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Ship Profile 101125: Battleship Aurora

Battleship Aurora"The Red Sun Rises"

Shortly after forming the Enterprise, the second larger assignment of the group introduced new issues which needed to be addressed as soon as possible. The job was rather simple and relatively close to the former EDGE headquarters on Freistadt station. The Daumann operations in Omega 11 suffered from attacks of a notorious band of pirates, which engaged the diamond mining vessels near the red giant sun. They were fairly well organized and numerous which proved to be too much for Daumann escort wings. Once the Enterprise signed the contract with the miners, an EDG was deployed to the system, consisting of two Thresher class long range missile frigates, a wing of fighters and three assault gunboats. The pirates had an advantage in form of great knowledge of the Omega systems and their jump hole network, which proved to be the main difficulty for fulfilling the contract. It took the Enterprise some time to explore the space, mainly because of the lack of sophisticated long range scanner technology, and the fact that it was necessary to provide constant defense for Daumann mining operations. The small exploration wing, a gunboat and two fighters, was the biggest risk the Enterprise has taken during that assignment. This payed off in the end but at the cost of one fighter lost, as well as heavy damage inflicted upon the gunboat by the pirates. These losses could have been avoided, the Board of Executives thought, and the task could have been accomplished much faster with proper technology.

With all the necessary data acquired, the Enterprise was able to cease escorting the mining vessels at all times and establish a proper defense perimeter and patrols throughout the system. The course of action upon which the Board has agreed, was to wait. Fighter patrols were monitoring incoming contacts outside the Omega 11 jump holes, and as soon as the pirates were spotted on their way to harass the Daumann, an ambush was to be quickly organized inside the system. This was just a matter of time and eventually the pirates found themselves jumping right into our welcoming party.


While proving to be the most effective solution, it took the Enterprise long enough to realize that EDGE is not fully capable of prolonged operations in remote systems. There was very limited docking and living space available for rent aboard the small Solarius station. Most pilots were forced to spend their time off duty on board one of the cruisers, Skadi, which quickly became overcrowded. Crewmen complained about it being a "madhouse" and "troll's cave", there were water and food shortages; the vessel was finally ordered to stay docked with the station whenever possible and serve as additional living space for EDG pilots. There were no proper repair facilities to maintenance the BHG advanced technology. The gunboat damaged during the scouting mission was not fit for service and grounded, until the assignment was finished and the ship could be escorted, limping back to Freistadt for repairs. On top of that, the immensely radioactive environment of the system proved to be enough to slowly damage and penetrate the EDG ships, and eventually reach the pilots themselves. The supply of anti-rad meds and regenerative nanobots for the ships plating were quickly running out, and fleet morale was in the gutter.

Effectively, due to all these obstacles, only half of the EDG was operational during the assignment. The newly formed Enterprise finances were running thin at that time, and no real reinforcements were available apart from several supply transports. The Board of Executives was struggling to remedy that logistical disaster and several ideas were developed, although none of them could truly solve the problem at hand. The Enterprise was on the edge, it's forces and finances stretched thin and all depended upon the success of this contract. On top of all that, at one point during the mission the EDG literally faced certain obliteration when suddenly the Red Hessian Army appeared out of nowhere, in strength of three heavy destroyers and a strong contingent of fighters, alerted by unexpected EDGE movements in their space. Only pure luck and coincidence saved the Enterprise from collapsing. The commanding officer of the destroyer Svarog, Alfred Strauss happened to know the Vidar captain that hailed us from old times on New Berlin. The imminent clash of our forces was prevented and in the accompaniment of joyful laughs and talk about "wurst and pretzels" the hostile army has withdrawn. Later on commander Strauss has revealed that he would never like to meet that man again at such a strong force disadvantage.


After fulfilling the contract, which could not entirely be called a success, the battered EDG returned to Freistadt. Most of the employees requested shore leave, leaving behind a ton of paperwork for the Board, along with a couple of resignations, two missing people reports, and a handful of wedding invitations, mostly from the crewmen of Skadi. Board meetings were held daily for a couple of weeks, discussing the future of the Enterprise in light of recent developments, and still no permanent solution could be found. During one meeting, a heated discussion ran rampant concerning senior staff not acting to the best of their abilities, allowing all of these drawbacks to occur and in the end almost losing the entire EDG. Executor Sobchak was not participating in this madness, he sat in his chair quietly, tapping fingers on the table. Finally his anger took the best of him and bursted out; he smashed the table with his fists, sprung up and said,
"I need a goddamn battleship!", and left the room.

The board was left puzzled, not even considering a possibility of that occurring anytime soon. The Enterprise had no credits for this; the last contract provided a hefty payment, but much of this had to be spent on collateral expenses to restore the fleet to full operational status. They were even more puzzled when after four days, Sobchak returned with a big file of documents and a man named Theodore Donald Kerabatsos. He sat down on his chair in the Board room, with 'Donny' at his side, he opened the file and said,
"We're commissioning a battleship, and it will solve all of our problems."
"And I'm paying for it.", Donny added.
"Shut the... and Donny here, my old friend from IMG is going to help us finance it. We have worked there together for years, Donny still is, and we secured a ton of credits for our retirement. Mine is not going to happen anytime soon though..."
"Are you going to shoot people with it Walter?"
"Donny, you're out of your element! This will be a custom support vessel, not focused on battling other capitals, and a mobile command center as well as a repair and resupply station."
"Can I fly it sometime Walter?"
"Shut the frakk up Donny!"




