SPECTRES - Outside Interests
10 Jun 2020NeLs0n RaD
10.06.3306 / Aboard: Imperial Courier 'Sun Tze' RAD-01 / Ops Region: Apadecavi / Ops System: Gurabru / Contract: OPSEC Classified / Status: OPSEC Classified- Lembava System
Li switched off the holo-view and leaned back slightly, fingers of each hand touching as he looked distantly out of his office window to the expanse of stars, considering what he had just read. Another high profile assassination of an Imperial generational clone, this one the fiance of the Lady of Aztlan and an Imperial Naval Officer in charge of investigating the previous assassinations. Anti-clone sentiments rising throughout Federation space, of which many worlds were under his 'jurisdiction'. Markets were down, this situation was bad for business... bad for his business... he rubbed his neck absently, then leaned forward and pressed a comm-link button on his desk,
“Contact 'The Commander'”, Li ordered in a low even tone.
“Right away, Sir”, a female toned AI's voice replied.
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- Gurabru System
I landed on our Fleet Carrier in system. Until I needed to dock at a station to get missions, I preferred the relative peace and quiet of an allied ship. I had been running courier missions the last couple of days, and the Sun Tze was the perfect ship. Kitted and built, it was a pleasure to fly and could land and launch faster than any ship I'd ever been able to 'stick'. It had gotten so I had to immediately hanger it before disembarking at stations. People assumed that because I was flying an Imperial Courier I must be an Imperial 'agent' or even crazier, that I was some sort of clone! A couple of times it had almost turned ugly, fortunately station security services had been on top of it. The last time, they had asked me if I would kindly hangar my ship immediately upon arrival.
I was just about to disembark, when the comm panel lit up and started ringing. I reached over to the seat switch and keyed the answer button,
“Rad here”, I answered a bit short.
The holo-view lit up and I recognized the figure in it as The Commander, “Good evening, Admiral!”, he began in a jovial tone.
“Good evening, Commander”, I replied, “To what do I owe the pleasure of a personal call, if I might ask, Sir?”
He chuckled a bit then, “Straight to the point, I've always liked that about you, Rad... Yes, well, we've got a mission for you.”
“Me, personally?” I asked, a bit surprised. That was different. Usually our missions were uploaded to us all as a squadron with our mission targets, goals, and required actions listed by priority. How we accomplished those goals and actions was generally left to our discretion.
“Yes, Admiral, you personally”, The Commander replied, “Do you know an Imperial Lady Aztlan, aka CMDR Maggie Oz?”
I raised a brow, “I know of her, but not personally, no.” This CMDR Maggie Oz had been all over the news vids of late.
“Ah... was hoping there might be a personal connection, seems she was a wing mate with a former wing mate of yours Admiral... a Chief Petty Officer Al Samson”, The Commander said.
“Al Samson?! Do tell, how's the ol' boy doin' these days?” I asked with a smile of fond memories of an old wing mate and drinking buddy.
The Commander's tone grew somber, “I'm afraid CPO Samson was killed in action against the Thargoids recently, Admiral... I am sorry, I wasn't aware you didn't know.”
“Son of a...”, I sat down in my pilot's seat, a bit deflated in mood... these Thargoids are starting to become a personal irritation... then straightening, I looked to the holo-view again, “You mentioned Maggie Oz and a mission, Commander?”
“Indeed Admiral, it will entail you going into Imperial space, and on occasion crossing into hostile faction territory, though generally that isn't much of a problem with LYR ships, you may run into some 'gung-ho' types...” The Commander briefed, “We would like you to meet with CMDR Oz and find out what she knows about the assassinations that are being carried out against Imperial generational clones. If you find out who the perpetrator or perpetrators are you are encouraged to dispatch them, permanently... with extreme prejudice.”
I frowned slightly as I nodded in understanding, considering, “Whoever is pulling this shit obviously pissed-off the wrong people.”
“I'm in, please upload mission details ASAP, I'll leave immediately”, I replied.
“Ah, that's my man!”, The Commander exclaimed with pleasure, “There's a special bonus for you if... well, its all in the mission brief. Good hunting, Admiral!”
“Thank you, Commander. We'll have this handled in short order”, I came back and signed off.
I looked over the mission brief as I prepped for launch...
- Make my way to Aztlan and meet (the now infamous) CMDR Maggie Oz
- Find out what she knows of the assassinations of GC's
- Follow any leads to perpetrators, terminate them if possible, with extreme prejudice
- High Priority – Follow any leads for EBU's and recover by any means necessary
(This is where the bonus came in... it was in the 10's of millions)
I got on the comms and raised 'Lys at Fontenay City,
“What's up, Cap?” she said answering the call.
“Need ya to prep Antares, 'Lys, outfit for combat. We're headin' into Imperial space”, I instructed.
She raised a brow in surprise at that, “Imperial space, huh?” She was quiet for just a moment, then, “We gonna be killin' any of 'em?”
“Possibly”, I replied directly.
Her eyes hardened and narrowed a bit, a cold smile tugging at the corner of her mouth,
“When do we launch?”