Chapter 11
Cleboe
“You know we haven’t used the cloaking device on this ship since that incident on Poroid in the Clactar Sector twenty five years ago.” Nard was just reminding Scott, stating a fact in case he didn’t remember.
“I know, we still need to be as safe as possible. We need to be cloaked, we don’t want to be found or seen.” Scott assured him.
How vividly Scott recalled that time and incident. Three coordinators were attacked and killed by ordinary citizens who had, for no apparent reason, gone berserk. It was not an isolated incident, this involved more than one planet, however, the attack on the other planets were thwarted. An order was initiated and all of our defensive weapons were put into action, including the cloaking device. This posture lasted for only a short time, about three months. There were no further incidents or actions against our organization so we returned to our open, available, warring worlds interventions, you know our normal routine. Whatever had caused these types of incidents had not recurred during these last twenty five years. Scott reflected.
Anyway, Scott's normal routine at that time was to respond to the Carass Sector where three of the four earth type worlds were at war with each other. Old style nuclear weapons were being used and uncountable numbers of people had been incinerated in those conflicts.
His thoughts came back to the present, “Do all the circuit in the device check out and appear to be in order as they should?” He asked.
“The system is as it was, intact and will work as designed. Engaging now.” There was a slight shutter as the device went into operation.
“Our destination? Nard said or asked.
“I would like you to set us down on Carrier, at the Equatorial Rings on the island of Siact, and Nard, keep us outside of the city limits of Peatoic. I am going to try to get some rest. Wake me in plenty of time to contact inbound control. Fortried, will you be resting also?” Scott turned to face the imposing being as he posed the question
“I will, even I need some recuperation.” Fortried replied in his booming voice.
After these comments Scott left the control room for his quarters. He knew the inbound control on this particular planet required no contact or ship identification. It was a kind of pirates hang out, the whole planet was like that and only the most violent of those were local residents.
He did want to contact inbound control but that was not the main reason he wanted to be awaken. There was a certain character on Carrier that could, if he was willing, help Scott get out of the situation he was in.
Jacque Cleboe is, without a doubt, the most unsavory individual Scott had ever had the pleasure of meeting. Mr. Cleboe's contacts are unlimited, universal and they span the galaxy. Scott met him while he was on one of his bi-annual vacations, just passing through this sector. A minor problem with his transportation had force him to birth there for almost a week. Scott wouldn't soon forget how that character expanded his view of the universe by showing him an unhindered view of the dark side. Scott's thoughts had now returned to that time.
To say that he is not of average height is like saying, being outside in space without a space suit is a little uncomfortable. If you took all the living species and cut them in half, he would not even measure up to that mark. That is visually, on non visual communication he is about three meters tall, a giant of a man.
While Scott was touring with him he found out what his favorite sport was. It was a version of people watching. As Scott had said many times, when Cleboe is on the wireless, without video, he is about nine feet tall. He loves to use these communication skills to set up a meeting with a perspective client in one of his bars.
He would have the new client wait at the bar or in a booth. While waiting they would be supplied with drinks on the management. He would let them wait a few minutes and then he would enter the room and go and climb up on a bar stool, next to the perspective client or go and sit in the booth across from the client, then he would simply order a drink. Not saying anything for a few moments, he would watch the individual in the bar mirror or across from him. He wanted to see their reaction to his size and appearance. Their individual facial expressions could tell him a lot, if indeed they were endowed with facial expressions.
Scott had no idea how Jacque Cleboe felt as he watched the reaction of these appointees. He did know that once he had waited long enough he would have the bar tender or waitress introduce him. If, for some reason, the perspective client had moved from the booth or moved down a couple of bar stools, due to Jacque’s intrusion, he would have the bar tender, or waitress, ask the individual if they were here to see Mr. Jacque Cleboe. If they indeed said they were, Jacque would have his employer simply point him out. No matter how the introductions went, Jacque now had the upper hand. This was usually due to the perspective individual’s reactions to the dwarf’s physical appearance and the knowledge that Jacque Cleboe, the Dwarf, was aware of their reactions.
Scott somehow stopped his thinking and got to sleep. He wanted to be fully rested before planet fall.