The annals of the Deathwing : a profitable job
30 Dec 2020Sawlcatcher
We had gathered the new recruits at Chelomey Orbital. For a few days, we remained at the Headquarters feeding them with all the basics. We went through ships, outfing, exploration, bounty hunting, trading (and many more), and gave them some useful tips to get their jobs done well and fast. But on that day, I came up with a specific mission for one of them.I entered the Deathwing’s Headquarter, greeted my fellows and summoned the one I came for. “Gatlor! Come here.” I said, half seated on a table, a thigh on it, the other leg touching the floor.
“Yes Ma’m?”
“I already told you not to call me that. Did you fit your Asp Explorer for exploration?”
“Yes I did Ma’... I mean, Sawl” I threw my cigar in some nearby ashtray, jumped off the table and said “C’mon, let’s go take a look”.
We went onboard his ship and took a look on the modules he bought. I gave him a few more advices to improve his jump range a little further, then briefed him on the job.
“We have to provide Ammonia World’s data to Betancourt Base in the Musca dark region. I’ll have to check on a friend who can give me a list of systems where we’ll find some. Meet me there in two days. That will give you the time you need to do the adjustments on your ship, and enough time to get there.”
This would be his first time out off the bubble, exploring the many secrets of the Milky Way, I was excited for him. That made me remember of my first expedition... I hope he’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
I docked at Suzuki Terminal to visit my friend Gourou Lubrik, an expert hacker. I explained him what I needed, and a few hours later, just like magic, he gave me a list of systems’ locations where we would find Ammonia worlds. I used my time there to get some performance enhancers, in case we needed a little boost during our journey. But I had plenty of time left to kill before our meeting at Betancourt Base. I had planned it to take way longer than it actually did. So I thought it might be good for once to take a little time for myself.
I took a moment to think about what would do me the most good. Kill pirates! Love that of course, but that wasn’t what I needed at that moment. Or just lay back in my cockpit in front of a beautiful scenery, enjoying a cigar and a strong beverage after all was all I needed. Get away from civilisation... So I opened my star map and stated to look for a place I could get that. I went after a long reflection to the highest star I could go to, so I could admire the Milky Way from above. It was nice, but wasn't what I expected. I just wasn’t far enough, and had no time to go any further. I can’t wait to get to Beagle Point to see it from there. On my way back to Betancourt Base, something unexpected happened. As I scanned a system I just jumped in, I found something I don’t often come by : a notable stellar phenomena. Instead of jumping to the next system, I decided to go give it a quick check.
I arrived at the edge of a huge cloud, with cristals shining from afar. I moved closer to get a better look at it.
This was something I only found before in Colonia, or even in the Galactic Centre. Never in the Inner Orion Spur. And I wasn’t even anywhere close to a Nebula. That definitely made my day. I spent a little more time there to enjoy the sight, then went on my way to Betancourt Base to meet our young apprentice. The station was located right in front of an Ammonia Wolrd. Which, by the way are like the home-worlds of Thargoids. There were a lot of them in the system. I avoided them and warned Gatlor to do the same when he would get there.
He joined me at the main lobby a couple hours before our departure. He had done a good job on his ship. The boy understood quickly. I shared with him the list of systems Gourou had found for us and explained him how we would proceed to be efficient. When we’d jump in a system, Gatlor would go straight to the ammonia world to scan it’s surface while I scanned the system, and looked for the next destination. That would assure us good profits since I knew they payed a lot for this kind of data.
We regained our ships and prepared for take off.
Most systems we visited had already been discovered and the surface of most of the planets had already been scanned. But I was glad when we entered a system where the surface of the ammonia world had never been scanned ! Now Gatlor has his name on a planet, though I'm sure he will put it on plenty of other undiscovered ones. After several days of intense scans, systems after systems, we went back to Betancourt base to sell all of this data and get our well deserved money. All the data I had collected was worth over 260 million credits. Luckily I was friend with the faction that owned the Universal Cartographic there, so that saved us the huge line up people have to suffer before selling their data.
An agent accompanied us to the manager’s office, where a man I’d never met before received us. “I was said you got some data for me?”
“Hell yeah! Tons ! They are over 400 detailed surface scans of Ammonia worlds in here, from each of us.”
“Great! Let’s check that up!” I took a Kamitra cigar from my pocket while Gatlor handed our suitcases containing the data.
“Guess you don’t mind, Do you?” I asked, cracking my cigar, not even waiting for an answer.
“Go ahead, I’ll have someone bring in an ashtray.”
I sat on the sofa a few feet away from his desk. The guy baffled something in his com-link, and plugged the first case to his data center.
“I see.” He said. “That will be pretty useful. That’s exactly the kind of data we are looking for...”
The guy looked please.
“So I guess we deserve a pretty nice bonus.”
“Let me check the other one and I’ll see what I can do”.
