Recruitment Pt I
20 May 2020NeLs0n RaD
CMDR Note: Logs are posted as “Late Entry” for OPSEC of current assignments.10.05.3306 / Aboard: Krait MkII 'Antares' / Ops Region: Apadecavi / Ops System: Prom Du / Current Contract: Commodity Transport / Status: In Transit
“Well now, this is interesting,” I mused as I was scrolling through the latest INARA.Net news, clicking on the holo-vid of a recent trial down at Maia. One 'Lady Aztlan' of the Empire, aka CMDR Maggie Oz (according to the vid inset screen) was being taken to task over the Alioth Massacre... what the?... I learned about that back in grade school! Looking at the woman on the screen, obviously the object of the accusation, while she was admittedly worse for wear... (I chuckled as she related getting her “arse” shot off by Thargoids, thinking if she was looking like that and survived what a bag of smashed “arse-holes” the Thargoids must look like)... there still was NO WAY she was old enough to have been there...
I glanced at the scanner, frowning a bit as I picked up a Python beaming a Sirius Special Forces ID and popping a wanted tag above it, “that's a bit odd...” I rotated the scanner through every ship in range, then set it to the Python again, but as he seemed to be moving off I didn't pay him much mind and turned my attention back to the vid...
“Ohhh... that's how she managed it!” as I caught up on the fact that CMDR Maggie there was a generational clone, “Hmm... seems I remember something about the “perpetrators” at Alioth being executed...”
The Antares' alarm klaxon wailed an alert as the holo-HUD flashed an interdiction warning. I scanned my boards as I took the controls from Boyle, calling out, “Gear up 'Lys!”
“On it, Boss!” came her reply.
I looked to the target ID panel... “Crap planet!.. It's that damn Python!”
The comms crackled to life, “Heave to and make ready for a scan, pilot!”
“Are ya outta yer mind, idiot stick?!” I snapped back, “Ya see the 'colors' I'm beamin', right?!”
“Make it easy on yourself and submit", was his reply.
I could have easily evaded the interdiction, but now I was irritated, this guy had interrupted my morning Joe and news, thereby committing the ultimate sacrilege and I was going to have a personal accounting for it! I throttled back the Antares and let us be pulled out of hyperspace.
“How're we playin' it, Cap?” Boyle asked quietly from her flight station in the fighter seat to my right.
“Close to the chest... don't launch unless I give the word,” I answered.
I brought the Antares around to face the Python, not deploying her hard points yet, “You do know this is an LYR pledged ship and we work for the same people, right?”
“It's time to pay your friendship dues, so shaddup and dump 5 units of that gold yer haulin', boyo!” came his reply, then, “I'm in a bit of a hurry, so make it quick and I won't shoot up your ship...”
I switched the comms over to internal and said quietly, “Yeah, launch your fighter, 'Lys... but don't fire just yet.”
“Well that's no fun!” came back her reply, as I felt the rumblings of the fighter bay opening to deploy the Taipan.
I glanced at the target ID board again, getting the would-be-pirate's name and combat rating, John Norris, rated Novice. Trying to remain only irritated and not angry, I spoke in quiet slow tones, hoping this pilot would realize his mistake and move off, “Now John... look at your position here, you're out-classed...” I thumbed off the safeties and deployed Antares' hard points... “and you're out-gunned. But seein' as we're really working for the same people, I'll give ya the benefit of the doubt...”
“Ye got 15 seconds to dump yer cargo else I start shootin'”, the comms crackled.
“And you got 10 before I kick your ass clean outta this galaxy!” I growled out, having finally lost my patience. That's when he made his fatal mistake...
“Target weapons charging”, came Verity's voice over the comms.
“Light 'im up, Boyle!” I called out as I throttled up and triggered a full burst of pulse lasers and multi-cannons.
“'Bout damn time”, Boyle's reply came back, but I could tell from her tone she was mostly thinking out loud.
Poor John Norris... Boyle's first pass killed his shield generator, mine gutted the Python on the spot, as the ship began to vent atmosphere and dump its cargo. He tried to boost but Boyle was already at his thrusters and they failed. I closed with him launching two salvos of Pack Hounds and opening up with another full burst... and he was done, the ill-fated Python's reactor went critical and blew the ship wide open. There was no sign of an escape pod.
“What the hell just happened?” I asked to nobody in particular.
“We let the air outta another wannabe?” Boyle quipped back.
“Yeah, but this one was beamin' an SSF ID”, I said.
“OK, so Vang's an asshole?” she queried again.
I let out a sigh, “You're not helping, Boyle.”
“Well excuuusssee me, Cap! But generally you don't talk to me much about what's happening in your “business” world. You just point and I shoot. And for the most part I like it just fine that way. But today, my ass was on the line same as yours while we were engaging a supposed ally! Not sure how I'm feeling about that,” she fell quiet.
I stopped and considered what she had just said, mostly because it was about as much as I'd ever heard from her... and, she had a point. Odalys “Lys” Boyle, was a great fighter pilot, only rarely losing a fighter in an engagement, and that was usually because she was covering our escape when I had let my big dog appetite overload my puppy dog butt for a contract. But our relationship was strictly business, in the most tactical sense, and it was just as she described, I point, she shoots. She only gets the intel she needs to be ready for what we might encounter on any run. When we're done, she collects her pay with a nod and a, “See you on the next run?” To which I always reply with an affirmative. When I had first signed on with Li Yong-Rui and agreed to prioritize SSF in my contracts I had negotiated station-side quarters for her as well as myself. When I let her know, she just gave me a bit of a sideways look and smile with a little, “Thanks Cap, that's real nice.” I did notice, however, that she didn't hit me up for a raise to the going rate when she got her next combat rating promotion...
“You're absolutely right 'Lys, your ass is on the line same as mine”, I said, turning in my seat to look over to her flight station, “so your ass is gonna get some answers... same as mine.”
“'Bout damn time.”
This time I knew she was talking to me.