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18 Sep 2016Fozzimus
I've been working for the SAP Core Legion for the last couple of years, and for the first time in a very long time, I can use a word I often used for a cramped cubicle on the back of a small cargo ship: homeit was around 18:00 local Thurston Dock time when they came to me.
"Commander Fozzimus?"
The uniforms gave it away quite fast: Sap Core officials. Ex-Miners turned Corporate Military.
"Yeah hold on a sec". I said while closing an access panel on the Pallas. You don't see many Lakon Keelbacks around, so I usually make all the tweeak maintanance on mine.
"We have a few things that need some action. You've been aware of the lockdown..."
It was quite hard not to notice the entire station in something that reminisced of a Martial Law , but I wasn't going to be a smart ass with these guys.
"Yes sir. What do you need?"
"We need some information to be delivered and some items to be retrieved from neighbour systems in a discrete way..."
It all made sense. The damned little Keelback had drawn the attention it diserved. This wasn't a job for a 150 meter long behemoth with yellow stripes.
Three data packs to be personally delivered and military plans that were to be located in orbit, salvaged from a wreck, transported and snaked back in at Shaara Reach. I've flown larger ships, but the Keelback had something of a special aura around it. It had this "sneaky block" look at it that was a departure from the sleek designs you see around. The best part is that it did not raise any unwanted attention.
I was almost at my first destination when the message came in: "
"You should take care, Commander. An Operation is being mounted to prevent you delivering the data. Show them the meaning of defeat and we'll add a bonus to your completion payment."
"You gotta be fucking kidding me. Really? You want me take someone out?"
I didn't even finish swearing and my whole ship rocked and rattled.
>>INTERDICTION TETHER DETECTED<<
"Well , shit."
I'm a seasoned veteran, and I must say I wouldn't have made it this far for so long if my "fight or flight" instincts weren't top notch. I was being interdicted by an Anaconda. Heh.
The ability to stay cool and think fast goes a long way out in the black. I submitted to the interdiction, and waited for my assailant to jump in. As he turned to face me and started scanning my cargo, I lined up the opposite of him and boosted. 4 freaking pips to engines, as I deployed my weapons.
My shields took about 5 hits before failing. In came the 6th wave of hurt and, boy, that hurt. Would have taken me out if I hadn't upgraded the bulkheads with the god old military folk. Thank the gods he was too occupied firing at me to notice the 12 explosive mines I had left on my wake. They must have hit something critical because the Anaconda shook , tumbled and literally broke in half. I could see the escape pods as I jumped out.
Doesn't matter how safe I feel on Thurston Dock, or any other station. Out here, in the black, I thought as my limpets collected the military plans from the field of scattered debris over Kipgensi 5, is where I feel really alive. This is home.