Frank was wondering how he had gotten roped into racing again. But the Prez liked it when the ranks showed up to pack the field. He hated the constraints of his Arrow, more because of his girth and size, than the claustrophobia of being a half inch of reinforce alloy plating away from the void of space.
He knew that winning had been out of the question, his engine being gimped out again. He had made it through the first two eliminations rounds, but on the third he started late, boosted the outflow to compensate and finished the damage he had done to it earlier in the afternoon.
He had been listening to the radio chatter from the other racers and spectators, a mixed bunch of undesirables in the eyes of most every lawful organization in Sirius. He was tapping out a report to Sunny about how he had had pay out 6mill to the RHA. He would send it out and let him see it later. He knew that if he mentioned Cardi to him during a race, he could end up with a mine shoved up his exhaust manifold. Better to let him hear about it when he was into something or someone else.
At least he might be able to get a lead on earning some profits. One of the pilots gathered around the start gate was flying a BWT. He suspected Jimmy.The.Rat might know how to keeps his hands clean while his wallet was getting dirty with credits.
He tapped his mic.
[22.02.2017 20:46:05] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: So Jimmy, heard any good business opportunities?
[22.02.2017 20:46:24] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Kinda depends on what your into
[22.02.2017 20:46:53] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: You know us man...we are into just about anything but Hamsters and Cardi.
[22.02.2017 20:47:42] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Well, I know the Gas miners are havin' a rumble with the Samura. You'd probably find somethin' up that way
Might be worth a shot, he thought to himself. He pulled up his nav map, and ship positioning software. The Huntsman was out in Sigma 13, docked at Newport Station. He tapped out a quick burst message to the Captain of the ship. Asking her to look into the GMG, Samura thing. His thoughts interrupted by Sunny´s voice over his headset.
[22.02.2017 20:48:38] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: And also Gambit did you race?
[22.02.2017 20:49:30] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: Yea....I got a hold message..then my relay blew out again. Had to limp back.
[22.02.2017 20:49:58] UN|Green.Storm: Gunn: Need a better flight engineer, Auslander - prefferably one Unioner-approved.
[22.02.2017 20:50:23] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: LINE UP FOR NEXT RACE
[22.02.2017 20:50:29] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: gambit are you racing?
[22.02.2017 20:50:39] UN|Green.Storm: Gunn: Noble - thank you, racer. *grinning* Here's hoping you haven't sabotaged them or anything.
[22.02.2017 20:50:51] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: Na, Im out Boss. Engine is shot.
[22.02.2017 20:50:59] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: Alright
Sunny sounded disappointed, but there was nothing Gambit could do about it. The gathering at the start line, chatted among themselves and watched the racers take off for another two laps. Gambit threw out a bet, to see if anyone would bite. That and the fact that it would look good for him to bet on his own Prez.
[22.02.2017 20:52:58] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: 10 on the prez....any takers against him?
[22.02.2017 20:53:25] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Heh, I like my money I ain't touchin' that one
[22.02.2017 20:54:12] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: Yea, but I would not count out the Unioner. He had some nice moves out there.
[22.02.2017 20:54:34] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Yeah but Mary there already has 20 big ones on her
[22.02.2017 20:55:09] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Tell you what, if that Pixie wins you owe me a drink, if your boss wins that info is free
[22.02.2017 20:55:42] UN|Green.Storm: Gunn: What if, hypothetically, the Home team take all?
[22.02.2017 20:55:50] UN|Green.Storm: Gunn: WOOO-HOO!
The racers came around to start the turn into lap two at the race start point. The UN| ship was in the lead, and it looked like it might be to much of a lead for everone else to overcome, when it did something unexpected and docked with the station. Laughter starting to pour in over the headset. Gambit joined in as well.
[22.02.2017 20:56:04] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Thats only your first lap...
[22.02.2017 20:56:17] UN|Green.Storm: Gunn: Stick that up your Auslander tailpi.... FUC*censored*
[22.02.2017 20:56:17] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Looks like the home team just canned it
[22.02.2017 20:56:36] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: He he he he ...nice one man.
