The Fog of War (Part Two)

March 10 - Splintered Rock

"What this feeble light leaves indistinct to the sight, talent must discover, or must be left to chance. It is therefore again talent, or the favour of fortune, on which reliance must be placed, for want of objective knowledge." - Clausewitz

-----

The large vaporator was bordering on empty. I managed to gather only 100 ml of water. This did not surprise me as it was a public device located below the main landing pad for Splintered Rock.

Water extracted, and more curious than anything else, I requested a readout of the unit's operational status. The machine promptly complied.

• Osmotic Filament: |||||||||||||||||||
• Circulation Matrix: ||||||||||||||||||
• Centriflux Circulator: ||||||||||||||||||||
• Heat Sump: |||||||||||||||||||

Maximum Capacity: 2000 ml
Security Access Timeout

It was in remarkably good shape considering the age and location of the unit.

-----

Nearby, Lieutenant Colonel John Collins of the United Systems Directorate was chatting with one of his soldiers, a woman in a grey uniform holding the rank of Private.

With them were three individuals in slate grey uniforms, with light grey collars and coloured trim. I could only assume these were some of the 'federationists' that I had heard so much about.

As I walked towards the group, the three strangers made their departure, leaving me with Collins and his soldier.

"Hello Colonel," I began.

"Greetings Major. What brings you here again?"

"I hear there as been some trouble here recently..."

"Trouble?" laughed Collins. "So that's what the Alliance calls a war these days, eh?"

"Trouble?" echoed the Private.

I smiled, "Well, let's hope it does not develop into what I would call war."

"So, how can I help you today Major?" asked the officer.

"I was just out for a stroll..." I said conversationally, "to evaluate the situation for myself. At least the fighting has seemed to have died down," I remarked, as if I was discussing the weather. A low pressure area from the South. A thirty percent chance of shelling....

"Right now it's rather quiet," he admitted, "We had some combat a while ago. The situation is still dangerous though."

"Do you think it is over?" I asked truthfully, "with the forces more ... balanced, shall we say?" It was an allusion to his alliance with the federationists.

"Until there is a cease fire signed, the war goes on, I guess" suggested the Private.

"Well," answered Collins, "we are pretty active here. Our combat forces are always on alert and we fought off attackers more than once. Anyhow, you are not here to discuss tactics I assume. You are here for a reason."

"Some times a simple matter, like the recent conflict, is not so simple as it seems," I replied, "My job is to investigate."

"Yes I know," insisted the Lt. Colonel, "but I thought you were investigating criminal activities."

Before I could answer, the Private spoke up. "Sir, I need to get going and train Ito a little more. His aiming is still bad." She came to attention and saluted the Colonel.

"Roger that Private," responded Collins.

The soldier padded off across the sand towards the stairway leading up the the landing pad. Once she was well on her way, I spoke, "You may wish to tell her about saluting an officer in the open during a conflict situation...."

Lt. Colonel Collins answered, "Well, yes regulations, Major, regulations."

"...It's a good way for snipers to identify who is in charge," I added. "As for criminal activities currently under investigation, I am still gathering what I can about the Navigator Ardra... Her whereabouts would be nice," I smiled, "She has graduated from stolen antiquities to kidnapping."

"Highly unusual career," remarked Collins, "I am aware that you are searching for someone and that everything more or less started here. Reavers were mentioned but I am unaware that they would have been here, nor in USD space. Perhaps, we should continue this discussion in my office?"

"Certainly," I agreed, "It will be cooler ... and, one assumes, less likely for one of us to get shot."

We trudged across the sand, the sounds of a training exercise on the landing pad above us.

-----

As we entered the compound I looked around with genuine admiration. "A lovely base, Colonel."

"We expanded the base quite a bit since your last visit," said the officer.

"Indeed," I replied, "and a good thing to it seems."

The door closed behind us with a hiss. Security cameras looked me up and down with their wide unblinking eyes.

"I am currently unarmed," I announced and I removed my cloak to substantiate my claim.

"Very good," replied Collins, "then there will be no security check required. If you had anything on you, the sensors would have told me."

I nodded.

"Well, let's head down then shall we?" he asked.

----

We descended deeper into the bunker.

I have been told that Collins had offered the safety of his bunker to Lady Baxton of House Zenobia and her staff during the last bombardment. Although the Lady declined the invitation, it was a gallant gesture.

"Have a seat Major," offered the Lt. Colonel.

"Thank you," I replied, choosing the chair I had used on my last visit.

Settled behind his desk the Colonel began, "So Major, tell me, how can I be of assistance to you in your current case?"

"As we are talking about a Navigator," I said, "who consumes a great deal of the desert spice, can you tell me if the current conflict has impeded spice mining in any way?"

"No, spice mining goes on like usual," Collins assured me. "Last month the USD was the top spice mining faction here on Al Raqis."

I smiled and nodded, "Very good..." Too bad, I thought, interruptions in spice mining might draw Ardra out of hiding.

"Have you seen any new mining companies start work since the conflict began?" I asked.

Lt. Colonel Collins rubbed his chin and thought for a bit, "Let me ask my Prospector." He opened a comm channel and spoke quietly to someone on the other side.

"What do you know about Nexus?" I asked, while we waited.

"Nexus Corporation? Well, they are fairly new here and I don't know a lot about them, only that they have business interests here on Al Raqis."

"According to the local media, they had a ship damaged in one of the altercations," I said.

A figure came to the door awaiting permission to enter. He wore a tan coloured desert uniform. He wore traces of dust and the faint odor of spice so characteristic of a miner. This was indeed, a man of the sand.

Lt. Colonel Collins looked up, "Yes Ito, you may come in." Ito entered and Collins made the introductions. "Major Siamendes, this is Ito Naminosaki, our prospector."

We both said hello.

The Colonel continued, "Yes, one of Nexus Corp ships got damaged during a firefight between the Starfleet and the Myrmidons on the landing pad. That is when they sent security here. Anyway, Ito here can tell you more about who is currently spice harvesting here."

Ito Naminosaki, still standing, made his report, "Primarily, it is a hard mining business between House Tairis and the USD. These days the natives from Tairis have employed offworlders..."

"Like who?" I asked.

"A man named Zarco."

"Zarco," I repeated, "He works for Tairis?"

"Yes," replied Ito, "I see him often as if he were observing me."

I thought this over.

"Well," remarked the Colonel, "the Orions also do employ spies to keep records of what we do here."

Ito reminded us that public records of spice production were available at the refinery.

"Is he a lone contractor?" I asked.

"I think so," replied the prospector.

"Okay... that is helpful," I nodded, "Thank you."

I stood up. "I should get back to my ship. Colonel... a pleasure as always. I will send photos of the missing girls."

"Missing?" interjected Ito.

"Two young girls," I explained, "kidnapped from Paquin."

"That would be helpful," said the Lt. Colonel, "if they ever turn up here. I hope that Navigator is aware that spice has certain side effects if consumed over a prolonged time period."

"Oh I am sure she is intimately aware of the side effects of spice," I replied, my thoughts turning to the original Audrey, forced by her desperate father to take massive doses of the substance.

"And I hope he does not give these girls spice too," added the officer.

"I hope they are safe," I agreed, pushing aside the thought of a traumatized Audrey replaying the nightmare visited upon her on her innocent clones. "Thank you... thank you both ... again." I said, looking from one to the other.

"You are welcome Major," replied the Lt. Colonel.

Ito nodded in response.