A-550: Merchant Freighter Spanial (Docked), Karmen’s Cabin
“I knew he’s powerful enough and rich enough to be able to charter a freighter outright for four jumps and influence the Legion to look the other way.
“The first time I went down to that facility it was all waved away as just an out of the way place to do business, there was none of that grand-standing in the boardroom with him on his giant throne running the place.
“I don’t know specifics. I made some enquiries, but all I found out was basically ‘he goes to lots of parties and the socialites and local administration thinks he’s wonderful’ and ‘don’t ask too many questions and don’t try and mess with him’.”
Lia nods.
“When you made your initial trip, Jennie got worried, so I made some enquiries. I was told not to mess with him and if I was going to…try to move against him, no help would be forthcoming. I didn’t realise the magnitude of his operation until we got to that facility.”
She pauses, gathering her thoughts again.
“Here’s my concern. Raina has taken an…interest in our current activities.”
She frowns.
“To say that she’s unhappy about my having anything to do with Zayaire would be putting it mildly. She has expressed a strong desire for me to leave Octant 7 as soon as possible. She is… concerned that I will become entangled in a territorial tussle between the two of them.”
Lia swallows.
“The issue is…”
She sighs.
“To be blunt, I don’t think that meeting earlier went the way he originally planned. I got the distinct impression that he was all set to slam us over the failure of his pet project…”
Lia looks at Karmen.
“… right up until I walked in the room.”