The engines of the corsair ships howled as they cooled down on the star port. Valeria exited the centurion craft which she had been piloting as Franco, Lancehead and herself approached planet Crete. As she gazed to the stars, she saw the pirate train ship that Lancehead piloted land and moments later the foreigner but amigo to Valeria exited the transport.
"Buenos dias, mi amigo and welcome to Planet Crete, our homeworld." She greeted the Xenos pilot before continuing. "If you would come with us, per favor, a shuttle is waiting to bring us to the rest of la familia."
As he walked down the ramp, it became clear that Ronnie didn't waste the time needed by the autopilot to land the transport. Shaved and fragrant, with his old, weathered leather jacket clean and shiny - at least as shiny as it could be - and with a big, black bag on his shoulder, he looked like he was ten years younger. As he stepped out from under the ship, he gazed around to see with his own eyes what Planet Crete looks like.
The landscape around the starport reminded him of some place but he couldn't link the strange memory to any of the planets he was familiar with. The rocky, slender mountains surrounding the landing pad has made his approach rather tricky. White Sands - the transport he landed in - wasn't really designed for such landings. Long and with a relatively fragile frame, it had to be handled with care and flown smoothly between the brown, rocky peaks, to avoid stressing the ship's structure extensively.
Warm and dry breeze reminded Ronnie of Pittsburgh deserts he used to visit quite often back in the times when he worked for DSE security.
He came closer to Valeria, who was already waiting for him on the edge of the pad. Seeing the woman changed slightly by her role of the host, he also noticed her pride. The same pride he heard in the voice of another Benitez pilot they met just a few hours back. "Honorable and proud... Well, they surely have some reasons to be proud..." he thought to himself. "Thank you for bringing me here in one piece, Miss" Ronnie said smiling. "Those bunter destroyers almost got me there..."
He adjusted the heavy bag on his shoulder and pointed at the gun in his belt holster: "I'm not sure about the customs here... is that okay that I'm armed?"
"Oh, si senor." She grinned at him. "Infact, it is somewhat expected." With a nod she made an inviting gesture to the shuttle that was waiting to bring them to the Benitez headquarters, Myrtos Villa.
The shuttle had the same orange hull plating as the corsair crafts landing and launching on the star port. An experienced person could probably see that the shuttle's design was the same traditional design that most corsair ships had in common. Built for survivability it would, ironically, likely be safer than most civillian shuttles were it to crash or come under fire.
Assuming Lancehead would board the shuttle, they would lift off the star port and begin the journey to Myrtos Villa in order to meet with the other Benitez corsairs. The engines of the shuttle had a somewhat warm but powerful hum to them, that was similar to the feeling the light of the red dwarf in Omicron Gamma might evoke. It would appear that ship building and such wasn't just an industry for them, but, just like their identity, a way of life. Something that hummed in harmony with their history, their environment and their culture.
After some minutes of a peaceful trip a robotic voice coming from the internal suttle speaker said:
*beep* Detected snubcraft on scanners.
Distance: 9,85 K and aproaching
Ship class: Heavy fighter.
Ship type: Centurion.
Defined as a: Friendly, corsair spacecraft.
*beep* *beep*
Just some seconds later, even before than the pilot could send a transmission to the Centurion, a formal voice said:
*static* Shuttle Crete-Mytros.042 this is Tiberio Benitez, wingman number 282 from the Malvada's patrol fleet.
I have orders to escort you up to Myrtos Villa
*static*
The Centurion that was heading to the suttle, began to describe an arc in order to form up with the ship to be escorted. Once the maneuver was done, Tiberio leaned back a little more relaxed, and said:
*static* Hola hermanos, I was patrolling Malvada's cloud and a transmission from Myrtos asked me to escort you there. I'm surprised, i have just downloaded the mission briefing from the "Corsairnet" and under the mission type i read "Escorting foreing personnel" is that correct? In that case, welcome to Omicron Gamma "Forastero"
*static*
"Tiberio, hermano, good to see you!" Valeria responded through the comm as the centurion craft lined up in formation with the shuttle. "Muy bien timing, and gracias for the escort. Si we have a guest on board and are headed towards Myrtos Villa to meet the others of la familia."
