Major Mendez stepped off the transport while the Red Sanix Mercenaries stormed down the ramp around him. Their commanding officer Miss Romav was walking down next to him. There were already two dozen people in cuffs and held prisoner.
"What a mess… is this how your people do things?" Miss Romav jabbed at the Major.
"We are soldiers first and foremost. If they acted I can assure you it was in defense." Major Mendez responded as he spotted a familiar face getting what appeared to be first aid. He led Miss Romav over. "Of all the soldiers to get injured I did not expect it to be you Cadet Steel."
"Sir, I apologize for not saluting. Corporal Feathertail wants me to remain as immobile as possible." Cadet Steel responded, "I also apologize for not knowing who you brought over with you. I was poisoned and for the moment I am blind."
"Blind?" Miss Romav asked in surprise.
"Ah it is Miss Romav, yes you should ask Corporal Feathertail when he gets back. He was looking for the stash of poison and hopefully antidotes." Steel responded with a joking tone.
"Any other ailments or injuries?" Major Mendez asked.
"Well blindness, I was stabbed three times, my lungs are on fire it actually hurts to breath, and I am losing feeling in my toesie woesies." Steel was laughing while he answered.
Miss Romav chuckled, "toesie woesies?"
"Oh yeah, I am probably really high, hopped up on drugs. A mix of poisons might do that, or it just might be one of the poisons." Steel answered with a chuckle. That really caused Miss Romav to let out a roar of laughter.
"Ah, Sir." There was a voice coming from behind them. He turned around and saw Sergeant Tani. "I assume you want my report?"
"Yes Sergeant Tani, I sent you down here to investigate and report back. Not to immediately take action and arrest a bunch of people." Major Mendez immediately cut in.
"Which we were doing when soon after Cadet Steel sent us the evidence he found, then there were gunshots coming from the mansion. We immediately went to detain both the private army as well as the concealed pirates. We also detained any of the mansion staff and all its occupants-"
"Oh yeah they have problems. Apparently the countess is-" Steel's mouth was suddenly covered by Feathertail's hand.
"Then four of us went into the basement and detained the pirates down there and we are still freeing the people that were locked up. We have all of the suit camera feeds. If you want to see Cadet Steel's, it is the most entertaining. Only second to Cadet Charlie turning one of the guard's heads to pulp by accident." Tani responded clearly, restraining her laughter. She clearly was not regretting the actions she took.
Major Mendez growled, "all the footage will be reviewed for any wrongdoing by several parties. How many died during your… takedown?"
"Three, the one Cadet Charlie accidentally killed. Another one died when Cadet Steel and the leader of the pirates were fighting. The third one died when I was clearing rooms in the basement, I kinda ripped his jaw and throat apart." Tani shrugged.
"So the leader of the pirates is alive?" Romav asked in surprise.
"Yes he is, he has several broken bones, a stab wound, and both of his legs were blown off. Cadet Steel really put the beatdown on him despite being blind." Tani answered proudly.
"Hold on, you were blinded in the middle of the fight?" Romav now looked more impressed than amused.
"Oh yeah I just listened to his movements and kept in mind how the room looked before I lost my sight." Steel answered as he swayed back and forth. Feathertail was quickly looking for a way to get the drugs out of his system.
"That is…" she looked at Mendez who just shrugged in response. It was not like he could tell her anything. Cadet Steel's entire file had already become classified material.
"Enough. Feathertail, take one of the ship's up to the station, take Steel with you, are there any other injuries?" Mendez asked.
"Just Steel and the pirate leader. You want him to go up as well?" Feathertail asked.
"Is the pirate leader in danger of losing his life?" Mendez looked over to three body bags.
"No, I staunched the bleeding stubs that were once his legs. So he could make it to the holding facility where they will have an onsite place to treat him some more." Feathertail reported.
"Good, then take Cadet Steel away." Mendez waved his hand and Feathertail saluted in response.
"Sergeant, bring us to the count. I want to talk to him first before I talk to this pirate leader. I want to hear it from the horse's mouth in a manner of speaking." Major Mendez answered.
"Yes sir." Sergeant Tani saluted before leading them to the end of the line where two people of the counts family were scantily dressed while the count was in noble regalia. "Here is Count Azena. Next to him is his wife and his brother."
"And why are they dressed like they just woke up?" Romav asked.
"Because we walked in on them having sex." Tani shrugged.
"Yup, they were having an affair. According to Cadet Steel it resulted in a bun in the missus oven. If you catch my meaning." Tani's answer made the countess blush while the count growled in anger.
"Not important, Count Azena were you participating in the slave trade. Which the Emperor of Vexical expressly forbids?" Major Mendez asked, looking down at the man.
"What the hell does it matter? It is not like the support I was promised would come. Never should have trusted them. But I will just stand by my values, the Tyranus Society will come to free me eventually." The count spat out with venom in his voice.
"Hmm… take them and interrogate them all. I want as much intel out of all of them as possible. But, please sort the staff and private militia out, I want to know how many of them knew about the kidnappings." Major Mendez then nodded to Tani who led him over to a stretcher where a man was stripped of his armor and was restrained.
"Major Mendez and Miss Romav, meet Raleigh the Pirate Slaver also called the Knife Wielder. He has a very high bounty from the empire, on both civil and military sides. He was last seen on a raid on Talus-7 where a garrison happened to be stationed and slaughtered his men. But of course Raleigh had already killed dozens of civilians." Sergeant Tani explained.
"I heard of this guy. His bounty will be enough to cover my fee and then some. How much does the military owe Cadet Steel at this point?" Romav pointed out.
"Haa… too much. I am going to have to make a special request." Major Mendez looked to the pirate, "what do you know about Count Azena's operations?"
"Enough. But he is not the one who hired me. I was just hired to be muscle by another group. They even smuggled me planetside past most security without any trouble." The pirate immediately answered. "But I ain't talking anymore until you can provide me with safety."
"Hmm… take the pirates and the count to the holding cells on the station. We will drill them all for information." Major Mendez walked back to the ship he came from. "Miss Romav, I am heading back to the station to report to my superiors. I expect you will be able to help the Desert Dogs and Sand Snakes sort out who knows about the slaving business?"
"Yes Major, as long as we have the recordings it should not be an issue." Romav answered before walking away.
Major Mendez stepped back onto the shuttle he arrived on and banged on the pilot's door. "Fly us back up to the station and connect me with Imperial Fleet Command." There was an affirmation of an answer before the ship's ramp closed and it was flying.
A moment later his comlink came to life. "Major Mendez, you wished to talk?"
"Yes, it is possible that we have stumbled upon another terrorist group emerging." Major Mendez reported. "A group called the Tyranus Society, it seems it is the nobility working with hired help. I will send a full report as well as relevant evidence tomorrow once it is all organized."
"I doubt that is the reason you called me." The voice answered.
"Haa… you are correct. Have you heard of Raleigh the Pirate Slaver?" Mendez asked.
"Yes I have. He was captured? The bounty will result in a fortune for whoever caught him. Who caught him?" The voice asked, with a hint of trepidation.
"Cadet Jace Steel." Mendez's answer caused the voice to groan.
"We literally can not pay him. But I assume you have an idea?"
"Yes, I want you to send me a certain item. I don't know if it has been fully investigated, but him having the equipment means we do not have to worry about paying him the fortune we owe." Mendez answered with certainty.
"Very well. Send me the official request. Whatever it is, I will approve it." The call then disconnected.