A Change of fortune...
22 Sep 2024James Teague
******************************22 Sep 3310, 1948 hrs.
Location: HIP 108602
The Angels' Envy
******************************
I sat in my ready room adjacent to the command deck after a few weeks of running missions for the good of my new squadron, the Canonn Research Group. Seems as they had a bit o'scuffle with some renegade factions of late, and I was happy to lend a laser or two for some profitable privateering and 'disappearing' of certain individuals. I had raised a glass of whiskey with the crew in celebration of our fortunes, and we were having our rest and taking on much - needed supplies.
Just as I poured another freshly iced glass, my desktop communications console beeped. "Incoming transmission from secure channel Charlie-zero two, commander."
I raised an eyebrow. "Put him through." Hadn't heard from this particular neck o'the woods in a minute, I thought...
"Angels' Envy, you on? James, that you, ya crotchety git?" The familiar gruff voice boomed through the intercom.
I grinned. "Cutter! Hadn't heard from ya in an age or two...where ya been? That wife of yours finally turn ya soft?"
I could hear her laughing in the background as Cutter replied, "Hehe, never! Well, maybe now and then she requires me to take my leave from the trade...What about you? Still got a thing for that bartender of yours?"
"No," I replied with a bit of droll. "Had to let that one go, mate." I decided to shift to business. "What brings ya to me, how can I help an old friend?"
The sigh I heard was palpable; heavy. "Mattox is dead, James. The whole planet, hell, the whole system...it got hit hard by those damned bugs. Everything at the station is just...gone."
I leaned back hard in my chair, the news hitting me like a brick. Mattox had lately run a profitable trade from Hardy Tourism Resort, bringing in many goods for the unwashed masses that one might occasionally find...questionable. There had been more than a few times I visited there with goods for the cause, or the occasional traveler who wished to remain off the books. He and I had a long and profitable history, and I knew he was one of the few people who still believed in 'honor among thieves.' I had heard of the attack on Shinrarta Dezhra, and I still wasn't quite believing it. Now, I did.
"I'm so sorry, mate," I said slowly. "He was a good man....a brilliant smuggler...and a man of honor." I shifted in my chair. "What's to be done?"
There was no hesitation. "We're going, Teague," Cutter replied. "We're all going. We don't do something now, there won't be much left for any of us, on either side of the law. Profit be damned, we have to throw in our part. I didn't want to either - I thought we were winning, just as much as anyone else did. But these damned Thargoids are starting a whole new kind of war, and if we don't lend a hand, it's out to the black with us."
"And why not?" I said, taking a slow sip of bourbon. "Why shouldn't we all pull up and head somewhere like Colonia? Sag-A? Anywhere? The galaxy is still a big place, mate. Still so much to be done, profit to be made." I took another pull from the glass. "I'd rather face the black other than those creatures any day."
"Aye," Cutter replied, "but what's to say they're not already out there too? And there's a whole lot less of our lot than there are of them, be sure of that. I'd rather take my chances here, where the strength in numbers may be enough." Cutter's voice took a turn. "We'll have our day out there, mate, no doubt. But there's vengeance to be had here and now, and a profit to be made at the same time."
"Oh?" My curiosity was piqued. "Do tell."
Cutter's chuckle was long and easy. "There's the James Teague I know. On the lawful side, there's defending the stations, evacuating the wounded, bringing supplies...all of it rewarded by a fair bit of coin. Then there's the other side of it...finding the parts from the bugs' wreckage and selling them for millions. I've already been told of more than a few trade routes that might need their loads, how do we say, lightened." Cutter hesitated. "Trouble is, there's few of us that know how to fight these things, let alone equip our ships properly. We have the shinies to do it, aye...but the knowledge...we would need to be ready to fight our way out of a bad situation, no matter what side of the constabulary we find ourselves on. We'll get there, though. Sure there's to be a couple of fools with the knowledge crazy enough to join us."
Stroking my beard thoughtfully, I asked only one more question. "Everyone?"
"Everyone. Even them silly fops Lewis and Mako and their ships. Are ya in?"
I took another pull from the glass, glancing out of my window at the Envy, and the flurry of ships arriving and leaving. I shook my head and chuckled.
"I'm in, Cutter. If anything, I can't wait to hear ya screaming like a maid with a bug on your six -THAT will be one for the ages!"
The speaker roared with laughter. "It'll be you first, ya soft-handed posh bastard! Head to Sesuang...it's the closest system with room for carriers. We're all meeting at Drummond Enterprise; head to the lounge and ask the bartender where the downstairs are. We'll be there in a day's time."
"Aye," I replied. "Teague out." I punched up the patch to the command deck. "Recall all on leave. Destination, Sesuang. Prepare the jump for no later than 0800 on the morrow."
"Aye sir," the deck boss replied. The comm beeped to close.
I pulled up the closest AX dealers and stations in the area. "And now," I said with a raised eyebrow, "to learn me a proper new trade....or find me someone that does..."