[22.02.2017 20:56:39] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: 2 laps
[22.02.2017 20:56:43] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: like always
[22.02.2017 20:57:09] UN|Green.Storm: Gunn: *Profane indignation*
[22.02.2017 20:57:40] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: There's always next time
[22.02.2017 20:57:48] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: Looks like ya got so excited to be first, you forgot it wasnt over. Gotta lay off that SynthWeed Bro, when ya flyin fast
[22.02.2017 20:58:15] UN|Green.Storm: Gunn: *ready to unzip a few skulls*....
[22.02.2017 20:58:41] UN|Abomination: Mary: My lovely Gunda,
[22.02.2017 20:58:49] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: Looks like Blitzie takes the game
The group watched as the AFC Pink.Blitzie ship came in first, the radio filled with chatter back and forth from all participating.
[22.02.2017 20:59:05] UN|Green.Storm: Gunn: *aggressive mumbling*
[22.02.2017 20:59:07] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Heh, guess you owe me that drink Gambit
[22.02.2017 20:59:09] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: Aahhhh!!
[22.02.2017 20:59:12] {AFC}-Pink.Blitzie.: Why did you just stop?!
[22.02.2017 20:59:14] {AFC}-Pink.Blitzie.: You were doing so well!
[22.02.2017 20:59:23] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: that damn cloud!!!
[22.02.2017 20:59:25] {AFC}-Pink.Blitzie.: And Sunny sucked!
[22.02.2017 20:59:29] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: Ugh
[22.02.2017 20:59:32] {AFC}-Pink.Blitzie.: He got lost inside the cloud! <laughs>
[22.02.2017 20:59:36] UN|Green.Storm: Gunn: *muttering* ....Forgot the second lap was a thing.
[22.02.2017 20:59:43] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: Yep....come by Blackport66 and Ill pour ya one. Maybe we can do some business.
[22.02.2017 20:59:56] {AFC}-Pink.Blitzie.: Okay. Sunny. Last track
[22.02.2017 21:00:06] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: alright
[22.02.2017 21:00:07] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Yeah I'll take you up on that some time
[22.02.2017 21:00:12] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: Julia. I gues it is me and you?
[22.02.2017 21:00:17] UN|Green.Storm: Gunn: Mary, kill the phantoms for me, please?
[22.02.2017 21:00:20] UN|Abomination: Mary: Gunda I have to talk to you later *throws a kiss in Gundas direction*
The Chatter carried on for a bit, till the the last two racers got ready to take the final two laps. Gambit was glad at least to see the pot of credit winnings staying with in the club.
[22.02.2017 21:02:09] {AFC}-Pink.Blitzie.: Someone count us in
[22.02.2017 21:02:11] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: But me and Julia are racin'
[22.02.2017 21:02:16] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: I got you
[22.02.2017 21:02:25] UN|Green.Storm: Gunn: Then I'll follow yer' ass and snap nice pictures.
[22.02.2017 21:02:29] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Racers ready?
[22.02.2017 21:02:31] {AFC}-Pink.Blitzie.: Ye!
[22.02.2017 21:02:32] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: Hehe
[22.02.2017 21:02:38] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: 3
[22.02.2017 21:02:40] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: 2
[22.02.2017 21:02:41] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: 1
[22.02.2017 21:02:43] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Go
[22.02.2017 21:03:19] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Hey Gambit, 5 mill says Pink gets the win again.
[22.02.2017 21:04:08] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: Yea...Im not betting against her, but I do have to bet on my Prez winning. So you got a deal.
[22.02.2017 21:04:23] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Good man
[22.02.2017 21:04:58] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: 5 the first lap...5 the second?
