brother. “We have brothers on Herotitus. My brother Val claimed he could eat a whole side of beef at the family barbecue one time.”
She took a sip of warmed sake inhaling all its rich aromas. “He didn't make it past a kilo before he started getting the sweats.”
All laughed. “That sounds lovely.” He looked slightly sorrowful as if some great tragedy hid behind his otherwise jovial exterior. “I wish I had such memories.” 
Franklin took a long squirt from the bottle of sake attached to his belt. “The Kwaidon has been my life other than my time on Philadelphia to earn my DCPA Engineering certificate.” 
Caskata and Juliana picked up on his woe and looked at him with a sense of quiet knowing. The inhabitants of the Draconis Rift and Rim Reaches near the Magistracy of Canopus were often victims of pirates and every world had at least a few serious raids every decade or so.
He flipped all his food and with a precise strike perfectly separated an egg onto the black metal surface without causing a splash. His guests clapped at the performance which cheered him slightly. “Where'd you learn how to do this?” one girls asked
“On Philadelphia. Needed a job to pay for my technical training, didn't have a lot savings or family to draw on so chose a local Teppanyaki restaurant. Occasionally moonlighting at other places. 
Cooking for the crew and passengers was one of my first jobs aboard the ship. I got good enough that our passengers started to tip me.”
His smiled returned, “After all I am not bad looking and have skilled hands.” Their smiles seemed to agree.
With everything complete he plated their portions and sat down adjacent to their side of the table. A tall red hat sat on the stool next to him. “So you're an engineer?”
“Not just any engineer. Chief Engineer Franklin Sakamoto. Certified on Unity, Dragonstar, K-one, and Raba (Mule) power-plants and their associated systems. As well as an Industrial-mech Operator and Chief Tech, those were electives at PTI.”
“That must be very exciting.” one of them said
Franklin shrugged, “You see the inside of one dropship or spaceport and you've basically seen every other one. I try to spice it up with some murals from local artists on the textile barriers. Our passengers really appreciate that when I see them.”
They devoured their portions. “That was great. We didn't get to eat all day.”
She refilled the cup from the nearby bottle. “When we're working we don't have enough time for more than one meal.”
“You ladies have the inverse of my situation. When a dropship is on the ground my work load drops dramatically.”
“We appreciate all the hard work of your brother engineers while we are underway.”
“Happy to do so.” cheerfully told them.
Their comm-pads rang out in the latest pop hit. Caskata picked hers up and answered in a familiar tone, “Yes, Auntie.” She nodded as woman's voice could be hear on the other end and panned the comm-pad over her surroundings. 
Juliana waved at the camera as it passed her. "As you can see we are fine and dressed.” Once again she nodded and hung up with a “ciao.”
“Sorry, Franklin, we have to make it back for curfew tonight. Thanks for being so nice to us.”
Both of them looked downtrodden. “Masamori hasn't been the most welcoming place on our cruise thus far.”
“It will settle down when the Expo ends. Any competition is unwelcome. Times have been tough lately. I'll change and take you back to the circus. Have to check in on something work related.”
The Kwaidan's OHM 6k tender truck rolled up to the Dawn Circus' perimeter under the careful eye of their security team. A large amusement park had been set up for family friendly entertainment. Only late night performances were age restricted. 'Other' amusements were under tents behind a secondary checkpoint with the dropship powering a small village reserved for the performers' private quarters over their month long residency. 
Caskata and Juliana hopped out of the truck lingering near the driver's window. “Thanks for a nice evening, Franklin. Hope we didn't destroy the illusion of the pleasure circuses for you.”
He pulled his fingers over his lips. “Your secret identities as a bunch of randy ranch-hands from Herotitus are safe with me. I'll be sure to stop by when you are working.”
“We are eager to see just how skilled those hands are.” they cheerfully told him.
“You will not be disappointed. Ciao, ladies.”
“Ciao, Mister Sakamoto.”, with that they left.
Franklin drove across the bustling spaceport careful to avoid Industrialmechs and heavy transport heading out to air and spacecraft which intermittently roared overhead. Blinding light played off warehouses as a Mammoth-Class Cargo Dropship descended at the largest drop pad in this area beside those of the LAW facilities on New Samarkand. CMS Kwaidan loomed larger as he approached nearly the same size as a small apartment block. 
Before reaching it he turned into one of the many nondescript Isesaki Shipping warehouses that occupied a prime position near the ferrocrete landing surfaces. Two Powerman IndustrialMechs were set up on the gantries with a group of techs clambering over them with welders and other tools. Sparks flew off armor plating and showered two Sherpa armored trucks and their trailers equipped with a Medium Ergonomic Unit container. Franklin rushed over to the gantry. 
“Hey! Watch your sparks. There's ammo in there.” 
Above him the welding stopped. One of them slid down the ladder and undid his jumpsuit showing off his irezumi tattoos. “Don't worry, Franklin. We haven't loaded it yet.”
“Still be careful. We spent a lot of money preparing for this heist. Captain Fedstadt would notice the budget was gone if he was here. If we lose it there will be hell to pay.” he told them.
“When you get your share you can take the Kwaidan off the market for a little while and play around with your Canopian call-girls for another month or so.”
“So is everything ready for tomorrow, Shan?”
“You tell me." Shan gestured toward the up-armored Powermen and their customized equipment. 
"After all you are the expert.”
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