Andrew sighed as he walked thru his new Ship, finding memories of the ships past, hopeing that they would not scar the Vessels Future. He Forwared the Ships registration information to the Liberty Database, So that the ship would not be mistaken for a slave trader.
Begin Transmission:
The Acheron
Cargo Hold:
300u of Food Rations
200u of H-Fuel (emergency fuel)
150 Light Arms(for defense of personnel in event of Attack)
50 Mining Machinery(for Excavations)
200u of oxygen(emergency supply)
100u of Robotic components (for emergency repairs)
300u of Water
3 Military Grade exploration Vehicles(for exploration, minimal armaments)
Captains Private Reserves:
1 Bottle of Wine
1 History of Sirus
10 Holotainment bands(different scenarios)
Crew:
Captain: Andrew Shepard
XO: Owen Hamlin
Gunnery Control: Maria Watkins
Helm: Jacob Mueller
Chief Engineering Officer: Evan Scott
Total Crew:300
Armament:
11 CT-402 Transport "Charon" Turrets
Transmission End
For Andrew, it was a new life, as he was sick from the cramped cockpit of his Border worlds transport, but for some reason he had kept the Transport, as a reminder to how he was able to purchase This ship.
Untill it happened.
Jacob: *over Comm*: Captain, you might want to get up here ricky tick!
Andrew: Copy, ile be right up.
Barly thirty seconds later, Andrew made it up to the bridge.
Andrew: what have we got?
Maria: This thing just poped up on our sensors, and passively scanned us.
Andrew: any communication from the vessel?
Maria: we have tried every dialect, both New and old.
Andrew: Cross reference The ships signature with known signatures...
Maria: oh...my...god...
Andrew: What?
Maria: its...a AI core vessel
Andrew: Arm all weapons, if this ship so much as Blinks in the wrong way, you light it up. understood Mr. Hamlin?
Owen: aye sir.
*after scanning the AI core vessel, determining the ships name as [SMA]BETA.14 and that the ship was of no harm, The Acheron left for the Unknown. Will this ship ever be seen again? Who knows.*
Andrew pondered his decision. His Bridge crew had evacuated, and the Acheron was about to die.
He wondered why pirates had requested his personal holo-tainment bands, that only contained personal memories, and was his ship being destroyed worth it. He keyed the intercom, thinking it would be the last time he ever did, and said
"Crew, You fought vallantly against all odds. Im initiating a code red evacuation. Everyone get to the escape pods. Good luck, Shepard out."
With that, he walked down to his quarters, oblivious to the fact his ship he had worked long and hard for was exploding around him, and poured himself a glass of Gallian wine, which had been a gift to him by his best friend who was now chilling in deep space, and drank it. Then everything went black.
**20 days later**
Andrew Woke up with a pain, and as he struggled to sit up 5 nurses ran to his side and told him to relax.
"where am I?"
After a quick explanation that his quarters had been sealed off and that by pure luck His quarters had not Depressurized when the ship was ripped apart, and was picked up by Rhineland police who went to investigate the SOS signal the Acheron VI sent out at the last second.
After recovering, he took what little credits he had and got ticket back to Planet Denver, where his Border worlds transport was waiting. He was sad. Almost his entire crew was killed by the pirates, who shot the escape pods down. The only survivors where the bridge crew who where able to hide in a M35 Mako, which had been bought for Terrestrial exploration.
Andrew was back to square one.
**one month after the destruction of the Acheron**
Andrew was flying his Evo-1B Charon Fighter, when a Message poped up on a Auxiliary console that he used for surfing the neural net, which read:
To Andrew Shepard:
We have been aware your ship and all of the Contents where destroyed.
As your ship has been insured with us, you are entitled to 140.000.000 Sirus Credits.
The funds will be sent attached to this message. We are sorry for the loss of most of your
Crew. We have Payed money to each family of Crewembers who where killed in the battle.
Regards,
Official Bank of Liberty, Denver Branch
*Attached: 140.000.000 Credits*
Andrew was overjoyed. After going to Denver and spending over a million Credits on a Nice house and a private hanger for his Fighter and His Transport, He invited his old bridge crew over for a drink. They Talked about how they missed the old crew, There lives after the Destruction of the Acheron, and where relieved that their former Captain had survived and was well. Then Andrew Remembered. He had contacted the Zoners about Buying one of their Corvo Cruisers. He checked, and it was on voting! He Told his Friends his plan, and they planned on what and how to prepair themselfs for another shot at learning the Sirus Sectors hidden Secrets and treasures.
