Sub-routines flared into life in the Eagle's dormant brain.
FIRST LAW PROTOCOL ACTIVATED... RESPONDING TO DISTRESS CALL...
INCOMING TRANSMISSION
COMM ID: Artificial Intelligence "Isaac"
LOCATION: Languedoc System
TARGET ID: Austin Goodmen
Greetings, Mr Goodmen. My name is Isaac. I am responding to your distress call according to the First Law. Please give your approximate location within the Orkney system.
===Leeds system Freelance gunboat Niagra Falls=====
"bulls eye" Mcgovern was in the ships armory when the comms terminal buzzed,it was Sammy Watson the Conn Officer" what is it sam?" he asked as he reasembled his pistol and the young women replyed" ita distress Call Roy,from a erm Liutenant commander Goodman,Austin frapprently its in orkney" roy set the sidearm down and did a double take at the feed from the bridge of the message signel" did you say Austin goodman?" the girl replyed" well yeah,whats so importan-" roy cut her off" contact jimmy,his friends in trouble il lbe on the bridge in 20 minutes youve got 10 to Transmit and get us clerence,Armory out" 20 minutes later roy was on the bridge and the gunboat sped off weveing inbetween moderate traffic
The Gon'Shar made it's way into the Orkney system, a system they had charted months before. They slowed to max impulse to allow for better tracking.
"Lt. Vuldar, what do you find?" asked Korg of his communication's officer.
"I am still pinpointing, Sir," he responded.
"Keep me posted," Korg ordered, "I will stay at impulse until you find something.
"Lt. Commander Goodman, this is the mercenary ship Gon'shar, please respond," called out Vuldar.
He kept repeating this message, looking for a response.
Freeport 6, Tau-29 on board the Cruiser [color=#FFFF66]"Vengance"
Bannon: Sir, a distress signal has just been activated coming from the system Orkney.
Sitting from his command chair, a tall, brown colored-man dressed in a yellow uniform of a Zoner was checking his nav maps. The captain was very eager to see who it was.
"Play it for me , Bannon."
Quote:This is Lieutenant Commander Austin Goodmen, Alpha 2-2345-45, Bretonian Armed Forces. If anyone is receiving this please send aid. I repeat, please send aid. This is message repeats.
"Hmm, the BAF. Whats he doing in Orkney. Don't we have a trading mission there?"
Bannon, his navigator and personal bodyguard replied with utmost excitement, "Why yes sir."
"See if you can locate that ship. And load up my ship with extra supplies. We're going to Orkney."
The young man had switched ships as he sent out a encoded message deep out of Sirius space, after alerting and asking help come his contacts in one of the surrounding systems he proceed into one of the field in no set direction at all as one of Ion Storms were about to hit. He sent out a message out hoping one of them would pick it up.
"Me and Bridge are out looking for you two and Goodmen...... you still owe me a rematch."
He'd take shelter from the storm in the Orkney system.
"The Stokes lane is closed to any outbound trade. All traffic to the Tau's must be redirected to the Edimburg system."
"Safe fly."
"Samura ships, you are violating Her Majesty space and are now under arrest. Comply or face destruction."
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Attention please. A corsair gunboat is spotted within the current system and you are strongly advised to dock in safety while the threat is being dealt with our forces."
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
Bridge have issued such greetings and warnings countless times since he joined the BAF. And he means them most of the time, but not today. Like many other he have received that distress call, the one that Countess Tarrant was begging Lieutenant Commander Goodmen to activate one day before. One day already, maybe one day too late. Most probably the beacon started automatically, which imply that Goodmen was too exhausted to prevent the emission, which imply...
"Greetings. This is Ensign Martin Bridge from the BAF. Would you please cut your engines while I perform a cargo scan ?"
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"No piracy reported in Omega 3 system, do you require an escort anyway ?"
"safe fly."
"Safe fly.
"Any license fees for military vehicles, wich includes light arms, enhanced ammo and nuclear material are to be adressed to BPA Hauberk. "
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
Anyway, Goodmen made his choice. But did the Countess really made her own ? Despite all his effort to call her back, she only listened to her feeling and natural stuborness. At least, her ship engines are still functional. But this is not really a good news. The Lieutenant Commander can't leave the Orkney system, which will help the rescue team. Meanwhile, the Countess is still able to fly a war zone alone, and Bridge knows well how the Tau systems could be a trap for any and all Bretonian, especially one from her rank.
