The ship ‘Comet’s Folly’ was an older Fortuna class Inter-system patrol craft modified, according to the registry records, to be a small freight hauler and passenger vessel. As it’s transponder pinged the Outpost, the traffic controller did as the new SOP dictated: she acknowledged the ping, set the vessel on an approach vector, and notified customs and station security of the arrival of an unscheduled vessel. It was a pain in the butt, but the new Strategic OPs Chief seemed to have a enchant for making what used to be easy much more difficult.

In the Security Hub, Ensign Hols looked at the notification and acknowledge the message. He looked over his shoulder through the almost always open door to the SOO’s office and yelled “Hey Chief! New ship coming in, not scheduled.” The mustached face of Lieutenant Ra’Ti looked up and said “Ok. What’s the name and registry?” The Ensign looked down and said “Comet’s Folly, looks to be-“ “Deltan.” the SOO interrupted and he scowled. “Uh… yeah. You know it, Chief?” There had been much scuttlebut surrounding the Outpost’s new security head, and many whispers involved the term ‘pirate’. The Ensign was all-too aware that if his new boss had knowledge of the vessel, how he knew it might be interesting.

“Know of it, Ensign. Tell traffic control to dock it as far from center as possible. And give the patrol fighters a heads up to do a fly-by… passive scans only, though.” and he stood up and walked out of his office. “I’m going to the Promenade. I’ll be back in a an hour or two.” and he promptly walked out the door. “Uh… aye aye, Lieutenant.” Hols said under their breath with a confused look on his face before going back to work.

Thirty minutes later, dressed in civilian attire, Xam walked into Shay’s Bar. Tucked back and away form the main hustle and bustle of the Promenade, Shay’s offered quiet and respected privacy. Xam had learned early on that a good deal of the… ‘unofficial’… business of the station was negotiated here. The bartender knew him and who he was, but pretended not to notice as Xam came in and took a seat in a booth at the far back of the dimly lit bar. Xam ordered a drink form the automated service and then sat back and waited for the face from the past to arrive. Whether or not that face knew he was here was a question he couldn’t wait to find out the answer to.

Ra’Ti, SOO