Three weeks passed. Captain Antares in the Argo, accompanied by his friend's ships Procyon, lead several assaults into Nagano, against the base constructed in low orbit over Planet Shirrane.
Antares tried to make the most of the situation. Miners rarely strayed far from the base when extracting ore now, and he hadn't figured out their shipping schedule yet, as they had not been able to intercept any outgoing ore convoys.
After periodical 'guerrilla' style attacks, hit and fade, against the base itself, he was determined to start hitting those miners. Of course, the proximity of the stations automated weapons platforms were a slight thorn in his side. Now, he'd have to keep the ship at a minimum distance during an attack, usually using the miner as cover if necessary.
Quickly Antares learned that not all miners using the base had its security codes. All it took was some weapons fire at the base to raise it's shield. At that point, even the average miner was blocked from docking, but they could still hide within the safety net of the station defenses.
So on the last attack, Argo and Procyon went in for a coordinated strike. Argo came up behind a hegemon, and another hung a few hundred meters below that. Upon de-cloaking, Argo fired a cruise disruptor at the base, activating its shield, cutting off the miners.
It had worked, and before both miners could fall back to the station, they paid, and donated a couple thousand units of Platinum. Quite a good haul, except during the encounter, someone in the base was quickly working on re-deploying the base turrets.
Just as the Argo began to cloak, and both ships started to move off, the turrets thrust into new positions, and caught them off guard! Suddenly, both ships now became enveloped in a new kill zone, extended now well past them.
The Argo is a bit more manoeuvrable than the Procyon, a Firefly transport. Argo managed to get clear, but the Procyon took heavy damage, and its hull breached, losing the captured Platinum ore.
It was yet another mounting resistance against Antares since they started their regular attacks on the area. For the most part, his 'reign of terror' he promised had turned into a periodical harassment of the station's defenses, activating them and its shield, simply for the purpose of draining power, and rattling the station crews.
As they limped back to Tau-37, Antares internally conceded defeat. It had been a good run, and he made his point. In the future, they can always putter around after the odd transport, but the ore field was locked down, and that wasn't going to change anytime soon. In the meantime, they would focus their efforts elsewhere, or where they could at least. However, he wasn't going to stay out of Nagano forever....
* * * *
A few days later, the Argo was sitting high above the system wide plane in Tau-37, to the far west of the system, opposite side from the Freeport.
"Target on scope sir, no tag, coming to a stop in the ore field below us" Jonas read off the scanner.
"Good, we need some action here, and I'm hoping for more than a little spending cash on this one", Antares replied, "Jonas signal the Procyon, tell them to move in, we'll be waiting for them"
Jonas keyed in some information into his console as he sent the message, and Antares moved from standing next to him, up to his command chair. Sitting down, he took grasp of the arms of the chair and perched himself on the edge of the seat.
"Close in, full impulse, full thrust" the captain ordered. The Argo moved downward to intercept the other ship.
"Now at 10k, preliminary scans show mining turrets sir, configuration looks like a Hegemon" Jonas said.
"Good, bring us to 2k and hold position above it" Antares said. He ship slowed to a crawl, then stopped as he ordered. As they closed the gap, the other ship finally became visible amid the cloud of gas, ice and dust that made up the Nobium ore field in that part of the system. Initial scans were right. The miner, was merrily mining away like they usually do when they believe they're alone. "Standard procedures, drop cloak!"
With that, the Argo appeared to the other ship, and fired a cruise disruptor at it.
"Attention mining ship, cut your engines, make one move and you're blasted!" Antares shouted over the comm, "In case you're wondering, this is certainly an act of piracy, and you are the victim in this case. Please respond, its in your best interest, no one has to get hurt here" Antares 'spealed'.
"We read you Argo, we're not going anywhere, and are unarmed. What is it you want?" A rattled voice from the mining ship keyed in over the mic.
"Simple really, I want you to do what you do best, and mine for me!" Antares said back.
After a moment, the voice replied, "Mine? But sir, your ship, we've scanned it, you don't seem to have much cargo space..."
"Not for me, for my friend here..." Antares finished. With that, timed perfectly, the Procyon came into scanning range.
"Well shimmer me timbers capn', we got some loot here needin' a pick up?" Seagul exclaimed over the open channel in a foolish, almost silly enjoyment from the situation.
"Just bring it up along side our miner friend here, he's gonna fill your cargo with some free Nobium! Arent' ya miner?"
"Indeed, stand by" the miner replied.
Time passed very slow, but in reality the transport was full in no time. Argo flanked them and kept watch the entire time. Pirate attacks like this were longer, and more stressful. The longer they dragged, the higher the odds someone else might come along and tip the scales. Finally, the miner was finished.
"So are we good here, that haul is worth millions, we'd normally charge a lot for that" the miner said with a sour tone.
"Well we appreciate the generosity then sir! Yeah, you're free to go, I'd watch out, it can be dangerous out here!" Antares jocked back at him, while the pirate ships formed up and went to cruise, flying off into the distance, leaving the lonely mugged miner in silence.
"Well, that's all of them" Jonas said.
"All of what?" Antares turned to him, concerned at what he could possibly mean. A problem with the ship?
"All of the mining groups around here. That was an IMG ID'd ship. That makes the GMS, Samura, and now IMG on the list of territories we're stomping over. I just wonder how they might take it as well. Bounties? Bases? Hitmen? You never can tell capn', Jonas answered.
"Well it'll be worth your pay after this Jonas. Might even make you wanna become a miner!" Antares chuckled, "You just worry about whats on the scanner and we'll be fine regardless, right? Besides that wasn't an HQ tagged ship, they'll file a report that'll get buried under all the rest"
"Right sir, sorry. Sometimes I just wonder how we're all still breathin', doing what we do." Jonas admitted solemnly.
"Well hey, you ain't a slave, when you want out, you can get out. But hell Jonas, what a ride eh?" Antares said, as he sat back in the captain's chair, "For now you're still my bridge officer, and the only one place this side of Sirius we're gonna unload that ore is Colorado, so lets make our way there. Take us through Tau-23 and into Kyushu, we'll cruise across to avoid any navy patrols"
"Aye captain" Jonas said. They haven't taken the Argo that far into the core yet, should be...interesting... Jonas nervously thought to himself.
When Antares brought his ship back to Tau-37, things were not as they were when he had left. After selling the Ore, his friend Seagul had decided to part ways for a while, taking his new ship back to Bretonia to do what was probably smuggling. However, he seemed a little taken back by all of the action in the Taus and perhaps preferred an occupation with a little less...risk. To each his own, they say. In the end, he was right.