Specification

Commissioned in 816 A.S., battleship Aurora is a customized design based on BHG Mako; it was constructed at Alabama Shipyard in Omega 56. It sports two high burn cruise engines running on H-Fuel, and four high performance deuterium impulse engines which allowed for a considerable size reduction of main fuel tanks. This along with less crew quarters, relocated scanner array and smaller powercore to sustain only four Cerberus class forward cannons, allowed the implementation of a small repair bay capable of receiving one fighter or bomber at a time for maintenance and resupply. Other benefits of the custom design of this ship include a fully equipped medbay, increased capacity of nanobots and shield batteries. Primary weaponry for anti-capital defense are the aforementioned quad Cerberus cannons, supplemented by an antimatter Heavy Mortar. The Aurora is primarily a support vessel, and so it is equipped with defensive weaponry: six rapid fire Solaris batteries and two long range missile launchers. Currently the ship is also equipped with a Liberty Flak Turret, to further reinforce it's defensive capability.

News 101101: Arrival to Tau-23

When EDGE forces arrived to Tau-23 in the November, Enterprise was still reforming itself after the first contract in Omega-11. Tau-23 was a constant field of battle. On the one side an alliance between Colonial Remnant and Independent Mining Guild along with its offspring, Independent Communist Mining Guild and Resource Distribution Administration. On the other side, various Outcast clans and groups, including feared 101st division "Ghosts of Razgriz", 13th division and XTF. Between them a lot of mercenaries were roaming the space of Tau-23. Mandalorian Mercenaries working for the Outcasts, Reavers Mercenary Company and Societe Militaire Privee working for the good guys. But besides the locals, Tau-23 was attracting a lot of casual visitors, who were equally deadly. Phantoms and Nomads were frequently seen there, as well as Gallic pirates, including Legion des Damnes. To complete the view, Kusari Government, heavily engaged in the war with Bretonia, was occasionally sending their patrols to Tau-23, threating Colonial independence. The shortest way from Omicron Alpha to the house systems of Bretonia, Kusari and Liberty was also going through Tau-23. Blood Dragons, Golden Chrysanthemum, Junkers, Lane Hackers, Liberty Rogues, various pirates and slavers were using this system as their throughout-fare. EDGE forces blended into this environment perfectly, being just another party amongst the many. In the next month bounty contracts were signed with Colonial Remnant and Independent Mining Guild. EDGE were hunting smugglers and slavers, occasionally taking on Outcast raiding parties. Additionally EDGE maintained an emergency wing to quickly support forces of their employers during their struggle with the Outcast threat. Unfortunately, due to lack of manpower, Enterprise was unable to make a large scale difference in the ongoing war. Small battles were won at cost of steady losses. Payments made by IMG and Colonial Government were barely enough to keep the Enterprise going. Negotiations for full Emergency Defense Group deployment failed. On top of that, Kusari Government denied their hunting license to the Enterprise. With shrinking numbers, no access to fresh recruits, Enterprise was on a brink of collapse. A new tactic had to be implemented soon.

Field Report 101102: Suspicious Outcast fleet movements
by Enforcer Jack Payton

Tonight during standard patrol small EDGE wing consisting of bottlenoses Mot and Perun encountered large Outcast fleet of capital ships accompanied by fighters and bombers in Tau-37. At first it was believed that Outcasts decided to wipe out Independent Miners Guild in Tau-23 once and for all. However, as it turned out later, Outcasts passed through Tau-23 and moved further into the Kusari space. Executives Walter Sobchak and Jack Payton decided to investigate. After long chase through Kyushu, New Tokyo and Shikoku it turned out that Outcasts were concentrating their forces in Colorado. This, however, resulted in mobilization of large Liberty Navy fleet and many Liberty Police vessels. After a while Outcasts were surrounded. Cut out from Lane Hackers and Liberty Rouges reinforcements, in desperation Outcasts decided to fight their way out. Outnumbered and outgunned pirate forces were decimated quickly. After the main battle Perun was able to intercept one of the fleeing Lane Hacker fighters. Mot returned to the temporary base of operations on Falkland in Tau-37.

