A Future Torn: Chapter 3 - The Moon Job
09 Apr 2016LordPsymon
Previous chapterA Future Torn: Chapter 3 - The Moon Job
---Loading Bay/Hangar---
I took a deep breath as I lifted the Sidewinder off the landing pad and headed toward the hangar bay door. The lights faded as I left leaving the dim lights from the HUD in the cockpit. I looked to the side as I climbed higher in the planet’s atmosphere and could see that I had just left a reasonably small island on a terraformed world, surrounded by oceans, hidden from the prying eye of the law. I thought for a moment what would happen if I encountered law enforcement. Could I radio them for help? Could I blow the cover of the organization that purchased me from the slavers? Do they even care? I was not familiar with this part of the Bubble and the Sidewinder had several lockdown mechanisms that prevented me from deviating or hailing unauthorized ships. I looked down at the world and could see the city lights illuminating the larger continents as I charged the frameshift drive and pointed toward Eravate 10.
I felt so free, yet so helpless at the same time as I watched the planet shrink in size. Many thoughts were racing through my head. I thought of the possibilites of ending it all or potentially escaping. Maybe I could turn this thing around and plunge it into a mountain. Maybe I could “crash” somewhere near a town and hide within the population. I attempted to flip back over and head toward the planet, but when I turned too far a warning indicator lit up.
Warning! Deviating off authorized flight path. Resume authorized flight path. Deactivating controls in 30 seconds.
“This is bullshit!” I yelled. I sighed and turned the Sidewinder back toward Eravate 10.
---Eravate 10 A---
The ringed world of Eravate 10 slowly grew from a tiny speck in the backdrop as I approached. The moon was on the far side, black from the shadow of its host planet. I approached cautiously and deactivated the frameshift drive just before hitting the moon’s thin atmosphere. The comms begun to hiss as someone attempted to hail me. The hissing cleared as I lowered my altitude and I could hear a voice.
“Anyone hear us? You must be that slave that we’re expecting. We’re transmitting our location. Follow the waypoints. Over.”
“How do I know you’re not going to shoot me down as soon as I get into range?” I said.
“You kidding me? We need the shit you’re carrying and if we shoot you down, we lose business and supplies. Hurry up, before any pirates spot you.”
I could see faint lights in the distance from the installation. I lowered the throttle and radioed them.
“So, you guys got somewhere for me to land?”
“Yes, put yourself down at the edge on the south. We’ll send out a couple of scarabs to collect the cargo.”
I lowered the landing gear and made my approach to the installation. A couple of sentries circled my ship scanning me.
Two scarabs came out of a small garage in the second building and approached my Sidewinder. There were a few muffled clunks as they unloaded the cargo and then drove back to their garages.
“Alright slave. We got everything. You can go now.”
“Not so much as a thank you?” I replied.
“You’re in no position to be mouthing off! Get the hell out of here!”
---Eravate - Deep Space--
I left the atmosphere of the moon and engaged the frameshift drive. I pointed back toward the terraformed planet and left the throttle on 1/3rd. I was not in a hurry to return. I tilted the seat back and stared into the black, contemplating my situation. My heart sank when I realized that the only time I am ever going to see beyond the walls of my new prison was when they send me off on these delivery runs. Even then I’d never be able to leave Eravate. I was nothing more than a dispensable utility. A sudden jolt rocked me back into focus. I had been hit by an interdiction tether.
“Hey there little fella! If you submit and give us what we want, we’ll let you go unharmed. We clear?”
I throttled down to submit. I looked around as I reentered normal space and a wing of Vipers appeared.
“Now just dump your cargo and we’ll be on our way.” A raspy voice said over the comms.
“I don’t have any cargo! You’re wasting your time.” I replied.
“We’ll determine that sonny. You can’t be all the way out here with nothin’ tasty in that hold o’ yours surely.”
Scan detected.
“Boss, he ain’t got nuthin’ in there. I says we dispose of him for wastin’ our time.”
“You know, I do need some target practice!”
Sweat dripped down my face as I jammed the throttle to full and hit the boosters. My ship was unarmed, but even if I did have weapons, I would never have stood a chance against pirate vipers.
“Now where ya think you’re goin’ sonny? You think you’re goin’ get away in that bucket of bolts?”
I engaged the frameshift drive and looked outside. The mass of the vipers was causing the drive to charge slowly.
“I’m not just going to sit around and let you melt me.” I yelled.
“Well I always liked a movin’ target anyway.”
Taking damage!
The frameshift drive was 75% as I was taking a pounding. I turned and boosted as much as possible to try and avoid fire. I heard a violent crash and hissing sound. The cabin started to depressurize and the suit’s Remlok survival mask threw itself over my head. Everything went silent except for the sound of my rapid breathing. A stray multi cannon round had shattered the canopy.
Incoming Missile!
Out of the corner of my eye I could see the missile alongside my flank turning toward my damaged cockpit. It approached rapidly. Impact in 5… 4… 3…
I closed my eyes, expecting a quick end. My heart rate skyrocketed.
Frameshift drive engaged.
I opened my eyes and looked out of the shattered canopy. I had managed to jump into supercruise just before the missile smashed into me. I breathed a sigh of relief and made my way back to Eravate 5.