During the trip from Gungnir, Aida wanted to check that they had set the correct jump co-ordinates to Margesi, as promised, but Belter (Darryl) refused to let her onto the bridge. This was despite protestations from Standage (Ian). So she spent the entire time in her state room.
Arriving in Margesi, the Lollipop was immediately put into tractor beam by the Imperium Navy thereon and towed well clear of the class C star-port. An umblical was fixed to the hatch, and a squad of marines came on board. They clapped Aida in irons and marched her off, and then proceeded to search the ship. Unlike the Zhodani experience, the Imperium marines' search was a lot more violent and damaging. They smashed broken glass and crockery all over the kitchen, and proceeded to use heavy weapons on Belter's collection of antique whiskeys "to check them for illegals".
Belter protested: "You are violating the neutrality of the Scout Service!", but he was punched down with a rifle butt. The party was forcebly disembarked and watched helplessly, from the star-port, as the Lollipop was dismantled *again*. This time, out in space, well clear of anything crucial.
Eventually the marines pronouced it "safe and clear", and start to reassemble it.
Standage had to use leverage from the Diplomats Corps to get Aida released from the Navy interrogation. She was brought back with a few cuts and bruises. He then accompanied her to the Diplomats Corps building in the star-port. The Diplomats were not very happy with the Zhodani demands, so they suggested a binding Cease Fire, so that some "big wigs" from Imperium Central could discuss with Zhodani counterparts.
Aida grudgingly accepted this, so she and the party reboarded the reassembled Lollipop for the trip back to Tizon - the place where the Zhodani fleet from Gungnir would meet up - so she could deliver the message to Major General Seskia.
A week later they arrived in Tizon.
After Aida's experience with the Margesi navy, she insisted, much to Belter's anger, that the Lollipop be searched again. In fact, she wouldn't even let it dock at the star port.
Techies came on board and they searched it. There were some chemical anomolies in the cargo bay and they detected unusual gamma radiation from one of the unbroken whisky crates. Sure enough, that crate was false and was in fact a bomb. The trigger was a radio signal, but they disabled that.
"I wonder of we are working for the right side," mused Standage.
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