Ship Profile 101218: Battleship Leviathan

Battleship Leviathan "Son of The Blue Sky"

"Alert! Alert! Alert!" thundered in all corridors of Falkland Station in Tau-37 where EDGE located its forward command center during deployment to Tau sector.
"Two Outcast dreadnoughts with multiple gunboat and fighter escorts jumped from Omicron Alpha. All EDGE pilots are to proceed immediately to the debriefing room. I repeat...", said female voice.
In a matter of minutes all pilots gathered in the debriefing room where Enforcer Jack Payton was quickly laying out the plan of action.
"In this operation we will be working closely with IMG defense wing and Colonial Remnant assault wing. While Colonials will be providing fighter support, we will coordinate our bombardment with IMG..."
"I want to fly a Manta.", interrupted one of the pilots.
"Shut the frakk up, Pike. You will be flying what I am telling you to fly, be it a Manta or a rubber duck. You understand me?"
"Perfectly, sir.", Pike's answer caused laughs amongst the rest of pilots.
"Now, as I said, we will be flying our bombers. First we will focus fire on enemy gunboats. Remember, Outcast dreadnoughts are usually equipped with anti-capital ship weaponry. Their turrets are too slow to really threaten our agile bombers. They won't be firing missiles to avoid friendly fire. Colonials will make enemy fighters busy. Our only concern will be gunboats. Watch out for their battle razors and turrets. After we deal with them we will focus fire on the enemy dreadnoughts. Remember, coordinate fire with your wingmen, watch your own backs and this will be a walk in a park. Any questions?"
Payton glared on pilots gathered in the room. They were all nervous but eager to fight. Nobody asked any questions. Payton checked his watch.
"Alright, I see everyone ready on the bomber deck in 5 minutes. Dismissed."


"We are approaching edge of Malvinas Cloud. Soon we should have visual on...", Payton's voice was hard to recognize in the noise caused by electrostatic activity of the niobium particles in the cloud.
"Holy sh**! Those beasts are big.", said Alfred Strauss, member of the bomber wing.
"Keep the comms clear, dammit. This is Jack Payton, blue wing leader. We've got visual on two Outcast Ranseur class dreadnoughts with one... two.. three... four... gunboat escorts and multiple fighters."
"Understood. Red wing, intercept and engage enemy fighters. Colonel Skalski over and out."
Colonial Remnant forces were waiting in the could for a signal to attack. Now, their eight Nyx class fighters suddenly appeared on scanners and engaged enemy fighters. In a matter of seconds thousands of energy blasts lit up already blinding aura of Tau-37. Lean Colonial ships were able to entangle broad Outcast vessels in a dogfight. However, with no other targets of opportunity, Outcast gunboats opened suppressing fire on Colonial forces. A silence interrupted only by brief commands of Colonial pilots coordinating their efforts taken reign over the comms.
"Danny, get the frakk out of there...", shouted Colonel Skalski.
"Roger that. Disengaging and returning to the base for repairs.", answered a pilot that got into concentrated fire of two enemy gunboats.
"Skalski here, we are under heavy fire from the enemy gunboats. Requesting bomber support now!"
"Where the hell are those Pythos?", asked Payton.
"Sir, they are not coming. Java reports that their defense wing is engaged in a fight with Outcasts in Tau-23. They won't be able to force their way to Tau-37.", after two seconds of silence one of the bomber pilots reported the situation.
"Dammit... Oh, frakk this. Blue wing, acquire targets, initiate bombing runs. Let's get them boys!", said Payton and engaged enemies in max thrust speed. Five bombers followed.


"Now dammit. Blow the frakker out!", shouted Payton over they comms. Four remaining EDGE bombers simultaneously fired antimatter beams into a hostile Tridente class gunboat. First two did not penetrate its shield, however, the third and fourth ones reached its hull, ripping of the shipboard and causing internal explosions. Soon-after the core of the gunboat exploded killing everyone on-board.
"That was the last one.", said Ryan Freeman, one of the bomber pilots.
"Enemy dreadnoughts are withdrawing. I repeat, enemy dreadnoughts are withdrawing. Stay in disruptor's range at all costs.", shouted Colonel Skalski.
Enemy commanders after losing several of their fighter escorts and all gunboats decided to withdraw. Two bulk ships set their course to Omicron Alpha jumphole. Remaining Outcast fighters changed their target priority to the remaining bombers.
"Blue wing, maintain disrupting distance and engage.", said Payton and started to coordinate bombing runs of his wing. One after another, bombers were sending antimatter beams into the huge dreadnought slowly wearing off its shield. However, each bombing approach was facing concentrated fire from the enemy fighters. Bomber pilots had to take safer approach trajectories or disengage at all. Colonials, mainly due to their loses were unable to provide suppressing fire. Time was running out. Dreadnoughts were approaching Omicron Alpha jumphole.
"It's a trap, everyone, retreat. I repeat it's a trap.", shouted Skalski.
"Requesting confirmation, enemy dreadnought is already limping!", one of the bomber pilots, Ugo Pike, said with resignation.
"Can't you see? They are luring us into a trap! God knows what they have on the other side. I repeat, everyone, retreat."
One by one Colonial and hunter vessels disengaged and set the course to home.

Atmosphere in the small rented office aboard Java station was really grim.
"You know Walter, this is pointless."
"What is pointless, Payton?"
"They throw dreadnoughts against us, we shoot them back with antimatter, bleed and die, and when they are nearly finished, they just turn tail and head to Malta"
"How many we lost?"
"Two bombers and one pilot. His escape pod fail-safe failed. Colonials lost three fighters and two pilots."
"Well, it worked here in Tau-23."
"We've got massive asteroid field here. Any bigger ship is a sitting duck and we can use rocks as a cover. But we need Aurora in Tau-37."
"Forget it. Aurora is not designed to face Outcast dreadnoughts. Not to mention it must stay in Coronado as a base of operations in Bretonia and Liberty."
"Then let's build another battleship. Designed only to finish off crippled dreadnoughts. Also we could use additional living space. Falkland is already overcrowded."
"Alright, alright. We will think about it."