As the shuttle races over the dusty desert cliffs surrounding Europa a small mountain range comes into view. Into this mountain range a plateau is hewn and a rather large complex built from bright sandstone is visible. The complex looks like a large Villa and actually stretches over multiple levels and from the looks, it continues inside the mountain as well.
The plateau has a landing site and an open air hangar where multiple other shuttles, space fighters and a small freighter is parked. As the shuttle with Valeria and Lancehead comes closer they can spot three dark sots on the otherwise bright ground. While landing and swirling up lots of dust in the process Valeria can identify the shapes:
In the front is Trueno, dressed in a crimson red uniform, high polished boots and a heavy chain around his neck weighted with the crest of the Benitez familia.
Behind him Valeria can spot his over-sized twin brothers looking like Trueno just fed with steroids and growth hormones instead of rice- these two, as most of the time simply carry a full combat attire, ready for anything. All of them are armed - while Trueno sports a decorative laser pistol at his hips his brethren didn't even tuck away their rapid fire guns.
All three are waiting for the shuttle to land and its passengers to exit.
Looking at the views outside the cockpit glass, Ronnie sunk in his thoughts. He now knew where did that deja vu, which he had on the strarport landing pad, came from. Early in the beginning of his xeno part of life, he visited the Death Valley. The desert planet in Tau-45, a system called Alabama by all the Xenos, was always very important for the movement. Not like some kind of mecca; there was nothing considered 'saint' in it. But the planet was very important for Xenos. It was their hope for brighter future, the promise of better life after getting rid of all the greedy corporations and corrupt 'elites' from Liberty. And so, Ronnie once descended into the atmosphere of this dry but rich in minerals planet and followed the waypoints to see the Dusty Peak, a rock formation so similar to the ones surrounding the landing pad here on Crete.
And as he saw the similarities, he also understood Corsairs' pride. They already have their own world. Even if they lack food, they at least have their home, the safe haven they can visit to gather their strength to get back into the endless fight.
He now realised that there is no end for Xenos' struggle, that their fight will never end, that there always will be someone willing to rip their beloved Liberty apart, to feed on the bloodstream of local trade like some leeches, to corrupt and be corrupted like some kind of cancer. That there will always be greed, corruption and injustice. Lancehead also realised that he will never stop fighting, even if it's a hopeless fight in a hopeless battle of a war that is already lost.
Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice the voices in the cockpit or that the shuttle has almost reached its destination.
The shuttle approached one of the free landing pads at Myrtos Villa and maneuvered itsel finto landing position while the escort craft piloted by Tiberio landed on another nearby landing pad. When the hatch opened the shuttle pilot, Valeria and the foreign guest walked down the ramp and met with Trueno and his twin brothers as well as the hot, dry air of the environment.
"Buenos dias mi hermano. I see you have dressed for the occasion." Valeria addressed him noting both the fine uniform as well as the hard to miss handfire weapons.
As he stepped down the ramp, Ronnie felt how bad the heat is. He didn't expect that. Each breathe he took caused a spike of dry pain in his chest. Each step he took towards the welcoming party, he felt weaker and weaker. "Nice to meet you, gentlemen" he mumbled when they finally got closer to the Benitez brothers. He forced a smile on his face as he fought himself not to shiver.
Just as it wasn't enough of a problem, he just felt his left hand is getting numb. "What a great impression I am making. Xeno warrior. All shaking and sweating..." he thought to himself.
Trueno notices Valeria first and gives her a proper short embrace "Hermana, good to have you back - is your new...."amigo" with you?"
He then notices Lancehead stepping out the shuttle and shifts his attention to him " Ah Buenos dias señor and welcome to the home of corsair empire! I am Trueno Benitez, humble servant of Crete and the familia..."
Trueno bows slightly then extends his hand to greet. While doing so one of Truenos brutish brothers slowly positions himself behind Lancehead. While shaking hands Trueno has a cold stare in his eyes a warm welcome is something else. "Now,where are my manners- it seems you are the hombre I have to say gracias for sheltering mi hermana in times of need. Now then, let me offer you shelter in times of...heat,si?"
He smirks slightly, then gestures to the entrance behind him. "Vamonos,hm - be our guest at Myrtos Villa for now. And Valeria, you join us for welcome drink for sure,si?"