"Hey Nickels, why don't you do that thing you do with a credit chip?"
At a circular table in a seedy bar, six men sat with two cards face down in front of each, as well as a stack of credit chips. "Nickels", a lithe man of 25, sat behind a generous stack of credits. He nodded to his brother, Josh, and picked a square chip with '5' imprinted on both sides from his stack. His eyes - brown to match his hair - took a far-off look as he deftly maneuvered the credit chip across the knuckles of his right hand. Nickels - or Jesse, as he is also called - surveyed the other four men at the table, thugs all. Most seemed to have not shaved in a week; one and all they had the glint of suspicion in their eyes - suspicion of too much winning. Nickels made brief eye contact with Josh - also called Nails - who gave an imperceptible nod, more the vertical flicker of his eyes than any head movement.
While his right hand had everyone's attention, his left was under the table, inching to the Double-Trigger Mini-Carbine, a small gun for the name from Detroit Munitions. Nails' right hand was under the table as well, no doubt easing into the ceramic dusters (think: brass knuckles). Nails gave another brief nod, and Nickels skipped to the end of his distraction - a roll from the pinky to the thumb, punctuated by flipping it like a coin.
On the flip, Nails, who was sitting directly across from Nickels, flipped the table to his right, knocking two of the guys momentarily out of commission whilst bringing the dusters out. His left hand darted for his ceramic switchblade - they passed most security undetected, and were stronger than steel. Nails got his moniker from being tough - he was as tall as Nickels, a lot wider, and all muscle. He jumped at the two to his left, while Nickels finished drawing his gun and jumped to his left, using the weapon more as a bludgeon than a gun. Rule #1 of bar fights: no guns.
About 15 seconds later, Nickels and Nails were at a dead run from the bar to the docking bay, Zoner security tight on their heels.
"I told you to leave your hustling and fast fingers over for once, Nickels, but do you listen? No..." Nails panted, a hint of a smile on Nickel's lips.
You know me cant resist
Rounding a corner, the duo came to the open doors to the landing bay. It was a largish room, filled with ships, mechanics, and the loud noise of hand-held welders, heavy machinery, and shouting that came with ships being under repair. Beyond the noise, it was easy to pick out their ships, parked next to each other in the exact middle of the floor. An Avenger and a Liberator. Both were devoid of any mechanics, showing their readiness for flight. Or maybe the deck hands hadnt gotten around to it, yet. Regardless, they jumped into the cockpits (Nails into the Avenger, Nickels into the Liberator) and slammed the engines in almost perfect unison, launching from the station in a fashion that more than likely violated any number of rules. The Zoner ships watched them fly out; firing a few warning shots but otherwise letting them go.
Their ships turned towards the trade lane to the Hamburg gate, and they flew on.
"I can't see why you can't play an honest game like the next guy." Nails said. His deep voice shaking Nickels headset. "I do it and I'm still pretty damn good, I guess that's because I have dad's intellect."
"And his muscle that's gone to his head." Nickels replied.
"Yeah, and one of these days the Zoners won't be so forgiving." Nails said watching the tradelane pass by. "We heading for Rhineland?" he said changing the subject.
"The board on the Freeport showed a mission avaliable from a wealthy landowner on Hamburg. Something about carting some passenger into Liberty. I'm not one for carting people around, but if the credits are worth it..." Nickels trailed off.
"How much?" Nails asked interested all of a sudden.
"500 thousand."
"For carting a passenger? Did you take a look at all the other information? That's an awful lot..."
"Not for someone high profile."
"I don't care Nickels, I don't like it. We need to stay on our guard."
"As always, you always were the paranoid one-"
"-and if I recall it's saved our bacon more than both the number of fingers on each of our hands."
"Touche good brother."
"Lets get to Hamburg quickly, I'm starving. I didn't even get to finish my dinner on the Freeport."
"You would be starving still, fatty."
"Fatty? Come on Jesse. I know that you're better than that. Don't be jelious of my wonderous muscle that attracts the ladies."
"Whatever, you can hardly fit inside that Avenger without scrunching your shoulders together."
Nails looked at his shoulders hunched down and tried extending them only to meet the edges of the cockpit."