Specifications

When EDGE moved their operations to Taus in order to secure IMG mining operations there, EDGE board had no idea what opposition they will be forced to face. Outcasts were deploying highly organized raid groups often consisting of multiple gunships and capital ships. EDGE had to invest and deploy additional capital ships. One of them was Leviathan, Enterprise second Mako class light battleship. Leviathan is equipped with a single antimatter Heavy Mortar, two long range missile launchers and eleven basic battleship turrets. It's main task is to finish off already damaged hostile dreadnoughts and serve as a forward command post and a resupply center. Additionally Enterprise financial offices are located on the battleship.

Personal File 101116: Jack Payton

Enforcer Jack Payton, one of the two founders of Emergency Defense Group Enterprise, was born in 776 A.S. in Texas system. Little else is known about his past before he emerged as a successful bounty hunter shortly after the Nomad War. Some say that before the War Payton was a pirate involved in cardamine smuggling, while others maintain that he was a Liberty Security Force officer discharged during the Nomad incursion. There is no doubt, however, that in 801 A.S. Payton became well known as a co-leader of a bounty hunter death squadron called White Eagles. Payton and his wingmen became widely known as superior fighter pilots mercilessly hunting pirates across both weakened Houses and wild Border Worlds. However, in 803 A.S., after two years filled with successful contracts, Payton felt that he lost his edge and retired. During this period, he consistently stayed out of dangerous bounty hunting until he met Walter Sobchak.



The Nomad War

Jack Payton was very reluctant to talk about his past prior to becoming a bounty hunter. Even Walter Sobchak did not know exactly what he was doing before. However, once after a bloody skirmish with Lane Hackers in Magellan, in which EDGE lost two gunships with their whole crews, Walter took Payton to Curacao to sink the defeat in several bottles of whiskey. Something cracked in Payton on that day, as he decided to tell Walter his story.
"I was a young hot shot back then. Straight after the academy. You know, a type of naive kid buying every patriotic bullsh** sold by politicians. And commanders too.", Payton paused for a moment. Lightnings of hate struck from his eyes. He emptied his glass and continued.
"She was a senior officer, hell of a good looking lass. You know, a typical LSF, cold ice on the surface, teddy bear inside. I will spare you the pathetic poetry. It was it. But then all the sh** happened.", Payton took the second bottle of whiskey and filled up the empty glasses. Walter felt that interrupting the monologue would be inappropriate.
"I was there when the Order blown Schultzky out of the Manhattan's sky. Nobody knew what was really happening. For us it was just another spectacular act of terror that will probably result in some military intervention. But then government banned all artifacts from Liberty. We were loaded with work. Mainly intercepting small amounts of contraband. I tell you, they were not smugglers. Just collectors or unfortunate bastards who were in a wrong place at a wrong time. The command issued order to bust them all. Some of them were charged with treason. Everyone in my unit felt that something is going terribly wrong here. But nobody knew what it was.", Payton paused, took a deep breath and continued.
"We were on a patrol in the New York's Badlands. Just the two of us and our wing leader. Suddenly we got a distress call. Renegade navy cruisers were trying to breach Zone 21. It was surreal, even for the contemporary standards. Command was sending there everything they've got. Our wing leader, major Jenkins, ordered to set a new course. She formed on him and at point blank range put an EMP directly into his engines..."

"What the frakk you're doing?", shouted Lieutenant Payton still not believing his eyes. Jenkins' ship was disabled by the EMP blast.
"I am saving your life, Jack.", she replied, but her ship suffered from the proximity of the blast and she was not able to disable his ship too.
"What the hell you're talking about?", Payton was still confused, but military training kicked in. He quickly disabled safety lock and moved on her six. On various channels reports from the battle within Zone 21 were heard.
"Kill her, Payton! She's working with them! She's working for the Order!", shouted major Carl Jenkins from a drifting fighter. Everything but the life support and comms in his ship was toasted.
"Jack, it's not what you think. Believe me, we are not terrorists.", she said while slowly regaining control over her ship. Someone was requesting immediate backup, others were reporting heavy causalities.
"Cut your engines now. You will explain it before the court.", shouted Payton. Only official clichés were able to hide how desperate he was.
"No, you don't understand. There will be no court. They will kill me or worse! I can't take that risk.", she was trying to buy herself more time.
"Don't listen to her, kill that bitch you prick!", Jenkins was still shouting with anger.
"Jack, I don't want to fight you. Please come with me! I will explain you everything. I am engaging the cruise now...", her ship's cruise drive started to load.
"If you won't stop her, Payton, I will have you court-martialed.", Jenkins decided to use threats.
"I repeat cut your engines now!", Payton knew that his requests were hopeless now. She was committed.
"For frakkin sake, our men are dying there!", Jenkins was screaming with resignation. Cruise drive was loaded. Her ship started to accelerate. Whole shaking, Payton, pressed the fire button. In the cockpit of cruising fighter suddenly alarm sounded warning for incoming missiles.
"I am sorry Jack..."

