Read Online All My Sins Remembered by Brian Wetherell - Free Book Online

glass.” Mike answered.  Hawke looked surprised, as well he should, for usually you could get a whole bottle of Mallen Mead for that much.
    “It costs a lot to get, and I rarely have ample supplies.” Mike offered apologetically.  Grimacing, Hawke nodded and waved his hand over the RFID reader, and then pressed a button on the touch screen approving the transaction.  Giving Hawke a friendly smile, Mike reached under the bar, pulling out a bottle and retrieved a freshly polished glass from the storage racks overhead, filling it to the brim.  Raising his glass to the bartender in gratitude, Hawke drank fully half the glass before sitting it down with a satisfied sigh.
    “Thank you.  You do not know how much I’ve been craving that.” Hawke said.
    “I mean no disrespect, friend, but you did not come here for the mead.”  Mike said, a knowing look on his face.
    “True.” Hawke admitted, with a faint smile. “The mead was an extra bonus.  For now, the mead is enough.”  Mike nodded, understanding that Hawke wanted to be left alone for a bit while he enjoyed the rest of his mead.  He knew Hawke would get down to business sooner or later, when he was ready.  Hawke nursed his drink for another thirty minutes before he finished it with a sigh, and pushed the glass slightly away from him, signaling Mike that he was done, and ready to talk.  Drifting over towards Hawke, Mike picked up the glass, and set it aside.
    “Well, I guess I just wanted to chat a bit.” Hawke finally said.  Mike nodded, suspecting as much.
    “About anything in particular?” Mike asked, having played this game many time before.
    “A ship.  A particular ship.  It may have only started coming around in the past few months.” Mike shrugged, a clueless expression on his face.
    “You have to give me more than that.  Some of these crews arrive with new ships every time they dock.” Mike replied.  Hawke hesitated for a moment, and then answered.
    “The stories I’ve heard says the ship can disappear into the blackness of space.” Hawke offered.  Mike nodded and his expression grew a little more serious, and did not immediately respond.
    “That’s probably the Guan Yu .  She's painted black, and has only just recently begun frequenting the station every so often.” Mike said, and then hesitated before adding,   “I wouldn’t mess with them.  Their crew is not what you would consider average pirates.” Hawke nodded, then catching Mike's last statement looked curious.
    “What do you mean?” Hawke asked.
    “For starters, all of the crew members I’ve seen are Rejaian.  Second, they carry themselves with military precision, and third, they have a full squad of ground pounders.  If I had to guess, those ground pounders have only the best of gear.”  Mike replied.  Hawke stared at his empty glass as he processed everything Mike had said.  It sounded like the ship was a Rejaian Navy ship, an idea further reinforced by the name of the ship, Guan Yu , but the squad of soldiers is what Hawke was worried about.  A Rejaian Naval ship did not carry PMC personnel, as a rule.  Thus, these soldiers could only be Rejaian Special Ops, which Hawke knew had to be impossible, because the Rejai Empire had disbanded all of their standing armies, just like everyone else except the Mandil.
    “Do you know when the Guan Yu will be coming back?” Hawke asked.  Mike began to shake his head no, but then stopped as a thought occurred to him.
    “Actually, I think it may be due here in a day or two.  A freighter, the R.E.S. Choyo just docked yesterday.  One of the crew members had a bit too much to drink, and I think I overheard him say something about waiting for the Guan Yu to arrive.  He was not happy, because only one shift in three could disembark at any one time.” Mike smiled, but then cut a sharp look at Hawke.
    “That’s all I am willing to offer, my friend.  Another mead?” Mike offered.  Hawke smiled as he waved his hand