Chapter 75: Bonnie’s questions

Bonnie sat in her office aboard the pirate base looking at the holographic screen of her console as she reviewed the recent transaction reports that the base had with different pirate crews.

As she was reviewing the documents a pirate suddenly rushed into her office before saying with concern, "Boss we have a problem."

"What problem? And didn't I tell you previously to knock before entering." Bonnie said in an annoyed tone as she looked up.

The pirate didn't reply but instead walked over to the large holographic screen on the wall that was showing a universal news channel and turned the volume up.

"Repeating our top story this hour. At a press conference a short while ago, Royal Entertainment made the startling claim that the attack on Diva Lorelie's ship upon entering the Sandanar Galaxy was the result of Drotas Entertainment hiring pirates in an attempt to eliminate her."

"They refused to give any evidence on the matter stating that the authorities were still conducting their investigations and that the evidence would be made public once that investigation was complete."

"Heh, so they somehow found out, guess Drotas's people can't keep their mouths shut." Bonnie said with a smirk before turning to the pirate and asking, "How's this our problem?"

"Keep watching boss, they're coming to that." 

Bonnie glared at the pirate before returning her attention to the screen.

"While Royal Entertainment refused to show any evidence, they did have Diva Lorelie appear at the press conference via holographic communication from the Imperial Down from which she is currently being transported to Terrana five."

"In her first public appearance since her attack Diva Lorelie recounted the harrowing events she went through and how she and her manager Gract were rescued. She then went on to say that she had been given communication logs between Gract and Drotas the owner of Drotas Entertainment showing the two discussing the failed attack on the ship transporting her."

"Diva Lorelie also claims to have received the communication logs between Drotas and a pirate named Bonnie whom Drotas hired to attack Diva Lorelie's ship. 

"WHAT!" Bonnie yelled in surprise before she rushed to her console and started checking its access history.

"After Diva Lorelie reported all this she then went on to announce that due to them orchestrating the attack on her ship she was enacting the clause in her contact that allows her to leave Drotas Entertainment without having to pay any early termination fee and that she was currently in negotiations with Royal Entertainment about signing with them."

"Considering the fact that Royal Entertainment failed to provide concrete proof of their claims and that Diva Lorelie appeared via holographic communication to announce all this while refusing to answer any questions from the reporters present at that time we are left to question the viability of these allegations."

"If these allegations indeed turn out to be true it could very well spell the end of Drotas Entertainment and Diva Lorelie becoming a Diva that is available for any entertainment company to try and sign, something that the universe has not seen in many years."

"However if they turn out to be false it could possibly mean that Diva Lorelie is being held against her will by the Terran Empire or worse being forced to do things she does not wish to do by them, this is something we are sure the Mermnian government will be investigating immediately."

"We will keep you updated as this story evolves so make sure to stay tuned to USNN."

"There are no logs showing that any data was copied from my console, but then how did they know that I was the one Drotas hired? Is it all a coincidence?" Bonnie wondered as she leaned back in her chair after checking her console.

While she was deep in thought an alarm sounded all over the base, shocking her out of her thoughts before another pirate ran into her office saying, "boss we have a problem."

"Do you idiots only know how to say that one sentence, what is it this time?" Bonnie snapped.

"Our scouts have just reported a large fleet of ships heading our way, they appear to be from the Palaxia Defence Force and those owned by the mercenaries of the Mercenary Hall. and bounty hunters from the Bounty Hunters Guild."

"What! Are you sure it's not just a coincidence?" Bonnie asked in surprise.

"Why would a fleet of over two hundred ships all be heading in the same direction into the asteroid field?" The pirate asked.

"Good point, how long before they get here?" 

"Roughly fifteen minutes."

"Shit that's nowhere near enough time to evacuate all the pirates, get our people out of here but do it quietly so as not to notify the others." Bonnie instructed as she started to move around her room gathering essential things she would be taking with her.

"What about the alarm though?"

"Just tell them it was a test or malfunction or something." 

"On it boss." The pirate said before racing out of the room.

"How the fuck did they find this place? Did Cooper rat me out? No way he would get the death penalty if they ever find out what he's done over the years."

"Wait, first that news story and now this. Did someone really find the base and sneak aboard before accessing my console and then wiping the access log?"

"But that still doesn't explain how they found this place and how they got past the patrols."

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"I can't believe those bastards at the Universal Subspace News Network, they always manage to spin any news involving us Terran's into making it sound like we're at fault." Becky raged as she, Tessa and Lorelie had just finished watching the news broadcast.

"They certainly are talented at it." Tessa said with a sigh.

"If only I could have agreed to answer some of the reporter's questions." Lorelie said.

"There was no point in doing that, we all decided beforehand it was best to not reveal any of the evidence while the investigation is ongoing in-case it's compromised, all you could have done is said 'no comment' or 'you will have to wait for the evidence to become available to the public'" Tessa replied.

"Even though I knew they would twist it in some way, it's still irritating that they're saying those things when you have all helped me so much. I'm half expecting a call from home any moment now asking me about my condition and if you're treating me well." Lorelie said with a sigh.

"I have to ask though, why didn't you mention that it was the streamer who gave you the evidence? It could have helped boost his popularity." Becky asked.

"No offence but I have been in this industry long enough that I was expecting the media to react this way, as you said they do love to spin things about you Terran's into a negative light. I wanted to keep the streamer away from that until the evidence is revealed as it would hurt his reputation being associated with you in this matter." Lorelie answered apologetically.

"Ah that makes sense and no offence taken, honestly it would be best for him to keep his distance from our race if he wants to get more popular." Tessa replied sadly.

"Honestly I don't think that will be possible considering how Terran he looks, once he travels to other galaxies where Terran's are not the dominant race I can see him being mistaken for one of you and all the negativity that comes with it."

The three women were silent for a few moments as they watched Spector who was surrounded by other ships entering the asteroid field on his stream.

Suddenly Lorelie's uniband notified her of an incoming communication and upon seeing it was from her family she sighed and stood up before walking towards another room while saying, "And here's the communication from home I was expecting."

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Going back a short while to when Greg had just finished talking about Andrew and Lizzie's history, Adam sat at the bar and continued to watch Andrew trying and failing to appease Lizzie as he followed her around like a lost puppy and the mercs in the hall continued to laugh and tease him about it.

Eventually after a couple of hours Lizzie suddenly shouted, grabbing everyone's attention.

"ALRIGHT YOU BASTARDS HAVE HAD YOUR FUN LAUGHING AT THIS IDIOT SO NOW IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK."

"Head to your ships, you will receive proper details about the special mission once you reach orbit."

The mercs all quickly finished their drinks before getting up and heading for the door.

"Time to earn those creds."

"I'm gonna make a killing this time."

"I'm still hoping it's a pirate elimination."

Adam finished his own drink before standing up from his bar stool and joining the other mercs as they left.

Citizens watched with interest as they witnessed so many mercs traveling together towards the spaceport and wondered what was happening.

Instead of heading for the spaceport with the other mercs however, Adam's destination was the landing pad at the defence force's spaceport where Spector was parked.