Thanks to their vast network of information, partly built through Selina's contacts from her previous life as a high-end escort in the spires, she had formed her gang around that age-old profession. Across the hive, many girls were working for her and under her protection.
It also explained why so many of their numbers were women. Especially amongst the lieutenants, captains and those within the inner circle.
He focused back on the conversation, eager to learn what was happening. Selin turned to Peggi, "So what the fuck is happening?"
Peggi coordinated their intelligence network, ensuring information flowed where it was needed. A key player in the gang, making her one of the most powerful individuals within it. Fortunately, she was fanatically loyal to Selina, having been saved by her from a horrible fate as a young girl. She had grown up in the gang alongside Zardelle and had moved up to be the undisputed leader of the intelligence branch, passing on any information crucial to Selina and her backer.
"Fuck knows!" She tapped the table. "There has been no word, not a whisper, that the Ash Stalkers are gearing up. I've investigated the men, and they are definitely theirs, but no one knows from where. Their equipment is the same. Far too good to be local. But all our contacts throughout the hive are drawing a blank."
The room fell silent as Selina mulled it over. After a few moments, she nodded. "Okay, keep on it. See if this is the start of a larger push, or if they were just testing the water. Rawna, how are the shipments going?"
"There have been no threats to them and nothing to suggest they'll target it. But we have doubled our security for now. Our recent shipment of Lichenshade made it up and is selling as well as ever. We've further processed the drug into Lichen Retort and that has gone to the spire with great success. So much so that we need to decide if we want to focus on that or not." Glancing down at her notes, one of the few gangers that could read and write, a skill that helped earn her the position, she continued, "Apart from that, the shipment of guns, equipment and rations came in as expected."
"Good." The woman to her left said, cutting in. She was a burly woman, heavily augmented, the result of an explosion she survived. "We have been waiting for more supplies; our stocks are running low. I will need to grab a few immediately; the water filtration pump 17 is fried and needs fixing."
Before the topic could be diverted, Selina made sure Rawna had no further updates before turning to Orleth. "Is there anything else we need to know about maintenance?"
"Nothing yet. Just the pump. Guns and armour we have covered, so we are ready for a fight if one comes."
"Good," finally turning to Lanto. "So the raid?"
"Yes." Lanto said, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. "It was a success. We took out a handful of grunts but also a well-equipped team, mercs probably, which might be why Peggi can't find much on them. There was more there than we expected, which I left with Peggi to investigate?" He trailed off, looking over to her in question.
"As I mentioned, no one knows where it has come from. It is clearly hive-made and local too, but none of the shipments from the local factorums are missing. And I refuse to believe they have a reach outside of that."
He nodded, agreeing it was unlikely. Given the scale of the hive, no one gang could have information all over it; there was just too much of it. That and the nobles and guilds would never allow it. Just the area around where they operated, a few dozen kilometres wide, but going way up the hive, had a billion souls crammed together.
So their knowledge was not complete, but it was good enough that nothing of this quality should have gotten in without them knowing.
"What's this about you taking a kid?"
He chuckled at that. "He pulled his weight and is a good shot." he said with a shrug.
"How good?" She asked, intrigued.
"Very. Some of the best I have seen down here, particularly for his age. Maybe average, or the lesser half of things, when I was part of the PDF. But he's barely ten, if that, so a good recruit."
"Huh, maybe a short list for you, Zardelle. You are still after a lookout, right? Also, how are you coming along for a second in command?"
"Yes mum." she said softly. Even when she spoke softly, all attention was riveted on her, not just from her mutations. That sense of unease around her focused the mind on her as well, allowing her to be one of the most soft-spoken people in the gang. Her mum and dad, as the leaders of said gang, probably helped as well. "But I won't take him until he's proven himself. I have a few that I am keeping an eye on, and I might have found someone within my unit."
That was good. Trusted seconds were hard to find. He put down a good part of his success in the guard's own to the few good officers under him. Cultivating these people were crucial; both he and Selina wanted Zardelle to start early so she'd have a core of people around her to help, just like Selina now did.
"Good. Peggi has checked them out right?"
"Yep, they're all good and above board."
"Good. Let me know if you need anything."
Other topics were discussed around the room, but nothing that truly interested Lanto. Soon enough, the lieutenants and captains of the inner circle received their marching orders and were then dismissed. Lanto was waiting for the others to file out, including Zardelle, who pulled the face of universal disgust as her parents got smoochy. Pulling Selina into his lap.
"How are you—"