Finally, a few answers
09 Dec 2020Sheronimo
After the third interdiction, after only 2 jumps, I have had enough. "Jeff, next system, scoop fuel, then wait for the first interdictor." POW, we come out of hyperspace, some hunter sends a quick voice message, as if he is gloating, Jeff directs us around the star at full supercruise to keep the hunters from getting behind us. When the tank is full, he straightens out and heads into the system. POW, another interdiction. "Throttle back, let them have us." "WHAT?" "Just do it!" Jeff throttles back and we are pulled into normal space. The hunter arrives behind us and immediately closes on us with weapons hot. "Jeff, turn towards him, boost and blow by him, I'll activate silent running as we pass." Jeff does as I ask, and we continue to boost past the bandit. Once we get 4 to 5 km ahead of him, he drops off the radar, and we become invisible to his instruments. "Just keep the throttle open, keep going, get as far away as we can." If we don't jump to supercruise, or hyperspace, there will be no way to track us. Temporary solution at best, but, gives us a bit to catch our breath. After about 5 minutes, it looks like we lost them, for now, so, I load the new key we have acquired and start looking at it. Maps, names, logs, pictures, and, a birth record, for a boy named John. I read the logs, entry by entry, the list goes on and on, day after day, week after week of this mans search for the truth. A lot of stuff on here that would really get some people in trouble. Associations between Imperial and Federation operatives, and leaders. Stored recorded conversations with known criminals and politicians, oh boy, what a collection. This explains why he was hiding, the key is a literal info bomb that could blow up a government. I start searching through the birth record, and there, I see a new issue. Only a last name is there, Toredo. So, his name is John Toredo. His last name is the same as a well known anti-slavery activist, Jarl Toredo, made famous by causing the cancellation of Aisling Duvals wedding a few years ago. This makes sense. Maybe John was stolen out of anger, or, dumped out of wedlock for political reasons. Progress, at last. I find in the Galnet news archive the Jarl Toredo is missing., so, going to his headquarters at Unchained in the Eotienses system probably will do us no good. The bottom of the birth record does give us a new place to go, however. Johns birthplace, Ortiz Moreno City , Tau Ceti. Deep in the Federation, very deep, founding world. Ok, enough for now, my head hurts. "Jeff, let's jump to the carrier now, maybe the horde has subsided." It had, for the moment, only one bounty hunter appeared to us, and at distance. We arrive at Sawait, and clear up our bounties, for as long as that might last. One more jump, and we are at the carrier.Upon arrival, I ask the Captain to recall all crew and prepare to jump to Tau Ceti. She also informs me we need Tritium soon, or, our carrier will cease to move. I tell her we will take care of that in Tau Ceti. She nods, and I head to my quarters to rest, what a day. I only hope we can get some good rest. I had to ask my crew to remove the old mans body, but had them store it for proof of our finds so far. Like anyone would believe any of this without documentation. I know I wouldn't. After a nice nap, I wake up to the sound of the carrier jumping. Nothing like the sound of a city sized ship moving through hyperspace. I get dressed, and move towards the mess hall for some standard crew rations. No time for fancy stuff today. I find Jeff and John, sitting at a table, talking over a meal. I join them after I get food from the prep station. "Sher, just explaining what we have found to John." He appears to be much happier than he has been, as does Hero. The information must give a little comfort to him, makes me glad. "John, do you know who the old man was?" He shakes his head, then says, "I remember an old man being at the house, spending time with the Lorens, and, I remember the last time I saw him, he left in a hurry. I remember them saying it could be the last time they saw him." I smile at John, "so, do you know where we are now?" He nods, "Yes, Tau Ceti, apparently, it's where I was born, but, I don't remember." "That's ok, son, we are here to hopefully find the beginning of your story, and, if we are lucky, expose the people who did this to you." He smiles, finishes his plate, and walks off with Hero in tow. I look at Jeff, "You do realize, that when we query his birth record from the database, we could be calling bad, bad people." Jeff nods, "I know, that's why we need a plan." And that's just what we did. Planned. In this universe, most everything is tracked by the ship, not the individual, so, the easiest way to try to redirect the hunters, is to give them a ship to chase. Not permanent, but, will definitely help to keep them off our backs.
As Jeff works on a plan, I inform him that my crew and I are not 100 percent at his disposal, and, if we are to continue, I need to get some maintenance stuff done on the carrier. There is a lot more going on in my world then just this mystery. I begin doing fuel runs with my Cutter, the "Nor'Easter." I deliver 2 loads to the cargo bay, then, begin loading limpets on to my miner. YZ Ceti is next door, and has a good icy ring for mining. Over the next few days, we mine, haul, and sell, making over a billion credits. Jeff decides to run his "plan" and let's me know his flight plan should something go wrong, and, of course, something does.......