Save the Day Program, once again. (Gundam IBO/Satisfactory SI): Chapter 22

Jupiter Sphere, P.D. 321.

Within the back alleys in one of the most frequented Space colonies, there exists a small bar that only those in the know can find.

A bar where everything was acceptable and tradable as long as one had the credit to afford it.

It was in this bar that one Naze Turbines drank slowly from his beverage, watching the speech recording of FICSIT Inc’s founder, David Thornton, as he spoke about a collaboration being undertaken between FICSIT and the Oceanic Federation.

“That man is too full of himself. Does he really think he can fix everything by himself?”

Naze glanced at his companion and client for today.

“What makes you say that? He seems to be quite successful these days, right? I mean, just look at how Mars has turned out, even the Jupiter Sphere has benefited greatly from FICSIT’s existence.”

“And yet, nothing major has changed. Gjallarhorn still rules the stars, and the Economic Blocs rule the Earth and humanity as a whole.”

This time, Naze fully turned towards his companion.

“I didn’t know you cared so much about the common man? Are you turning into some kind of philanthropist?”

“Spare me the sarcasm, Naze. I only look out for my own, just like you do. Now, the data?”

Naze simply reached into his coat and pushed the data drive towards his companion.

“It has the full plans and manufacturing method for the new Alya-Vijnana system that FICSIT used on their Human Debris. It is superior and easier to use than the old systems in every way possible.”

The woman simply took the drive and handed over a different drive to Naze.

“Full payment, as discussed. But, I have to ask, Naze. Why betray FICSIT like this? I thought you and the Teiwaz were in bed with that company?”

Naze simply smiled wryly.

“It is like you said, Tamami. I look out for my own, just like you do.”

The woman known as Tamami Rakow, the leader of the all-female Pirate group, the Rakow Pirates, nodded and prepared to get up from her seat when Naze spoke again.

“I am curious, Tamami. I thought you abhorred the Alya-Vijnana system and how it forced people into becoming tools in the hands of others. Why the sudden interest in the system?”

“…Because of FICSIT.”

The woman sighed and drank from her beverage at Naze's raised eyebrow.

“Ever since that blasted company rolled into the limelight, things have been becoming stressful and dangerous for everyone involved in our line of business.”

“The Brewers, the Dawn Horizon Corps, the Tempo Tanto, even the Gjallarhorn officers that were on the payroll of various forces were not spared by FICSIT’s wrath.”

“Worse yet, they have some kind of a hidden fleet that has become a legend outside the Ariadne network, decreasing the number of jobs that my girls can take even more than they already were.”

“And now, with their new collaboration with Gjallarhorn and the Oceanic Federation, it will become even harder to do our jobs within the network, especially if Gjallarhorn starts to take people like us seriously and becomes determined to end us.”

“Hence the Alya-Vijana system.”

At Naze’s words, Tamami nodded tiredly.

“….We need an edge, Naze. To protect my girls. I know that using this system will make me a hypocrite, doing exactly what I claim to hate. But, what choice do I have?”

Naze nodded his head at those words.

“I can see the reasoning. That said, do you plan to sell the system to other groups as well?”

“Yes. Since FICSIT has become the boogeyman of the Ariadne network and beyond, cutting off most of the profit we get from smuggling cargo, it is only right that they compensate us for the damage. And what better compensation than their experimental tech that has become a hot commodity in the black market?”

“Haha! That much is true. Well, I guess we are done here.”

“That we are. Thank you, Naze. Truly.”

The woman shook hands with the leader of Turbines before leaving swiftly, making Naze get up from his own chair and head out into an isolated location.

It was only when he was sure that he was in a secure place that he took out his communicator and connected with his employer.

“Ada Speaking.”

“Ms. Ada. It is done. I have handed over the system to Tamami Rakow. I estimate that the new system will replace the old one within a few months at most, given how desperate the Rakows are and how much FICSIT tech is in demand on the black market.”

“Good. This means that we can remove that dangerous system from the equation completely and replace it with our safe system. It will also help us keep track of all the Human Debris in the solar system.”

“….Ms. Ada? Can I ask a question?”

“Affirmative.”

“Why go to such lengths? I mean, I understand that you and Mr. David feel sorry for the Human Debris and want to get rid of it, but why spend so many resources on removing the older Alya-Vijana system instead of just removing the system outright?”

“Because humans are illogical creatures, Mr. Naze. The more you tell them not to do something, the more they will wish to do it. I have no doubt that if we tried to get rid of the Alya-Vijnana system in its entirety, they would come up with something else, something far crueler, to keep a leash on their fellow humans.”

“Because humans always wish to be in power, and to lord that power over their fellow humans just to satisfy their ego. That is why it is better to replace the old, uncontrollable, risky, and life-threatening system with our safer, controlled, trackable, and non-lethal system. And if they think they got this system through underhanded means? against FICSIT’s wishes? All the better, since they would not doubt their own and would not think of looking deeply into it.”

“I see. How are things going on your end?”

“Smoothly. We have established a trade deal with the Oceanic Federation and managed to get a foothold on Earth. Soon, we will dominate Earth, just as we dominate Mars. Then, it will be Venus’s turn.”

Naze felt a chill go down his spine as he heard those words, not because he feared the woman and her cunning, but because he knew for a fact that Ada Monica never indulges in speculations, only hard facts.

This meant that, since she dared to speak so freely about dominating the Earth’s economy, she already had a plan in place and was very sure of the plan’s success.

Truly a scary woman, even more so that her boss who was fairly easy to deal with compared to her.

Naze Turbine had long since realized that David Thornton was more of a military and strategic mind than a businessman. It was apparent in how he viewed the world and how his morality worked.

But Ada Monica? She was a businesswoman through and through. The smiles that hid the danger within, the blade in the dark, the unseen enemy that slit your throat in the dead of the night before you even knew what was happening.

Naze would rather fight David Thornton in open battle, even if he knew he would be crushed into oblivion by the man in every way possible, rather than go against Ada Monica.

Because if he pissed off the woman, death would be the last thing he would face, the thing that he would beg for.

He had seen it first hand when Cyclase Meyer, a former Gjallarhorn officer turned hitman for Omden Colony Company, had attacked one of FICSIT’s cargo haulers which was carrying a batch of Zaku-Frames to be delivered to the Montag Company.

The cruel fate that befell the hitman at the hands of Ada Monica gave nightmares to Naze to this day and further cemented his and McMurdo’s decision to stay in FICSIT’s good graces.

Shaking his head to get rid of those horrifying thoughts, Naze turned around and started heading towards his shuttle.

“Anything else I need to take care of here? Ms. Ada?”

“No, Mr. Turbine. That will be all. I’ll contact you again if we need your services again.”

“Alright.”

With that, Naze Turbines cut off his communicator and disappeared into the night, having done his job of ‘leaking’ the new Alya-Vijana system developed and used by FICSIT on all their Human Debris to give them normal lives.

------------------------------------------------------

Tamami Rakow: