Sunraker

[Sunset Sea Islands]

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“… We interrupt this programme for some breaking news. An explosion occurred at 14:34 in northwestern Manamana City. The incident, most likely caused by a defective gas pipe, has torn a hole into the upper half of a residential building, flames are still gushing out. The fire department has already begun fighting the inferno, whose column of smoke can still be seen from anywhere in the city. Thankfully, it appears as if nobody was present in the affected levels of the building when the explosion occurred, as no casualties have been confirmed so far. The remaining inhabitants have been evacuated and are being treated. This is the first event of such magnitude so far in Manamana, why a gas explosion could happen in a relatively new building is currently unknown. The police does not exclude criminal intent, although investigations might prove difficult. This is Radio Manamana, bringing You the freshest news from across the canal…”

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS EARLIER

The flag of the Manamana League flew in the fair wind of the Shirley. Originally of @Variotan make, the 630-ton vessel had done its job well for the past seventy years, although its purpose had changed in the meantime. The Shirley did not carry cargo anymore, but a fifty-two-meter radio transmitter capable of sending on a range of different frequencies.

A storm appeared to be brewing, but the atmosphere on the old freighter had already been tense for the past few days.

The Shirley's mission had been a success, as far as her crew could tell. The communication supervision systems of the Radiant Republic had taken their time to detect their pirate broadcast. How many people managed to receive their message was unclear, but at least they were able to get their entire message across before the jammer signal went into full effect. If it hadn't, they would have spoken about how the citizens of the Radiant Republic were so focused on their work that they didn't even notice that they were giving their democratic rights away or about how one-sided the news coverage has been ever since the proclamation of the Radiant Republic. “How curious,” Hoang thought, “that a new governing party somehow manages to name an entire nation after itself. How totally not on-the-nose.” Whether or not someone had listened to their broadcast by chance, they did what they could to fight the cyberpunk dystopia taking over the once paradisaic archipelago. If only Duc hadn't been dumb enough to address Hoang by his name during the broadcast. A voice recording could already be enough for the damned Beholders to figure out any identity, them knowing his first name as well was making the Shirley's crew an even easier prey than they already were.

Being locked with Duc in a tin can for the ten days it took them to reach a spot in international waters from where they could transmit to every place in the SSI and eating the same food every day had been taxing enough, and that was before Duc fucked up. Hoang's mood had already been foul before they tuned into SSI News and had to listen to Winnifred the Pooh twisting their actions to fit his own agenda on their way back home. Hoang had been silent for most of the time, not only because he was mad at Duc, but because he had to plan their next steps. Even before they embarked on their mission, it had been clear that they'd have to lie low for a while following their return. Now, however, the tides had turned. They didn't have to hide, they had to vanish completely. Sink the Shirley, burn their base down. Better yet, blow it up. And then become ghosts.