So upon the regular checks being completed, Antares launched the Argo yet again, in search of plunder and exploits.
This time, they got more than they expected.
Upon launching, and approaching the Omicron-81 wormhole on routine patrol, they picked up a couple of odd signatures in the distance. Hoping they were miners, being the most likely ships to run into out there, besides Outcasts, they immediately went to stealth mode and set off towards the ore field in the far end of the system.
Once there, they came across the initial module of a privately constructed starbase. Brand new in its construction. Hovering over it was a colonial transport filled with odds and ends, and some rather strange commodities. The other ship, a base construction ship, was presiding over its latest work, who's identifying signal displayed as 'Mumbai Station'.
Antares debated on whether to attack them, but it seemed rather futile at that point. Many thoughts went through his mind, including how the locals who passed through here would react to a new base out in the ore field.
Rather than attack, they dropped their shroud, and confronted the group. Both ships claimed to have been hired by a group of Zoners, refugees fleeing the warzone in Bretonia. It seemed more like they considered themselves Zoners since they were now fleeing the houses and their influence.
Antares was born a Zoner, on Freeport 10. Most of his life as a pilot had been in the Taus. He knew, the Outcasts were not going to take well to a new group of settlers in the area. But, he couldn't help but want to assist them. Also, it might be a good opportunity for them to get a slice of the action.
So, he managed to strike a deal with them, and they allowed him access to the base as one of its administrators in exchange for funds to contribute towards the base.
"This could be it Jonas!' Antares mused aloud, "A base out here? Just what we need! I got some cash saved! If we chuck in on supplies and building materials, we could have ourselves a genuine safe harbour out here near the ore! Not to mention a fuel depot of our very own!"
Jonas looked out the main viewport. The other ships were scurrying off make a rendezvous with their Zoner clients who were on their way with supplies and colonists, "I don't know about this sir, this is Outcasts territory, they obviously haven't sought permission from the Council of Dons, or, well, they probably wouldn't be out here" he chuckled back.
"Well, we'll just have to avoid the Outcasts for a while. I mean, in a week, this place will have functioning shields, and be nice and stocked up. I might need to get another ship though, hire a crew to man it for some defense, and some light transports for shipping" Antares replied.
"If you say so sir, but if you ask me, I think this is a waste of time..." Jonas spoke candidly.
"You might be right, but as they say, no risk, no reward! While its here, we're gonna try to keep it up and running." Antares added, "Lets head back to the Freeport, we have work to do".
* * * *
Things did not go as hoped. Within a couple of days the Outcasts did find the base. Members from both the Contari Lance and the 75th 'Misquitos' came across the base and demanded to see the administrators. Not only that, but they demanded to board the base immediately.
Antares had quickly hired several ships to begin running precious supplies out to the base, basic necessities, and construction materials for a shield generator. The shields had actually been completed rather quickly, which may have actually agitated the Outcasts more, rather than ward them off.
A tense stand off ensued with the Zoners, who claimed to be the remnant of a group called the 'Commonwealth', dawning a new title of the 'Tau Commonwealth'. They were defiant against the Outcasts, who were more accustomed to being catered to within their claimed space.
Antares, in a hired gunboat, joined his new comrades in taking up defensive positions around the base, as a tense standoff with the Outcasts unfolded. He, as a singular wit among the group it seemed, was the only one in favor of granting the Outcasts demands to gain access to the station. The others, younger, less experience, and new to the region, were determined to not allow them access, even if it meant a firefight must ensue. Unfortunately, he was out voted, and forced to stand with the others.
Finally the Outcast ships left, but not before dropping hints of the inevitable, they had angered a bees nest that was about to come awake, and strike back. Pleading with the Zoners that also operated the base was futile, they did not believe the Outcasts would take it to heart. All Antares could do was hope they had time to keep the base in good shape, perhaps enough to withstand an all out attack by the Maltese Navy.
In the hours that followed, Antares flew around some of the neighbouring systems, seeking assistance. None was found, as there was little expression by local factions in interrupting the status quo in Tau-37. Certainly not from other Zoners, as the TAZ who had been asked for assistance, instead mocked at the foolhardiness of the base builders and their ignorance. They were right.
All he could do is continue his attempts. He even messaged the leader of the Contari Lance himself, Luke Orsini, in an attempt to salvage the situation, hoping that paying them the 'respect' they so desperately demanded, might work to settle the situation.
* * * *
The attack came suddenly, and fortunately, or unfortunately, while Antares was on Freeport 10. Once it began there was no way for him to gain access to the station, he was only able to monitor from his console at a safe distance. Several large capital ships sent from Malta arrived, surrounded, and besieged the station.
It did not take long for it to be destroyed. All of Antares's efforts, supply contracts, and defense measures had not been enough, and certainly not in time. With that, Antares realized it was time to go. All other ships were sold, crews dissolved, and he packed up his operations aboard the Argo. He decided to make his way for the core systems, leaving Tau-37 for a while, so things could cool down. He didn't exactly want to run into any other Outcasts ships on the prowl for survivors.
Shortly after, he did receive word that a few hundred survivors of this 'Commonwealth' had indeed survived. Those who were off doing business on the Freeport, and Faulkand Station. They had just requesitioned a Zoner Colony Ship, called the Peregrine'sNest, that had arrived too late to save the station. The remaining Zoners set out to Freeport 6 with the ship to relocate and begin anew, offering Antares the opportunity to lead them. He passed it up, at least officially. He'd help them out as best he could, when he could. For now, it was time to live and let die.
Zoner Colony Ship 'Peregrine's Nest' at Freeport 6
* * * *
"So what now?" Jonas asked the Captain over the intercom. He hadn't seen the captain much over the last couple of weeks. He spent most of his time in his quarters, probably pounding the deck plates with his forehead over the wasted time, not to mention, cash. Jonas had told him so.
"Where are we?" Antares buzzed over the speaker in low, sullen tone.
"We just entered Cortez, I had to suck up to a Bretonian cop on the way out of Manchester, apparently we don't have a license to have MOX in their space..." Jonas said.
"Oh really? We were stopped? Why didn't you tell me?" Antares shot back.
"I did sir, twice, you didn't respond" Jonas defended.
"Oh...I see. Well, we're not in jail, so what happened?"
"He let us off with a warning, since we were at the jumpgate. I wouldn't advise going back anytime soon, unless we're cloaked" he explained, trying to be somewhat humorous to lighten the mood.
"Good job Jonas, sorry, I must have been distracted" Antares said. Distracted by being spaced out staring at the bulkhead, tallying up the lost savings.