After he’d checked all the data and approved it, the guy turn his chair toward us.
“So the usual payout for your data would be 263 million for each of you. But as you know we really need this kind of data, so I will give you a bonus of 400 million.”
“I’m sure you can do better. We’re not some untrained pilots who bring you a few scans and don’t even bother to bargain their end. It took us close to two weeks to collect all of that. And I’m sure you can’t spit on 800 scans... How about a 600 million bonus?”
“Sorry but I can’t pay you this much. How about we cut it in half. Let's say 760 million for each of you, bonus included. And, since you seem being a pretty competent team, I’ll provide you a pilot for your squadron to show my good faith.”
“Go on...”
“Well.. a good friend of mine has just got his pilot’s licence. He is very able, and he asked me yesterday if I knew a good squadron that could help him progress faster and learn a few tricks. I’m sure he would be pleased to team up with some guys like you. That’s the best offer I can do. So... what do you say?”
“Fine." I said. This could be a good opportunity to strengthen our ranks.
"Anyway, I guess we can use extra hands in this mess coming up between the Empire and the Federation. Tell him to contact me and I’ll take care of him. What’s his name?”
“Bustin Justin. You’ll see, he’s a really good guy and I’m sure he’ll be up for whatever you want him to do!”
“We shall see. Do you have anything to drink here? We never close a deal without a drink.”
“I may have some Lavian brandy.”
Gatlor didn’t say anything during the transaction but I knew he was pleased to know he would make so much money by the end of the day. We left the Universal Cartographic richer than we ever did. More over, my friends from the local faction heard about how much we helped their community, and offered us a fully engineered detailed surface scanner to thank us for our participation. We had to drink to that too! So we joined Slevin at the main lobby. He had arrived before us at Betancourt Base and had collected some data as well. Though he did it on his own since he had other matters to deal with aside. Of course, they also gave him a detailed surface scanner fully engineered.
“Three lavian brandy please.” We asked the waiter.
“So how many credits did you made guys?” Slevin asked us.
“760 million.” I answered.
“Great! So you’re gonna be able to buy yourself an Anaconda Gatlor.”
“Yeah, I’m so excited! I thought about buying a Fer De Lance as well for combat.”
“Well, I suggest you focus on the Anaconda and it’s outfits. 380 million won’t be enough to fit both ships.” Slevin advised.
“You misunderstood me dude.” I interrupted. “We made 760 million... each! That’s over 1,5 billion for the both of us. And we’re gonna have a new recruit as well!”
“Damn sons! That’s awesome! You really bargained that shit well, didn’t you? Tell me all about it”.
Gatlor told him how we managed that much money and I explained what we new about the newcomer. As we were discussing and enjoying what we’d accomplished, a young man came to us.
“Someone told me you guys are from the Deathwing Squadron. Is that true?”
“We are. And actually this is Slevin Kelevra, the founder of the Squadron.” I answered showing Slevin. “Why are you looking for us? Who are you?”
“I’m pleased to meet you! I’m Dante Maximus. I had my pilot’s licence a few weeks ago and I’m looking for a Squadron.”
“Alright, tell us more about you.” Said Slev.
“I love bounty hunting, and I’m earning credits to buy myself an Alliance Cheiftain. I was lining up at the Universal Cartographic, and I heard a lot of stuff about you. So I though that you would be a good Squadron, that could probably teach me a few things.”
“Well, I guess you knocked the right door kid.” He answered. “Did you come here for the Community Goal? What are you flying at the moment?”
“Yes I did. Couldn’t find any ammonia world though. I’m flying a Vulture.”
“A vulture? Are you saying that you did all the way here and did some exploration in a Vulture?”
“Yes sir. Is that bad?”
“Damn! I gotta say, you got nerves! I wouldn’t have done that myself. How ‘bout you Sawl?”
“No way! Even if you paid me 50 million credits. And even if I’m resilient enough to do the trip from Colonia with a ship with a 30ly jump range... You’re insane kid! I like that!”
“Alright, let me introduce you the team we got here. This is Gatlor, one of our fervent Soldiers. He enrolled a few weeks ago and now is richer that he ever thought he would be, isn’t it?”
“Damn right!”
“And this is Sawlcatcher, one of our Squad Leaders. She and I will be there for you anytime you need. You can ask anything to her, me, or any Squad Leader or Officer available if you have questions.”
“So that means you’re taking me in?”
“We are. Let’s drink to that!” I answered. “What do you drink?”
“I don’t know, a juice, or whatever you guys drink.”
“Have you ever tried Leestian Evil Juice?”
“Nope. What’s that?”
“Wait to see! Let’s just say it will light the wick of the sinner inside you” I waived a waiter to order four of these powerful beverages.
“That’s on me.” Taking some cigars out of my pocket and offering one to the newbie.
"Cheers Guys" Said Slevin raising his glass “And welcome to the Deathwing!”