THE REBELION OF THE SLAVES
23 Aug 2022Jav Marlo
THE REBELION OF THE SLAVES18 JUN 3308, HIP 96456, Lemmy´s Rock.
This is commander Jav Marlo, recording this log at Lemmy´s Rock, in the HIP 96456 system.
Jav Marlo on the dock of Lemmy´s Rock
HIP 96456… three stars, some gas giants, several rocky bodies and ice moons halfway the Empire and the Pegasi Sector. Independent… irrelevant. Only some settlements scattered among the moons where the locals struggle to survive mining and trying to grow some food on the barren soil. Almost no commerce traffic. The perfect place to hide or… to disappear.
Lemmy´s Rock
Several years ago, an errand rag pirate clan stablished their home on one big asteroid on the rings of the HIP 96456 ABC 1 planet. Their plan was to exploit the gallite deposits around them. Like any other pirate clan, they had to pay tribute to the Kumo Crew, and at the end their profit margin was so low that they resorted to raid the settlements of the system looking for goods, and more often slaves to work on their mines. The settlers defended themselves and managed to keep the pirates at bay, well, most of the time. And life continued on that miserable equilibrium, like in most outer rim systems, until the assassination of former Emperor Hengist Duval.
A Settlement in HIP 96456 after a pirate raid
When Hengist Duval was killed, a power struggle commenced at the Empire. Chancellor Anders Blaine was one of the candidates to become the new Emperor and, at the same time, one of the suspects of having conspired to kill the former Emperor because of his ties with the Emperor´s Dawn, the cult to which the assassin belonged. So, the good Chancellor took a drastic measure, and purged any patron that could have connected him with the conspirators. One of those patrons was the father of my partner Ayumi, who was known as Eveline Hutchinson on that time.
Ayumi when she was Eveline Hutchinson
Every patron that could have compromised Blaine was judged and condemned to serve together with their families as imperial slaves in the most remote outposts of the Empire. But they would never reach their destination. They would end in Lemmy´s Rock instead, to work on the gallite mines as common slaves until they die of exhaustion or by accident.
Lemmy´s Rock mine
HIP 96456 was the perfect system for Blaine´s intentions. He made a deal with the pirates and provided them with an Imperial Cutter, the Pretorian, to collect the patrons. Like that the imperial slaves would never suspect that they were being carried by pirates until it was too late. The pirates got a steady supply of slaves for their mine and Blaine got an excuse to justify the disappearance of the patrons. Whenever someone on the empire dared to ask about the fate of the conspirators, the pirates were there to blame. A neat plan.
The Pretorian approaching Lemmy´s Rock
But pirates cannot help being pirates, and they soon found a business on the side. They started to detour by the Pegasi Sector, on their way to HIP 96456, to sell some slaves at the Chang-Diaz Colony brothels. That was how Ayumi got separated from her family. That was how she escaped her fate in the mines. She was sold as a pleasure slave. That should have been the end of her story, but she endured. She was brought as a gift to the pirate king Archon Delaine and escaped. She was beaten to death and survived. She scaped the Pegasi Sector and learnt. The Exemplars modified her body and she became stronger. She travelled, fought, sought revenge, and finally came back to the Pegasi Sector looking for her family. And she has finally found them. Well, at least what remains of it. Here, at Lemmy´s Rock.
Ayumi descending from the Electra at Lemmy´s Rock
Admiral Patreus intel was correct. Ayumi´s sister, Elizabeth, was still alive. When we arrived to HIP 96456, we established contact with the Lemmy´s Rock base and, after a heated encounter, we were invited to land. The base had been in control by the slaves for the last months. At some point they were so much that they outnumbered the pirates five to one and, with some external aid from the local settlers, they rebelled and overrun the pirates. And Elizabeth Hutchinson was one of the leaders of that rebellion. Finally, Ayumi had found her sister and the two of them could be together again.
Ayumi and her sister rejoining
The last survivors of the proud and disgraced Hutchinson family, former patrons of the Empire. Quoting Admiral Patreus: “the survival instinct must be a trait strong on the Hutchinson females”. Elizabeth, or Liz as Ayumi calls her, is just a bit older than Ayumi, but her years of slavery have given her a graver expression. Ayumi has her scars too. But they are sisters, no doubt of that. They both went through their own hells, and now they are reunited, for what I am so grateful.
