As Tony said, Tirana was originally just a cheap pleasure android.
So her body is bio-material for functional purposes, while her elbows, knees, and head are mechanical.
Especially her head, which has headphone-like parts around the ears, and just bumps and dents around the nose area for a face, with no eyebrows, eyes, nostrils, or mouth – just smooth.
The so-called featureless type.
Charlie upgraded her electronic brain to the highest grade and uses her as his secretary.
Perhaps due to her great learning ability, she’s earnest, capable, and surprisingly emotional despite being featureless.
Some had suggested making everything besides her electronic brain bio-material,
but Charlie bluntly rejected it:
“Then she’d get kidnapped for sure!”
“So what brings you here today?”
With my plate cleared and sipping the last of my coffee, I asked about their reason for coming.
“Actually, I need to transport some cargo to Planet Beantenz first thing the morning after tomorrow. We’ll be coming along too.”
Charlie was about to order a beer, but Tirana stopped him, so he had a cola instead while discussing the job.
“Sorry, but we’re headed the opposite way first thing tomorrow.”
“Shipping pet food containers to Planet Danakz.”
Tony and Sam informed Charlie of their schedule, turning down his request.
So naturally, Charlie looked at me.
“I’d like a couple days off, but if there’s a risk of forced labor, might as well take the job depending on the cargo.”
To be honest, I was keen to take the job rather than do forced labor.
“It’s 60 tons of office supplies for public facilities on Beantenz. How about 300,000 credits, including our cut?”
“Okay then. Just make sure to notify the Galactic Cargo Transport Union.”
“Got it. Thanks for the help.”
“Thank you, Shaun sama.”
Tirana politely expressed her gratitude.
Despite her lack of a face, her happiness came through.
That’s when I suddenly remembered something from last month.
“But didn’t you say you found some cheap operators?”
“Ah those guys were a disaster! Total rip-off!”
Clearly very displeased with his experience, Tony slammed his cola cup on the table.
“Who were they?”
“The Team Branan cargo transport company.”
“Ahh…”
All three of us cargo transporters responded in unison to Tirana’s answer.
“Those guys were cargo ship operators too, but they were constantly late with deliveries, sent the wrong stuff, damaged goods, lost cargo – it was ridiculous! At first I overlooked it ’cause their rates were cheap, but in the end it was a huge loss!”
“So you were all familiar with them.”
Unlike the angered Charlie, Tirana remained calm.
“‘Course we were. Those guys had an awful attitude towards clients, and even hit on the female passengers and clients’ wives or whatever. I’d never disrespect a customer like that.”
Sam smugly answered Tirana’s question, but:
“You’d end up at a boy’s bar if you tried.”
“I would never disrespect a customer!”
Sam stiffly responded to Tony’s remark.
Apparently Sam’s quite a cutie if he ditched the soft mohawk, so he’s popular with certain folks with that interest.
I thought he might be a Sumerian like me, but that’s been confirmed not to be the case.
“Anyway, the Union deemed their actions as obstructing another company’s operations and kicked them out around mid-month. Fastest expulsion in Union history, apparently.”
After draining my coffee, I took out my handheld device and input the schedule.
“You actually hired those schmucks?”
“I was undergoing scheduled maintenance at the time.”
“Ah, I see.”
Again, we three cargo transporters responded in unison.
With the meal, information exchange, and job acceptance concluded, all that’s left is returning to the ship to sleep.
Hopefully there won’t be any forced labor orders during the break period.
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The next day after a good rest,
containers were brought to Docking Bay 37 at the spaceport.
The office supplies requested by Charlie-Lex.
The [White Cargo]’s cargo bay can hold up to 120 tons, so 60 tons is more than enough room.
Watching from the side as the automated spaceport lift carriers gently loaded the containers, I looked over the provided cargo manifest.
Fuel, water, food supplies and other provisions were all fully stocked up.
That’s when Charlie and Tirana arrived, the former yawning.
“Good morning Shaun sama. Apologies for the delay.”
“Loading should be just about finished.”
Tirana politely bowed, while Charlie stretched as he peeked into the cargo bay.
“Just to be sure, there’s nothing sketchy in there, right?”
I handed him the manifest to reiterate my concern.
I trust him, but you never know.
“Relax. I’m not involved with any shady cargo.”
It’s an all too common story to unknowingly receive illicit cargo like drugs right before departure.
As Charlie took the manifest, he stared at me intently before letting out a disappointed sigh.
