Tony brought in the bottle of Champagne from the bar. The Gallic ones. Rare and overpriced, but they were certainly worth every credit. He sat down in a table with Ray as a waiter came by, popped open the bottle and poured the expensive juice into their pricey glasses. He relaxed on the sofa sofa as he sipped on the champagne.
"You know, they got a whole system named after this drink somewhere over at Gallia." - Tony
Ray nodded, as he looked onto the drink, deciding whether or not the occasion was worth getting drunk at.
The two had recently left their Navy careers. It was time for these two to put their skills to something more useful. Something that would give them some decent money (if not women).
The Navy had started a special forces training operation roughly a year before. The Liberty Army had the SEALS, Rangers, and Delta Force, thus the Navy experimented and began their own unconventional special forces and created a program with 2 squadrons. The war with Rheinland had started then, it was a logical decision. The program was designed to attack Rheinland military installations and defence systems in anticipation for a Liberty invasion, which was estimated to occur in about 2 to 3 years since the war started as well as ambush strategic locations and people and for general recon. Unfortunately, standard issue Liberty space craft, such as the Guardian were evaluated, and did not meet the programs minimum requirements. After submitting a report to the Ministry of Defence requesting additional funds for the creation of completely new space craft available onto to this squadron, in order for the unconventional tactics needed for the program to work. This request was not only denied, the Secretary of Defence cancelled the program, mentioning it was unneeded and LSF's reconnaissance was enough to get the job done.
Most of the pilots from the 2 squadrons returned to their former units. Anthony (Tony) "Fubar" Lennox and Ray "Logic" West however, chose to leave the Navy instead. Both of them had joined straight after high school, and 10 years on, their lives hadn't gotten any better.
With the death of Tony's hundred millionaire grandfather however, he inherited enough for notonly his own ships, but Ray's as well, and the two set out on their own journey, creating a small Private Military Company.
After 2 drinks, Tony popped 'the question'.
"So I was thinking Lennox-West Military Solutions would be a pretty good title..." - Tony
"You're sh*&%ing me right," - Ray
"Alright man relax, we'll make it West-Lennox Mili-" - Tony
"Nah man, you're not gettin' my point. The hell is with everyone using their last names to start off everyone of their companies? Its so damn overused." - Ray
"Oh. Got any better ideas then." - Tony
"Yeah...lets just name after the squadrons." - Ray
"Spectres and Spirits? You serious? Coz' I don't think people are gonna take us seriously." - Tony
"Yeah well, they can go to hell as far as I'm concerned. Its a part of who we are." - Ray
"I'm in." - Tony
And in a conversation which took less than 30 seconds, Their new PMC's title was decided. There was only one thing left to do before they called it a night.
"You wanna try it?" - Tony
"Try wha- oh, doubt its gonna work though." - Ray
"I've got my eyes on that blonde there. She it just might work on her." - Tony
"No girl's that dumb." - Ray
"Aiite' well I dunno' bout' you, but I'm going in for the kill." - Tony
Tony got up and walked over to the blonde he mentioned. As he did so, Ray decided he might as well give it a shot. He got up and spotted his prey, and moved in for the kill.
"Sorry buddy, but I've already got myself an architect, I doubt you have a chance." The woman said, whilst smirking.
"I really doubt he can come close to comparin' to me honey." - Ray
The woman decided to give him a chance, and turned slowly to see a towering and imposing, but gentleman-like figure.
"Oh really..." She said slowly whilst biting her lips.
"What do you do?..."
"Oh nothing much, just a merc...with Navy Special Forces training." - Ray
"Oh, so you one of them top gun boys huh?"
"Well I wouldn't say top gun but-" - Ray
"I'll stick with the architect in that case."
The women got off the bar, in search of her man. Ray wasn't disheartened, he expected this. That's why all his fellow flyboys back in the program gave him the call sign "Logic". Tony was given "Fubar" as his call sign since he was the only person in the program to successfully crash his craft whilst not under pressure.
Ray walked back to his table, and found a credit card lying there. He couldn't comprehend it.
