Timestamp: 6.051.997.M41

Location: Coscarla Division, Tiergon Spire sub-levels, Northern Quadrant, Metropolitan Area, Hive Sibellus, Scintilla, Golgenna Reach

Situation: Salvaging the Saul Arbest investigation

Body: Maxi was not really in shape for anything except lying low, so it would be up to Haxtes to finish the part with the mercs. Ryker was not among the Alms House dead. He'd be over at the enforcer station. By now he should have found Haxtes' gift - Warden Locan sitting in his obscura-hazed office, his own heart in his hands...

Storming the House was out of the question of course. By his own estimates there were still several heavily armed men inside. So infiltration was in order. Ryker made it easier on Haxtes by killing one of his own to restore discipline, and then the remaining men spread out. One was captured alive and Ryker finally gave up when it dawned on him the situation was hopeless.

Would not talk though. Referred to the mercenary Code. Still didn't understand who he was dealing with. Asked to be ransomed back to this broker; 1100 for him and 400 for his remaining man. Good money surely. 1500 Thrones for Haxtes. So Haxtes made him watch as he cut to pieces his 400-Throne man. "I'd call that 400 Thrones well spent. Want to see me spend 1100?"

After that the Code wasn't so important; he spilled his guts. Telling how he and his men had been contracted to provide muscle. That's how he had ended up here, working for the Churgeon. Didn't know a whole lot about her except that she was some sort of Tech-Magos. And she required peace and quiet away from inquisitive eyes; and living human subject upon which to experiment.

At first they had just handed over what they found in the holding cells. Then made some arrests and handed them over. But soon they didn't need to do anything; she had turned some of the experiments into servitorlike creatures. From then on they did the hunting. Easy money for Ryker and his men from then on, even if he himself had his misgivings about their employer. He'd had a look around the Alms House and seen the lab. Full of viral agents. Looked worse than any he'd ever seen on the battlefield.

That was the signal to get the hell out. If the Churgeon was on the loose, and the bio-toxins she carried were viral weapons...that could get ugly. Turned out there was no way to warn the Big I - someone had cut the main hardline access to Coscarla. There would be secondary ones, but where? And how to make them work? Not without Venus. So that left you with only one option - haul ass and get to the next Division.

With the trains shut down for the night and the road arteries in night-cylce lockdown that was eaier said than done. But the Throne provides. Enter Sikes and his strange road-vehicle; a heavily modified flat-bed of some sort, filled beyond overflowing by his collection of wares. But good enough to get you to the next Division in no time at all. Would not let you through of course - until they saw Thrones in your hands. Then it worked out well enough.

Then you made the call. Corscala was shut down. Only a few tens of thousands died. Could have been hundreds of throusands, may be more, if you hand't made that call. Good work said the Big I. A real victory. And although the Churgeon had gotten away she had been identified. An important gain right there. So once again, good work.

You head up-hive. Sikes dropped you off at the Assay compound. You turned Ryker in. Knowing full well that he'd not reach his broker - not before visiting the Tricorn anyway. Then you got your payment for services rendered. The girl at the desk even made a pass at Haxtes. Then Ben and Richard went away - and returned to their respective covers. End story.