Log 013: too close for comfort
26 Apr 2023James M. Bailey
Asteroid RingBrestla System
Imperial Space
I find deep core mining one of the most relaxing activities I know. Lazily sailing in the endless asteroid fields, looking for the brighter ones picked up by the scanner.. then a few minutes of frenzied flying, placing the charges, detonation... a cold debris cloud with skimmers going back and forth. And then calmness once again.
We have three Deep Core Mining Inc ships working within the ring, looking for Alexandrite to finalise the contract with The Ghost Foxes. My brother Tom, new blood in the company, Skit11 and myself. They both got pretty lucky finding good rocks, while I kept bumping into Bromelite deposits and as a result moved over 40 clicks away.
"Heads up, I have three new contacts" - says Skit and I check my display. Obviously, it is empty.
"Yes, got them" - Tom's voice is calm and I'm proud of my younger brother. The Federal military training is slowly changing him, even despite the break he had to take for the time we're spending now in the imperial space - "too far to achieve a lock."
I turn my Python around and start flying towards them. Better safe than sorry, and as far as I know Skitt has no offensive weapons on his Keelback, and Tom only has two guns installed.
"I am being scanned" - Skit11 is still composed, but I can her some anxiety in his voice - "one of the vessels is the Federal Assault ship. Pilot has a wanted status."
"Roger. Skit, get out of there, now" - Tom's voice grows serious - "the pilot has opened comms channel with me, she demands that we drop our cargo and leave"
"Tom, negotiate with her, buy me some time. I'm on my way to your position" - I say as I put 4 pips on engines and engage the afterburner - "Skit, fly towards me at full speed. Now!"
I bit my lip as I remember that Skit has no shields in his Keelback, and he already dented his ship on several occasions today. Still, asteroids seem less deadly to me than the pirates.
"It doesn't work, they opened fire. Going evasive" - says Tom. I check the distance - still 15 clicks to go.
"Hold on, bro, I'm coming! Skit, update!"
"I'm flying towards you at full speed. Don't think they are chasing me!"
Great. He will be fine. And at the same time, not so great - because Tom now has to fend off three pirates in his Krait.
My Python seems to be slower than a turtle. I press the buster button every two seconds, knowing very well that capacitors are not able to produce enough energy. 10 kilometers.
"Tom, I am almost there. Update!"
"Shields at 50% but holding. How far out are you?"
"9 clicks. Targeting the Assault Ship"
"Roger."
I see the lasers cutting through space and biting into the asteroids. 5 kilometers. 4... 3... finally. I jump from behind one of the larger rocks and slam both beam lasers into the pirate's shield, adding a rail gun as a bonus. That must have surprised her, as she almost collides with the huge spinning stone, trying to pull away from my weapons. But I am already on her tail and I know I won't let her escape.
"Tom, I'll focus on the leader, take care of the smaller guys!"
"On it, bro. One down!" - he exclaims, but I have no time to check the effects. I am totally focused on my target. The turrets are doing great work even as she manages to leave my field of view. The shields went to zero and now I am rapidly chewing through the armour. The other pirate is shooting at me, but my shields barely notice it.
Soon after that, the fight is over. The assault ship detonates in huge fireball, quickly followed by the Adder. Things fall quiet, only debris and lone escape pod float in the space.
"Hell yeah, bro! Well done!" - Tom explains, happily. My smile turns into grin as I see a message from Pilot Federation that my combat rank has just risen to "Mostly Harmless".
We check on Skit, who didn't take any damage - and then return to mining, hoping to gather the remaining 100 tonnes of Alexandrite we need to finish the 800 million contract...