"So, uh, I hate to repeat sir, but, what now?" Jonas did repeat, trying not to irritate Antares. He was a little unpredictable these days.
"Head to New London, we're going to meet Rister at the Trafalgar. He's going to rejoin us there. After the debacles in the Taus, I told him to stay away. He drummed up a bit of funds and support for us." Antares blurted, "Although I'm not exactly sure what he meant by that..."
Rister had been gone for weeks, sent into the houses during the Samura stand off. Things changed so fast, there wasn't much point in coming back out to the Taus.
"I do still have my Letter of Marque from the Bretonia Crown. We've already been hitting a lot of Gallic corporations and goods going through Kusari, might as well do what we know best. As soon as we get there we'll by flying with our Privateer papers for a while" Antares explained. Antares had done some Privateer work last year before taking things outside their typical jurisdiction, the kind Junkers enjoyed.
"Aye sir, sounds like...fun?" Jonas joked a bit.
"We'll have to wait and see. Either way, we're going to have to start making some of that cash back, and try to avoid any Outcasts along the way" Antares said.
"Is there anywhere we can go where people aren't all trying to kill us sir?" Jonas chimed back.
"Maybe, but if there is, we probably wouldn't make any money there. Just keep your itchy finger on the cloak, hear me?" Antares added, "We'll be ok, we'll be a long way from the Tau-37 in any case".
Antares released the comm switch and sat back in his chair. He rubbed his forehead and took a deep breath. Here we go again he thought to himself. He hoped this time, it might actually pay off!
Captain Antares had done some privateering briefly last year. It was just after the Gallic Royal Navy swept through Leeds and captured the system after a widely anticipated siege. The move had left Bretonia weakened and the BAF in disarray for the time thereafter. It was then that Antares had cashed in on the Crown's secretive sanctioning of scoundrels and scally wags to wreak havoc on Gallic shipping now linking Leeds to the Taus. With the GRN now a stone's throw away from New London and Liberty Space, they were taking all the help they could get.
However Antares found the restrictions of the Privateer jurisdiction to be on the more 'limiting' side of things. After only a few raids, he decided to stash that Letter of Marque away, and don his Junkers registration once again. Unfortunately, he'd have to continue the war on his own terms. With new shipping opened up in the frontier of Kusari, the action was spilling over into their borders. Unfortunately due to the sieze fire between Bretonia and Kusari, the Privateering buck stopped at the border.
Antares was never the best at following rules. So, that's where the last 6 months of raiding Nagano originated. The surrounding systems were all along a major back door highway of goods passing from Gallia into Kusari. All of the big corporations of Kusari, along with some not so native Replublican Shipping and Kreuger Minerals ships can often be found scattered somewhere along this path. In other words, fish in a barrel...
Staging raids periodically for months in the Argo, Antares hadn't made very many friends up there. The occasional Junker would roll across his path. Zoners and IMG he typically left alone, sort of a way of appreciating the use of their bases for repairs and safe harbor from time to time. Seemed the right thing to do. He wasn't exactly a saint, but didn't consider himself a back stabber either.
After the destruction of Mumbai Station, he returned from the Taus to the Barrier Gate station and met up with his old pals in the {AFC}-. It was a fighter club run by a man named Sunny. "Funny" Sunny was a fighter pilot through and through. Stunting, racing, and antagonizing the law were his typical pass times. But he was also a businessman, and recognized an opportunity when he saw one. So having hooked up with the fighter crew, business opportunities started to mount up again. They were definitely his kind of crew, usually up for anything. Piracy was rare among them, but not unheard of. Smuggling was their forté. He had this brilliant idea of soon having a depot to flip stolen goods, take a cut, and launder cargo into Liberty in hired ships. Genius if it worked out.
So in the mean time, Antares starting helping them run Artifacts into Liberty for some quick cash. The Argo was perfectly suited for scouting in a stealthy fashion, and made running the police patrols around Manhattan run pretty smooth.
While Sunny kept the biz going and assembled his plans for a hangar of his own soon, Antares made some connections in the systems north of Liberty. Better rep with the Golden Crysanthemums, Lane Hackers and Rogues came before long, and a better knowledge of some of the back smuggling routes into Liberty.
However, during the lulls in the action, Antares could not help but return to his old hunting grounds. In between smuggling runs in Liberty, taking the Argo back towards Hokkaido, Rishiri and Nagano was not uncommon.
How are you my old chap? Enjoying New York? I'll likely be back there soon to help work on a new project. I've been back to prowling the outer rim and border worlds for plunder and loot! I know you don't always prefer to do it this way, but I could sure use some back up out here again some time. I've enclosed a mission log for you to take a look at. You don't know the fun your missing out here sometimes. Anyways, take care of yourself, and when you decide you wanna make some real cash, gimme a call"
*Antares sits at his desk in the Captain's quarters on board the Argo. The ship itself sits in the main hangar of Freeport 6. Sitting at a small desk covered with papers, with nothing but a small desk lamp lighting the room, he sits back, holding up a data pad to record his voice*
"Log Entry - April 8th, 821 A.S.
Its been a crazy week. It started out quite busy. I ran into a couple of nice Junkers in liners that helped me out when it came to dealing with some locals. For some reason there always seems to be some fall back at the right place and right time.
It all started when a nosey Hogosha Pilot came poking around Freeport 6 while the Argo was sitting near the station. He started acting all high and mighty. A couple of other ships were attracted to the chatter, one of them being a Junker ship.
The ship was kind enough to offer me assistance. At the time, the Hogosha was just mouthing off. However, when he started making demands, the the entire thing spiraled into a shooting match. Once it broke out I helped keep the fighter off his back. Finally the other Junker ship put the run on the Hogosha fighter, and I offered him an escort back towards Liberty space. I contacted him later and made him some business offers. Time will tell if it works out or not.
* * * *
I then took the Argo down into the Cortez system, just out seeing what kind of ships were in the vicinity. As we undocked from Planet Curacao, we scanned a Firefly transport carrying a full load of slaves.
Normally, I leave most smugglers to their business. But I must admit I hesitated to ignore this. I mean, what was it to me? Slaving was still a big business in Sirius. Something about it though, seemed low. Now I may not be a saint myself, but if everything comes with a price. Not sure I liked the idea of this guy makin easy cash off slavin.
At first we pursued him, tried guessing his route. We lost him in Tau-23 headed in the direction of '37. I could only assumed those slaves were bound for the Maltese market.
