Lave Station, Lave, 17-May-3200

The Directorate has been at it again. I think some junior Director has decided that winking at smuggling is not on and that the black market must be stamped out. Presumably he doesn't know about the Supreme Director's personal slaves. Or the same Supreme Director's wife and her, ah, taste for stims. It can't last, but while it does, we all endure the obligatory customs intrusions.

Thnakfully, while winking at smuggling and the black market isn't on, rampant corruption and bribery still are. I carry small stocks of goods — stims, off-world clothes, liquors and so on, for precisely this kind of situation. A 'donation' of ¢250 worth of luxuries sees my ¢2500 fine miraculously disappear. I have to say, the Lave bureaucracy can move incredibly quickly, when it wants to.

Unfortunately, the same forces which gave me small hassle at Customs are giving Edwards a very large headache. Nowhere to be seen on the station, the most I can get out of mutual associates is that he's 'gone to ground'. Whether they mean that literally or metaphorically, I have no idea. Either way, the Supreme Director isn't going to be able to inspect this month's slaves to — but that last infamy of despotic government is unprintable.

I'll off to Leesti to see what's going on there, and return quickly.