Path to Becoming the Greatest Space Mercenary

"Now let's just hope the people onboard aren't so dedicated to their cause that they kill themselves before we can interrogate them."

After dealing with the environmental extremists turned terrorist and Iniquus' enslaved private soldiers, Avery's team had a terrible record with getting information out of prisoners alive.

And while Kasandra's comment had been morbid, similar thoughts had been going through Avery's and Jasmine's minds.

"I don't think that will be a problem this time. The way that the pilot was moving leads me to believe that they want to live. Though, that's just what my intuition is telling me. I could be wrong." Avery said, trepidation in his eyes.

What these people had been doing was illegal, and being caught was going to see them getting caught up in some major trouble. There were certainly some people out that might think ending their lives now would be for the better.

Fortunately, it quickly became apparent that the two people aboard the small craft wanted to live.

Within less than a minute, they sent a transmission to Avery declaring their surrender. Apparently, they were afraid of being blown up if they did not. Avery had pretty miraculously attacked them with the Dauntless' heavy laser cannons, and it seemed that they were a bit traumatized by the violent experience.

"Well, they're definitely not hardened agents." Jasmine surmised from the content of the message they had received.

"It could be some sort of ploy. Let's not let our guards down yet." Kasandra responded.

Nevertheless, any added caution had been unnecessary.

Commander Berk's light cruiser swiftly pulled up and brought the disabled vessel into its small hangar that typically held a few shuttle craft for away missions or in case of emergency evacuations.

However, other than the captured ship, Avery' piloted the Dauntless into the hangar as well. He did not have much of a vested interest in what was going on with the strexnoid collective and these people, but as a mercenary, having information no one else had could be a substantial boon and he was not going to let this chance go by.

"I already allowed you onboard my ship, so why would I agree to let your crew lead the interrogation?" Berk asked when Avery met him in person and brought up this request.

"It's simple really. We already terrified them by firing on their vessel, and I bet that they'd be more inclined to spill their guts to a band of 'lawless' mercenaries. And more pertinently, Jasmine here used to be a sergeant in the Alliance Police and worked on a colony. She probably has more experience interrogating suspects than any of the people under you."

Avery's suggestion certainly had merit, and he could not deny that he and the members of his crew did lack interrogation experience.

Since he commanded a squad of ships, Berk's job was more to maintain order around colonies and high traffic routes within the Phregon System. Space pirates rarely surrendered, and when they did, Berk typically handed them over to the relevant department on the nearest colony so he could quickly return to patrolling.

Jasmine on the other hand, spent her time arresting suspects on Yuson II and had plenty of experience forcing them to cough up their secrets.

Of course, there were methods that could force someone to talk, but those were typically not employed on moral and legal grounds. To uphold the justice they sought to protect, the Alliance Police needed to maintain an image of integrity.

Using things like truth serums, torture, or implanting subservience devices similar to what Iniquus had used were last resorts. Something to only be employed when there was an imminent threat. Something that did not apply to the current situation.

"Very well, but I'll be monitoring the entire thing and if I order you to pull out, you will do so without any opposition." Berk said sternly.

"Sure, that is more than acceptable. I promise that we'll get some results. Oh, and it was good to finally meet you in person."

With the conversation over, Avery followed the officer that had been assigned to watch and guide them while they were aboard the Alliance Police cruiser. They were now being taken to the brig to speak with the two individuals that had been captured.

As for Commander Berk, he scowled as the trio left. He was not particularly happy with letting mercenaries do so much, but the results spoke for themselves. Avery and his team were inventive and had discovered the anomalies within the strexnoid collective. Then they had come up with and executed a plan that had brought about the capture of those involved.

"Perhaps the Alliance Police has been thinking with its cannons too often." Berk mumbled to himself.

In terms of firepower, just the squad that he commanded far out gunned Avery's team. It was simply a difference in size.

Yet, that small band of mercenaries had resolved multiple issues that should have been beyond them with their grit and wits.