And as if it weren't obvious, we did manage to catch up to him his way back through, just outside the Barrier Gate Station. This time he was loaded down with what was undoubtedly Maltese Cardamine. Being a smuggler and extortionist myself, again, I don't see myself as no law or authority. But I had to ask for a cut of this guy's operation. He was obviously making some cash, and didn't care much how he made it. Well, he was gonna pay up or wind up like those slaves he shipped...damned. It seemed only just...well, mostly.
The poor sucker, he wouldn't even pay me 3 million credits. He certainly made that off his haul, and the one he was carrying. Well, no bother, I showed him a lesson and busted open his ship. I'm sure the pods were recovered not long after, and we made back for Freeport 6.
* * * *
Just within another day or so, we launched from Freeport 6 on a standard patrol, and decided to intersect the trade lane from the Tau-31 jumpgate to Freeport 6. Sort of a dirty move, but its a reliable tactic, to say the least. We managed to stop yet another Freelancer trader on his way through with Gaian Wildlife. I never meant him much trouble, made the standard demands. However Jonas got idle hands during the heist and fired some warning shots at the ship. It scared him off and he tried to bolt for it. So, unfortunately, we pursued him. He was almost scrap, when he started to get away on me. Yet another Junker liner appeared just outside the Freeport from the tradelane, and helped stop the escaping ship dead inits tracks just before he could reach the station! I never saw that other ship again after that, was rambling about heathens and souls being liberated. I think they were from one of those religious sects, some group called 'Oracle'...but I couldn't be too sure. Anyways, they were gone before I knew it, and I was back to square one at the Freeport.
The rest of the week has kept the Argo held up in dock over ion storms moving through the Sirius cluster. Zoner scientists theorize the Ion disturbances may be being carried to our part of the galaxy on Gravitational Waves from the giant black hole at the center of the galaxy. Hope is that they will continue to be carried further out into the galaxy, and bypass Sirius soon. But as to how long they might linger exactly, no one seems to know. Until then, most of Sirius is hunkered down in the safety of a station or planetside.
I can only hope that they pass soon so the Argo can get back out there! Always much work to be done.
*The sound of a match being lit, and a strong inhale*
*Captain Antares steps lightly down one of the main corridors on Freeport 6. He approaches one of the public long range communications terminals with a small memory chip in his hand. Stepping into it's near booth like set up, he quickly glances over both shoulders before keying in the frequency and location of his next transmission.*
"Please specify method of payment"the terminal's voice interface blurted.
*As if to avoid drawing any attention, Antares quickly pressed his thumb to the scanner. Within a second an affirmation rang though as he was approved to broadcast. He thumbs the memory chip into its plug in and uploads the data.*
"This should give Mr. Seagul something to chew on for a bit. Proof that even during the worst ion storms this region of the galaxy has to offer can't keep you from makin money..." Antares mused to himself.
***TRANSMISSION COMPLETE***
*Antares then pulls out the memory chip, and replaces it with a second similar device. The screen on the terminal scrambles for a few seconds, and then clears.*
Captain Antares approached the usual comms terminal in the public center of Freeport 6. He checked his usual communications media and private channels for any tips, leads, jobs...whatever might lead to something good.
On a black market listing by an anonymous advertiser, there was something of particular interest for sale. A 'Derelict Nomad Artifact' was indeed up for grabs. Rare in the civilian world, these artifacts are extremely valuable, and may contain information on ancient alien technology. Dealers however, just wanted the cash they were worth on the black market. Antares read the listing a few times, and thought back a couple years to a time he ran a few shipments of generic artifacts out of the Omicrons.
Rumors went around that some of these things still had energy signatures, and were part of some kind of alien power source. Mainly because a few of these artifacts still had some juice left in them. A couple of dealers got themselves zapped and killed recently from mishandling them, totally oblivious to the danger. Word spread fast, now dealers use equipment to handle their finds. Smugglers made sure to keep that tidbit of info from their buyers in the core systems, so their value wouldn't take a hit.
Regardless, the power some of these things were supposed to be capable of generating was said to be enormous. Several Xenoarcheologists had warned artifacts smugglers that dealing in ancient artifacts and alien technology was dangerous for that very reason. Most, however, rarely heeded the warnings.
Antares strummed his chin in thought, and inserted his signal scrambler. After making contact with the dealer, and some brief communications breakdowns, a deal was finally made. They would meet on neutral ground, Freeport 1 in Omega-3. Quite a distance aways, which meant it was time to get going. Would it be expensive? Yes. Worth it? Time would tell.
Antares grabbed his hand held comm link and keyed in, "Jonas, come in"
"Right here Captain, whats the deal?" Jonas immediately replied.
"I got something for us, but its far out, take a while to travel, but I've decided it has to be done. Prepare to launch the ship, we're headed out of the system," Antares said.
"Gotcha sir. Where to?" Jonas said.
"We're Bretonia bound, heading to South Sirius."
* * * *
The Argo emerged into the Omega-3 system. The crew's nerves were on edge. It had been a long trip. They had just been forced to take an evasive route around some Bretonia Police that had been near the jumpgate back in Cambridge. Thankfully, they managed to avoid a scan...as their cargo load of MOX was totally illegal, along with their cloak. Needless to say, it would not have been pretty.
The ship moved into the trade lane and was spat out into the zone of the Freeport there. Freeport 1 was a typical Zoner facility. Open to all. Sometimes the lack of standards attracted all sorts of 'colorful' individuals.
Some 30 seconds after the Argo began to move towards the station, another ship was speeding into range. It seemed to be flying in from the southern side of the system.
"Contact sir, he's coming up on us quick" Rister warned.
"Take us close to the station, get a scan soon as you can" Antares ordered.
"I got it: Borderworlds Cutlass Bomber, running a pirate ID signal sir!" Jonas chimed in.
The comms burst aloud with a foreign voice
"Argo, give me money or I open fire!"
Antares paused for a moment, for that short time everything was still. Now there's a demand. Well we didn't come all this way to get cheesed around by some cardi junky pirate in an old bomber. He pressed the comm switch on his chair,
"I don't think so!" he spat back and turned around in his seat, "Jonas get us out of here! Cloak the ship!"
"Aye sir!" Jonas replied, switching the activation controls.
"Keep us moving, go around the station, keep it between us and him!" Antares shouted.
The Argo thrusted away towards the station, taking some weapons fire from the bomber's energy cannons. Missile and torpedo warnings started going off, as the enemy ship was now flinging as much firepower at them as it could.
The crew shifted a bit with every turn and stride made. The intertial dampening could only work so well with these kinds of manoevers.