Ayumi and Liz
Elizabeth told us how she spent years working on the mines. How she discovered that some slaves were brought to work on one of the outer asteroids and never came back. How her family was sent to work on that asteroid, and she managed to change her position with another slave the last minute. How she thought she has lost everything. How she managed to survive until the day the slaves rose and took over the place. And how they have been fighting the pirates since then for the control of the system.
Elizabeth Hutchinson telling her story
It seems that the Pretorian, the Cutter the pirates got from Chancellor Blaine, has been the key to control this system for years. The pirates used it to bring slaves from the Empire and build their wealth. Then, when the stream of slaves ceased and the deal with Blaine expired, they modified the Cutter and used it to subdue the system. No force in the system could oppose the Pretorian lasers and shields. That is how the pirates kept control for years and squeezed the local settlers. And that is why the locals eventually rebelled. It was a coordinated attack, from the outside and from the interior of Lemmy´s Rock, where the slaves, leaded by Elizabeth among others, had to gain control of the Pretorian, the main source of the pirate´s power on the system.
The Pretorian landed at Lemmy´s Rock
Under the control of the former slaves, the Pretorian has ensured the security of the mining zones, now exploited by the free local settlers, and the deliveries to the Kumo Crew. Nobody wants the Kumos to pay a visit. It is not in anybody´s interests, not even the deposed pirates. But the former slaves of HIP 96456 know that they won´t be able to keep their position and the base much longer. After dozens of skirmishes, some weeks ago the pirates abandoned the system. And no ships have come since then. That only can mean that the pirates are preparing a retaliation. Everybody is expecting a massive attack that might come anytime.
The concourse of Lemmy´s Rock
And the Pretorian cannot hold much more. So far from the Empire there are no spare parts to repair and keep the ship flying. It is miracle that its main laser weapon still fires. And without its protection, the slaves are doomed. They are very aware of the situation. Evacuation has already begun. The locals that were kidnapped and enslaved have returned to their settlements. But the former Imperial patrons are scared to return to the Empire, they have no place to go. We have removed any ship and weapon from the station, and most systems have been sabotaged or bobby trapped. The time to abandon Lemmy´s Rock has come. But there is still something pending for Ayumi and Liz.
Ayumi and Liz flying the Electra
Liz has taken her sister to the asteroid where they sent her family. It is a big rock close to the base that the pirates used to get rid of the slaves that had been marked for extermination. The rock is filled with tunnels where the slaves were asked to manually extract the gallite from the interior. The mine lodgements and safety measures were more than basic, and accidents and vacuum exposure were a constant. Nobody lasted there more than a couple of months. And Ayumi and Liz have decided to end that place forever and blow it up with warheads. I just can hope that blowing up that rock will bring them some peace.
Ayumi and Liz blowing up an asteroid with warheads
They should have returned by now. I am waiting for them in the Pretorian. They have asked me to fly it and take the Imperial survivors to the California Nebula, where they would like to request asylum to the Exemplars. Far away from the machinations of Anders Blaine and Denton Patreus. They cannot make such a trip by themselves, but I am a member of the Pilot´s Federation and a Duke of the Imperial Navy with all the proper permits. And I intend to help them, even if that means abandoning my beloved Cobra, the Electra, here. I can see Ayumi and Liz coming, the last persons to abandon the station.
Ayumi and Liz approaching the Pretorian
It is a long trip until we reach the California Nebula, but we have a fuel scoop and I am not risking to stop on the way. The sooner we abandon the system the better.
Welcome on board, Ayumi and Liz, please join me on the cockpit. We are leaving at once.
The Pretorian leaving Lemmy´s Rock
(Door slide)
I am taking weapons.
Roger that Ayumi.
I am taking systems.
Roger that Liz. Let´s have a smooth ride.
Jav Marlo signing…
What the hell is that?
NO, NO, it cannot be… they have come back.
A pirate corvette
IT´S THEM! THE PIRATES! THEY ARE BACK!
You said they only had small ships. Where did they get a bloody corvette?
I don´t know.
Well, we better think of a plan fast, because they are blocking our path and they have two very big guns pointing at us. Can we talk to them? Perhaps negotiate…
A pirate corvette blocking the Pretorian
I think we are way pass that solution. We have nothing left to give them, and if they get us they will kill us for sure.
