Ali pointed to the other system. “This is the Uris system. Uninhabited, no notable resources to exploit, and well out of the path of any trade routes between more important systems. There are tens of billions of solar systems like it in Iglis galaxy, and no reason to visit this one. Since the initial scouting drone sent to survey it thousands of years ago, it's been completely overlooked. Until now.”
The display zoomed in on the inner system, where a small barren planet orbited close to the sun. “This is Recluse, home to a secret Elson Robotics Initiative research facility. It takes advantage of the fact that the planet is tidally locked to its sun, meaning it completes an orbital period at the same speed at which it completes a full rotation, so one half is eternally light, and the other eternally dark.
“The facility rests on the boundary, where the temperature isn't too extreme, and is powered by solar energy from the nearby sun. Judging by the number of solar energy collectors it employs, the energy usage of the base is quite large. More than most fully operational spaceports.”
Barix raised his hand over his head, wiggling it impatiently like a young child. “Question. Even if this base relies on secrecy to stay safe, if it's this big and important it has to have some security. What chance do we have of attacking it?”
“Question!” Lana called, raising her own hand. “Attacking Deek trading ships is bad enough, but this is a station full of innocent scientists. Why exactly is it okay to take this job?”
Ali glanced at Aiden, who scowled and motioned for her to answer. “You're both making flawed assumptions. Miss Ennos never specifically mentioned what this task was going to be, but it doesn't involve attacking the station.” She looked between Lana and Barix, eyebrow arched. “Does that satisfy you?”
Lana nodded, flushing. Since the Last Stand was a heavily armed pirate ship, she'd just assumed that any job they got was going to involve blowing things up.
But while she might've been willing to shut up and listen, Barix looked undeterred as he raised his hand again. “Question. Even if we're not attacking this place, we're doing something. Only, a top secret research facility is going to have pretty serious security, right?”
“In fact it does, from what I saw!” Aiden snapped. “You going to actually let us lay out the details before you start asking stupid questions?”
“Stupid? Stupid? Coming from you?” the Ishivi demanded, looking outraged. “Just imagine things from my perspective . . . everyone thinks they're smarter than they really are, and they definitely think they're smarter than everyone around them. It's just human nature. So here I am, objectively one of the smartest human beings in the universe, in all of human history, even, forced to endure being treated as a peer by all these halfwits. By which I mean their intelligence is on average literally half of mine.”
The captain smirked at him. “Yes, your life does seem pretty miserable. Which I suppose is proof that intelligence doesn't have nearly as much influence on success or happiness as people seem to think.”
The slight man glared back. “I could easily be far more successful than I am. Even with the challenge of overcoming the circumstances of my exile, and being hunted across the universe for my superior genes. Pirac-privateering is simply the easiest means to gain wealth and remain in hiding, allowing me to focus on my research and private pursuits.”
Aiden actually burst out laughing. “I think you just insulted yourself by calling yourself lazy. That doesn't seem like something an intelligent person would do.”
Barix's scowl deepened. “Neither is wasting time in conversation with an intellectual inferior.” He pointedly turned back to Ali. “Please excuse the interruption and continue.”
“Just jammed your exhaust port conversationally,” Aiden muttered before the companion could, loud enough for everyone to hear. Lana couldn't help but snicker, earning a glare from the slight man.
Ali cleared her throat, tone unperturbed as she got back to business. “The Recluse facility is cut off from the allnet aside from during brief, heavily scrutinized sessions to report in to ERI. However, this security measure is meaningless because the corporation itself relies heavily on the allnet to operate across the explored universe, not having a private set of servers such as HAE utilizes. Because of this, our benefactor was able to hack into ERI and get resupply schedules, as well as security codes and clearances for resupply ships.”
Belix clapped excitedly. “Let me guess! She knows when the next ship is going out, and she wants us to destroy it and take its place.”
The companion smiled. “A good idea, but it would require waiting for a resupply run, which are infrequent, and involves the risk, however slight, of needing to take out a ship. Assuming we accept this job, Miss Ennos will simply send Recluse a priority missive stating changed circumstances require an unscheduled resupply. Then we'll fly in, dock with the facility, and retrieve whatever she's sending us to retrieve.”
“Which is?” Aiden asked, scrolling over the information Elyssa had given him with a slight frown.
Ali also frowned. “She doesn't specify, except to say it'll take up roughly 2,500 cubic feet, in 26 crates of 6 by 4 by 4 feet, and weigh roughly 4 tons.”
“The cargo bay can handle that with plenty of room to spare,” Aiden mused. “So it's that simple? We just dock, she'll have arranged for us to pick up the cargo, and we head out again?” His tone made it clear he didn't think it would be that easy.
The companion shook her head. “She can get us into the docking bay, from which ERI's automated orbital defense platform will be unable to target us without destroying the facility as well. At that point we'll need to fight our way through the station, take the control room and secure