The bomber, being preoccupied with trying to train its turrets on the little transport failed to notice the cloak sequence. Finally, the stealth mode engaged and they headed back for the trade lane, safe and sound.
Antares keyed in one last time over the open comm channel, "See ya sucker!". Thankful that the rather annoying encounter was cut short, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Where to sir?" Rister asked. Antares sat back in his chair looking perplexed at what had just happened. He sighed and then spoke,
"Send a message to our contact, give him our ship name and tell him to scrap the Freeport rendezvous. Tell him to hang back at Aland shipyard, we'll be there shortly. Lay in a course, and head for the tradelane. Cruise up a couple rings though Jonas, I don't want that pirate seeing what direction we're going" Antares explained, "We don't need filth like that dropping in on our party"
"Aye sir" Jonas answered. The Argo went to cruise and slinked off towards the IMG shipyards.
* * * *
"Sir we're being hailed by a ship tagged as an HMS ship near the station...uh...should I reply?" Rister reported.
"Hmm. I guess normally that would be a negative. But I've got the feeling that's our man. Open a channel" Antares replied.
Antares sat and keyed his comm once more "I assume you're not here on official BAF business?" he joked.
"Where are you? What's with the delay?" a scratchy voice replied.
"Don't worry, I just had to deal with some punk pirate back at Freeport 1. Didn't want him ruining our 'exchange'. Freak coincidence really. Either that or someone monitored our comms" Antares spurred sarcastically.
"Well if there was a security breakdown, it wasn't my fault! So you making this deal or what? I'm at the shipyard waiting!" the voice blasted back.
"So am I" Antares said. With a hand signal from the captain, Jonas disengaged the cloaking device, and the ship revealed itself, just outside of the station, across from a BAF fighter, "I assume you'd like to be as quick as possible, like myself, of course."
"What price?" they jabbed.
"What we agreed upon." Antares calmly answered.
After a brief pause, "I want 5 million more!"
Antares sighed. After this trip, he wasn't going back to the Taus empty handed.
"Fine sir, here you go" Antares ceded. At this point, Antares just wanted it done. He keyed in the transaction on his console, and sent the money electronically to the mysterious BAF ship's bank account.
After a moment, Rister nodded in confirmation that the cargo had been dropped by the other ship, and successfully tractored into the Argo's hold.
"Its been a pleasure sir" Antares spoke into the mic.
"Hey, you want nomad stuff, I'm your man!" the voice returned, and moved off back towards the Freeport. Antares cocked and eyebrow and glanced at both Jonas and Rister, a half smile on his face. With that, the other ship was gone.
"Dock us here Jonas. Long range scans show that pirate is still in the system. I'm not in the mood for games right now. We'll rest up here then head back in a few hours", the captain left his chair and made for the main hatchway and ladder down from the bridge, "Let me know when we're docked"
"Yes sir" Rister replied. Antares was paused before descending, "Uh sir, what the hell is that thing we just took inside the cargo bay?" Rister asked frankly.
"Hehe, I was wondering when someone was gonna ask. Ok gents, how would you like to not need fuel anymore for the cloak? These Nomad Artifacts might just hold the key to that some day. I'm gonna have to find some independent researchers to help me out, but this is the first step" Antares answered.
"Sounds complicated" Jonas said, cutting through the silence.
"It is. Just let me worry about the 'how' Jonas. Anyways...good work today boys, I'm going below to check out our latest addition to the crew" Antares chuckled, "Go get some grub and rest up, yas earned it. I'll track you down in a few hours"
The Argo began its docking sequence. Antares pondered deeply to himself as he moved towards the cargo bay. If that was what the trip down was like, the trip home should be interesting...
*Antares stands over a work station to the rear of the Argo's bridge. He fiddles with his pocket watch with one hand and taps the brim of his hat with the other. Data streamed across the computer screen he was looking at, statistical data and technical readouts for the ship. He pulls out his pipe for the usual routine*
"Jonas I want all of our tactical data compressed, encrypted and stored in the CPU main memory core. We have too much loose information floating around these computers. If anything ever happened...everything we've been doing could fall into the wrong hands. All of our logs, guncams and transaction info for the last couple of weeks is to be buried. Got me?" Antares explained, as if he had thought about and somewhat rehearsed the speal before saying it.
"Right sir. It'll take a while to compile, we won't be able to fly for a few hours" Jonas replied.
"Thats alright, get to work on it right away. I'll check the hull for cracks with Rister while its processing. After everything checks out, we launch" Antares ordered.
"Gotcha sir! I'll contact you when we're ready up here" Jonas complied.
*The Captain nodded in Jonas's direction, and swung around down the main hatch for the bridge to the service corridor, pipe in mouth, leaving a trail of smoke. Jonas turned to the console and began punching buttons...*
"Ok, here we go..." Jonas muttered.
* * * *
GMS/DRED|Pathfinder attack:
"We had just pulled out of Planet Harris after the Captain argued with the cargo dealer for a while over their lack of H-Fuel or MOX out there. After tracking ships across Tau-31, we needed a refueling bad. So we made our way back to '23, and caught up with a DRED GMS transport, who turned out to be an amicable fellow! He said of all his time in space, we were the first to ever catch him off guard! The Captain liked the sound of that."
"Not long after that, we tried our luck going after some GMS miners in south Tau-23 again, but this time no luck. They had some extra hands and firepower this time, so we kept our distance. The Capn' couldn't help but taunt them a little though..."
"Not everyone we run into out here is quite as amicable. This fellow considered it cheaper to wind up in an escape pod than pay up. It always sours the Captain's mood to have to get his hands dirty, but he always follows through with a threat..."
"Recently, on our way to South Sirius, we crossed the Cortez system, and came up on a transport on a supply run. We managed to cut him off at the trade lane just before he could get in. He was a little grumpy over it, and payed half the demand. The Captain could feel this guy's caffeine withdrawel across the comm speaker, so he left it be."
"This Kishiro vessle was easy to track, we nabbed it on its way back from Freeport 10 with a supply shipment of some alloy. We did our business, and bugged out."
"On our way through Coronado, we picked up a ship on our scanners. When we closed in we found a Freelancer Pilgrim Liner prowling the back end of the system. We waited 'til he was well into deeper space, away from any bases, to drop the hammer. Although he didn't take kindly to our demands, the Captain decided to play it cool, and we avoided a fight. He paid up amid his surprise at such a run in out in such lonely space"
"We caught up with this nice big fancy liner in the Hokkaido System, at one of the bends in the trade lane. He seemed rather concerned for his passengers, and I don't think there was ever any doubt about getting paid. Last thing clients wanna see are plasma blasts outside their windows right? Their Captain seemed ok in the end, he paid more than we demanded and then asked us about a job! Captain Antares sure does have a way with people..."
