Jack Payton

[Jack Payton]

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 had. 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...

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- 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 cliches 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 cruise engines 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...

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- ...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 silent.

written by Guszaban

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This character is retired. Associated forum account is disabled.