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Forewor😛
Each Sunday I post an additional "chapter" (only between 750-1000 words) to this periodical with links to previous chapters. Please vote and subscribe if you like it!

[Chapter 1]
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/echoes-of-the-stars-chapter-one-2045650/1/20



[Chapter 2]


Kenneth Mako wandered back into the living quarters to wake his comrade, Vladimir Ostrovich. Vlad was a grizzled and gray old man in his late 50s, and was completely devoid of any combat skill or any skill, for that matter, which involved a quick reaction time. Age had truly caught up with him – physically, at least. Vlad's mind was still as clear and focused as a pool of undisturbed, crisp water.

In the months prior to the operation, Vlad had spent his time studying the various cultural nuances of Eros and the Imperium people. He had calculated exactly which types of outfits would give them the appearances they wanted, and which routes they would take to attract the least attention from police. Generally speaking, Vlad was a genius. He was there to provide knowledge and support to Mako in the field. Oh, and he also was the only one who knew how to conduct the technical operations for the assassination plot.

By now, Raj had redirected their route to the main port, hoping to exploit the very minute security gaps to sneak their materials through. There were two main pieces of freight supplied with them: their gadgets and the decoy. The former consisted of all the various parts they would need to conduct their clandestine mission while the latter was there to divert attention. In all hopes, the port authority would secure the decoy crate rather than the necessary supplies. Without the crate of gadgets, they would have to improvise. More likely, the entire mission would be scrapped. Kenneth was ready to think on his feet, but Vlad wanted things to go according to plan.

---

The port was absolutely bustling. Dozens of craft flew out to the dark sky and into the brightly lit hangars. The Imperium logo was projected holographically into the atmosphere (or whatever you could call the area surrounding Eros, since it was almost completely devoid of gases that would make up an atmosphere). It provided quite the dazzling sight, with lights seeming to flow into an even greater mass of bright features. Skyscrapers rose high, but none were higher than the starport.

Raj deftly avoided the military craft section, and sailed over to the commercial vehicle entrance. He began to flash the landing sequence on the headlights, and one of the hangers synchronized with his sequence, signaling that he should land there. He gradually decelerated until he was able to safely deactivate flight inside the port building.

Immediately, ten armed guards, headed by a shock trooper, walked up to the ship. Mako, Ostrovich, and Minaq all strode out the docking hatch onto solid ground for the first time in the four weeks since disembarking from Russia. The fluorescent lights and the austere surroundings made Mako feel as if he were inside a maximum security prison. The guards snatched both of the large crates out of the ship, loaded them up on wheeled platforms, and then pushed them out of the room.

The shock trooper remained, to keep on guard. Mako glanced up at the man's helmet, an angry, emotionless face that was disappointed in the rest of the world's lack of competence. The sleek features hid what was likely the hideous face of a veteran pockmarked with radiation scars from all the laser blasts he'd absorbed. The three conspirators couldn't tell what his expression was beneath the mask, but they hoped he wasn't suspicious of them already.

About ten minutes later, a trooper hurried back into the room, whispered to the shock trooper, then left as quickly as he had entered. The shock trooper reached towards his weapon. Mako's heart started racing. The WIJ drew his gun, then pointed at them. Mako's pupils visibly dilated, and he unconsciously stepped backwards to try and give himself a better chance of escape.

The Imperium shock trooper announced, "You three. Follow me. Stay silent."

They followed him out the double doors of the hanger into a massive elevator. The lift was clearly designed to give Imperium guards an advantage, with their mid-ranged weaponry tech, over feisty traders who might have tried to resort to pulling a dagger or static blaster to try and escape. Raj counted the floor numbers blurring by him. 150.... 140.... 122... 89...

The shock trooper began speaking once more. "Unfortunately, one of your freight packages has been confiscated. We do not allow shipments of iridium with such high purity unless it has been marked and permitted by an officer of the Imperium armada. However, the other piece is waiting for you and has already been loaded into a decacarrier to facilitate transportation."

By the time he finished, the elevator had reached the bottom floor of the starport structure. The trio was still not completely accustomed to even Eros's new gravity, and Vlad stumbled walking out. Kenneth caught him, and Vlad stood back up, readjusting his jacket. Sure enough, the decacarrier was outside, with all ten of its fuel cell engines bearing the weight of exactly one crate.

Praying that it was the crate of gadgets the whole time, Vlad picked up his pace until he reached the front seat of the carrier car. Raj walked up onto the flatbed to inspect the large steel mass. He checked for the markings and then uttered a sigh of relief. He got into the middle seat of the vehicle as Kenneth climbed into shotgun.

"It's exactly what we asked for," proclaimed Raj.
Kenneth asked, "The gadgets?"
"Yes, exactly. We still have them all, it seems."
Vlad nodded.

The assassination of Imperial Marshal Onan Ozetto would continue as planned.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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