"This unsuspecting Freelancer lounging in the vicinity of Shiojiri Storage Depot in Nagano was jumped and locked out of the station in a surprise attack. We hovered for a bit and he forked over some coin. That station's been a thorn in our side for months, so we like to poke at it every once in a while, keeps the station crews on their toes!"
"Finally, the captain managed to isolate some of Samura's supply lines to Shiojiri. They get their Reinforced Alloy (like many in the Taus) from Freeport 10. Ironically, we've based out of there for some time. Its just a matter of perfect timing, and we intercept them on their way out of the system..."
"And again, this guy must be the commander of the Station. His ship was of an odd design. The Captain said he used to see them around more years ago. What a nice sight!"
"A hauler from Nagano, likely Shiojiri itself. We managed to make it as far as Honshu before catching up with this one. We've run into her before, a lady that seems to ship or at the behest of her son. She must be a devoted mother to brave this space all by herself!"
"Well thats it computer. Close the file and encrypt." Jonas bade the computer. As it complied, he stood and moved towards the comm switch on the wall. Instead of keying it in right away, he went over to a small nook in the corner, in between some consoles. There lay a coffee maker. Jonas casually took a few minutes, made himself a cup of coffee, and had a sip. Then, he hailed the Captain, "We're good to go up here Captain, whats the story?"
"The hull checks out, so we're on our way up. Start pre-flight, we launch in 10 minutes!" Antares barked back over the speaker. Jonas took another sip of coffee and sat at his post, starting the engine heat up. He pondered to himself. At first, he wasn't sure about the job he'd taken here. Now, he couldn't imagine being anywhere else.
Captain Antares was standing at the front of the Argo's bridge, glaring out the main viewport, as the ship whirled over the city scape and horizon of Planet Malta. He'd decided to begin making regular runs to the shipyards in orbit for fuel, since it was close enough to the northern Taus to make it just as convenient to come here than simply refuel at Freeport 10. Malta was too beautiful to avoid, and sometimes too dangerous to come close to.
As the ship set down, he gave permission for the crew to go their ways while they were on the ground, and himself had decided to relax in his quarters for the duration of their stay. A stay he would still keep to a few hours. He didn't like the idea of any of his crew coming back a Cardi junky on him. Selling the stuff to the ignorant yuppies of the inner colonies was one thing, but he didn't any of his crew winding up dependent on the stuff. Or even worse, having any of them simply not come back at all, and never knowing why.
So the captain sat on his bunk and began to undress. As he did so, he took out a tablet and placed on his desk to the side wall. He activated a voice recording application, and began to speak.
"Captain's Log, May 8th 821 AS
Things have slowed down a bit over the last week or so. We've ran a few good raids, and not so good. A couple got away on us, but they were little fish, so it was no biggie. However, I tend to make sure the ones that get away don't get away again. Which mean's there will be a few ships I'll be tracking actively.
After successfully delivering a sample of some units of Stabiline to an OS&C liner we had a run in with a couple weeks back, we got paid for the job, after a brief cargo handling mishap, but still managed to live up to my word. I guess he had some customers that needed off their crutch. Honestly if its running drugs or their antidotes...I'll go with where ever the money leads..."
He stopped and took a breath. Wiping his forehead and reaching across the table for a now almost cold cup of tea, he began to sip it regardless, and gaze off, as if staring past the bulkhead.
"Once I was back in the Taus, I took the Argo back to Nagano to pay my old friends at Shiojiri a visit. I found a lonely miner out there. Frustrated of his mining within the safety of the base's defense, I've rarely been able to execute attacks well since the base was put there. This time, I felt I'd at least harass them and get them out of bed early.
"But he was right, I couldn't get to him well enough, not without risking our own hides, so as usual, we bugged out, content to have rattled their cage"
He then set down the tea, and swapped it for his pipe and some wooden matches. Giving it a light and smoking the remnants of whatever was still in the bowl, he continued...
"So not long after, we bombed around to Chugoku and back, and on our way back towards Tau-37, we ran into another Samura supply ship. They had a full load of alloy, headed for one of those corporate bases. I had to take a piece of course"
The Captain then stood and walked across the room over to his own 'miniature kitchen', that included a couple of stove burners, a counter with a coffee machine and a rack with a few utensils still hanging from it. As he puffed his pipe, he filled up his kettle and threw it on the burner for a fresh pot of tea.
"Although I typically don't touch IMG ships anymore, there's always a lonely miner that screams 'fresh' and is just asking to be broken into life in the Taus. Since he was certainly not lugging that miner very far in a hurry, I scoffed a bit of coin off him without any trouble"
As the kettle began to stir from the heat, he crouched back onto his cott for a moment, leaning back towards the tablet and went on.
"Our next run in was in Hokkaido and spilled over into Rishiri. A Large Transport running with a Freelancer ID, shipping random goods through dark and dangerous space. We weren't even cloaked when he jumped in right on top of us as we were about to head back to Hokkaido. We stopped him and went through the normal deal, and of course, I gave him a 'chance' to pay up even after ignoring my hails. Unfortunately, he slipped from my grasp using my mercy to escape. We'll be keeping an eye out for this one in the future."
The kettle now boiling, he jaunts over to the counter and pours the steaming water into a nearby teapot with couple of teabags inside. As it began to simmer, he resumed the log:
"Back in Hokkaido, we ran into some more familiar sights with a Republican Shipping transport crossing our path. I don't usually go out of my way to get them, but they do deal with Samura, and their ore. Which means profits we're losing out on! I was feeling in a good mood, so only asked for a small some on this one"
"Not far from there, we also came across a Freelancer flying a Firefly on his way toward's the Kyushu jumphole. We made a standard demand upon him after tracking him for a couple of minutes while cloaked. Unfortunately for him, he didn't listen and tried to make a run for it. Old Argo has a few Firefly's under its belt, and after this encounter, added one more"
Now sipping his second tea, this time still hot, and finally placing the now cold pipe back on his desk, he picks up the tablet.
"Well finally, we crossed another Freelancer in a Kusari Transport on his way through Tau-23. Not far from Cali, coming from the direction of the Tau-29 jumhole. Without any unpleasantness, the trader paid his due and moved on. Since then," he paused for a momemt, "nothing else to report. Captain Antares signing off" he said.