[22.02.2017 21:05:06] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Deal
Gambit got back a message from the captain of The Huntsman. She had asked around the bar about anything good happening in Kusari. No one mentioned GMG, but she did talk to a Samura pilot that said that due to speacial circumstances, there was a good route from Rhienland to Kusari, ferrying wartime supplies. He tapped out a message and gave orders for her to look into it and if it looked like it could make some cash and pay the fuel and crew to take it on. His headset crackled and the voice from the BWT rang in his ears.
[22.02.2017 21:07:45] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Looks neck and neck
[22.02.2017 21:07:54] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: Looks like a real close one yea
[22.02.2017 21:08:16] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: go Prez go...
[22.02.2017 21:08:35] Death: {AFC}-Pink.Blitzie. suffered a self-administered loadout error (Mine).
[22.02.2017 21:08:47] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Well there goes my money
[22.02.2017 21:08:47] UN|Abomination: Mary: WOOHOOO !
[22.02.2017 21:08:52] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: Julia?
[22.02.2017 21:09:25] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: Eh... let me get the debeis...
[22.02.2017 21:09:29] You have received 10.000.000 credits from >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat
[22.02.2017 21:10:05] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: Man...I hate it for ya Jimmy, cheap way to win man. Ill make it up to ya at the Black Cherry.
[22.02.2017 21:10:11] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: Looks like her engine died
[22.02.2017 21:10:24] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: Ugh... engine died again, eh?
[22.02.2017 21:10:31] UN|Abomination: Mary: I hpe you will like the present *giggles*
[22.02.2017 21:10:32] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: Tysk.....
[22.02.2017 21:10:40] >\./<Jimmy.The.Rat: I ain't a mechanic but yeah, just stopped dead
[22.02.2017 21:10:43] UN|Green.Storm: Gunn: Haha! Dead people? Yeah, I'll take that.
[22.02.2017 21:10:53] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: At least I made my entrance fee back.
[22.02.2017 21:11:01] UN|Green.Storm: Gunn: I'm a mechanic - give me a few k' and I'll give you a solid diagnosis.
[22.02.2017 21:11:03] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: thats always a good thing.
[22.02.2017 21:11:06] UN|Green.Storm: Buy me a drink and I'll fix it.
[22.02.2017 21:11:32] {AFC}-White.Whisper[P]: Well I guess the races are over for the points. You got 3 points , Green!
The cross talk on the radio was doing his head in, enough was enough. He had made his appearance stayed till the end and it was now time to go. There was an elevated amount of heat coming from behind his seat. A sign that, if he did not want to space walk all the way home, he would need to get on the move.
[22.02.2017 21:12:45] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: Im gonna limp it back to Blackport, and have the crew take a look at it.
22.02.2017 21:13:55] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: Prez, Im out.... Jimmy, nice to meet you and you UN guys and gals are alright in my book, I dont care what anyone says about ya
[22.02.2017 21:14:07] {AFC}-F.Gambit[B]: Cyas folks.
He heard the good byes from the group in his headset as he thrust over to the trade lanes and engaged with it. He decided that BP66 was to far to try and make it, and that he would finish up and sent out his report to Sunny from Bonn Station, over a burger and a cold beer.
It was Frank Gambits second run of the day into Leeds to the forward operating base for the Leeds Resistance. He was back at Shouthampton shipyard, waiting to get the all clear to proceed from the BAF. What he saw not 5oo meters off to his left, bothered him more than any potential Gaylickers he might run into getting into Leeds. "Can you believe this shiiiate, freakin John "hardass" Armada, this dude is everywhere." he mused to himself. He knew that Liberty was actively helping out the Brits.
But to find one of New York liberty yoyos way out here near the front lines surprised him. He remembered the last twotimes he had run into this particular navy officer. Both times he had managed to get himself off of any real trouble, but he had taken to giving him the nickname "Hardass" for how much of a stickler for the rules he was. But they were in Brit territory, and there was not much the Navy man could do to him out here in this sector.
The problem was, that he needed someone to fly cover for him while landed, offload the ammo and pick up casualties and refugees. And John Armada was the only one around. "Just my freakin luck, I bet he is already scanning me all the way down to my jimmy johnsons." he said to his copilot, a new kid that did not talk much, but knew how to handle the right side controls of a Voyager. "Man, we need to get back into Leeds as quick as we can." said with a worried tone in his voice.
