After receiving the message Timothy decided to head sraight to the rendezvous point. Even though his fighter was badly damaged, navigation system were still working. Cruise engine started without a problems and at full speed ship started to move.
The area was quiet, however nav computer showed it was the place. Timothy lied back on the seat, looking over his mask. The past events started to come in mind. The terrible past he was running from in this attempt to change his life.
Scanner started to tune. Timothy leaned forward to check it. Two unidentified contacts were comming closer. Timothy tried to look for them through the cockpit and as they came closer he managed to recognise two Katana fighters. Opening a comm channel he hailed them "Konnichiwa."
The two ships remained still as they slowly scanned Hawk's ship. The scanning took nearly an hour, as one of the ships opened communications and replied to him Konnichiwa
"My name is Hiro Yamoto, first born of Kairo Yamoto - leader of the honorable Yamoto family of the greater Yamo family.
As you may have guessed by now, we are the descendants of the honorable Hakiro Yamoto, who was granted titles by the shogun himself at 542 A.S.
Now, after my introduction to you, I must request you to trust my honor and turn your ship into a distress mode, thus only enabling the life support systems to be online."
The two dragon ships fired each a cable onto Hawk's ship, slowly toeing him toward an ice cloud, as they moved slowly through the cloud, a large asteroid revealed to Hawk's eye.
The ships docked on this strange station in the middle of the enemy grounds, and in the hangar, a man that looks at his mid 50s greeted the pilots. "You have done well my son, and his honorable companion. Go now, rest you two, you will have more tasks to do in the future.
As for you" he looked at Timothy, "I am Kairo Yamoto, I believe my son has told you who I am and what is my status.
Now, to business. Our great family of Yamo have survived for many years because of our ability to adapt and adopt new ideas and techniques.
Currently, our wise leader (it seemed to be hard on him to say that) had decided that with the disassemble of the Rising Sons movement, we must go back to our old ways, to bring glory and prosperity to our family once more.
But before we do much, I would like you to read this book" he hands a book made of dragon glass "This book details our family's history, from the point of our exile from the luxurious life in the core systems and up to the point we have joined the blood dragons and the Hideoshi dynasty.
Read on it, and return to me once you are wiser, and see brighter. "
Timothy was listening to the old man carefully. His head was hooded and face covered with a mask, slided up to his nose. He was equipped with a long katana attached to his back, two guns on his belt and an unusual shoulder strap. Once Kairo ended, Timothy with a bow replied:
"Gladly, Kairo-sama."
Straightening back again he looked at the old man, avoiding looking dirrectly in his eyes however. The sight of the lower part of his face shown some confusion.
"Still, before I do it, I would require some parts to repair my equipment." he said, pointing on his shounder strap. Through the hole in it could be seen some broken chips and wires.
Both ammused and saddened with her look Timothy was considering her for a while, then quietly took the box and started to check the insides. After a moment he replied, gratefully nodding:
"This will do. Thank you."
When the girl left, he locked the doors and carefully examined the room. It was nothing special, however everything required was there. He looked around to see if there are any camera's or other ways to watch over him in the room. Unable to find anything he finally removed his hood and took off the mask, putting it on the table next to the box. With the ease he removed all other parts of equipment, putting them on or near the table.
Taking off the coat he examined his shoulder. The bondages were not dirty so it seemed like the wound finally closed. Timothy carefully removed it, and with a wet rag cleaned the remaining parts of blood. After warming it up he got back to fixing his equipment and clothes...
At the next morning Timothy woke for a breakfast ready and left on his table. The food wasn't in a great variety of choices, but it was satisfying and that was enough.
As he exit the room, Hinata stepped to him "Good morning, Man-san, your ship has been fixed, and you are ready to go on to your next mission.
You will finally meet the wise leader, and make sure that before you do - you would have read the red book wholly."
Timothy left the living quarters and stepped to the hangars. They were quite empty, and no one familiar was there, however his ship was clearly fixed, seemingly with complete sections simply being replaced.
As he stepped in the cockpit he found small purple cube, as he picked it up, and hovered and there was a clear map with waypoints on it.
Applying the item to the nav computer Timothy checked the waypoints, hoping to forsee what kind of mission awaits him. The mission was around Tohoku system, although waypoint possitioning did not seemed to point out on anything.
Closing the map he decided to go back to his room. Under way there he met Hinata and askeed if she knew when the meeting will begin. Her reply was negative and that troubled him. Without knowing how much time he have left, Timothy returned to his room and decided to finish the book as quickly as possible, before that meeting begins.
It didn't take long for him to finish that book. However nothing happen. Timothy started to wonder if it's another pusle so he decided to go an check the coordinates that have been left for him. Launching his fighter into space he proceeded exactly by the waypoints. It lead him into the empty space, however closer to the last waypoint he noticed some ships on his scanners. Taking a closer look they appeared to be Dragon cruiser and several escort wings. Cruiser opened communication channel when the Sabre approached it.
As Hawk got closer 4 of the fighters closed in. He could tell that their weapons were ready to fire, and as he got into direct viewing range he understood why - the cruiser was in ill repair, with many hull sections breached and seemingly most weapons non-functional.
However the ancient vessel had much ire in it, the type that makes everyone who see it awe in respect.
After he moored the cruiser hailed to him. "This is the Red Court hailing to Hawk, you have clearance to dock."
Hawk docked, and was escorted from the small hangar bay that couldn't support more than 2 couples of fighters if it was in a better condition.
As he reached the command bridge, a figure sitting on a rather small throne facing away from him addressed "Konnichiwa, Freelancer, you may have heard of me and may have not, but it does not matter. We both have an urgnet need that needs to be fulfiled, and ever since the downfall of the Rising Sons our family was in... ill state. So, we require your services.
As such, we must regain a working base of operations, as in the movement we had the ability to base off others' home. A grave mistake. This vessel, the Red Court was our ancestral home. It took us to safety some 450 years ago when our family was casted out. However, it was last massively repaired about 190 years ago, and was completely abandoned but a few guards, 69 years ago when my father started his reign.
So, to repair you need materials, and those are hard to get. Not many are willing to give such a huge amount kf resources to our kind, be it paid or donated. Which is where you get in.
At your containment bay you have two wild pilots in cryogenic state, take them to anyone who would be willing to pay with all the needed resources to make the Red Court fully operational and combat ready, as some things are simply not traded for money.
I will also attach you this credit card charged with 8 million credits, that you could use as further leverage, any sum that remains on it is yours to take.
Do mind that we don't care where our marerials come from as long as they come. If our enemies wish to fuel our ships we will not deny it from them."