Antares turned the tablet off and jammed it back into a drawer in the desk it was on. After rubbing his eyes for a moment, he put down the tea on the same desk, next to his pipe, and kicked off his boots. Leaning back and scootching up onto the cott, he laid his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes. The only time he could ever get any real sleep was when they were docked. Letting himself drift off into a light slumber, his thoughts were of his crew, ship, and the future of the Argo.
Freeport 6 was a bustle with the usual flurry of activity. Station inhabitants went about their business in the market area. Captain Antares sat at his usual booth, scrolling adds and news on the neural net.
Suddenly he received a personal communique from an associate of his in the Junkers Congress, Mr. Wheat, rated of the highest priority. He had recently helped procure another Derelict Nomad Artifact to be used as a prize in a local gambling event. It had only been days since Antares had delivered the item to their facility 'The Junkyard' in the Inverness System.
Now, according to the message, the station, and its sister station the Sigma Junker Guard station, were under siege by the forces of the Bretonia Police Authority, and possibly BAF. Apparently, as it turns out, all of the bases in the system were not registered to Bretonia. Bretonia's claim on the system has always been weak in the past, and in leiu of the recent advances by Gallia, it seems that the Junkers felt that Bretonia would let their operations slide. Perhaps it was simply an oversight.
Regardless, the attack came suddenly while he was away, and there was confusion around what was happening. Mr. Wheat seemed convinced the battle was already over, and feared the worst. But he wanted Antares to go check out what was happening, and evacuate any high value cargo still left on the Junkyard. Antares gazed down at the pad re-reading his message.
Damn, imagine the stuff that will be lost, too bad I brought that Derelict out there already...maybe its not too late, I'll have to take a look
He keyed in on the pad and began to record and audio message,
"I got your message. I'll have the Argo in Inverness ASAP and grab whatever I can, and get as much intel as I can. Lets hope its not too late and the situation can be salvaged. In the meantime, I'd get back here on the double! I'll report in when I get more info. Antares out"
He grabbed his comlink "Jonas, Rister, get back to the Argo and fire it up. We're blasting out of here like a bat out of hell, I'll be on the bridge in ten minutes" Antares orderd.
"A what out of hell?" Jonas squawked back.
"A bat Jonas, they used to have them on old Earth. Never mind."
* * * *
The Argo sped towards the Inverness jumphole in the far edge of the Newcastle system. Antares expected activity to pick up as he neared the place, and as such, several contacts appeared on scanner.
"Looks like BPA captain, they won't be happy to see us I don't think" said Jonas.
"No kidding. Engage the cloak, take evasive action. Just get us through the wormhole" Antares replied.
The ship went into stealth mode and continued past the police ships, making a smooth jump. When they arrived in Inverness, all was quiet.
"No contacts on scope cap'n" Rister chimed in with his scratchy voice barely cutting silence.
The ship continued, expecting to find the worse. Antares sat on the edge of his chair, half expecting to come up on a flotilla of cruisers, battleships, or exploding stations.
But there was nothing. It was quite an erie feeling. As they approached the station in orbit over Planet Cannish, there were no ships at all. Instead they crept up on the twin stations cautiously, taking readings as they went. Sigma had taken severe damage, its hull integrity was down below 50%. The Junkyard had taken light damage, about 10%. For whatever reason, right in the middle of the attack it seems, they broke off and returned to Newcastle.
"What do you make of it sir?" Jonas asked.
"I'd say those ships we past on the way in must have been called off, or scared off. Don't make any sense. I suppose we won't complain. Who knows if they'll be back or not. Dock on the station. And ready your side arms boys, we don't know what we'll find" Antares explained in return.
"Eek. I don't like the idea of being on a station that might get blown up while I'm on it' Jonas creaked.
"Don't worry kid. Lets not dilly dally, just get what we need and go" Antares said, "Rister you man the airlock and wait for us there. We'll be back in a flash"
* * * *
The station crew was so busy with repairs, they paid little to no mind to Antares and Jonas, nor the docking of the Argo at all. That was just as fine for the Captain, who'd rather get in and out fast. If the police ships came back, they wouldn't want to be stuck on the station.
The place seemed like it was in chaos. No one knew what was going on, and the station had already been partially evacuated. Mr. Wheat said to take anything that seemed valuable. So, they made their way to Mr. Wheat's cargo unit, and removed a few selectitems. Slipping out past the repair crews, they loaded up the ship and fueled up with MOX, and blasted out of there like an old style rocket. Antares always felt a little uneasy transporting valuable cargo like this, but he felt confident they could get back to the Taus unscathed.
After dropping the items off in Tau-29, he took the Argo back down to Inverness to stay close to the action, and keep an eye on the place. When he returned, he came upon a ship he'd had never seen before and was not expecting to see. None the less, it seems the Junkers Congress had indeed sent a task force to assess the situation.
As supply ships and crews began to pick up the pieces, Antares bade Jonas to get a transport back up to Kepler to retrieve his {AFC} bomber, in case there was a round 2 in the near future.
He then left the system, but decided to stay within the Borderwolds, and in the area for the time being. However, with repairs underway, and the Junkers having regained control of the situation, the imminent danger managed to subside. When all of this blows over once and for all, he'd bring back Mr. Wheat's valuable cargo. In the meantime, its back to business as usual for Antares and Rister while they wait for Jonas.
Mr. Wheat,
Mission accomplished. Your property is safe, and ready for you whenever you see fit. I'll be remaining in the area while you and the Junkers negotiate a settlement. I've also alerted the {AFC} and they are in full agreement, we all shall offer our assistance in defending your installations if necessary.
Back on the move, Antares and Rister proceeded to their usual business, one man shy for a change, as Jonas was under orders to remain in Inverness, at Invergordon Spaceport, to fly Antares's {AFC} bomber in the event the BPA attack again.
It was not long after leaving the area before Antares caught up with a corporate transport, on a routine cargo shipment though the borderworlds. It was a Kusari 'Akegata' Contain Transport shipping a full load of rum, on its way from the Baffin jumphole, towards Colonial space.
The captain of the Kishiro ship managed to barter Antares down from 3 million and some rum to 2 million with rum. He accepted the offer graciously. If there was anything almost as good as money, it was booze. It would go over well with the crew down in the engine room, that much was certain. But part of the bargain was for the Argo to lead the ship out of Coronado, and help them get out of the system in once piece. A fair bargain if there ever was one.
Also while in the area, they crossed paths with a Freelancer in a Pirate Train, hauling Optronic Arraysout tothe Junkyard. After realizing he stopped a friendly ship, Antares bade the Freelancer adieu and left him to be on his way. It just went to show how the crisis in Inverness was having an effect on the region.