Once again, the bar the was scene. Tony knew the special forces line would work, it was after all, true. His new-found company, Spectres & Spirits however still had room for one more person, and his intention was to have it filled.
"Mr. Lennox?"
"Yeah, that's me, your the intern right?" - Tony
"Yes sir, I-" - Intern
"You can relax, this isn't the military and this company is to damn small for me to care about formalities." - Tony
"Oh...ok, well I was saying I wasn't an intern, I applied for a full time job." - Intern/Job applicant
"Well that's even better now isn't it?" - Tony
Tony sat down with the applicant and ordered some drinks, while the applicant set out all her papers and documents. Tony read her resume just the night before and decided this was the best candidate to be both his and Ray's Support Operative. The support operative would inform Ray and Tony about the bounties, keep them up to tabs with Sirius News and more bounties, and in the near zero chance on an invincible enemy, she would analyse the data given to her through the Neural Net connection, and find a weakness for whatever invincible thing they just might end up fighting. The job wasn't simple, but her resume made it seem simple. But she was lacking something crucial.
"Well, what can you tell me about yourself." - Tony
"Well it was all there in the resume, rest assured everything in the resume is true." - Job applicant
"Yeah, but your you don't have the experience, and that's what I'm worried about. There's another applicant that I'm particularly interested in other than yourself, and she's got the experience to honey."
The woman raised her eyebrows when Tony called her 'honey'. Tony was testing her, he made up the 'other applicant' to see whether this inexperienced 'honey' could get stuff done under pressure.
"Well, sir, experience can only take you so much. She may have the experience, but I've got the skills, besides, its your first time in the business too."
Suddenly the applicant looked embarrassed, but Tony laughed it off. It was his first time in the business. Even though with all his training, he was still a virgin of real war.
"Heh, relax, you got the job. I was just seeing if you could handle stuff under pressure. I wouldn't exactly say you passed the test, but I'm sure we can work it out. What's your name by the way, you didn't exactly mention than in your resume..."
The applicant choked in more embarrassment. Tony realised this girl was too stuck up, but perhaps that was a good quality.
"Oh, my apologies, I'm Sibylla Wade."
"Well, glad to meet you Sibylla. You've got the job, but before we move on, do you have any questions?" - Tony
"Yes...why is this company named Spectres and Spirits?" - Sibylla
"This company was named after Navy squadrons which were later disbanded. Both were part of the same unit. Spectre squadron dealt with the heavy hard hitting work, where as Spirit squadron was used as a light recon force."
"That's interesting, sir."
"Sibylla, if were gonna work together, I'd rather you refer to me as Tony, instead of 'Sir', after going through with crap like that in the Navy, I am honestly tired of it."
"Oh I apologize, I guess I'll have to get used to it...Tony."
With the deal finally made, Spectres & Spirits was finally ready to go. This was where the real job began.
Sibylla got hold of a microphone that was dropped from the ceiling of the Bridge. She looked out the windshields of The Luxembourg, a newly commissioned Luxury Liner where Spectres & Spirits set up their new office. She had gotten a loan from a well off Junker who loaned them 200 Million credits. Sibylla used the money to invest in several independent traders dealing in arms and military vehicles throughout Sirius. They were already earning millions each day.
"Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen."
Ray and Tony looked at the transmission screen on their ships to see Sibylla grinning at them. Ray ignored it, but Tony wasn't called "Fubar" for no reason.
"Ladies? Is that the bes-"
"Well you did make me the Administrator of Spectres & Spirits, which means I get to be on top."
Tony grinned as Sibylla realised what she just said.
Tony and Ray's ships docked with The Luxembourg and as they exited their fighter/bomber, they looked at the face of luxury and style as chauffeurs picked up their baggage and lead them to their rooms, in floating seats. Never in their life (especially in the Navy) had they been pampered to this extent. Ray, once again, didn't care.
"Damn....Sibylla, you've outdone yourself." Tony said, still in a surprised look. Another transmission screen popped up from the ceiling of the hallway showing Sibylla's face, she was glad Tony was satisfied.