"...she whispered just before two missiles hit her ship. With the shield generator burned out after the close EMP discharge her ship exploded instantly giving her no time to eject. When I finally got to the Zone 21 squids were everywhere. I engaged them but was shot down by our own forces. I was charged with treason, but they were probably too busy to execute me. Three weeks later Jacobi announced the amnesty and rehabilitation.", Payton put down the glass on a table. It was full.
"I should have gone with her...", he added afterwards.
"What was her name?", Walter decided to break his silence, but Payton did not answer him.
He was crying.



A Bounty Hunter

Rooms for rent on Sheffield Station were rather primitive. No decorations, modest cabinet, small table, locker and surprisingly comfortable bed. Certainly it was not an apartment aboard a royal liner. But it was enough for Payton. He was lying naked on the bed. A drop of sweat was slipping down from his forehead into eyebrow. He was not alone. A woman lying next to him noticed the drop and gently wiped it out. She was nearly twenty years younger than him. She had long black hair, deep brown eyes and freckles on her cheeks. She was not a stunning beauty, but there was something in her that attracted Payton and he was somewhat growing attached to her. Woman grabbed the bedding and covered her youthful breasts. Her real name was Ellen. But her customers usually knew her only by her professional nickname, Mrs. Freckles.
"Tell me what happened next.", Ellen stretched her arms sensually.
"What?", Payton pretended that he didn't know what she was talking about. He momentarily regretted that he made from her his personal confessor last time they met.
"After you were released...", Ellen cast away the bedding and ordered Payton to roll over.
"Why do you want to know it?", Payton asked. He did not know her motivation and was afraid. But situation was already beyond his control. He could only obediently follow her orders.
"Does a whore cannot be curious?", she sat on his back and started massaging his neck and arms, "Please, Jack... indulge me.", she added slowly.
Payton knew that he utterly lost this battle and could do nothing but to fulfill her request. As the images from the past were passing before his mind's eye, Payton continued his story.
"After the amnesty I was reinstated as a LSF officer. They even promoted me to a captain. You know, I don't really remember this period very well. I was in a kind of amok, a mixture of rage and apathy. I remember that I had seriously beaten up Jenkins, but it didn't really help. I wasn't really angry on him, I was angry on myself... no... I hated myself. I don't even remember whether they discharged me for an assault on a senior officer or I just quit myself. I couldn't stay in Liberty. I had to move on. But next months were even worse. I was traveling with freighters from base to base, mainly gambling, drinking and getting into bar brawls. Eventually I landed up on Freeport 9 with no credits, no ship and no job..."

"Come on, just a one drink. I will repay you, I promise.", Payton was trying to convince the bartender. He was buying drinks on tick for a week now.
"Get out of the line, navy boy.", a muscular Corsair behind Payton put a hand on his shoulder.
"Get your hands of me.", Payton turned back. Corsair was at least a head taller.
"Or what?", he asked but Payton didn't intend to answer. Ex-LSF kicked the Cretan in his groin, grabbed his head and smashed it on a knee. Cretan fell unconscious on a floor. His two friends rushed from their table towards Payton. Ex-LSF grabbed a nearby chair and thrown it at them, punching the Corsair who grabbed it in the face. The other one had enough time to sneak behind Payton and clutch him. Ex-LSF lifted his legs and kicked Corsair, who just hit his nose. After that Payton whacked with his head Cretan who was grabbing him and released himself from the clutch. Freeport 9 had very simple rules concerning the bar brawls. As long as nobody was killed or seriously injured they were tolerated. And if that happened everyone involved was just flushed out of the airlock. It seemed to work. Despite all of this, fourth Corsair still sitting at a table took out his sidearm and aimed it at Payton. Suddenly a characteristic sound of disabling a safety lock on a gun was heard.
"You had your fun, now be a good boy, lower you weapon and tell your friends to go back to the table.", said a bounty hunter holding a gun at Cretan's head. After a second of thought Corsair lowered his weapon. Two Cretans standing near the bar helped the lying one to stand up. Payton rubbed his face with the sleeve and spit blood on a floor.
"One thing...", he said and beaten up Corsair turned his head back, "I never served in the Navy."
The Brawl had officially ended. A bounty hunter came to the bar,
"Marcus, give the man his drink. This one is on me.", he said to the bartender and added, "Let's have a chat, shall we?". Payton quickly grabbed two drinks and they sat at a nearby table. A bounty hunter sitting next to him was in his mid thirties. He had an ugly scar on his left cheek. Possibly a souvenir from one of his exploits.
"I suppose I should thank you. But I could have resolved it myself.", Payton wasn't really happy to have a drink buddy. But it would be impolite to tell someone who just saved your life and bought you a drink to shove off.
"Yeah, I know you would try. You look like a someone who has nothing to lose.", a bounty hunter said.
"And you look like a someone who wants to lose his teeth.", Payton did not like his patronizing tone.
"Easy cowboy. Don't waste your breath. I am not here to fight you. I am here to offer you a job.", mysterious hunter was not easily provoked.
"And who you are, mister?", Payton was quite confused. Not many things could surprise him and it was one of them.
"Derek, Derek Zayjack. I am looking for skilled combat pilots who won't piss themselves on a first sight of a fight.", a bounty hunter introduced himself.
"How do you even know I am a pilot?", the bounty hunter was still surprising Payton.
"Captain Jack Payton, born in Texas, former LSF pilot, top three from his year at the West Point Academy, fought in the Nomad War, recently discharged and turning into a drunkard.", hunter recited, "Should I continue? Do you really think I would hire a loser like yourself without doing a proper background check?", he asked.
"And why you would hire a loser like myself at all? Losers solidarity?", Payton got back at Zayjack.
"You have a death wish written on your forehead. And she's very moody, you know? Maybe you will live long enough to make a fine bounty hunter after all. Either way it will be a win-win, right?"
Payton sighed, logic of the hunter's argument was impeachable,
"Right..."

