The Dead Pirates' Society Welcomes the Federation to Paresa.
06 May 2021Cayce Luther
The Harmony's Shield Exited its warp portal, arriving in Paresa with little fanfare. As the ship settled into its holding pattern over Paresa Seven, its crew went to work making sure the area is secure. On the Bridge, Admiral Natalia Lee oversaw operations."Ma'am, we've arrived in Paresa with no issue. All systems functioning properly. We are ready to commence operations at your order."
"Very good. Make preparations at once. The Longer we take, the longer the imperials have to prepare, the harder they'll make our job."
The crew members nodded, setting off to work. "Justice will be swift..."
"Low Wake Detected! Anaconda-class vessel off the starboard bow!"
The quietness of the bridge is interrupted by the proximity alert as the Midnight Black Anaconda boosts and approaches the Megaship, coming to a stop just off the bridge and settling there just slightly to starboard. The ship was close enough the crew aboard the Shield could see Aisling Duval Emblem adorning the nose of the ship, as well as the pilot standing next to his command chair, arms crossed. "Identify that ship now!"
A few seconds of hurried typing come across the bridge and soon. "Hull Number AO4021, the Luther's Folly, captained by a commander Ca cay...cay...casey? Case? Cayce Luther. Commanding Officer, Dead Pirates' Society."
'You have some balls, flying up on a Federation Megaship, Commander...' She thought to herself. "Hail the ship at once."
"No need, ma'am. They're hailing us."
"What? Put him through."
The view screen showing the stars give way to a display, revealing the blue-haired Anaconda Pilot, wearing a flight jacket reminiscent of something out of ancient earth entertainment. Mad...something or other. It was a black leather jacket, white t-shirt, but dark blue jeans all covering a traditional flight suit. "Admiral Lee. Commander Luther. I was hoping to speak with you."
"Commander. I applaud you on your...tenacity. Not many pilots would just fly up on a Federal Megaship like this."
Cayce merely grinned. "Oh I'm not worried. After all, I'm not the one who's not supposed to be here."
Lee narrowed her eyes at the pilot. His tone was too casual. "I assume you're here to cooperate?"
"Oh heavens no. I'm here to ask you to leave."
"Ex-cuse me?" Lee, genuinely taken aback by the rather blunt statement, almost took a step back. "And what makes you think you carry that right?"
"Simple, really. You're in Imperial space now, without permission from the Empire. Which means you're invading Empire controlled territories. Basically, you've committed an act of war against us because you're...well...oh what's the word I'm looking for...morons!" The absolute casual tone in the Commander's voice struck quite the nerve with the Admiral. "See, what you've gone in done is...take the word of a terrorist, a terrorist responsible for setting up the attacks on multiple imperial, Federal, and Alliance stations, to go after a Duval. Y'know. The people these terrorists want dead the most. Ring any bells?" Cayce knocked his right fist against his head a bit, to drive his point home. "You get it? You shouldn't be here yet."
The Admiral could feel her anger building. This Imperial had the nerve to tell an entire megaship what right and wrong is? Laughable at best. "We are here to collect a terrorist. That is all. If the Empire steps aside, no harm will come to them."
"Wrong. See, that's the thing. He hasn't been proven guilty yet." Cayce shook his head in disappointment. "I have no doubt the information was given by Delacroix. What I doubt is the validity of the claims of a known terrorist who openly admitted to wanting to overthrow the Duvals. ACT is investigating the claims, but until they come back with evidence to the contrary. You. Are. Tresspassing. So be a good girl and run back to Mandu where it's safe."
"And who are you to tell an agent of the Federation what is right and wrong?! You Imperials love to act all high and mighty-"
"Ah Ah Ah. Not all Imperials. Just like not all Feds are mindless, arrogant, Manifest-Destiny-toting-windbags like yourself."
"Hadrian Duval is a terrorist and you're keeping us from claiming him."
"You mean keeping you from getting to him first, right?" Silence on Lee's end. "Because that's what this is. This is a bunch of pantywaists in the Federation wanting to play the hero. To be the ones to take vengeance on the fallen, but most importantly, to show up and ruin the Empire's day, while possibly wanting to destabilize the Empire with further chaos. Well, I'm not having it. So I'm giving you a warning. Turn back now, or there will be consequences."
"Consequences. And just what is a singular pilot, in a simple Anaconda, plan to do against a Federal Megaship?"
Cayce merely smirked, raised his right hand, and smirked. "Oh, who ever said I was alone?~"
And at the snap of his fingers, a couple second delay before warp signatures appeared all over the Shield's screens. "Admiral! Three capital class signatures detected!."
Lee's eyes went wide as, ahead of both the megaship and the Folly, three fleet carriers started emerging from their own warp portals. Signatures of the ships lit up as the 'NNV Ninetails', the 'IMCR Resolute', and the 'DPHS Alexandria.' As the ships settled into station ahead and to the sides of the Megaship, their hangar bays uncovered and revealed almost every landing pad covered with ships, From Cutters to Sidewinders, all carrying Imperial or Independent flags. Lee stared out at the ships, then slowly looked back to Cayce, who was still smirking almost devilishly. "You...you dare ambush us..."
"No, no ambush. I have no intention of facing you. Yet. Merely showing you a taste of what waits for you if you walk down this path." Cayce's demeanor turned from casual and cocky, slowly to much darker and more serious. "If you don't go home now. Nothing you say, nothing you do, nothing you try, will save you from the hell you are about to endure. Because until ACT finishes their investigation into the allegations; Hadrian is innocent, and my squadron, and its allies, will make your lives a living hell until you get smart and go back to the hole you crawled out of."
The Comm screen goes dark, and the Folly turns, boosting back to the Alexandria, leaving the crew of the Shield just staring at the viewer. "Ma'am?" One of the crew mates turns to Lee. "What shall we do?"
"...We do nothing. This. Changes. Nothing. We aren't leaving until Hadrian Duval is in our custody, or Nova is torn to ash..."
