The Diary of a Space Scoundrel: Rude Awakening
23 Mar 2020Seth Bradwell
Around 4amMy sleep is disturbed by the sound of explosions which cause the floor in my quarters in Moon Dock to shake. I sit up just as another massive bang nearly throws me out of my bed. Then the warning siren starts to sound, and the PA speakers chirp into life:
"Attention residents. Moon Dock is under attack. Remain calm and head to the nearest refuge area. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill."
I scramble out of my quarters following the illuminated signs to my hab block's shelter, trying to keep steady on my feet as explosions continue to shake the ground beneath me. After what seems like an eternity I make it to the refuge with the rest of my block, all looking as bewildered as each other. I watch the holoscreen as the attackers, four Pythons, two Fer-de-Lances and an Anaconda pummel Moon Dock with a hail of explosives and plasma, whilst the base's own defence turrets and skimmers criss-cross the sky with their own weapons as they desperately try to fight back. Why are there no Authority pilots, or any defence force, I wonder? My wondering ceases when the camera pans over to see the hangers with their pads all blown apart, meaning no pilot can take off. It then takes a wider view of the base where I note the wreckage of six Vipers scattered across the area. This was the work of a professional, I realise. Suddenly a massive explosion knocks everyone off their feet, and the holoscreen goes dead, along with the main lights. Everyone scrambles to their feet as the emergency lighting flickers into life. I hunker down, realising there is nothing that can be done, feeling utterly helpless. Another PA announcement:
"Residents of Moon Dock. Please remain calm. Our defence systems are trying to draw fire away from the habitation zones and a squadron has been dispatched to repulse the attackers. In the meantime please do not panic and remain in your refuges."
I pick up one of the data slates that are provided to help residents pass the time whilst in refuges, and try and get information on the news. Galnet is down, so I resort to reading a novel from the base's intranet to try and keep occupied. This is going to be a long morning.
6:30 am
"Attention residents. This is the all-clear. Residents can now leave their refuges. We thank you for your patience." The PA announces. I emerge outside to a base scattered with debris, and the way to the main commercial area all blocked off. I try going around, walking around to neighbouring hab blocks, only to encounter more signs of devastation. "You won't be getting anywhere at present - at least not for a few hours." A security guard informs me. I return to my quarters, which have thankfully survived intact - pilot's quarters tend to be spartan since they only enter them to sleep, spending most of their waking lives in their ships, so no valuables to break, and the furniture is made of functional, heavy-duty material that can withstand plenty of punishment. Some pilots prefer to live in their ships full time anyway, but having a place in a hab block indicates a sense of belonging, and you usually get a view of the planets outside, even if your quarters are underground, thanks to hologram virtual windows. I try to connect to Galnet again - no luck, and try and connect to the local radio service, which usually only operates for a limited time every day, there is not much news for such as small colony and entertainment is usually provided by the major stations of the galaxy. Expecting nothing but silence, I am pleasantly surprised to hear an announcement of a news bulletin:
"This is Jonny de Bruyne of the Moon Dock News Service, providing you with a special bulletin. This morning at 04:03 Galactic Mean Time the base was suddenly attacked by unknown assailants. Thanks to the emergency warning system and the recently upgraded refuge facilities, there were no fatalities yet 52 people have been injured, 9 seriously. Meanwhile an effort is ongoing to recover the escape pods of the six System Authority Viper pilots who were mercilessly cut down by the attackers. Thankfully all signs are that they ejected safely. Meanwhile attempts to clear a path between the habitation and commercial areas of the base are ongoing, yet it is estimated that it will be another four hours before a route can be cleared. Meanwhile hangers will not be operational until at least 16:00 GMT today. Security advise all residents to stay in their quarters if they can until further notice. We now have with us the manager of Moon Dock, Hector Martin, who has just emerged from an emergency meeting of senior staff. Hector, what can tell us about the situation?"
"My team have been working throughout the morning after this heinous attack on our people, most of whom are humble miners who would have no reason to hurt anyone, and just want to peacefully reap the riches held within this system." Yeah, right, assuming you are being sincere you obviously don't know much about human nature, I thought. "We are determined to find whoever was responsible and ensure that justice is swiftly visited upon them, and that our base is swiftly returned to a place of peace and prosperity." "Have you come any closer to finding out the origin of the perpetrators?" de Bryune asks. "We are presently chasing several leads at present." In other words, you have no idea. "We investigating links to several pirate and criminal factions in the sector, including the Camorra of HIP 71931." Egads, I thought. It ain't the Camorra, talk to any hired gun or bounty hunter within a 50 light year radius of here and they will tell you they do not have the resources, weaponry, or expertise required to pull off a hit like this. "Do you a really think the Camorra of '931 could do this, after an ongoing and largely successful campaign to degrade their capabilities over the past 12 months?" de Bruyne asked. A pretty courageous question to ask your boss, I thought. Martin sounded flustered. "Whilst we have conducted major operations to push the Camorra back and significantly reduce their threat we cannot be certain it is not them. It would be just like them to try and make one final push to break our resolve. However we will be victorious and our business will flourish in the face of adversity. Now excuse me, I must go, I have a meeting with my superiors from HIP 71931." A grilling, more like. The Social HIP 71931 Partnership will not be pleased that such a major attack on its bases could have taken place without warning, and with a manager that seems totally out of his depth.