Afterwards, they frequented the Nobium fields in Tau-23 more than a few times. It seemed that they were never around for any good Samura or GMS shipments over the last week or so, so Antares was hard pressed to pass up some hapless miners out in asteroid field.
As usual, Antares dropped in for an unexpected visit, and had him right where he wanted him.
It was the same not long after with an IMG Hegemon miner that had quite a load of ore. Antares placed his usual demand upon the poor and sluggish mining ship, who paid and was on his way.
Finally, Antares and Rister came across some ships with teeth. What appeared at first to be some easy targets, turned out to be quite defiant miners! They came upon a transport accompanied by another Hegemon, in the middle of mining operations, and thought a surprise appearance would be enough, making a demand for 2.5 million credits from each of them.
They spat some remarks, to his surprise, then both ships crept up to flanking positions around Argo, and in mid conversation, began firing!
The Argospat back with all turrets blazing! Taking evasive action and trying to turn towards them, Antares decided that if they wanted a fight, they'd get one! After realizing the miner was armored, and the transport was not, Antares quickly ordered Rister to shift fire to the transport, hoping to take out the weaker target first.
What happened next was difficult to explain, and Antares's memory was fuzzy. Everything stopped, and suddenly it all went black!
Antares awoke on the deck of the bridge. As he peeled his face off the metal grating, he slowly peered around to see one of his newer aids slumped over his consol, and Rister lying on the deck beside him, also regaining consciousness.
"What happened" Rister asked. Antares jumped up, remember what had been going on. He rushed over to his chair and brought up a display.
"Scanners clear, I don't know what happened, were we hit?" Antares said.
"All systems check out sir, no other signs of the other ships. Engine room reports the same thing." Rister said.
"Picking up residual ionic particles in the area. Must have been a subspace anomaly, or a flash ion storm. Anyways, set a course for the Tau-29 jumphole, and cloak the ship." Antares ordered.
"You don't want to try to find those ships sir? They could have suffered the same effects as us. They could be easy pickins" Rister chimed in.
"Nah they got lucky Rister, we'll let em go. I think I need to lay down for a while, and I hate sleeping while we're in space. Best speed to freeport 6."
"Aye sir"
* * * *
Days later, after picking up Jonas in Inverness, after the threat of another BPA attack died down, Antares picked up a familiar signature on long range scans. He'd been wanting to catch up to one of his old 'friends', that kept evading him. He had run into this Samura Transport and its captain a couple of times in recent weeks. This time he was determined to catch up to him, and get him where there was no chance of escape!
"Rister, I've made a decision. I want to you go down and rip the Junker ID off this thing, and raise the 'Jolly Roger' in its place" Antares barked over the com.
"But sir, you mean you want me to Pirate our ID altogether?"
"Thats right, we may have to do things I wouldn't want to do under a Junker flag. That shows you how dirty those things may be. Either way, if we find who I'm looking for, I don't want any restrictions. If we have to go into House Space for that...So be it!" Antares snapped back, glancing at his consol, "And make it fast, Long Range Traffic Scans last put him in Tau-23, so he's crossing the borderworlds, and we'll cut him off before he hits Leeds!"
Knowing the usual route, they managed to link up with the ship at Holman, and followed it towards the Leeds jumpgate. He had predicted the move perfectly, now he had to get him with his pants down.
After dropping their cloak and making a demand, the ship attempted to flee, as usual, and then returned fire upon the Argo when Antares ordered the guns to open up. A firefight then ensued, and Antares had them give chase. He didn't want to let this one get away...AGAIN.
Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened. The ship just barely made it to the nearest trade lane, and escaped just as the Argo's turrets came to bear on it.
Frustrated, Captain Antares then immediately put a *Bounty* on that ship's head, in hopes that his temper might subside a little with news of the escape artists's demise at the hand of a blood thirsty bounty hunter.
* * * *
With disdain in his failure to bag the 'escape artist' as he's known around the ship, and left with a Pirate ID on the Argo, Antares figured himself or a change in direction, a change in territory, and a change of routine.
So, they made their way into Liberty. He had decided to 'move' to Liberty for a while, and see what good fortunes may come by doing so. He'd never launched any raids there before, always way out in the frontier somewhere. Now it was time to hit the colonies, the core of settled space in Sirius.
When they arrived, they headed south, for Texas. There were Junker bases there they could make safe port at, and it was friendly territory for scrappers and smugglers. He was hoping to find someone other than a Junker, someone he could make some cash from. He wasn't just out to get anyone. Corporate ships were where the real prize money was anyways.
However, the odd Freelancer does cross his path. Unless they are protected...they're all fair game. This Firefly was hauling Luxery Goods across Texas. He wasn't too happy to see the Argo and started blastin a hail storm of energy bolts in their direction, to which Antares orded them to return fire. Finally, they convinced the trader to stop, and that they would be safe, if they just paid up...something.
Not much later, after having refueled and repaired nearby, they set out again to see what Texas had to offer. Up near the Pennsylvania jumphole, they came across a strange signature, cloaked, and moved in to investigate. What they found gave Antares, what can only be described as, the feeling you get when you find a 20$ in an old coat pocket. It was one of their old pals from Samura mining Premium Scrap! Oh what a nice surprise, in the last place Antares would have expected. Well waste not want not they say. Not to mention what the Junkers would think of a Samura ship raiding premium scrap on them. So they surprised the ship in the usual fashion, and after some banter, collected a small sum!
After leaving Beaumont, the Argo made a hasty launch with the detection of at least one BHG ship in the system. As they launched, a USI bomber and unknown BHG tagged ship pursued them away from the station. They managed to cloak just in time, and barely evaded them. Radio Chatter indicated the were indeed seeking the Argo directly. Seems likely that the Samura transport had called in some back up. Something Antares would not soon forget.
From there they made full steam for California, where they managed to intercept yet another Freelancer Firefly, this one hauling Robitic Hardware out of Alcatraz nearby. Antares made the usual demand, and received little argument. Instead, the trader sought to do business thereafter, inquiring about selling stolen goods at a station in Kepler. Antares also made a note to not attack that one again, as he may be supplying a friendly base after all! Either way, he payed his penance.
Antares had now seen the quick and timely profitability of operating in House Space. It was untapped as far as he was concerned. Few recognized their ship, or were aware of their M.O., so that made it a little easier to get the drop on the right ship.
Yes, perhaps it was time to lay a strip of wrath on Liberty, and take her for all she was worth! Would it work out? Probably not. Would he try anyways? There was little doubt.
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