The Grandian Saga

"Captain, I suggest we hurry the search. The dissenter may escape if we waste our time here!" Milena said urgently.

"I understand your concern, Lieutenant!" Michel paused and then continued, "They could not escape through the deck because of our presence. No ship can take off from the land wagon without my permission." 

"That leaves us in the lower parts, then? I suggest..." 

Michel interrupted Milena and said, "If they go to the lower parts, then their fates would not be assured."

Joe looked away from Michel upon hearing what Michel had said. Milena became concerned and said, "If lawless elements were on the lower parts of the land wagon, then, I suggest make haste for they might fall prey to them!" 

Michel scratched his head and replied, "That wouldn't be necessary, I suggest you search one of the suites first. That way, we could be sure to track their whereabouts before leading a senseless search." 

Milena paused for a while and then nodded. "I understand, sir!"

"Good!" Michel replied. 

"Captain!" Michel suddenly called to Joe's attention.

"Y-yes!" Joe replied, who almost jumped in surprise.

"I want access to your surveillance equipment. How are your cameras doing?" Michel asked.

"They are doing well... of course, captain!" Joe replied to Michel.

"Good!" Michel looked at Milena and said, "I want access to it now!"

Joe hesitated at first, but looking at the situation, there's nothing more he could do to protect his client. He agreed and said to his second mate, "Please, escort them to the surveillance room!" 

"Ye sure, sir?" The second mate asked and then complied when Joe glared at him. "Ye, sure... I will go!" 

"The second mate is at your disposal, Captain!" Joe said to Michel.

The second mate escorted Michel and Milena to the surveillance room. Several black and white screened panels appeared in an enormous wall. Some screens were not working. However, the screen to suite number 5 was working. 

"That is the room of Manuel Dumont, a wealthy businessman from the Northern Countries." The second mate said, looking at the copy of the manifest.

Michel, looking at Milena, asked and said, "Is he true, Milena?" 

"Yes, sir! I believe he's one of our suspects; there's also a wealthy man named Ford Millard." Milena explained and continued, "I suggest we interrogate them both at their suites!" 

Michel was silent in his thoughts and then looked at the panel displaying outside of the room of Manuel Dumont. A woman, who appeared to have dressed in a white blouse and skirt, arrived at the door. Michel and Milena observed the live footage and noticed that something was amiss.

"Say, I can tell ye are interested in this Dumont person..." the second mate commented, but was interrupted by Michel.

"Sshhh!" Michel signaled everyone to be silent. 

After observing the live feed, a figure of a young man exited from the suite. He was wearing an overcoat with a silver badge that shined from the live feed on the screen. At least six men escorted him.

Milena, seeing this, asked Michel, "Is he the dissenter we are looking for?" 

"Could be!" Michel replied calmly and then said, "I suggest you investigate that suite first, Milena." 

Hearing her superior's words, Milena replied and said, "Yes, sir! I will head there right away." 

"Before everything else, could you please go to the deck first. I don't want you to go alone, take some men with you and report to the headquarters about our progress. I will be in contact by wireless!" Michel ordered.

"Yes, sir. I'll do that!" Milena said and headed outside with two subordinates.

After Milena exited the door of the control room. Michel looked at the captain and unbuttoned the top button of his uniform. "So much for formalities, captain! I believe there's more you wanted to say that we don't know as of the moment!"

----

An hour earlier, the dissenter hid in the upper parts of the land wagon inside a luxury suite. Behind the disguise, he was rather a powerful figure who had ulterior motives in his travels. He was surrounded by his attendants and bodyguards, who kept watch around the clock.

The businessman in disguise was looking outside the window that showed the vast desert dunes and the sands. He was contemplating about his trip and to achieve his goals when he gets into the next country. Suddenly, someone from outside of the room knocked on the door.

The leader of the security, an enormous man in his thirties, wearing a suit and tie with his weapon in his hostler, checked who was outside. To their relief, it was one of their associates, a woman wearing a white gown. She smiled at the enormous man saying, "Can I enter, Maximus?"

Maximus allowed the woman in and seeing the wealthy businessman she bowed down. "My prince, I apologize for disturbing you at this hour."

"No offense made, Felicia!" The prince who disguised himself added, "What news do you bring?" Felicia looked at the prince and replied, "I hear that there's a patrol from the Federation that's coming." 

Hearing this, the prince looked troubled, thinking that the patrol may cause problems. "A usual patrol should have two ships and a squad of men. Despite their size, they are quite capable!" 

The prince's gaze shifted uneasily to his guards. Despite their competence, the thought of a direct confrontation with the patrol made his stomach churn. Looking at his people, he knew they were quite capable as well. However, he wants to prevent needless bloodshed nor being exiled back to the Northern Countries. 

"We need a plan, fast!" The prince said to his subordinates.

"To the lower floors, my prince. We can buy some time if you go there." Felicia suggested. Maximus, looking at Felicia, replied, "We cannot assure the safety of the prince if we go to the lower compartments. Felicia, there must be another way!" 

Felicia sighed and said, "Fine, you don't want to dirty yourselves. Unless we can find a way to just bribe the patrols, which I doubt would succeed. I suggest finding another way for them to turn a blind eye." 

"You...!" Maximus angrily replied.

"That's enough, both of you!" The prince told the two to stop quarrelling and said, "To the lower floors, then, I will handpick the best of my guards to escort me down. Also, Felicia, buy us time!"

Felicia nodded and said, "It will be my pleasure, my prince!"