"So Ray, how do ya' like this?"
Ray looked at the woman who only a month ago treated him as an officer in the Navy. She was suddenly more confident and relaxed. He could tell she was proud that she achieved this much in just a month, something he agreed he couldn't do himself. He let his facial expression talk, although it still left Sibylla noticeably confused whether he expected more from her or not.
Half an hour later, the two mercenaries joined with Sibylla in their new and shockingly pristine office with a large view of what was going on outside the ship. These kind of offices were only found in the offices of the 'Big 3' companies in Manhattan.
"Sibylla, is an office this large even necesary?" Ray wondered whether their income would even sustain such expensive as their office.
"Tony." Sibylla turned her swivel chair to his direction. "Two days ago, you fended off an attack by a Rheinland Battleship in Texas." Tony looked confused, thinking she had the wrong information. "Sib, I didn't fend of an attack by it, another Liberty Navy bomber pilot showed up and the Rheinland Battleship left, if you were talking about the two gunboa-" Sibylla interrupted abruptly "Yeah well our clients don't need to know that."
Ray and Tony looked impressed at Sibylla, she seemed as though she already knew how the business ran. Either way, Ray looked over the expenditures, debt and the income they were getting, and they weren't just getting enough, they were getting more than enough. Within the next week, their debt, which they still had 2 months to repay would be gone. "Sibylla how is this even possible...you don't have an MBA." Sibylla looked at Ray, deciding whether or not she should tell him. "My dad was a businessmen, he had an MBA, and instead of spend more money to send me off to college, he taught me everything, throughout my life. He would take me to his business meetings, even give me his own home made exams." Ray looked on to an already experienced individual. She had earned his respect, something only those who fought alongside him for whatever reason would earn.
Tony went on to the viewing port, he looked at the sun and the several planets in the Coronado system, they made an aura of different colors and shapes and glows in The Barrier. Sibylla joined him, without him noticing. She began to remember her mother, who had unfortunately died in the Nomad War as she was a child. The Kusari garrison stationed at Planet Honshu had decided evacuation their soldiers, who had given an oath to die for their country, and emperor was more important than the helpless civilians would were caught amongst the Rheinland orbital bombardment. She never vowed revenge, but her father was never the same. She asked the Blood Dragons if Spectres & Spirits could be given permission to collect bounties in Kusari against the government forces, and they accepted. She had just sent word about this to her father, she didn't know how he would react. She had nothing against the ordinary soldiers and police of Kusari, but she didn't want the Shogun to go unpunished for his crimes. She didn't know whether this was a significant point in her life right now, but she decided she would wait for the moment.
Tony turned his head and saw Sibylla standing next to him, she looked back at him too. "Finally you notice." Tony laughed, "Sorry, never thought I'd be this rich in life ya' know." Sibylla laughed alongside, her life was like this even before she came to Spectres & Spirits, but unlike the rich of Manhattan or Los Angeles, she knew how to treat other people what they deserved. She knew both Ray and Tony deserved this. Mercenaries and Freelancers usually didn't earn this much, but she believed the fat traders simply took all the money for themselves. She only took contracts where they would earn decent money, because Ray and Tony earned it.
"Mr. West, Mr. Lennox, Miss Wade is requesting you at her office." The comm unit in both their rooms played the message. As Ray got out of his room, he checked up on Tony, who abruptly told him to 'eff off'. He went straight to the office and saw Sibylla smiling as though they just made the deal of a lifetime.
"Well, check these beauties out." She opened the transmission screen from her desk while Ray sat down. "Wheres Tony?" She asked authoritatively. "Sleeping, don't bother him, he went up against 4 gunboats last night trying to protect a miner who fled and didn't contact him back for his payment." Sibylla looked impressed, but she couldn't believe it. "He took all those boys down?" Ray wondered how to answer her question, and in the end he remained blank. Sibylla was used to his non responsive personality by this point, and she showed him what she had in store for the both of them.