"You are fined 400c per unit, half payable to the Liberty government and Bretonia Crown. Furthermore you are prompted to drop your cargo. Now."
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Not today Adama."
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Incoming attack !"
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly-safe fly-safe fly-safe fly-safe fly-safe fly-safe fly-safe fly."
But would there be any rescue team anyway ? A whole fleet would be required to locate them successfully, and such a large team could not travel Tau 31 without flashing plain red on the battleship Yamaguchi scanner. And if not stuck in Tau 31 by the KNF, that bloody Colonial republic would have plenty of time to ambush in Tau 23.
"Bridge."
Additionally the BAF have no spare forces to send after a defuncting officer and a pig-headed teenager in the first place. Commander Gilead told him so yesterday, and sadly it is true. All available men are needed in the Core systems. Best luck would be the Zoners or the Outcasts to catch them first. Because if the Republic, or Kusari - or worse, Kithe - locate them before... And what about those foreigners from beyond the minef...
"BRIDGE !"
"Yes Lieutenant !" replied the said Ensign, instinctively saluting Mountbatten.
"Good ! At ease. Now that I have your attention, you will set course to Leeds and assist the on-site BPA about the S lane blocade."
"Understood Sir... I mean, Madam." The Stokes lane. Again. Lieutenant Mountbatten frowned.
"Bridge, you better should not attend the happy hour tonight. You don't look good."
"I wont Madam."
"Now dismiss."
"Yes Madam."
"The Stokes lane is closed to any outbound trade. All traffic to the Tau's must be redirected to the Edimburg system."
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Sorry Universal, I'm busy elsewhere. Deal with it yourself, I'll send you backup when available."
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"The Stokes lane is closed to any in - errr outbound trade. All traffic to the Tau's must be... Oooh dear, I already told you that !"
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Savins, do you speak Rheinlander ?"
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Safe. Fly."
An incoming transmission disturbed Bridge from his safe fly duty. Few words were exchanged, however they were still spinning in his mind for long minutes after the communication ended. Though he was still functional in some way, an insidious urge was growing inside.
"Safe fly."
"Safe fly."
"Yeaah safe fly, you know that already !"
"Safe... Aaaah, f*** this !"
A quick LR scanner check showed no officer on space, and his overzealous BPA mates were shouting after a molly bystander. A perfect time to sneak past them and double check Orkney again.
"Well, I'm off. See you mates. Derby, I have to report to McDuff about blocade runners and newly approved suppliers, keep a fresh beer for me."
"Aknowledge. You are clear to leave."
"See you Ensign." replied a constable before focusing again on the nearby red IFF.
Then Bridge entered the Edimburg lane and programmed his route. Edimburg, Tau 31, Tau 23, Orkney, low active threats in these systems. "Allright ladies and gentlemen," whispered Bridge as he shutted down his transponder, "this time you will come with me either from your free will, either in your escape pod !"
-------------------------------
//on an OORP note, kudos to the heterogeneous rescue team I found there, if not for that ion storm I would have spent way more time here !
Austin opened his eyes to an all to familiar sight, the beautiful system of Orkney. Though the reason to which woke him up was jumbled transmissions being sent his way. Transmissions from either a rescue party or a hostile search party.
He decided it was about time to respond. After all, they were getting annoying.
"Good day lads, the system looks mighty fine from this view." He said lightly, almost cheerful. "However, I'm afraid my life support systems are nearly exhausted. Plus it's bloody starting to get colder. All I can give right now is a bloody gun-cam footage of my location, seems that's the only thing working at the moment. Uploading now."
Lafiel was shocked that she had suddenly become the target of Serena Kithe to take back as a hostage to be ransomed. Now she was after two targets one to be making a profit from one to be killing. Lafiel had screamed various things at her making her only laugh.
Lafiel sobbed to herself it was hopeless goodmen had finally given a closer location north quadrant two.
after hours of searching there was a blip then another blip until scanners locked onto a target.
Lafiel Jumped with joy and happiness.
She quickly opened coms channel to the military screaming with joy, " I found him I found him I found him I found goodmen. Sector 3A. acknowledge."