“Captain, I believe there’s a
problem.” Reese said, throwing the market values to the main screen as a HUD
overlay on top of Ann’s navigational course.
Flynn looked at the numbers for
several common shipboard weapons systems.
“Those are high, aren’t they?”
“Captain, the prices are double what
they should be.”
“Double? Why would they be that high?”
“Because, right now, there is a very
high demand for them.”
“Oh, flare me,” Ann sighed.
Flynn activated his chair’s display
systems, switching over to the optical scans of Witwick, telling the system to
look for signs of combat on the surface and in orbit.
“Reese, check the transmissions from
Witwick. We should have heard about this unless—”
“Unless transmissions have been
jammed or cut at the source,” Reese finished.
“Ann—”
“Already plotting courses,” she
said.
Flynn nodded, though she couldn’t
see it. Calypso’s computer processed the sensor images. Witwick’s
orbital traffic showed no active firing, but it did highlight a few ships that
were heavily armed and could engage at any moment. Unfortunately, the capital
city, Sandsedge, showed heavy concentrations of fighting on the ground,
especially around the government buildings.
“Well, that’s not good. Ann, go
ahead and chart us a course out to Wreath. Maybe we can do enough quick runs
between its moons to make up the difference.”
“Sounds good to me. I guess we’re
witnessing our fourth coup in the last month. Are you sure I can’t convince
you—”
“Captain!” Reese cut in. “Pardon the
interruption, but I think you should hear this.”
“To any ship near Witwick, we need
help. Nickel Guild forces have set down and are advancing through the streets.
Government forces have engaged them, but civilians are caught in the crossfire.
We’re calling on all ships that can help us evacuate. Please, people are dying
down here.”