The stop at Persephone had been brief, a few hours to unload the post, and then get paid for the mail job. Being anxious to get to Newhall, Jason had not bothered to continue with the mail route, which would not have taken him there for some time and had not paid well besides. Despite this, Badger had approached them regarding another job. The pretentious runt had offered to actually pay them this time, and as Londinium had been on the way, Jason had accepted the job of delivering the load of counterfeit designer wallets, watches, and wobbly headed geisha dolls; hence, their current stop over in New Whales Spaceport.

As he stood in the cargo bay, and the large door lowered to the ground with a thud, Jason was greeted by the usual Alliance Feds he had come to expect on the core planet. The lieutenant stepped forward to address him.

"Captain Libby, we meet again," said the young officer.

"Lieutenant Reed, it's always a pleasure." False sincerity, Jason was learning, seemed to go with the territory.

"New coat, I see," questioned Reed, regarding Jason who now wore a very old and word black leather jacket.

"Felt the need for a change of wardrobe."

"The color suits you better, I think."

Jason smiled at this comment. "Perhaps," he replied. Even if it had been exactly the same shade of brown as his old coat, Jason knew to a good portion of the 'Verse, it would still be a completely different color. He stepped discreetly toward the officer, a wad of cash barley concealed in his hand and out of sight from the other feds. The man looked down at the 'tip.'

"Afraid not today, Mister Libby. I'm going to have to search your ship and cargo."

Jason's mouth opened in surprise as the dog handler moved past him, the eager animal in tow, to disappear into his ship. This man was a mite unpredictable, fist time they met, he wants to pinch Jason, second time when they left, he was happy to take a bribe, and now he was back to the pinching again. The other two lackeys, who Jason also recognized