On the last trip out, there were more injured laying about, than he could fit on his small freighter. If they did not get help soon, they would not see another day. Getting into Leeds was never as hard as getting out. You could always see what you were up against flying in. But flying out, you never knew what was out there waiting for you till you broke through the atmosphere. Frank hit the mic on his comms unit.
[23.03.2017 18:58:50] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Damn it....I can not believe I am about to do this, but. Navy, Im about to get clearance from the BAF to make an ammo run to
[23.03.2017 18:59:00] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Leeds...are you available to fly cover?
Frank waited for him to respond, not really believing he was asking member of the 5th to fly cover for him. But it was a real shooting war, and he believed that if the Gaylickers were not stopped in Leeds, they would have them out in Cali next, bombing the hell out of Los Angeles.
[23.03.2017 18:59:27] 5th|John.Armada: Wait... give a moment.
[23.03.2017 18:59:41] 5th|John.Armada: Which ammo-run are we talking about?
"Can you believe this guy?" Frank sighed, and hung his head for a second or two before clicked his mic. He made an effort to not get aggravated. There was only one ammo run being done out of Southampton these day, and he should already know that.
[23.03.2017 19:00:28] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Dropping off ammo to the Leeds resistance base...picking up casualties and refugees.
[23.03.2017 19:00:48] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Been doing this run for a few months now, helping out the Brits.
[23.03.2017 19:00:55] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Seems we all hate frogs..
He hoped that he was making sense to officer from the 5th. He let that hang in the air and waited for Armada to respond.
[23.03.2017 19:01:28] 5th|John.Armada: Can you tell me where you got this license? Visual proof on the network?
Frank almost blew a blood vessel in his forehead at the answer he got from the navy man. Was this guy really going to give him crap about what he was hauling? He made another effort to keep his cool, but the urgency of getting back to Leeds was seeping into his tone.
[23.03.2017 19:02:13] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Look man....simple, are you in for flying cover for me or not...if not..This aint Liberty man, and BAF is aware of this ship
[23.03.2017 19:02:36] 5th|John.Armada: Very well.
[23.03.2017 19:02:37] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: and what it is doing...Further more...dont play cop around here man...
Frank stopped himself, Armada had agreed. He took two deep breaths.
[23.03.2017 19:02:53] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Let me tell BAF im going in.
While Armadas voice came up on the speakers, he motioned for his Copilot to get a hold of the BAF and get final clearance to move out.
[23.03.2017 19:03:31] 5th|John.Armada: I'm not playing cop here, not my duty, nor my right. Still you must understand you AFC's are known to be
Frank heard his copilot talking into his mic.
[23.03.2017 19:03:35] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: (Static) BAF, The Wilkinson here again. We are making a second run into leeds. Copy.
Frank listened to the Navy man as he saw his copilot spooling up the engines waiting for the Ok from BAF.
[23.03.2017 19:03:59] 5th|John.Armada: constricted in shady networks, doing shady things, that is why escorting someone who hauls contraband, is actually
[23.03.2017 19:04:02] 5th|John.Armada: a risk.
Frank understood were Armada was coming from, but all that should be secondary to the need to stop the Gaylickers advance. He tapped his mic again.
[23.03.2017 19:04:03] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Yea yea yea...whatever Bro, trumped up charges..
He heard one short word on the BAF channel.
[23.03.2017 19:04:22] BAF|LtCdr,V,Steiner: Aye
And nodded to his copilot to make the final adjustments to get going. He kept on making his case and let Armada know they were good to go.
[23.03.2017 19:04:34] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: You ask the resistance if it is contraband, and they will tell you, if it hurts the Frogs they want to throw it at them. [23.03.2017 19:04:45] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: I got the oK from BAF. Ready?