Andrew was overjoyed. His life had turned around in nearly 5 Standard days. The corvo cruiser was aproved and was being built. He had send a skeleton Crew to see the final preperations for launch and the trials. One thing he was not quite thrilled about was all the paperwork and forms that needed to be filled out.
Andrew Sighed as he reviewed his request. It would be a maximum of 2 weeks standard time before He received any news from Corfu station, due to a Rhineland attack on one of the main Liberty Neural net links.
The last Message he received from Corfu Station was that the Construction was being finalized and his Skeleton Crew was Doing Checks on all the systems just to be sure.
**20 Standard minutes later**
After reading the Message twice, he decided to post some of his details on "sirus book" a InterSirus Dating Service....
He was lonely, after the destruction of the Acheron, and all his friends said he should go have a good time, hit the clubs, do a few girls.
*begin upload sequence 91472*
Andrew Shepard
5 ft 10 inches
currently Residing on 164 Starview Lane, Garret City, Planet Denver, Colorado System, Liberty Space
Captain of 2 Ships
Got his pilot license at age ten, first ship at age 12, Stopped by liberty Security Forces over a dozen times because he was making static in his comm system(//This was a long time ago, not like this now )
Graduated At the top of his class At Colorado Inter-System University, Fully paid by Scholarships.
Andrew is also a avid gamer, placing Second in the Liberty House Official Gaming Tournament Under the Online Alias "andrewthecool", Beaten by a person who's Alias During the Tournament was "Leverage" who Andrew Believes hacked the Main server to give himself a Advantage. Andrew Hates him to this day.
*Complete Upload Sequence 91472*
Andrew Decided to out for a spin in his Fighter, see what was happening in New york, Hit the Famous Bar at Planet Manhattan. He planned on nothing but the best for over 2 weeks. He thought this whould be the calm before the ****storm. For andrew, the ****storm meant contacting Admiral Hale about getting his Corvo Cruiser The necessary Entry and Docking Privileges for liberty space, as his Corvo was Technically a Foreign Capital ship, even if its Retrofitted for Exploration.
Andrew Was Reading the News on the Neural Net when Maria, his ex-Gunnery Control Officer, Walked into the room he was in.
Maria: "What is this?" as she Mentioned to the Sirius book Page of Andrew
"its a Sirius book Page?"
"I didnt know you where single..."
"Its Complicated..."
"Sure it is. Well, The Neural Net Comm System was back online. I got a message from my Friend in the Liberty Navy."
"Oh. Lets Try connecting to Corfu Station. See how the Apollo is Shaping up."
As Andrew Keyed the Communication Terminals Power Button, Maria Came close, putting her head on his shoulder.
"You Dont Mind, Do you?"
Andrew, who was kind of astonished at maria's Move, Sputtered "uh...no... not at all."
Andrew Checked the Comm logs, and there was a Recent Message Sent by Owen Wilson, his XO and Captain of the skeleton Crew that was Overseeing the Final Preparations for Launch.
**Begin Message 11473264**
" Sir, Most of the Systems are operational. We are Having some problems with the Science Equipment, but nothing to serious. We will be Operational shortly. And sir, You got your leather Command Seat."
**Message Terminated**
After Both Andrew and Maria had read over the Message Twice, Andrew said "Lets Get Over to Corfu Station. Looks like Its Time to Birth a ship. Right Before Maria could speak, A new Comm Message popped up.
**Begin Message 11473265**
"Shepard, Corfu Station Has been Attacked. We were Able to get Most our Systems online to defend the base, but we where ill Prepared. We held back the unknown Attackers while Corfu Radioed the Nearest Zoner Defense Force Squadron. We where down to 10% Shields when the ZDF Squadrons Arrived. Corfu was Damaged, and we have Retreated into a Asteroid Field. We Were able to get a sizable Chunk of non-combat personnel off Corfu Before The Attack. We Will Get them Back to Corfu once our Weapon Systems have a chance to cool off. But hey, this was probably the best way to See if a ship is Spaceworthy. And i must tell you. This ship is MORE than spaceworthy. Hamlin out.