"This is how I got into this business. Derek was a great mentor. Everything I know about hunting I learned from him. Don't understand me wrong. LSF are excellent pilots. But in the Border Worlds to survive you need something more than a military training... You need to know how to play really dirty...", Payton paused, pleasure blinded his thoughts for a moment. Ellen was a master at her work.
"There were six of us. Derek, Ed, Jacob, Karl, Michael and me. Best pilots I have ever flown with. Constant fear of death, rush of battle, killing and winning. We had it all. We felt like gods. We thought we were immortals. But they are all dead now.", Payton paused, "Funny thing, but I barely remember their faces.", he added afterwards.
Ellen finished the massage. She lay beside Payton and covered them with the bedding. There was nothing more to say. They remained silent for the rest of the night. When Payton fell asleep, she quietly dressed herself and kissed him gently in his cheek.
"Good night, bounty hunter.", she whispered and carefully left the room.
"Good night, Ellen."
She couldn't hear it as she was already gone.



At The Bottom

New London megalopolis was covering most of the planet's surface. Like many cities of this size it was incredibly diverse. From rich quarters belonging to aristocracy and business sharks, through vast suburbans inhabited by the middle class, to endless slums and districts of poverty, Brixton was the worst of them. Here beggars, bounty hunters, criminals, mercenaries and various lowlifes lived in a devilish equilibrium of aggression and fear. Possession of firearms in accordance with Bretonian traditions was strictly prohibited on the planet's surface. However, there was nobody to enforce it in Brixton, as Bretonia Police Authority was usually keeping their ground patrols out of this Godforsaken hellhole. And even if there was a patrol there, it would most likely ignore two armed man who were walking down Barnwell road.
"It should be somewhere here, Sir.", a young man said after checking the map on his wrist PDA. His companion, tall and little beer bellied man in his mid forties, nodded in silence. It was eight o'clock in the morning, but it was dark as sun could barely reach lower tiers of the city. Street was empty excluding a mumbling beggar lying on a sidewalk. Occasional drops of rain were rarefying pool of vomits in which he was lying. Two men crossed over the beggar and approached the doors leading to a block of cheap flats. Young man chose a button on an entry phone but there was no answer.
"So what is so special about this one, Sir?", young man asked his superior.
"He was quite famous ten years ago, Pete. You're too young to remember it, but he was a co-leader of a death squadron, White Eagles, which wiped out Totenengels.", older man replied.
"Totenengels?", young man called Pete wasn't really a big fan of history.
"Angels of Death. The Nomad War seriously weakened all the four houses. But it was Rheinland that got hit the hardest. It was not even because they lost their whole fleet. What was even more important, their military efforts brought the economy on the brink of collapse. To avoid bankruptcy, Rheinland government frozen prices and completely cut social expenses. High unemployment, general poverty and weakness of the governmental forces were perfect environment for crime to flourish. Numerous gangs were terrorizing civilians, paralyzing trade and bringing chaos to Rheinland. Angels of Death were the worst of them.", older man explained patiently.
"So who they were?", Pete got interested by the story.
"Mostly Rheinlanders and some Kusarians, I think. They were specializing in smuggling cardamine between Sigma-13 and New Berlin long before Corsairs and Unioners finally cut it out, of course not refraining from occasional piracy and assassinations. They had hideout somewhere in Sigma-13. That is why Rheinland Federal Police couldn't risk a diplomatic scandal so shortly after the war with Kusari. So they hired White Eagles. There were six of them, I think. Angles had three times more pilots. I don't know the details of this operation, but I think they were observing their movements for a long time before they set up a trap. Can you imagine? They put a freighter with a nuclear device sending a distress call from the inside of a small gas pocket cloud. When Angels sent their raiding party to intercept it, White Eagles remotely detonated the bomb. Explosion ignited the whole cloud to go nova atomizing every ship within one hundred clicks. Shortly after White Eagles launched an attack on Angels' hideout killing everyone there.", Pete's superior had a certain pleasure from telling this story, especially that nobody was answering the call.
"So why I haven't heard about them?", young bounty hunter inquired.
"Well, they became famous and got contracts all over Sirius. Bretonia, Liberty, Rheinland, even Kusari and Omicrons. For two years White Eagles were dancing waltz with the death. But the most funny thing about our profession is that, when you become famous for killing someone, someone else want to be famous for killing you. Eventually luck left them and they got massacred. Only one of them survived..."