I see, running is our only option. Let´s see if they are willing to play chicken. The old rusty military grade armor of the Pretorian against whatever they could afford to install on that cheap corvette. I am boosting.
Are you crazy?
The Pretorian boosting towards the pirate corvette
Look, they are not crazy enough. They are avoiding the ram. We did it… no… wait… they are coming about.
What now?
I am heading out of the ring. If we can jump to another system we will be safe. Just need to get clear of these rocks.
They are firing at us.
Those lasers are melting our shields, we would not make it. They are mass blocking us.
The pirate corvette pursuing and firing the Pretorian
Change of plans.
What are you doing?
We cannot face them, and we cannot scape from them, so I will try to lose them on the asteroids.
The Pretorian heading to the asteroid ring with the corvette in pursue
That is your plan? Their ship is more agile, they know the ring as well as we do, you will never lose them.
I know, but among the rocks they will not hit us so much, and that will give us some more time.
The pirate corvette firing to the Pretorian
TIME FOR WHAT?
TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING! OR DO YOU HAVE A BETTER IDEA?
I might have one.
Ayumi and Jav Marlo piloting the Pretorian
What?
What? Sister, where are you going?
I need to go to the cargo bay.
This is not the best moment to leave…
Please trust me.
Liz on the Pretorian
What does she intend to do? Do you know?
No idea. Ayumi what are you doing?
ANOTHER HIT! We are losing impulse. Thrusters at thirty percent.
The pirate corvette hitting the Pretorian
(Comms buzz) Ayumi, please respond, we cannot hold much longer. Where are you? (Comms buzz)
(Comms buzz) I am at the fighter bay. (Comms buzz)
(Comms buzz) Fighter bay? A fighter will not make much of a difference. (Comms buzz)
(Comms buzz) That is not exactly my plan, wait and see. (Comms buzz)
Ayumi at the fighter bay of the Pretorian
Liz, what kind of fighter do you have on board?
An old Taipan. She must be crazy. She would not even scratch the shields of that corvette.
(Comms buzz) LAUNCHING! Just buy me some time. (Comms buzz)
Roger. Let´s get deeper into the ring.
Jav Marlo piloting the Pretorian into an asteroid ring
Where is she know? Can you see her?
She is flying straight towards the corvette. But she has not opened fire. This is very strange.
Ayumi flying a Taipan towards the pirate corvette
I think I know what she intends to do. We both served on a Federal corvette some time ago. Ayumi was a fearsome fighter pilot. She might still have the embarking codes.
Do you mean? She is going to board the corvette.
Right, and try to take it from the inside.
Ayumi embarking the pirate corvette on a Taipan
(Comms buzz) SISTER! SISTER! PLEASE STOP! That ship is full of pirates. You don’t know what they are capable of. THEY WILL KILL YOU! (Comms buzz)
(Comms buzz, cracks and thumps) Busy now. (Comms buzz)
Liz, perhaps there are some things your sister didn´t have the chance to tell you. The Exemplars did something to her… her body… she is stronger now… what I mean is that… she can handle this situation.
HANDLE THE SITUATION! We are talking of a ship full of pirates. And they keep coming. HOW CAN YOU?... (Sobbing) They have probably killed her and now they will kill us all.
The pirate corvette reaching the Pretorian
WAIT! Look. The corvette shields are down… it is losing course… it is adrift.
(Comms buzz) This is Ayumi from the pirate corvette Reaper. I have control of the ship. (Comms buzz)
The pirate corvette Reaper adrift on an asteroid ring
(Comms buzz) Outstanding work Ayumi. Please return to the Pretorian. We are jumping as soon as you embark. (Comms buzz)
I… I have no words… how she?... what will happen now?
I will take you to the California Nebula, and once there you and Ayumi will be finally free to decide what do you want to do the rest of your lives.
And what will happen to you?
Me? There are rumors that the final battle against the Thargoids is going to take place very soon on a remote system called HIP 22460. The Federal, Imperial and Alliance fleets are gathering there. And I intend to join the fight.
(Comms buzz) I am on board. (Comms buzz)
(Comms buzz) Right on time. (Comms buzz) Jumping in 3, 2, 1…
Jav Marlo signing out
The Pretorian jumping