A Momentary Conclusion
04 Jan 2021Sheronimo
I enter the conference room, a group of people are already in the room, talking to each other. My appearance prompts everyone to move to their seats, John comes in behind me and sits as well. Around the room are the Captain, department heads, and a few I personally asked to join us, in all, about 10 people. I begin by making sure everyone knows John, then, I start, "Everyone, we have a decision to make." I try to involve everyone with decisions when I can, I mean, when it is reasonable. I run down the entire story and timeline, making sure all are aware of the, well, the facts I can share, anyway. "As far as I am concerned, the bills are paid." Jeff left me his bank account, and his ship, damaged as it may be. "Moving forward, we are under no obligation to continue this path of pursuit, I leave this to all of you." I continue to explain that Jeff was the one who was hiring us, and he has died. I cannot, in good conscience, continue to risk other peoples lives without their input. This is a business, after all. We sit around the table, going back and forth with the issues, history, and Johns input when needed. Finally, when no one can come up with any more questions and facts, we decide with a vote that we will close this job out for safety. All materials, data, and cargo related will be destroyed to protect the crew. The one data key that will not be touched, is the one with Johns family history, which I give to John. "This is yours, someday, you may want to know your history, or want to share it, and I hope this will help you in the future." The entire room is smiling, all seem very happy this is over. I conclude the meeting, and everyone leaves, except John, who is still seated at the table. He looks towards me, and says, "Does this mean it is all over, I will never find out anything else about my past, or the people who abducted me?" I wink back at him, "No son, but, business had to be taken care of." I invite him to follow me, "John, I will gladly help you when I can, but, I have to do things right." We leave the Conference room, and head towards the hanger bays. John speaks up, " I want to return to where my owners were killed. I think there may be more information that will help me." I cannot say I blame him. I personally would not mind a second look myself. "Just so happens, we are jumping to the Coal Sack Region in a day or so for mining and anti-xeno ops with the Alliance." He smiles, I assure him that the hunt is not over, just, not our most important job at the moment. We enter the hanger bays, and I introduce John to some of the crews at work there. I walk up to Jeff's Clipper, repairs are continuing on it. One of the tech's motions to me, as I approach her, she asks, " We are about to paint her, what do you want on the outside." I think for a few seconds, placing my hand on the hull, poor Jeff, he was trying to do the right thing, then, it comes to me. "I want you to paint the name, Morgan's Folly on the hull." A small dedication to Jeff, in a huge universe. The tech nods, and walks away.Its been weeks since the death of Jeff Morgan. We are busy, carrier and crew doing Anti-Xeno ops while we mine the rings for profit in the Coal Sack. I enjoy mining here, no bandits, no worries, just ping, ping, ping, mine. Anti-Xeno efforts going well, making huge bonds and bounties as we purge the systems of Thargoids. My carrier is supporting several pilots while we are here. I happen to be at the carrier, getting some fuel and limpets, when I get a call from John. He has been studying Thargoids in an attempt to understand the species, and, I can only assume, he is trying to learn about why his owners were attacked. I step out of the hanger bay and meet him in the corridor. He looks excited, like he figured something out. "SHER", he blurts out, "I was reading on Thargoid behavior and I thought of something." I respond, "Oh yeah, what have you figured out?" The smart boy then gets my attention, "What if someone had placed a Thargoid sensor, or probe into the hold of the Cutter?' The hairs on my neck stand up, "If that were true, would that explain why we were attacked in an asteroid belt?" Wow, I didn't even consider that, but, he is right, if there had been any Thargoid tech on that ship, an Interceptor was bound to find them. "THAT, is a very GOOD question, John." I think for a second or two, then, I add, "Wanna go for a ride?" I had been working all day in the rings, could use a little pleasure cruise. "Let's take Morgan's Folly out for a shakedown." John smiles, and runs down the corridor, full of excitement.