Leo Getz was a fixer. A damn good one too. In underworld he earned a reputation as a good source of information and a reliable job broker. Leo was happy. Recently he earned quite a lot of credits. Two or three more jobs and he could retire. Leo finished shaving in a bathroom of his apartment in Los Angeles. When he was cleaning his face with water, he saw something in a mirror. He turned back and his face turned pale.
"Good evening, Leo.", he heard before a punch knocked him unconscious. He woke up ten minutes later when cold water hit his face. He couldn't move as he was strapped to an armchair.
"You look like you have seen a ghost, Leo.", said a man sitting in front of him.
"What... you're doing... Payton?", Leo stuttered. He was terrified.
"I am very bad liar, you know. So I will be honest with you. I am going to kill you tonight...", Payton wanted to continue his speech, but it was interrupted by a terrifying howl.
"Help! Someone help me!", Leo was screaming.
"Don't waste your breath, Leo. I placed sound dampeners all over your flat.", said Payton. "Calm down, Leo. Take a deep breath.", he paused, inhaled and exhaled, "That's right. There is no reason to panic. You cannot prevent it. Everything is beyond your control now.", Payton was slowly breaking Leo.
"What do you want? I don't know anything!", Leo was trying to defend himself.
"Do you mind if I smoke?", Payton asked and lit a cigarette. "You see, you sold us out, Leo. Last job was a fake. We got ambushed. You know this, of course. Now you will tell me everything you know about the people who hired you to do this. Alright?", Payton drawn a cigarette.
"I don't know what you're talking about!", Leo started to panic.
"You disappoint me, Leo.", Payton quickly draw out a knife and cut fixer's little finger. Without a delay he used a lighter to stop the bleeding. Leo was screaming at the top of his lungs. After a while screaming was replaced by sobbing. Payton gave Leo his cigarette.
"There is no point in dragging this any longer. Just tell me what I want to know.", Payton's sounded like a best friend trying to help his mate. He let Leo to finish the cigarette.
"I don't know much...", fixer was shaking, "I was paid by Vincent Gallo. He was my contact. He works for the Lane Hackers. But I don't know who hired him for this job. I promise, I don't know anything more.", he explained.
"I believe you. I will have a chat with this Gallo.", Payton said calmly and drawn out his sidearm.
"Please, Payton. I am sorry, I am so sorry. Don't kill me, please!", Leo pleaded for his life.
"Leo.", Payton paused, "Have a decency."
Leo broke into tears and closed his eyes. He was shaking but said nothing more. Payton put the gun at his head, looked the other way, and pulled the trigger.
Leo was dead, but it was only the beginning.

"Sir, I think we will need to look for this guy somewhere else.", said Pete after another unsuccessful call.
"You're wrong, Pete. We already found him. Check whether he has a keycard.", said Pete's superior while pointing out a man lying on the sidewalk. Pete crouched near him and without concealing repulsion carried out the order.
"I've found it, sir!", Pete reported quickly. They swiftly opened the door, grabbed the lying man and dragged him into a bathtub in his flat. Older man turned on cold water and aimed the stream at drunkard's face.
"What the frakk?!", a man in a bathtub woken up but was disoriented.
"Jack Payton?", older man asked.
"Yeah... And who the frakk you are, mister?", Payton held his head. He barely came out of the bathtub and was tottering. He looked around and finally found a toothbrush lying on the floor.
"Walter Sobchak, your new employer.", older man said. He was getting angry.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.", Payton slurred while he was brushing his teeth.
"Listen to me, you piece of junk! I don't care who you were and what you did. Maybe ten years ago you had some balls. Now you're nothing more than a drunken piece of sh**, begging for escort missions like a syphilitic prostitute for a customer. The Guild is drawing more and more forces out to the Omicrons. This is a chance for unassociated hunters. I am offering you your life back, goddammit! But if you won't pull yourself together, for all I care, you can rot here.", Walter outburst in his characteristic way.
"Aye aye, sir. Will do, sir. Now get the frakk out of here and let me take a shower."

Field Report 101116: Outcast retaliation
by Defender Ugo Pike

As yesterday's guerrilla raid on Alpha ended briefly, and our forces went into withdraw, my navigation system sent me on the wrong course. Instead of retreating to Tau 37, I mistakenly jumped to Omicron 80. A gunboat and a fully armed Outcast dreadnought gave chase after my gunship, Belobog. Rather than take my chances with the void of deep space, I led the fleet into the Gallic minefield to give my superior maneuverability advantage over the hulking behemoth, The.Old.One. The foolhardy captain brazenly flew into the narrow shaft of mines after me. The gunboat, GB.Valkerie, gave me much trouble, but in the field I stood at least a chance against their combined firepower. Running out of options I lead them into Gallia, in hopes of the locals pinning down their bulky ship. And what would you know, my ploy worked flawlessly. I led them to a base owned by LeCouncil. The Marquees bombers hammered both my ship and the Outcasts. However the bombers forced the Dreadnought to retreat, and nearly crippled the gunboat, I was forced to abandon ship in the surrounding field.