[23.03.2017 19:04:53] 5th|John.Armada: Aha. Aye, let's move
They moved off Southhampton and headed to the Leeds jump hole. His copilot made him aware of a GMG titanic, also hauling ammo. He decided to check out his intentions. The club and the GMG had had their issues. He brought the ship out of cruise.
[23.03.2017 19:05:27] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Hold up....Hey Dream...were ya headed with that amo man?
The GMG ship had not heard them, or was avoiding talking to them, but there was no way he was gonna land that big ass ship on Leeds. He tapped his mic.
[23.03.2017 19:06:26] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Gonna be hard for him to land that thing.
[23.03.2017 19:06:31] 5th|John.Armada: Indeed.
[23.03.2017 19:06:45] 2017-03-23 19:06:45 SMT Traffic control alert: TheDream has requested to dock
They got readings the ship was docking at the Junker base near the Jump hole. He half did not like what he was seeing, but he remembered that people needing medical help were waiting for evac on Leeds. Something did not sit right with Frank about what it, but nothing he could do. He opened up the channel to Armada once again, and got ready to make and made Jump to Leeds.
[23.03.2017 19:06:49] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Damn Fart miners...
[23.03.2017 19:06:58] 5th|John.Armada: Junkers are to be found everywhere, huh?
[23.03.2017 19:06:59] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Could have followed us in if he had any balls.
[23.03.2017 19:07:36] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: yea..yall bitchin about us...but them junkers are far worse than we will ever be man... We just like to race and raise a little
[23.03.2017 19:07:42] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: hell every now and then
[23.03.2017 19:07:50] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Kill a few cast
[23.03.2017 19:08:30] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: You know AFC hates the Cardi smugglers more that you guys do...
[23.03.2017 19:08:47] 5th|John.Armada: I hardly can believe that.
[23.03.2017 19:09:17] 5th|John.Armada: Then again you guys haul Artifacts. Which is as bad as hauling cardamine.
They were now coming up within range of Leeds, and he was about to keep jabbering with Armada, but his copilot let him know they had clearance and coordinates for reentry. It was time to get down to business.
[23.03.2017 19:09:24] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Alright, I got comms on to the resistance. Off load should be quick, We got 18 causalties and 32 Refugees to haul out this run.
[23.03.2017 19:09:56] 5th|John.Armada: Very well.
[23.03.2017 19:10:14] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: You aint seem me haulin that stuff...thats for sure. Every member does his own thing Bro. But you guys judge us all by the
[23.03.2017 19:10:28] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: same prism no worries..all right ..here I go..keep watch.
[23.03.2017 19:10:35] 5th|John.Armada: Well because it seemingly is no problem to your authorities.
As the Voyager entered the atmosphere he lost radio contact, and it was just as well, as he could not really tell what it was the navy man was trying to say. The offload and reload went quick. People on the ground had gotten very good at being very quick on the landing pads. Within a few minutes, they were heading back out towards Leeds Orbit. He picked up Armadas radio signal again.
[23.03.2017 19:12:34] 5th|John.Armada: A GMS just arrived around Leeds, you might wanna move, before the Gallics arive.
[23.03.2017 19:12:53] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Copy that...
After all was said and done, he was glad Armada had been there. He made motions for his copilot to do a direct transfer of credits to make up for Armadas spent fuel.
[23.03.2017 19:13:19] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Looks like we got out just in time.
[23.03.2017 19:13:33] 5th|John.Armada: Right so. Damn Leeds looks completely scarred...
[23.03.2017 19:13:52] /givecash 5th|john.armada 2500000
[23.03.2017 19:13:52] You have sent 2.500.000 credits to 5th|john.armada
[23.03.2017 19:14:01] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Some cash for the gas you spent.
[23.03.2017 19:14:15] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: I know yalls quartermasters are pretty stingy
[23.03.2017 19:14:22] 5th|John.Armada: Well, thanks.
