Sealed Passage, New Kingston

Job: relocate one Federation protected witness to New Kingston — four hops through Sol, Alpha Centauri, and Lacera, out to a quiet Solaris rim colony where sealed testimony is supposed to disappear into desert geography. Mira Calder is human, former admiralty logistics, and her manifest is lawful enough to make you nervous. Witness Security liaison Renata Falk booked the run off Khesret because your hull looks boring. That's the whole compliment.

Briefing: Falk's desk posts sealed transit — one passenger, one bag, no open-band chatter, no unauthorized medical stops, hand-off at the ridge intake annex behind the condenser yard. Payment on biometric match at New Kingston. Someone with reach does not want Calder to arrive: lane tails through federal space, bought berth officials, "wellness checks" that aren't medical. Your fee assumes you can refuse paperwork theater, keep chain-of-custody clean, and tell the difference between a patrol wave and an interceptor who bought your afternoon.

Clock: firm — annex intake window in nine days; late delivery forfeits bonus. Terms: ₡24,000 gross, 10% desk fee, Rank 2. Serious money for a crew that treats witness transit like custody, not cargo — and remembers the Federation writes down hull names.