"Whatever, lets get to Hamburg, I'm getting tired of your voice in my ears."
Nickels only laughed as they passed through the jumpgate.
2 weeks previously, Planet Denver, Colorado system
"You must be out of your mind," Nails said to Nickels. They stood in an alley between an insurance agency and a diner, bodies close so they could talk in whispers. Also, it was because the alley was narrow. Nickels had a few days worth of stubble, and a gaunt look of hunger stretched his skin tight. Nails was clean shaven, but had the same hungry look.
"Out of my mind? Look at us, bro! We haven't had a job in weeks, haven't eaten in days, our piece of s*** Hawks are about to be towed to impound because we can't afford to pay for a landing pad or fuel."
"I know, I know, I'm hungry too. But what you're proposing could get us a one-way ticket to Sugarland, or killed."
"Or we could starve to death."
Nails tried to throw his hands in the air, but the confined space forced him to settle for a grunt as a sign of his surrender.
"Good," Nickels said, glancing down the street. "It looks like they're about to start."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
An old military man stood behind a podium in front of a crowd of about 50 officers. They had commandeered part of a public park for the ceremony. On the podium was a pre-written speech, as well as two Purple Heart medals. He was at the end of his speech: "And so, it is with great honor that I present Captains Liz Warner and Robert Janeway the Purple Heart for..."
Off to the side, out of everyone's field of view (which was glued to the speaking man), were two ships: a Liberator and an Avenger. Two shadows stealthily boarded, one for each ship, going through an abbreviated pre-flight routine; as much as possible without starting the engines. The military man continued unawares: "... And it is also with great honor that I bestow these two new ships!" He gestured to the pair of ships. In unison, the crowd turned to look at them, and in unison they gasped when they saw the thieves.
"Jig's up, Nails, floor it!"
As security was alerted and started moving in, the duo powered the engines and rocketed off.
Just flying off the planet wouldve been stupid so instead, Nickels (in the Liberator) led them to a friend of his: someone who knew how to change a ships transponder and IFF illegally. Flying north and low, they landed on a cracked and old pad, weeds trying to worm their way through the crevices. Sirens sounded in the distance, either from the police or an ambulance, or both. The brothers looked at each other, then looked at the house and workshop that were built right up to the landing pad, on the west side.
A large black man one Seamus Freeman stormed out of the workshop, angrily preparing to give whoever had landed on his pad the rough side of his tongue. On seeing Nickels, however, his expression softened some. Nickels, he said in a deep voice, and your brother you always threaten me with. He gave Nails a neutral look while evaluating him; Nails returned the favor. After a moment of this, satisfied by what they had seen in the other, they broke the gaze, and Seamus addressed Nickels, So, to what do I owe this visit, he said, glancing at the ships. Oh no, you didnt obviously realizing what happened.
Oh yes we did, Nails said, And were here to see about changing the transponder and IFF.
Hmm well, I suppose I could, but it would cost you. Were talking about stolen Navy ships here, not your run-of-the-mill civilian or pirate ship. Both brothers looked at each other, concerned. They were out of money! Nickels, thinking fast, said, You know, I think wed rather do a trade. You can keep the Navy transponders you pull off our ships Im sure thats worth something to you?
Yes, it is, but I keep those anyways. Now, if you dont have money, you might as well just fly away right now. Im not taking IOUs or anything like that.
Nails looked at Nickels, shrugged, and pulled his gun on Seamus. Listen, youre going to change the transponder and IFF to Freelancer on both of the ships, or well find somebody else, because if you dont youll never change another transponder again, because youll either be dead or breathing through a tube.
An hour later, they lifted off from the planet, transponders and IFFs labeling them as Freelancers. They passed security measures undetected, as they flew up separately to avoid arousing suspicion.
1300 sharp, the exact time he said he would meet us here with the passenger. I swear if its a hostage sent to the slaughter by the Rogues, Im leaving.
For someone so big and bulky, you sure are a baby.
For someone so small, you sure do talk a lot of s***.
Touche.