Field Report 101120: Outcast raid on miners foiled
by Defender Ugo Pike

Yesterday, Jack Payton flying his bomber Assur, and Walter Sobchak also in his bomber Thor proceeded on a routine patrol of the Tau 23 system, while I stationed destroyer Skadi in a strategic position 1.2 clicks from Java. Jack and Walter made contact with several civilians miners sending a distress call. Three Outcast Tridente class gunboats were reported harassing miners in the northwest sectors of Tau 23. MNS:Killer and Slodze were first sighted in the mining fields fleeing after the two bombers arrived. After the EDGE bombers engaged they were joined by an independent freelancer Seven. Upon my arrival a third Outcast gunboat joined the skirmish, The.Boat.That.Rocks. I brought the Skadi into action after receiving clearance to engage, and soon after the three Outcast gunboats sunk virtually simultaneously.

Field Report 101122: Growing EDGE presence in Taus
by Enforcer Jack Payton

EDGE presence in Taus is growing stronger. Four days ago long range scanners have noticed suspicious movements in Omicron Alpha. Additionally EDGE spies reported about gathering of massive Outcast fleet around Malta. It was believed that Outcasts were preparing frontal assault on Tau-23. Enforcer Jack Payton decided to gather EDGE ships and fortify jumphole to Tau-37.

The jumphole was fortified by two battleships, Leviathan and Diabolos, accompanied by four cruisers, including Svarog and Skadi as well as two external contractor ships Evolution and Olympic.Wrath. After hours of waiting in uncertainty it turned out that Outcast fleet departed to Omicron Gamma. EDGE command decided to investigate and sent the fleet into Omicron Alpha.The hostile system was nearly completely deserted. EDGE fleet encountered only minor resistance in form of two Outcast gunboats. External contractors were sent back home. After careful search of Omicron Alpha EDGE fleet decided to proceed to Omicron Theta. In Omicron Theta EDGE fleet encountered Outcast battleships returning from the raid on Omicron Gamma. EDGE fleet was badly outclassed and outnumbered. However, this time Outcasts decided to respect Zoner no fire zone around Freeport 9. Outcast fleet returned to Omicron Alpha. After short unsuccessful skirmish with Corsairs in Omicron Gamma, EDGE command decided to return fleet to the Taus.

Upon entrance to Tau-23, EDGE received distress signal from Independent Miners Guild. It turned out, that after regrouping in Omicron Alpha part of the Outcast fleet decided to attack Tau-23. Quick EDGE intervention ensured the destruction of one Outcast Dreadnought, The.Old.One. After the battle EDGE forces were repositioned to the forward base in Tau-37 on Falkland. But it is not only the EDGE fleet that is growing stronger in Taus. Two days ago combined fleet of Colonial Remnant, Independent Miners Guild and EDGE was able to gather five battleships as a demonstration of strength that prevented Outcast forces in Omicron Alpha to attack Tau-23.

Field Report 101124: Cardamine convoy intercepted
by Enforcer Jack Payton

Today EDGE bomber wing, consisting of Jack Payton's Assur and Walter Sobchak's Thor spotted large convoy of Liberty Rogues ships in Tau-37 apparently cruising from Omicron Alpha jumphole. Executor Sobchak issued order to investigate. After initial scans it turned out that every ship in the pirate convoy was completely filled up with cardamine. Having no chances for a peaceful solution EDGE bomber wing commenced the attack in Tau-23. Colonial Remnant fighter =CR=FallenOne[39th] joined the EDGE forces. Captain of a pirate train LR-Hilarious.Crusader decided to run to Cali. His cruise engines were disrupted and his ship was destroyed. Captain of a pirate transport LR-Stockholm.Syndrome decided to jump back and forth through a jumphole to avoid being shot down. This tactics did not prove to be successful and his vessel was blown up soon after. Unfortunately it bought enough time for Liberty Rouges to call for reinforcements. Soon four Outcast Tridente class gunboats joined remaining Liberty Rogues. Things started to look grim. EDGE bomber wing concentrated its fire on Slave Liner LR-Big.Sexy.Beast. The chaos of the battle gave opportunity for smaller Liberty Rogue ships to disengage and run. It is confirmed that at least one ship LR-One.Way.Trip escaped through Local Anomalous Gravity. Despite the odds, soon after Slave Liner was blown up to pieces. After a while it turned out that the four remaining Outcast gunboats were commanded by unexperienced captains. Agile EDGE bombers were basically beyond their reach. One after another, Outcast Tridente class gunboats Loopa.Fratus, Burla.Mal, AWO and Alejandro.Cornejo were destroyed.

After the battle Enforcer Jack Payton said:
- "Well... that was... um... something."
However, long range scanners picked up a fighter wing in Tau-37 belonging to The 101st Outcast Guard. Executor Walter Sobchack decided not to engage them and to retreat to EDGE forward base on Falkland.