"I contacted a junker and-" Ray cut off Sibylla as she tried to speak. "You contact a lotta' junkers you know that. I don't like Junkers, you can't trust 'em." Sibylla felt insulted as she was cut off and as Ray questioned her sources, who were responsible for getting them to the position they were presently. "Anyway, I contacted a junker a few weeks ago. He managed to get me something relatively rare...but before you question its quality, I did get ALG Waste Disposal to check it through just in case it was faulty or somehow had radiation all over it. It was clean, and works pretty well to." She waited for Ray to ask what it was, but his question never came. She sighed as she continued. "Its a little experimental suit designed by the Gallic Royals for one of their ace squadrons operating against the Council." Ray suddenly got interested, but he was wondering how they'd get their hand on something as rare as this. "How exactl-" It was Sibylla's turn to cut him off. "Well that squadron got shot down after they were overpowered by numerous Council forces, but the Council never bothered retrieving the suits. Gallic Royal Police managed to get their hands on it though, and thats where the Junker came in." Ray looked impressed. Everyone in Sirius knew how corrupt the Gallic Royal Police was.
Sibylla showed Ray the contents of the suit, what it could do and what it couldn't. Ray looked impressed, the suit wouldn't guarantee them a 100% in battle since it was still experimental, but it certainly increased their chances.
Suddenly, alarms started going off all over The Luxembourg. "Attention guests, we have been ambushed by a few Outasts, do not be alarmed, our highly qualified escorts are working on them right now." Tony smashed the slide door open in the office, he looked like he puked. "THERES 10 OF THEM AND 2 OF US, GET OUR THERE NOW DAMMIT!"
Sibylla joined the other guests at the view as the dogfight began. She saw 2 Falcata's, and now she was worried. The other guests simply entertained themselves at the dogfight, not knowing they could actually get killed.
"Break! Break!" Anthony screamed as a Mini Razor barely missed his hull. There was a fighter on his tail keeping his shields down, whilst another Hacker fighter attempted to take him out in a single shot. Ray tried to keep the fighter off Tony's back, but he had another 2 on his tail. A navy patrol managed to drop by and shot down one of the bombers, but there was still another one, and with the help of the other Hacker fighters, it was causing serious damage to shields.
"This is the Captain, were low on shields, soon were gonna take hull damage and thats BAD for business dammit!" The Captain said with a sense of urgency. "Were doing the best we can thank you very much!" Tony replied sarcastically. Ray moved his ship into position for the Broadsword which was attempting to position itself above The Luxembourg. The remaining Hacker fighters were devoting all their fire power towards taking down the shields. Ray had to deal with fire coming from two directions, the fighters on his tail and the Broadswords turrets. Ray decided to take his chance. Whilst swirling around constantly dodging shots, he closed his eyes hard. When he opened them, he fired his Mini Razor hoping it would hit the bomber. The razor did, but it only took down his shields. "Dammit piece of!-" Ray hit his head on the console, bleeding.
And then the Broadsword exploded in flames as Ray looked on, he couldn't believe his eyes. An Eagle passed by, he checked his scanners...Sibylla Wade. "Tony! Since when did she learn to fly!?" He barked surprisingly? "What!?" Tony's fighter flew straight above Ray's going in the opposite direction, Ray let out his guns, as did Tony as they flew in the opposite side.. It didn't take down any more fighters, but it gave them time. A Bretonian patrol arrived in the scene and began to fire it's towards the Hackers, who began to retreat. The most intense engagement of both Ray's and Tony's life had just ended.
They both proceeded to dock on The Luxembourg and ran to the Office. Tony saw two dark suits, but Ray wondered where Sibylla was. He went back to the docking bay and looked for all the ships who had docked, Sibylla wasn't one of them. "Tony, I thought you said she couldn't fly." Ray asked, Tony looking just as surprised. "What the hell are you talking about? She can't, she told me herself!" Still confused whilst looking at the suits and wondering what Tony was on about. "She flew, she took down the bomber, now she's gone..." Tony looked at Ray, a deep sorrow enveloped his face. "She's...She's gone." Suddenly, being a mercenary and earning more than they ever could've dreamed of didn't look so fun.