Their contact called them as soon as they reached orbit and informed them to wait at this point on the planet to be approached. The idea was discomforting to Nails. This was the perfect place for an ambush, and an ideal place to not be heard if gunshots rang through the silent night sky. Nails wasnt afraid, he was confident that even with a bullet through his chest he could still take out who ever shot him first. However, the thought still sent small shivers up his spine.
Where is he? Nails asked again.
I dont know. Think it might be a set up? Nickels asked looking around with suspicion.
I dont know, maybe
Two gunshots rang in the silence and screaming down the street. As the two walked out they saw an expensive hovercar drop to the ground and land. A man climbed out and stumbled over to Nails. He collapsed in his arms, blood getting all over Nails shirt.
Jesse, quick, find help!
Were in the middle of fracking no where Josh! What do you want me to do scream for help? No one will hear us!
The man looked up at Nails with pain and only breathed his last breath and died in his arms.
Think this was the mission? Do dispose of the body? Nails asked Jesse with a dangerous stare.
Hey look, we need to get back to the meeting area, we have an arrangement to do.
Nickels ran back around the corner and Nails only looked at the dead man in the suit, now laying on the ground, the pool of blood growing around him.
May you find peace in the next world, stranger.
Nails ran back around the corner to find Nickels talking to a woman and a little girl. Turns out, there was a problem in the womans family. The husband was dangerous and was after the girl, wanted custody and wanted a flight out of Hamburg back into Liberty space. Nickels agreed and took the credits.
Do we need to still be on guard? Nickels asked with a stare of his own.
They had stashed their ships on a nearby pad, hidden behind a small building on a hill; close enough that they could run if need be, yet far enough that a potentially hostile employer wouldn't know where they were parked. 'Keep your cards close to your chest' their father had always said, and it was sage advice.
They led the mother/daughter pair to their ships and situated them in the aft section of Nails' Avenger, the larger of the two ships. The woman was of obvious Libertonian descent - probably from Los Angeles, by the accent - and was far from ugly, though short of beautiful. The daughter was an apparent mix of Rheinland and Liberty blood, and not quite four years old. Given the info on the father, Nickels and Nails assumed the same thing: Unioner, which would make moving through Bering a pain. With a look and a nod, they plotted a course through Hudson.
After the passengers were settled, Nickels took Nails aside, whispering: "Listen bro, burn the shirt. I don't know what we saw, and I don't care." He left it at that, and left to prep his ship.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Space, Planet Hamburg orbit
Their ships came through the docking ring on top of eachother, Liberator first. They could tell something wasn't right immediately. Two Rheinland Cruisers blocked the trade lanes to Alster and the Bering gate. A few wings of Wraths flew formation, and a pair of gunboats was directly in front of them. Civilian traffic was nonexistent. The comms crackled to life:
"Freelancer ships, you are under military arrest for the murder of a Rheinland Military Admiral. Surrender or be destroyed."
On private comms, Nails told Nickels: Don't go for the third lane, Jes... The Westfallen is at the end of it.
Then what? Surrender? No way.
Of course not. I heard talk of a Bering jump hole in that asteroid field, which explains Unioner attacks. Just pretend to surrender, and slam cruise.
The comms clicked as they switched back to 'Broadcast': "OK, we'll go quietly," Nails said, feigning a move to dock with the first gunboat. At the last second, he hit cruise and burned the gunboat's docking arm. Nickels pulled some fancy flying, out-turning the Wraths that were now scrambling to intercept. He was in cruise a moment later, and together they ran from a dozen Wraths to a rumored jump hole.
The Avenger and Liberator were moving fast, doing their best to sweep the asteroid field while keeping away from the Rheinland Military ships that were doing much the same. Luck was on the duos side, however, as the Unioners made it quite difficult for the Military to move with any speed.
After half an hour, the search was getting more difficult as the Unioners started falling back to their hidden base under the relentless tide of Military fighters. There was still no luck in finding it. Until
Hey Nails, why dont we follow some of those Unioners back to their nest? Im sure the jump hole is probably nearby.