"Thank you, Mr Martin. I now go over to the representative of Moon Dock's other key contributor, Ellen Douglas of HIP 71931 Blue Vision Services. Ellen, how does Mr Martin's response make you feel?" "I am left completely dissatisfied, he has left many questions unanswered and has utterly failed to reassure the community of HIP 71938 that they can conduct their business in safety. For months we have been warning that security measures were unsuited to a serious attempt to attack the base, and we at HIP 71931 Blue Vision Services have put valuable resources into keeping piracy in check in this sector, be it from the Camorra or anyone else. The Partnership, however, have been lacklustre in their resolve, naively reassuring people that it is safe to go on mining runs whilst pirates skulk and plot." Impressive. Definitely an attempt at one-upmanship of their rivals but still with plenty of truth to it. "This outrageous attack just proves that HIP 71938 is not a safe system, and the Partnership holds responsibility to maintain security and confidence in the system. Should matters not change for the better we will be forced to take measures of our own." Oh great, a bit of sabre rattling, just the thing to quell panic. It's not like either faction can afford a civil war at present. "Ms Douglas, are you saying that Blue Vision Services are preparing to resort to vigilante action?" Oh come on, she won't admit to anything that will get her arrested. "We will of course abide by the law, and indeed offer our services to the Partnership in order to repel this threat." At a significant price, I would expect. "However we urge the Partnership to step up security measures and make sure that such an attack, which by the way only through good fortune did not claim any lives does not happen again." "Thank you, Ms Douglas. Now, as work to repair the base goes underway we keep you informed with the latest news as it happens from Moon Camp. Jonny de Bruyne, Moon Dock News Service." Popular music starts to play as I turn the stream off. I sit in thought. I am at loss to who is behind it, in fact until investigations are underway no one is likely to know who was behind this. Unless someone on the inside had a role in this - Martin is either incompetent beyond belief or knows more than he was letting on - both are equally plausible at this stage though. What about Blue Vision? They tend to just go about their business as the junior faction in this system, but could easily use this attack to stage a takeover bid. Again, this is just speculation. However I am certain that the Camorra of HIP 71931 had no role in this, and should Martin be foolish enough to order a strike back then pilots will soon wise up to it as they see the Camorra for what they are, a pathetic bunch of small-time crooks who on a good day can muster a few Novices and the occasional Master to cause a nuisance.
11.15 am
A chirp on the comms, and a message: "Hey Seth - it's Captain Morgan here. The Moon is now open if you wanna drink. Don't think we'll be going looking for low temps today." I feel relief as I can finally go beyond my quarters, although I am still cut off from my ship. "Captain" Arthur Morgan is an interesting fellow, considering he once was involved in piracy and smuggling he is a popular figure here at Moon Dock, used to be part of The Code, one of the more honourable pirate factions in the galaxy, although he gives everyone his word that he gave all that up when he came here - although rumour have it he has successfully cornered the onionhead market here, bribing security to get his wares onto the base. His origin is unknown, the Capitan part has nothing to do with any Navy rank, and he swears he has nothing to do with any of the superpowers, in fact I am not sure if Morgan is his real name, or if he chose to name himself after the legendary pirate of Old Earth. I don't know him that well, or indeed anyone here (and that's how I have liked it), but I would appreciate the company, and some answers.
"Hey, Bradwell, how you doing?" Morgan asked, offering me a glass of rum. "Was doing pretty damn well, found a lovely place for low temperature diamonds, then a big canister of biowaste hit the fan, and now I'm lost for answers - and that idiot Martin is proving as useful as a gallium teapot."
"Aye, there is much more to this that we are being told, Seth, and I am certain we both agree it had nothing to do with those Camorra clowns."
"The Camorra could not organise an orgy in a brothel, let's be honest here, and the strength of their fleet is pitiful to say the least, we have both run offensives against them for Blue Vision - I only saw one Python among their fleet, and certainly no Anacondas or Fer-de-Lances. Also '931 has nowhere to stow a large ship, so whoever it was had to come from elsewhere, and I am certain intel would have noticed any build up of Camorra activity outside of their home system. Also they proved little match for our ships, which are properly tooled up for combat, so however it was came in with much heavier armour than your typical Camorra pilot. Also no one claims any responsibility, or a motive. Can we be sure it's even the work of pirates?"
"Pirates are the obvious scapegoat, but don't dismiss them out of hand. For one thing, Bradwell, corporate rivals love to use them to do their dirty work."
"As I found out, or at least got a huge suspicion, just over a year ago. One minute it was December 3304 and I was doing a merc job, next I woke up in an infirmary and it was January 3306. Even your own side can't be trusted."
"So we have several suspects. An internal power struggle in the Partnership, an attempt by Blue Vision to take over, or some unknown actor committing terrorism for an unknown reason, but possibly at the secret behest of either usurpers in the Partnership or and attempt by Blue Vision to undermine the Partnership."
"Why bother? '938 is just a tiny colony at the very edge of the Bubble. Both the Partnership and Blue Vision have plenty of opportunity to make profit, which is all they truly care about, without risking their interests in a civil war. Even if the Partnership has internal rivalries they realise they are better off working to strengthen its hold in the system, not undermine it since rivals will soon step in should the Partnership be weakened. Likewise Blue Vision can exploit the resources in the neighbouring systems with plenty to go round, they have nothing to gain from trying to control this colony."
"So we are back to a third party, committing terrorism for purposes yet unknown."
"Another corporation trying to muscle its way in?"
"Either that, or pirates wanting to get a foothold. Either way, fancy doing some detective work once we get can get to our ships?"
"Count me in, Captain. Can't wait to get in the black, hate being grounded like that."
"No pilot likes being deprived of his ship. The freedom it gains is soon quickly missed."
Our conversation was interrupted when a member of station security burst into the bar. "Hey, you two. My boss has gone berserk, got some hapless sod from the Camorra and is convinced he knows something - I think he might kill him, he's being beat up pretty bad. You are among the most respected people in this colony, so talk some sense into my boss before it's too late."
"We're on our way!" Morgan cried, as we hot footed it to the base's detention block.