[23.03.2017 19:14:40] 5th|John.Armada: Well if you only knew...*he laughs briefly*
Frank got an update from one of the field medics that came aboard with the injured. It was not good news. He would have to head to New London if they were going to have a chance at another sunrise.
[23.03.2017 19:15:10] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Looks like two of these Refugees are pretty bad off. Might not make it all the way to Cambridge.
[23.03.2017 19:16:32] 5th|John.Armada: Then we better get them to New London
[23.03.2017 19:17:12] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Yea...copy that...just what I was thinking...I can make it from here Navy. **coughs** Thanks for flying cover. [23.03.2017 19:17:50] 5th|John.Armada: You're alright?
[23.03.2017 19:18:07] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: Yea...engines a bit fried...
[23.03.2017 19:18:18] 5th|John.Armada: Good fortune out there.
[23.03.2017 19:18:27] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: to many trips now...yep...see ya around
If anything, Frank thought that one day, he might even be able to slam a few drinks with the navy officer. Maybe once they kicked the gaylickers off of Leeds they would. He sent out a final comms to BAF, letting them know they were standing down, [23.03.2017 19:20:10] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: (Static) BAF we are safely back in NL, 18 causalties 32 refugees this time, a member of Liberties 5th flew cover for me.
[23.03.2017 19:20:16] {AFC}-The.Wilkinson[B]: The Wilkinson out.
And made the final motions to approach and Land on New London for emergency medical triage for the worst of his passengers. There would be a good bit of blood to clean out of hold this evening. He was not looking forward to it. He reached and grabbed a bottle of Whiskey from under his seat and took two long pulls on it. One for him and one for Armada, just in case they never got the chance.
Gambit, had made his way back to BP-66. He sat on the edge of his bunk, in his private quarters on one of the lower decks. He had gotten plenty drunk alone in his room, trying to use the alcohol to blur out and help him forget the last two runs into Leeds he had made. He barely remembered sending a transmission to the Bretonian government.
He could not get the screams out of his head. He looked at his hands and even though he had washed them at least 6 times, he thought he could still see blood in the creases of his skin and in between his fingers.
He had seen his share of blood in his lifetime. It had never bothered him. A soldiers blood was meant to be spilled, mopped up, honored and then you went out and fought again. In his younger days, so many years ago, he had spilled enough of it himself. That was a time so distant from where he was now. No one in the AFC knew about his stint with the Liberty Marines. His military service was not something he advertised or talked about. The dishonorable discharge, his stint in prison, had made him develop a rock hard outer crust that few things could puncture.
But the wailing of women and children, coming from the cargo area of his Voyager, with body parts blown off, the mangled cadavers, the smell of burnt flesh, had gotten to him. He wondered if he was getting soft. Every evac from Leeds had its own share of drama, but the last trip seemed to have broken something inside him
He took another swig of off his bottle of whiskey, and stared blankly at the wall in front of him. He just wanted the memories of the screaming and crying in his head to go away. He reached over to pick up a half smoke synth joint from the astray, when the communication speaker in his private suite chirped.
"(Beep.Beep,Beep) Gambit, the Prez needs to see you in the Black Cheery...(Beep.Beep.Beep)"
He had heard the message, it had registered in his brain. But he was slow on reacting to it, getting up and moving. He hoped that there were no issue to have to explain with Prez. He was not in the mood for an ass chewing. He took another pull off of his bottle, put the joint to his mouth, lit it and took a long drag and let his head hang between his shoulders. He sat for a few seconds more on his bunk looking at his boots. He had forgotten to clean them. They were still splattered with the blood of an innocent child and the brain matter of his mother.
Frank scooped water up from the sink, leaned over and splashed it onto his face a few times. He looked up and into the eyes of the image in the mirror in front of him. His thought wandered into an inventory of recent events.
He had lost a few pounds, there were heavy dark bags under his eyes. The months of constant flying were taking their toll on him physically. He had spent a month or more hunting down some tips Sunny had gotten on some derelict space stations with valuable Intel of some sort or another.
