You've never heard of it. They will explain, though, much as they do not fully understand the process.
It is one of Servalo's security precautions. The gold is technologically altered on Zerok until it turns into this worthless black substance. To turn it back, you need to reverse the process precisely, which as well as the equipment requires knowing the code that was used to transform it in the first place, which changes every time. A Servalo representative comes to the starport each time and tells the convoy leader what the code is (they also provided the equipment as part of the agreement, but the equipment only works within a certain 'band' of codes so Servalo can render it useless when they want).
I - Is that even possible? Has Wentar ever heard of such tech?
And more to the point. If this black gold stuff is worthless why would the pirates keep coming back for it? Surely once they realized they'd give up.
Unless they take the codes, but then Servalo can just render the codes useless and the pirates still get nothing.
This situation is pretty fishy...
There is corporate security all over the place, very well armed.
"Bit late to help you, I am afraid," says Kessler. "Turns out Servalo had a leak- an inside man getting a cut who was tipping off the pirates. He told them about your presence, so they sent a strike force three times larger than what we had seen before."
"I'm just glad you are alive," says Kessler. "The good news is- you're right; that effort must have exhausted whatever the pirates can manage on land. And in recompense for the security slip being on their end, Servalo are going to send a new shipment next week. Would you guard that one too, to be sure? I'm afraid I can't pay you until a shipment gets through anyway."