As much as he did not like them, Berk now had a grudging respect for Avery and his group.

…

"What are we going to do Dustin?! I'm not built for prison."

"J-just calm down Sasha. We can get through this. All they caught us doing was tampering with a tacker tag. I don't think that's going to be considered a major crime. If we're polite, apologetic, and don't say anything unnecessary, we should be able to get through this. Let's aim for a warning and a fine." Dustin said, a hopeful look in his eyes behind the expression of fear on his face.

"Do you really think it will be that easy? We also ran away from the Alliance Police when they showed up. No doubt that's going to be added to the list of whatever charges they'll bring against us." Sasha said pessimistically.

However this was going down, she did not see it ending well for them.

After being brought into a holding cell abord the Alliance Police light cruiser, the two of them had been left entirely alone. Allowing their worries to grow as the minutes of uncertainty went by.

Eventually, a group of four entered the brig. Yet curiously, only one of them was wearing the uniform of the Alliance Police. The others all had on clothes more akin to what mercenaries would wear.

"Thanks for bringing us here. We'll take care of the rest."

Once Avery had dismissed the Alliance Policer officer, it was just him and Kasandra and Jasmine left in the brig.

Dustin and Sasha naturally watched what was going on, a hint of confusion on both of their faces. This was clearly an Alliance Police vessel, but three people that were certainly not part of the organization had been brought to the brig and left alone with them.

"So, you're the two that we're flying that small craft that tried to slip past us. You're not what I was expecting. I figured you would both be a bit more intimidating considering what you were doing here. You two look more harmless than baby birds. Hardly the type of hardened crimials that normally do stuff like this." Avery said, his lips twisted into a scowl.

"Wait! We weren't doing anything that bad! And who are you people anyway?! You don't look like Alliance Police." Dustin said frantically.

"Ah, yes, I suppose that you would be confused about that. We're mercenaries being employed by the Alliance Police. And since we're the ones that took you criminals down, we get first crack at you."

Both Dustin and Sasha were bewildered by this development, but their current panic prevented them from thinking carefully about what Avery had just said.

Naturally, there was no such rule that allowed mercenaries that captured criminals to interrogate them before the Alliance Police.

Had Commander Berk not allowed it, neither Avery nor any member of his team would have ever seen Dustin and Sasha.

Still, the two of them were not in the right state of mind to think about this. The unexpected development and harsh accusations had already muddled their thoughts.

'I'll have to thank Jasmine later for those tips she gave me. These two are obviously panicked now.' Avery thought.

Before the two of them could get their fear under control, Avery continued his questioning.

"Now, why don't you make things easy on yourselves and tell us who you are. We're going to need names to assign all of these charges too." Avery said, lightly slapping his tablet into one of his hands.

There was not an actual list of charges displayed on the device, but Dustin and Sasha did not know this.

At first the two were tight lipped, but a bit of prodding and a promise of leniency from Avery if they cooperated got them to loosen their tongues.

"I'm Dustin Caddel."

"And I'm Sasha Caddel."

Having gotten his first bit of information about the two, Avery swiftly typed it into his tablet and continued with the integration.

"I see. So, you two are a married couple. I suppose that that the only person that a criminal can be with is another criminal."

""We're not married!"" Dustin and Sasha said in unison.

Of course, Avery already knew this. He could tell by their demeanors that there was no sort of romantic relationship between them. All he wanted to do was rile them up. And considering how flustered they had both just become, he had certainly done a good job.

"I see, so your cousins. Then crime must be a family business." Avery said as if it was fact.

"W-we're not criminals! All we were doing was doing the job our company assigned to us!" Dustin yelled defensively.

At this, Avery had to hold back a smile. These two were clearly not career criminals that had no semblance of remorse for the actions they had committed. The more Avery accused them of being such people though, the more that they felt inclined to defend themselves. Leading them to reveal the information he was looking for as they did so.