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Beka vs the Port Authority - Chapter Four
"It can't be done, Boss," said Harper, as he disconnected his dataport jack from the Maru's computer a look of annoyance on his face.
"What do you mean it can't be done?" asked Beka. "Aren't you the one who keeps telling me that if you can access it you can hack it?"
"Can't do what?" asked Trance as she stepped into the command deck. She was carrying a tray with several plates and glasses of what appeared to be zentsuji melon juice on it. A smell of burned toast emanated from the tray.
"Morning, babe," said Harper as he took one of the plates and a glass off the tray. "Beka wants me to hack into the port's computer system and twiddle with the Sakaemasu's inspection report so it has a clean bill of health. The trouble is that inspections are part of traffic control, and that system is a completely separate computer system from the port administration's computer system that visiting ships can tie into. If someone wanted to alter the inspection data they'd need physical access to the system, there's no way to access it from outside the port authority building."
"So that means that the Sakaemasu either pays off Port Authority or cuts and runs," said Beka. "And if they take off without clearance you can bet Fenree will send interceptors after them and Nikolay will either have to fight or have the Sakaemasu confiscated, and in either case the Takahashis will most likely be banned from Fenree."
"I thought yesterday you told Captain de Vaca that we were going to take the Sakaemasu's cargo to Vercheon for them," said Trance as she handed a second plate to Beka. "Why do we need to hack the port's computers?"
"We are," said Beka. She glanced suspiciously at the blackened lump on the plate that bore a vague resemblance to a slice of bread and the wet looking glop of yellow something that was oozing towards the edges of the plate. She gave the yellow mass an experimental poke with her fork then hurriedly put the plate down. She could have sworn the glop flinched when the fork stuck it. "But I don't like the idea of a bunch of mudfeet shaking down honest spacers, and it won't hurt if the Takahashi family feels they owe us a favor."
"One of us is going to have to break into traffic control's administrative offices and physically access the computers to change the records," said Harper picking up what Beka suspected was supposed to be another piece of toast. He took a bite then hurriedly reached for the glass of juice.
"Not one of us," corrected Beka. "Me. You're in no shape to go skulking around and Trance doesn't have the skills. I'm not even sure I can do it, and I'm no slouch with computers. I may not be in your league, Harper, but I was maintaining the Maru's computer for years before you came along."
"Now there I can help you," said Harper. "The FTA uses the same operating system in all of the spaceports they subsidize. What they don't know though is that one of the system's original designers left a back door into the system. And computer god that I am, I have the key to unlock the door. Just a minute." He hobbled off the command deck, returning shortly afterwards holding what appeared to be a sheet of clear plastic about as big as his thumb. "Here," he said grinning triumphantly as he handed it to Beka.
Beka took the sheet and examined it. On close inspection she saw the sheet was marked with a series of lines that looped and swirled in a pattern reminiscent of fingerprints. "Is this what I think it is?" she asked.
"It depends on if you think it's a pattern to fool a fingerprint identification scanner," said Harper. "Lay this on the scanner and a login screen will come up asking for a password. The password is Mommy loves me."
"Mommy loves me?" Trance asked in disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding," said Beka.
"The Harper never kids about hacking a system," said Harper. "Just lay the image down and enter the password and you'll be in."
"Before I get in I'm going to have to figure out how to get in," said Beka. Noticing the puzzled looks on both her crew members' faces she explained. "I'm going to need to check out the site and work out a way to get into the administrative offices undetected. I guess a scouting mission is in order."
"Can I come too?" asked Trance. "I'm real good at sneaking. Please" She gave Beka her best puppy dog eye look
Beka ignored the expression on Trance's face and out of habit started to refuse but then changed her mind. The initial reconnaissance wouldn't be dangerous, at most they would be escorted out of the area, and there were some other errands she needed to do and Trance would be a help accomplishing them. Also the girl had never been to Fenree before, it would be a good idea to show her around the port area so she would be familiar with it in the future.
"Ok, Trance, you can come with me," said Beka.
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