A grunt was all he got, but Nickels took it for agreement. The next fleeing Unioners they came across, they followed. They could feel furtive backwards glances, but otherwise got no comments. It was a very quiet five minutes, neither brother daring to so much as breathe in anticipation. Then, instead of an abnormally sized and shaped asteroid, they found what they had been looking for the jump hole. Going through after the Unioner patrol, they found something bad.
A very angry-looking Unioner fighter wing, and they opened channels to demand what they were doing and why they had brought the Military crashing onto their doorstep.
"We barely escaped them! Yeah lets make a break for a jumphole surrounded by enemies!" Nickels screamed as they set their feet on cold metal inside Liberty space.
"We got away didn't we? Quit yer whinin'." Nails replied hanging up his flight suit. They had delievered the woman and child to the station and they both refused payment. "We have to get out of the house systems stat, the rhienland government wants to frame us for the death of the senator, and possibly cause an outbreak of war between the houses. Get your stuff."
As the two prepared to get their things together, several Liberty Navy men surrounded the two men at their ships.
"Jesse and Josh, aliases Nickels and Nails. You are under arrest for the murder of a Rhienland govenment offical. Come quietly..." said the one in front and was coming at the two slowly.
"Get ready..." Nails said, grabbing the gun at the back of his belt.
Nickels knew the run-down. He tried his best to distract the Navy. "Murder of a Rheinland government official? But there must be some mistake, we've never been to Rheinland before, let alone killed someone there. Are you sure you've got the right ships?" He could almost feel Nails' grip tightening on his gun, and knew that fast-talk for once was going to be cut short. There were about eight men, and more likely on the way. Turning this into a brawl would likely end badly for the brothers. They needed something else, something...
An explosion rocked the landing pad on Houston, somewhere in the spaceport, and close. Another one, farther off, with billowing clouds of smoke rising. Sirens started to sound, and the brothers took advantage of the guards' momentary confusion. Nails' gun was out in a flash, and Nickels (who had to actually reach down to pull it out) was a second behind. A few short seconds later, and the guards were all on the ground, dead as a doornail. If they hadn't committed any crime yet, they just had.
Another huge explosion. They didn't stick around to find out what was going on, but slammed into their ships and took off, running back south to Hudson. It was the fastest way out, and Nickels knew this guy...
"What the hell is going on?" Nails yelled into the reciever as Nickels was tailing him.
"Not exactly sure bro, I'm thinking it has something to do with what happened on Hamburg." Nickels replied.
"The guy who got shot?"
"Yeah, he was in a suit right? It's possible who ever did it saw you there and used the advantage in framing us both."
"Son of a...alright we gotta get out of the house systems."
"I think I know somebody we can go to...I believe he just helped us with escaping."
"You don't mean-"
"Yep, we're heading to Buffalo."
"Bloody hell Jess, we're not heading into the thick of Liberty, certainly not at a time like this. That's suicidal."
"Either we stay here in Texas, balls out in the middle of space, or we hide in the junk field to have the Junkers rat us out for a nice paycheck-"
"Alright, alright...I get the point. But the second I see anything funny, I'm jumping out of there faster than you can get that nickel out of your pocket."
"I doubt that."
"Never doubt me."
"Oh shut up, lets get out of here before we attract more unwanted attention."
They took the road less traveled, more to avoid notice from any Navy or Police ships than for the poetic value. Swinging down to the Hudson gate along the trade lanes, they disconnected halfway through and swung through the debris and radiations fields, taking it up north, past the sun, past Beaumont, on to the New York jump hole. On the other side was Buffalo, the infamous Rogue base.
Through the jump hole was a purple-black field of obsidian shards, black as midnight, even when illuminated by the occasional burst of lightning that was set off by oppositely charged gas pockets striking. It was a dangerous place, and sensors were crippled by the hostile effects. Of course, Buffalo was close enough that it didn't matter; they could see it from the jump hole.
"I still think this is a bad idea..." Nails said, restating what he had been saying almost the entire trip.
"Yeah, me too a little... but it's the only way we got to go."
Their ships flew up and requested permission to dock. Nickels didn't think the Rogues would take kindly to their ships (ships of their enemies), but hopefully some explanation could set them straight. Hopefully. All of the sudden, Nickels didn't feel so good...