NMLA...Here we go again.
15 Mar 2021Cayce Luther
The Orca-class passenger liner came out of Supercruise at Dawes Hub, in Achenar. Its pilot looked out at the Orbis starport observing the sight; the rings were crumbled, flames were erupting from the openings where oxygen rushed out of the station and quickly fed the fire. There was a strange corrosive material eating away at the hull, the telltale sign of a Thargoid attack. Or at least, that's what it used to mean.
Cayce clenched his fist as he observed the scene. It was all too familiar. His mind flashed back to the rescue operations at Kepler Orbital. The damage, the fear, the...other moments. He stared ahead as Dawes ATC lit up Comms traffic. Other ships flowed into the station, while more still filed out in a steady stream of pilots who came to help. Some ships ferried passengers, others were collecting salvage and escape pods inside the debris-strewn landing bay. Air Traffic did what they could to coordinate and keep flight paths clear, but it was clear there was just too much to do. The news report rang in his head. The Propaganda channels' lies...
"I no longer have a name. It's been stripped by the empire. Now all I have is a number printed on my uniform." He shook his head, growling slightly. "The Alliance and Federation's rulers have revealed themselves as Imperialist supporters of the Duval dynasty." Since when? Last Cayce checked, they said nothing of the kind. "Peoples of the galaxy - you can change this. We give you your own Nine Martyrs. Use them to retake control and regain your power." Victims. Not Martyrs. Like the Nine members they slaughtered at Kepler, and all the innocent lives lost in that bombing...this was no different. Unsuspecting victims are not martyrs. Be it Federal, Imperial, Alliance or Independent. There is no such thing as a martyr in this situation. This was murder. "You cowards..." Cayce growled. "Show yourselves...I'll show you exactly what seeds you've sown."
He sat there for a few moments before his comms lit up with a message from Air Traffic Control. "Saud Kreuger Delta-Peter-Sigma, this is Dawes ATC; unless you plan to assist in evacuations and salvage operations, we suggest you find another starport. We are not in the best of shape right now for accepting casual traffic."
"Yeah no shit, the fuck you think I'm here for?" He muttered to himself, opening his end of the channel. "This is the Dead Pirate Society rescue ship, Arrogant Defiance, requesting landing clearance to assist in evacuation efforts."
"Ah; Commander Luther, it's good to see you. Clearance granted, make your way to bay 32 but be careful. We've had reports of explosions near that bay sending ships off the pad." The console pinged and gave Cayce a countdown timer.
"Right. Any idea the number of casualties?"
"No solid numbers yet, sir, it's too soon to start counting."
"Right. Thanks." Cayce pushed the throttles forward. The boost on the engines flared and the Orca shot ahead, aiming for the mail slot. He slowed and dropped in line behind a 'Conda that too was flying in to provide assistance, but the pilot seemed inexperienced in flying the big ship manually through starport bays, and the ship hooked and started to drag, eventually hooking on the grate and coming to a dead stop. Cayce popped his lateral thrusters and the Orca slid to the side, into oncoming exit traffic to avoid them, and rolling the ship just enough to let a Python pass beneath him. The Python dove, but managed to get through with little issue as the two ships pushed past the Anaconda on their respective ways.
He dove for the landing pad as soon as he had it in sight, dropping his gear and sliding down towards Bay 32, the ship setting down just as the core temperature hit 80% and started blaring alarms across the cockpit. Soon after touching down, the pad started to lower, but not before a poorly timed explosion could slide the ship sideways, leaving it angled on the pad as it dropped, rotated and slid back to rest. He sighed softly and sat back, groaning. Great way to start the rescue...
He shut the Defiance down and undid his restraints, going to the hatch and making his way down, across the landing pad and into the station. Reaching the boarding area for the passenger lounge, he went straight to the counter, presenting his identification to the counter. "Commander Luther. I have room on my ship for 86 passengers, I'll take as many people as you can give."
"Of course, commander. We have a group of contracts available. We'll give you passengers from the Achenar Jet Corp, Universal League and Empire Party. All total should fill your ship to capacity."
"Good...while I'm here. A friend of mine is fighting for the Princess; Nitsua Raven. Any idea if she's assisting?"
"A number of Aisling's Guardians have come to Achenar to help, but I've no record of who or how many."
"I thought as much, thanks anyway. Take care." He turned and hurried back to his ship as the staff started to herd passengers towards Bay 32.
"Fly safe, Commander." The desk clerk called out after him.
Aboard the Defiance, Cayce slumped in his command chair. Se stared out at the enclosed landing bay as the weight of all this set in. He tried to sort this all out. What does the NMLA really want? If it was to dismantle the empire, that would be one thing. But now they've declared war on the Alliance and Federation. What is the goal here? Their own annihilation? This group is punching way above their weight class. Though, if the goal is to make the Empire and Federation point fingers at each other again...that worked in spades. He shook his head in disgust and sat up. Pressing the launch button, Cayce went to the nav panel and locked the rescue ship into the computer. The HUD pinged on the canopy as the colorful Orca slid forward, raising back into the burning inferno that was Dawes Hub's landing bay. The clamps disengaged and the Defiance rose, landing gear retracting. There was a break in the traffic, welcome from the rough arrival the Saud Kruger ship went through on its way in, so Cayce took a moment to line up with the slot, and then with no warning to ATC or incoming traffic, boosted right out of the mail slot, banking almost immediately up and away from the station, making a loop that would take the speeding ship out of the lane of traffic and sill line up with the Rescue ship. After a few short seconds, the Mass Lock indicator went dark, and Cayce slapped the FSD control, the ship spooling up and taking off for the jump. "Hope you're dedicated to your cause, NMLA...because when we find you. There's nobody coming to save you."
The star light glinted off the 'DPHS01' hull number of the Orca before the ship vanished into Supercruise, on its way to drop off its passengers.