The new freighter was like a dream come true. With a mix of heavy and light turrets with a few forward guns, the beast could handle any pirates who made the mistake of messing with it. For just over a million credits, Silekar had upgraded to a ship with superior firepower, five times the cargo space, and anti-sensor materials lining the cargo hold. A few smuggling runs with this ship, and it would pay for itself several times over. Sure, it wasn't as dreamy as the firefly on Cambridge, but it sure was a lot better than that old CSV he'd been flying.
"Docking clamps released, enjoy your flight," said the mechanical voice of the Newerk Station's docking AI systems.
With a sigh of contentment, Silekar left the docking bay and set a course for the hidden liberty rogue destroyer that assisted pirate operations in the New York system. He hadn't yet decided whether to smuggle drugs or guns first, but either one would make a hefty profit. A rapid beeping interrupted his thoughts as the ship's on-board computer began to speak, "navigational systems off-line, engines offline, life support failing, main power at 30%. Activating emergency power supply." The beeping stopped, and all systems came back online.
"Computer, run self-diagnostic, I want to know what just happened," said Silekar.
"All systems nominal, no anomalies detected."
"That can't be right, run it again."
"All systems nominal, no anomalies detected." With a shrug of his shoulders, Silekar fired up the main engines and headed for the trade lane to Fort Bush. "System error, navigation offline." Silekar slammed his fist on the dashboard and threw his hands up.
"Computer, restart navigational systems. And you know what, set a course for the Newark station, guess we have to get you checked out."
"Navigation online, course set for planet Manhattan."
"Negative, set course for Newark Station."
"Affirmative, course set for planet Manhattan."
"I said Newerk station, not planet Manhattan."
"Course set for planet Manhattan."
"Dang you! Set course for Newerk station!"
"Course set for planet Manhattan. Warning, atmospheric entry not advised."
"Oh hell," muttered Silekar as his eyes widened and his hands began to tremble. "Computer switch maneuvering controls to manual."
"Error, unknown command." Silekar muttered a silent string of profanities as he tried all the switches and buttons on the dashboard, none of them working. "Warning, ship will enter planet Manhattan's atmosphere in 30 seconds, recommend change of course."
"Yeah, that's helpful you stupid thing, I already tried that!"
"Warning, ship will enter planet Manhattan's atmosphere in 20 seconds, recommend change of course." Wiping the sweat off his forehead, Silekar pushed the eject button, but nothing happened. Cursing out loud this time, he grabbed the manual release, but his hands were too sweaty to grasp it properly. "Warning, ship will enter planet Manhattan's atmosphere in 10 seconds, vaporization and certain death imminent." Wiping his hands repeatedly on his pants, he grabbed the manual release again, and yanked hard, but his hands just slipped off again. "Warning, ship will enter planet Manhattan's atmosphere in 5 seconds, vaporization and certain death imminent." Grabbing the release again, Silekar finally managed to pull it, and he ejected from the ship, watching as just seconds later, it turned into a mass of flame and broke apart in the atmosphere of planet Manhattan.
Two hours later, Silekar was on planet Manhattan, studying what was left of his ship's computer. There was no doubt now, someone had sabotaged his ship's systems. His beautiful beast, the ship that would have smuggled goods all across Sirius until he could purchase the Firefly, was dead. The fear that he had felt when the ship was out of control was now gone, replaced by hardened eyes and cold fury.
He didn't know who had sabotaged the ship, but he could guess. Ageira had sent bounty hunters after him before, and recently, he'd angered the Liberty police by questioning them about the suspicious nature of his brother's death at their hands. Did the police do this? Probably not, but either way, they weren't to be trusted. Ageira seemed like the better bet, after all, they did frame him for smuggling when he worked for them and got him sent to a prison camp on Houston for three years. He still didn't know why Ageira had done that, but during his time in prison, he learned that he wasn't the only one.
Silekar spent the next hour purchasing and outfitting a Kingfisher heavy fighter. When it was ready, he sent an encrypted transmission to the Xenos, requesting a place in their operation. After that, he left planet Manhatten, and set a course for the Colorado system, greeting the two bounty hunters that were waiting for him at the jump gate with his new beast.
Said the pirate to the merchant: Your money or your life?
Merchant: What was the question?
Pirate: Pay or Die!
Merchant: That's not a question.
Pirate: Hand over 2 mil you corporate flunky, or be atomically disgronified!
Merchant: Sorry, I can't hear you, too busy docking.
Pirate: Wha... Dang it. *Turns to the new recruits* And that is why you shoot the trader who refuses to cut his engines. You just have to make sure you asked them to stop, and threatened them properly before you space them. Also, record your conversations in case the dead come back to complain. That's how it works here folks. Now go out and cut yourself a piece of the corporate pie!
