CHAPTER 1: Aram's Ravine

Sa'id is laying on his back on a bench, reading an actual paper book, in the Arboretum. His head his resting on a small shoddy pillow he brought up to the fourth level from his cabin. It is of a mustard yellow color with a faded blue recursive pattern, loose threads, a couple of old stains, and lamentably, a faint smell of mildew. It wouldn't get past many spaceport customs with medium hygiene requirements but Sa'id knit the pillow case himself, so he keeps using it when he's aboard the ship, with some sort of stubborn pride for his, quite frankly, poor needle skills.

When Sa'id receives the information from Farouk, he gets up and reads it avidly. "Interesting..." He murmurs. "Riya?" He calls up. "Be a lamb, please. Any chance you would be able to find out information regarding the Kalites? Nothing too specific, I would just like to know when they've arrived on the planet. Was it at the same time as the rest of the colonizers? Or have they settled there before Aram's Ravine was up?"

Sa'id places a bookmark on the book and closes it. The spine says "Reform or Revolution: Class Consciousness in the Horizon", in Algolan alphabet. He gets up and slowly starts heading towards the bridge, while he waits for Riya's reply.

Sa'id

Riya's face appears on the monitor closest to you. "Hmm... checking..." The data-djinn's expression becomes focused, much like a human who is trying to recall something from memory. "My database doesn't have much about the Kalites. According to the archives of the Colonial Agency, the Kalites are a very insular culture, even for a nomad tribe. They are apparently known for being xenophobic, but given that they're humanites, most settlers on Jina are happy to leave them alone. They live in communities in the surrounding mesas and gorges around Aram's Ravine. It seems that they were already living on Jina when Aram Bakkal founded the settlement. No one knows when the Kalites first settled the planet. There are records of some conflicts between the Kalites and reckless trivium prospectors, but nothing more."

Zahra has almost tuned out Riya's report, as there's only so much 'all's well' that can really enter one's consciousness, so it takes a moment for her to register the AI's comment. Then Sani pipes up, and Zahra straightens up in her seat. "Last I checked, Sani, you weren't the captain. You can order Riya around when I say you can order her around, at least in my presence," she says flatly.

"Riya, please inform me what you know about our pursuit. Tarek, fly casual. Sani, have a seat until I have something for you to do."

When the workstation in the cargo bay is clean and back in order, Brahim will conduct routine maintenance on his exo-shell while listening to a text-to-speech reading of Farouk's data packet.
Brahim is intrigued by the frequent mention of mining and miners, as well as the humanites. If time allows he will conduct further research into the acid resistance abilities of the Kalites as well as techniques and equipment used for bauxite and salt mining. Plenty of dry technical reports and research papers.

"There is a ship roughly eight nanoparsecs behind us, just at the edge of sensor range, and traveling at the same bearing we are. It’s been following since Coriolis. At first, I didn’t make note of it since the route from Coriolis to the Kua portal experiences heavy starship traffic. Ships going the same direction toward the system’s star isn’t unusual. However, each time myself or Tarek have made even the slightest adjustment in our course, the mystery ship matches our course change. After half a Kuan day of this, I have now concluded that we are being followed."

As Riya explains, a map of the star system appears on the main viewscreen. It displays the course of the Riyad and the course of the other ship. "Whoever they are, they are remaining just out of transponder range so I can’t identify them. They are just barely registering on long range sensors. Unfortunately, I don’t think I can tell you much else unless they get closer. The other ship seems to be maintaining its distance from us; it doesn’t appear that they are interested in engaging us. Then again, maybe they simply aren’t fast enough to catch up..."

Sani resists replying as the captain enforces the crew's hierarchy. Though she can understand why Zhara would want to do that, she doesn't really care, so she takes the initiative to briefly tune the ship's sensors from navigation to focus on their pursuer and determin its signature, keeping it secret, obviously.

Secrets... that reminds her that she will need to catch up with Brahim to find out why the ship's fabricator is being used. Sa'id likes touching equipment a little too much for her taste. In turn, she likes keeping track of all potential damage that touching may cause.

Sa'id climbs the ladder up to the deck. He notices the Captain, Tarek... and Sani. Sitting at the sensor operator station. "Oh..." He seems surprised that they would be in need of Sani's skills in this particular moment. Last thing he knew, this was just going to be a regular, boring trip, and he did not hear Riya's message regarding the ship on their tail. "Yes, this started to seem way too quiet." He exhales tiredly. "Something's up, Sani?"

Riya responds to Sa'id's question.

"The ship on our tail is currently beyond transponder range and cannot yet be identified. The Astrostradium reported no corsair activity on our route, so it's unlikely that this is pirates." She looks around. "Shall I alert the rest of the crew? What are your orders?"

"Thanks Riya. That's interesting." Sa'id comments, following Riya's explanation. "The immediate reaction would be to think of Khalim's crew, but, at least on paper, Khalim's crew should know as well as we do where the artifact is located. They wouldn't need to follow us. From Khadija, we know that we share the same amount of intel." He says, thinking out loud.

He approaches the sensor operator station, trying to understand something from its screens, but it's all pretty much beyond his knowledge. "Should we start considering involvement from a third party?" He asks, directing the question towards all in the room.

Riya pipes up. "There is also the possibility that Khalim’s men are planning to hang back and wait until we procure the artifact. Then they take it when we leave Jina."

Sani stays silent as she discreetly puts the sensors back to normal and sends a tip to RIYA with what she found with the name "Al-Lamiya". "Do you think this could be a match? Warn the captain of your findings." Sani trusts RIYA to take over from there as she has done many times in the past, covering for the spy's minor discretions.

Her tracks covered, Sani is ready to speak. "Captain, I think Sa'id as a point. It could be advantageous to figure out who is following us" the spy looks around the bridge, her eyes stoping briefling on the archaeologist in recognition. "And RIYA's analysis is perfect as usual." she adds before continuing "May I suggest making a unscheduled stop at the nearest station and try to bait them out? "

Tarek nods his head at Zahra's order. Keeping the ship on it's current course, he simply flys in a simple and casual manner.

Riya sighs. "I'd prefer not getting into a fight. I just had my routine maintenance... but I will continue monitoring them.

She continues. It's hard to say, but captain, this could very well be Al-Lamiya. My understanding is that the mercenary ship is also a Class III vessel."

"I would tend to agree with you, Riya. Right now, I think we don't have enough information about our shadow to warrant making an unscheduled stop. Keep an eye on them, both of you," says Zahra, including Sani with a look. "If circumstances change, then so be it. I would like to take care of this job on time and in order."