He knew it was punishment for mouthing off at him in the Cherry lounge. But he decided to take it in stride. He had needed a break from the carnage he was seeing on Leeds. He also managed to make a fair amount of credits off of gig. Finding 4 stations, and only telling Sunny about 3 of them, he made enough off of the Data on the one he kept quiet to help him fund his latest move. The time he spent surveying deep space had helped him get a clear picture as to how he felt and what he was going to do about it.
The first part of his plan had come to fruition at the cost of 750million credits. That thought brought him back out of his starring contest with himself. He blinked a few times, yawned and then grabbed the comb of off the sink and combed his hair back and straightened out his beard.
A slight bleeping sound chirped twice from the speaker in the bathroom.
He finished checking him self out in the mirror. He decided he looked better than he felt. "Go ahead" he said out loud.
"Sir..." a monotone voice started emanating from the speaker "..station security request a personal validation on a vessel requesting docking rights...it is the AFC-..."
"All AFC ships are to be granted docking rights." His reply was short and to the point. The crew of the station was still getting used to the change of ownership. There had been some house cleaning and by the end of the week 90% of the stations crew will have been replaced. "Hold all communications till I reach my office."
"Understood.."
He would have all day to authorize and sign things. He figured it would take a few more months before things settled into routine. It was costly, but much better situated to resupplying the resistance on Leeds. He still needed to figure out a few things, but all in all he knew things were as good as could be under the circumstances.
Walking down the hallway away from Sunny´s office, Frank in some small way felt a sense of liberation. He knew nothing was a certainty, but he could not help but smile at the thought of getting back to the New London system and finally being able to iron out the last few wrinkles that needed being pressed that would allow him to avenge some of the nasty deeds he has seen done on Planet Leeds.
As he made his way to the hanger, walking down hallways he supposed would or could be for the last time, he got nods, well wishes and a few slaps on the back, along with more that a few AFCers saying "Givem Hell Frank."
He reached his BWT, and realized that he would have to change the name and registration on it as soon as he left. He ran his fingers down the side of the ship as we walked towards the boarding hatch. He decided he would still call it The Huntsman and soon if all worked out, it would really be out hunting.
He boarded and made his way to the bridge. His crew seemed ready and eager, they had been loyal to a fault to him. "Everything ready to go?" he asked as he passed off his rucksack to one of the crew and sat down in his custom made captains chair.
"Yea Frank, ready when you are." answered the man at the ship controls.
"Ok gents...anyone not ready to die needs to get off now, this is some serious shizzle were going to get into, and I can not promise that we all make it back. Last chance to get off, no shame in it, if your hearts not in it." He said, and waited for someone to say something.
The crew was all turned and was looking in his direction, mostly large grins on their faces, "We aint going no where but with you Frank." said someone behind him, which was followed up by a chorus of "Hell ya."
"Then get us the frack out of here, first stop is Ames, we need to change the ship designation and as much as I hate to do it, take our AFC colors off the ship. Hopefully when we come back towards liberty it will be covered in Frog blood."
Leaving Blackport 66, Frank did not care much about what Sunny would think when he saw that BP66´s cache of alcohol had been greatly diminished. The booze, tobacco and the one case of Cigars, he decided to leave the last case of cigars so Sunny would have something to smoke, would go along way at keeping The Stede Bonnet flush with the necessities that any respectable Pub needs.
Most businesses on New London were finding it very hard to keep stocks of even the basic sorts of supplies, now that the trade lanes between Bretonia and Liberty were very close to being shut down by the Gallic bastards. Alcohol and things to smoke, were for some, above what you would consider basic needs.
The crew of the The Huntsman had steered the ship towards Ames Reaserch station, docked and with in a few hours was back underway, the ship re-registered with clean papers and identification transponders. They now had no affiliation with the club, and for some on board, taking off their cuts and putting them in storage, was a painful moment, even to an extent for Frank.
The rest of the trip to the New London system was uneventful, except a Rouge contact they picked up in the Colorado system. They decided to dock on Pueblo Station, till the stations long range scanners gave them the all clear, and shortly afterward were underway again.