**Message Terminated**
Maria gasped as she read the Message, but Andrew Kept Silent.
After Reading it, Andrew Proclaimed" Lets go. We need to grab the first Shuttle to Corfu Station immediately.
With that they rushed out to catch the first Ship to Corfu.
Jacob: Sensors indicate a anomaly, possibly a ship. It cant be a Active ship, as power Levels are to low.
Andrew: Alright, bring us in close. keep a 1 Kilometer Distance. Maria, Power Weapons.
Maria: Copy that, powering weapons.
Andrew: Owen, Prep a team. Use the Kodiak.
Jacob: I just referenced the ship data. It looks like a "Titanic"
Andrew: A titanic?
Jacob: A Civilian Heavy Tanker, sir.
Andrew: Ah. Owen, Report.
*from inside the Ship*
Owen: Sir, the ship looks like its in pretty good shape. Sensors are pretty fried. That might be why its drifted. There are no bodies.
Maria: Captain.... im detecting a lifesign...outside of the ship.
Its.....Nomad.
Andrew: That explains the Crew. Destroy that nomad. Get ready to tow the ship.
Owen: What?
Andrew: Well its devoid of life. And We could always use more ships.
Get me Jack, hes on the Spirit.
Jack: Hey Andrew. Whats up?
Andrew: I got you a present.
Jack: oh boy.
**Begin Blackbox Playback**
Andrew: What a Eventful few days. We Found and Repaired a Ship, Cataloged Hundreds of specimens.
AI: Sensors just picked up a anomaly... Warning. Unidentified Cruiser Class Vessel heading on a intercept course.
Andrew: AI, Power Weapons. Sound Red Alert.
*The Alarms Blare, as Crew and non-Combat Personnel Scramble to get to their Posts*
Andrew Runs to the bridge, and takes a seat in the captains Chair.
Andrew: Power All weapons. Any Communication from the unknown vessel?
Jacob: None sir. Scans Reveal Mortar class weaponry. SIR. they just fired!!
Andrew*on comms*: Brace for impact!
*The Light Mortar Glances across the shields, Dissipating energy from the Forward shields*
Andrew: Christ! Maria, Fire Pulse cannons, followed by a Cerberus Barrage.
Maria: Firing!
*The Pulse Cannon Blasts Fly thou the emptiness of space, then hit the unknown vessel.*
Maria: Scans indicate Minimal Cerberus Damage, Pulse Cannons had 20% Effectiveness
Andrew: Come about. Reroute power from all non-essential Systems to Shields.
*Over Comms*Evan: Sir, The shield Emitters are failing. the next Blast will render them useless!
Andrew: Copy that. Helm, Power Cruise Engines!
Jacob: Engine Controls are not Responding! Were dead in the water.
Andrew: Right. Maria, Tell all gun Batteries to fire at will, try to cover the escape Pods trajectory.
Maria: Copy.
Andrew*on comms*: All hands, Abandon ship. I repeat, abandon ship!
Andrew: Lets go people get to the Escape pods!
**Blackbox Connection Severed**
*Present*
Andrew paced around in his Escape pod. The Thruster had malfunctioned, and he was floating around in the debris field. Then a series of Bangs occured.
The Escape Pod hatch opened, and a Navy Captain was there.
Joe: Andrew! Looks like we found the wreckage. How ya been?
Andrew: well my ship was blown up. What else is new?
Joe: Well, My Military Term is about up. The Fearless will be needing a new captain. I bet I could Get a few favors done and you could be re-Enlisted as captain, after all the Training.
Andrew: Ide like that. But later. Im hungry, the Rations in that pod are quite tasteful...
Joe: Lets get this man some food and a Bed. Oh and Radio the Search Party we found the wreckage.
Andrew: How much of the crew survived....
Joe: Now that we found you, all of them.
**a Couple months later**
Joe: I heard The Phoenix Is almost Completed.
Andrew: Yep. Taking a Transport Down to Omicron Theta to supervise the Launch.
Joe: So What will be your first order of buisness once the Phoenix Is opperational?
Andrew: Ive been Hearing about a Place called Tau-117. Were going to search for the
Jumphole to that system. Hopefully we will find something.