“Still, looks like your ‘time of the month’ is over.”
“Yeah.”
While I’m glad there were no forced labor orders during the break, I’m also relieved my ‘time of the month’ is over.
I had intended to take leave when we reached Planet Orlangea until it ended.
Now we can finally operate normally again.
“I was hoping you’d be unoccupied so I could hire you at a premium to transform into a woman. You can do that, right?”
“Pay me 10 million credits up front and I’ll do it.”
“Like I can afford that!”
Not that I’d actually transform just because he paid, but still.
Then, the sound of hands clapping rang out.
“You two, enough idle chatter. The loading is complete so we should depart soon.”
“Yes.”
Scolded by Tirana, we began departure preparations.
After confirming the containers were securely fastened, I closed and locked the cargo bay door.
I checked the exterior of the ship for any suspicious objects.
With the passengers boarded and myself aboard, I disengaged the boarding ramp and sealed the entrance.
Entering the cockpit, I completed all system checks before contacting the control tower.
“Control tower, this is registered SEC20110103, cargo hauler White Cargo, requesting departure clearance.”
[This is control tower, departure clearance granted to White Cargo. Our idiot was terribly rude the other day.]
I thought that idiot Teval would be handling it again, but this time it was the control tower chief, Ms. Elzeria Coleman.
“Futti was a big help with the smooth process. Please pass along my thanks.”
[Understood. Bon voyage and have a safe journey.]
Unlike the obnoxious greeting upon arrival full of harassment and crude passes, this warm send-off from a beautiful woman gave me a good feeling about the voyage ahead.
But that feeling was misplaced –
that idiot’s curse seemed more potent than expected.
After leaving Soarcul’s spaceport and nearing the authorized zone for hyperspatial jumps, a ship blocked our path.
It was clearly a military combat vessel judging by its markings, so at least we wouldn’t be immediately fired upon.
But that’s precisely what made it troublesome.
“Oi, we’ve got a checkpoint ahead.”
I called out over the intercom for Charlie and the others, who hurriedly came to the cockpit in a panic.
“Tch! Another military bribery racket?”
Charlie glared at the military ship with a click of his tongue.
The official Galactic Republic Defense Force –
essentially the government’s military.
It’s been 50 years since the end of the three-way war between the Galactic Empire, Star Domain Federation and them .
Now they only handle terrorists and pirates, but their military might remains primed for full-scale war if needed.
That said, with no constant combat, some idle delinquent soldiers find excuses to set up checkpoints for pocket money.
The bad thing about these scoundrels’ actions was that they were indistinguishable from real inspections requested by the Galactic Criminal Police Organization (GCPO).
No matter how much you tried to gather information, they would never disclose details about the inspection.
And sure enough, a communication came from them.
[This is the Galaxy Republic Defense Force, belonging to the 212th Expeditionary Fleet, light cruiser “Bardiche.” We are currently conducting an inspection for drug smuggling. Stop your ship immediately and accept the inspection.]
Thinking that the gruff tone of the communications officer was probably for intimidation, I asked Charlie next to me,
“We don’t have anything risky, so it’s okay to stop, right?”
Seeking permission to stop the ship.
“Yeah. Whether they’re legit or just looking to make some pocket money, we’ll get blasted if we don’t stop.”
Well, even without permission, we have no choice but to stop.
Of course, this ship can’t outrun a light cruiser, and if they launch fighter craft, we’re absolutely done for.
Anyway, we’ll stop the ship and wait for them to extend the docking tube.
“This is the freighter [White Cargo]. We will accept the inspection. Can we just wait like this?”
[Understood. Thank you for your cooperation. We will attach the docking tube, so please stand by.]
After the conversation ended, we all heaved a sigh, cutting off our microphone.
“What do you think?”
“He seemed serious, so I think we’ll be okay.”
“It depends on who comes aboard, I suppose.”
As we were pondering whether they were upstanding or ruffians, we heard a clunking noise as the docking tube made contact.
[The tube is set, and air has been injected. Open your door.]
“Understood.”
I immediately turned the microphone back on to respond and unlocked the door.
When the door opened, a tall, solidly-built man with a crew cut hairstyle stood upright with his arms behind his back. Behind him, soldiers holding inspection equipment were standing by.
“I am Major Balros-Kloiwartz of the Galaxy Republic Defense Force, 212th Expeditionary Fleet’s light cruiser [Bardiche]. Thank you for your cooperation.”
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