Arriving at Planet New London, they were given clearance to dock. Shortly after Frank soon found himself walking down the narrow streets of the inner city, three of crew behind him with a couple of crates each of the alcohol they had brought with them, heading towards The Stede Bonnet.
Gambit sat in his office cabin, next to the flight deck of his ship, reading a communication sent to him by one of his old ship crews, that had decided to keep flying for AFC. It was troubling news, an alarm had been sent out station wide from Blackhack Hanger, to evacuate the station.
The crew of the Hard.Wood, had scrambled to get as much valuable equipment on board before they headed out to the safe harbor at Ames Research Station. There, the communication said, they grouped up with at least two other club ships and waited for an all clear to return to Blackport and Blackhack.
No communications ever came back to them. The waited for a few days, and then send out someone to survey the area where the bases should have been. There was nothing, no gun emplacements, no debris from a station explosion, nothing. Just some higher than normal black matter readings.
Frank shook his head, thinking that if the stations were gone, he had lost a lot of good friends, most likely from the result of some kinda of engine experiment gone bad. The worst of it was that the connections he was going to use, to further the cause of liberating Bretonia from the Frogs, were now all probably dead.
He thought for a good while and then tapped the comm speaker on his desk. "XO, change course and make way for the Bering System." As much as he was hesitant to put a foot on old Freeport2, he was going to have to take a chance and reach out to JimmyTheRat.
He typed up a comm and then sent it out. They could always change course if he got a bad feeling from the response.
He got up and walked out to the bridge, to explain to the crew the news he had gotten from Blackhack and Blackport, and why it was they were now heading to Bering. He was sure that they would not take the news well.
From 10k out, Gambit could see that the scenery around old Freeport2 now being called New Providence station, had changed dramatically.
"Gambit,....ah, I am reading weapons platforms placed around the station, they are tracking us, but have not powered up." the man on the sensor array said with a noticeable amount of tension in his voice.
"Easy does it Gents, bring us in nice and slow." Gambit replied as he look down at the Comm on his datapad that Jimmy the Rat had sent back to him. "Jimmy has given us a green light and says we are welcomed. Go ahead and hail the station, and get us cleared to land."
"Freeport2....Free.." the acting comms chair cut himself short, the station had a new name now. " ah....New Providence, New Providence....this is the Freelance BWT The.Huntsman.....we are requesting clearance to Dock copy?"
A few seconds later, they got an all clear to land. "Acknowledged Freelancer you are clear to dock, please proceed to docking bay 3"
"See guys....no worries...." He looked over to the man standing by his chair, "Get word out to all the crew, that we are to be on our best behavior, we might be here an hour, we might be here a day or two, but no fights, no one gets too drunk or out of hand." He spoke up to the crew on the bridge. "I know we are all wondering what happened out in Kepler to everyone we knew, but this is not the time or the place to take it out on anyone..no excuses, I expect everyone on their best behavior...EVERYONE CLEAR on that?" he said with a stern tone, as he noted everyone nodding an affirmation or giving a vocal "Aye...".
He reached over the side of his captains chair, and picked up and opened a soft leather documents case. He pulled out a list of the stock on board ship, as well as the report listing the salvaged items taken off of Blackport and Blackhack before they both vanished into the dark matter cloud. Most of the stuff on the list was stuff he and his crew had salvaged off of the Derelict stations Sunny had him out hunting. It made sense that they were able to get that stuff off, his old crews would know where they were stored, and how to get access to them.
He looked up to see that the ship was well inside the docking bay, with the doors closing behind them. He put the documents back into the leather pouch and slung the strap over his shoulder. He thought for a second, and took off his gun belt and blaster and tossed it on his chair. He would have to trust that Jimmy was on the up and up and that his word was as good as his reputation. "Don´t break anything while I'm gone..." he said to the crew with a smile, as he headed off the bridge towards the airlock stopping first to pick up a Box of Cigars to take with him.
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