“Mr. Reese,” Flynn intoned with all
the warmth of vacuum, “explain it to me again. How is it that we are unable to
trade cargo in the Consortium?”
“You flaring listened to a flaring
liar, that’s how.” Ann didn’t bother to mask the contempt from her voice. She
sat at her console forward of Flynn, plotting the entry path to the moon’s
atmosphere. Her dark hair hung in loose curls to her shoulders. Since there was
no expectation of combat, she hadn’t bothered to braid it or put it up.
Flynn swung his eyes over to Reese,
who didn’t look put off by Flynn’s question or Ann’s comment. Physically, Reese
was unremarkable, a little older than Flynn and with more grey in his brown
hair, but Flynn didn’t put much stock in that as an indicator of anything. Ann’s
comment was not an insult, just a statement of fact. Reese was an accomplished
liar.
“Well, Captain, it has to do with
the guild structure in the Consortium. In order to perform legal trade, one
must be part of the proper guild overseeing that particular trade. For instance,
there are guilds for textiles, weapons, industrial equipment, medicine—”
“Skip ahead,” Flynn warned.
“Ah, yes. Well, guild membership is
vital in order to perform trade.”
“Before we set out for Consortium
space you assured me you had the ability to trade here.”
“I did. My identity in the
Consortium was never compromised. I am a member in good standing of the
textiles guild. Or rather, I was. I fear my membership is in arrears. I was not
aware that my former organization had not maintained the membership. Until I
might pay my guild dues, I will be unable to secure my certifications to
perform any kind of trade.”
“And so we’re stuck pulling
stringing ferry jobs to get by,” Ann grumbled.
“How much more?” Flynn asked.
“The dues themselves are four
thousand guilders, but the associated fines and the necessary, ahem,
administration fees, bring the total to fifteen thousand guilders.” Reese said.
“Administration fees?” Flynn asked.
“Bribes!” Ann yelled, whirling on
Reese. “Flaring corrupt Connies want a payout for everything.” She turned back
to her console.