Full Circle and Down the Hole
17 May 2022Rixses
I've spent the last three days randomly jumping. I don't know if anyone is following me but that should shake them.Still... My memory of the pain I felt from the HMI damage, the sense of being followed. Or is it watched. I'm not sure. Something just out of the corner of my eye, the edge of perception. I remember that same pain from my accident. Maybe it wasn't an accident after all... I wish I could just remember already!
I still need to make my way to Achenar and follow up that lead. But now this Eshar Direntill... I have never seen anything like that before. But then again, I had never seen anyone like Beebbs before either. I wish I knew they were safe. I hope Beebbs gets everything setup soon. That would asswage some worries. Until then I need to keep pushing forward. Keep focused. I'll deal with Dremon Ordanon first. He's my best lead on my brother now. Maybe he'll know something about this assassin as well. I don't know what he was doing to me. But I do remember that pain. Like my own brain was trying to rip the HMI out through my eyes. How is that possible...
(Two days later)
On my way to Achenar I received a message.
Communications System: Direct Link
Signal Level: Normal
Message Follows:
"Hello, this is CMDR Rico Swave reporting in. Look for a CMDR Rixes? I have a delivery from Azura... Wondering where you'd like to meet. I have just recently arrived back in the bubble from Azura after a long trip out in the black. Contacted you as soon as I could to deliver this shard of data. Thank you."
Communication System: Direct Link
Signal Level: Normal
Message Follows:
"Hello Commander Rico Swave. Message received. Well this is a surprise. A data shard from Azura huh... Did Tyy'sun put you up to this? No matter... Well, I'm en route to Achenar for a meeting. I'm sending a set of coordinates. You can meet me there in two days. Maybe you can fill me in on events from the AI when we meet."
Coordinates Transfer Complete
Link Terminated
Rixses: "INV Abhuire, this is Commander Rixses on approach vector zero-nine-five. Requesting authorization to dock."
INV Abhuire: "Gutamaya Romeo Indigo X-ray, this is Imperial Flight Control. Authorization denied! Civilians and Independent Pilots are not allowed to dock on Imperial Navel Vesels."
Rixses: "Imperial Flight Control, maintaining approach. Transmitting codes now."
Registration and access codes transmitting.....
Transmission complete.
INV Abhuire: "Commander I said tha... My apologies your Excellency. I didn't realize... But I'm sorry your Excellency. We are still unable to grant authorization to dock. Your navel clearance was revoked when you became an Independent Pilot."
Rixses: "Is Admiral Ordanon still in command? Tell him I'm here to call in an old favor. Maintaining approach!"
INV Abhuire: "Please stand by your Excellency."
INV Abhuire: "Gutamaya Romeo Indigo X-ray, docking request granted. Apologies for the misunderstanding your Excellency. Maintain your current vector and respect speed regulations. Welcome to the INV Abhuire."
Within the hour I was shown to a meeting area inside the observation deck of the gravitational ring. The views from these things are absolutely stunning. Assuming you can stomach them. The constant rotation around the center point is not bad by itself but having the long offensive array of the vassal outstretched asymmetrically from the point of rotation always makes my stomach shift. A few moments later someone came in to provide refreshments and is shortly followed by Admiral Ordanon. I hadn't seen the man in a lifetime. Well... A perspective lifetime. Last time I saw him was before I died and changed my life. He was a Lieutenant Commander, my XO at the time. An Admiral now, the years had been good to him. His demeanor was warm and welcoming. Like meeting an old friend you hadn't seen in years. A few streaks of gray in that shining black hair of his. A few extra pounds maybe. But the same man I remembered.
"Well, if it isn't Lieutenant Marcus Lambert... As I live and breathe. I didn't actually expect it to be you, using that name. Rixses now, and an Independent Pilot at that. What happened? Why did you give it all up to be an independent?" He said warmly as we embraced and started to pour drinks. There were two decanters each with an amber colored liquid in them. One a little squat but ornate and the other tall and simple but elegant. He poured from the first.
"You know I had to move on after what happened at Koko... Dying just seemed like a convenient mechanism for the change. But I am sorry I let you think I was dead. I... Awkk puth puth..." I started and then spat. "What the hell! The cheep bourbon Lieutenant? I guess I deserved that after letting you think I was dead for all these years."
A smile came across Ordanons face. "Haha ha... No no. That's not it. I just had to be sure it was you after all these years. Too many lies lately to not be careful." Ordanon took and threw out both glasses of the bourbon he had just poured and then poured new ones from the second decanter.
Taking a sip from the freshly poured glass "Ahh... That's better. It's your fault I'm this picky now, ya know. You taught me everything."
Taking a seat in a conforming conference chair, which was not as comfortable as it appeared, we proceeded to converse and traded stories for the next few hours. Until we were both well and truly drunk.
"Harhahaha... well..." Ordanon sighed and took a deep breath. "I guess we should get to business. Flight Control said you were here to call in a favor. What brings a dead man to darken my door?"
"Two things." I said with a slight slur. "First I need some help locating my lost brother. Second, I'm hoping you have some intel on my, would have been, assassin."
"Assassin!" he says looking overly shocked. Probably amplified by the volume of bourbon we had just gone through. "What sort of mess did you end up in this time to have an assassin sent after you?"
"The type where I jump at shadows and the assassin kills you with a look." I said with a grin. "No really, they tried to kill me just by looking at me."
I proceeded to tell Ordanon the story about my hunt for shadows. The so-called accident. My most recent run-in with Eshar Direntill. My theory about the link to my brother and how he had gone missing. Being drunk made my story sound much more enrapturing. To myself at least.
Ordanon sobered up noticeably listening to my story. "That is... Quite the tail. I don't know anything about these shadows or that assassin, but I'll ask around and query the Imperial Archive. If anyone in the Empire knows, the records will be there. As for your brother..." He says with a grim look coming over his face. "As of right now, I am reactivating you with the special rank of Field Commander in charge of Special Operations."
I was shocked. I know I was drunk, but my head was spinning for other reasons now. "What?" I stammered out. Red building in my face from the booze and shock...
"I'm an Admiral now. I can give out any rank up to and including Captain Superior. Including the special little rank of Special Commander. So now you are one." He said pointedly. "And as such, I have authorization to share with you what I'm about to share. October last, we recruited your brother for a special operation. We thought you dead and he was an excellent choice. He was supposed to complete his mission and then meet up with some expedition, using the expedition as an excuse to be missing for a while. Apparently, your expedition."
I sat and listened in silence. This is what I really came here for. From the data Beebbs was able to get out of that recovered data shard we dug up and they decoded, I knew. I knew what was about to come out.
With another deep breath Ordanon started to explain. He explained how and why my brother was recruited. That he was sent on an undercover operation to recover proof of external corruption within the Federation. Corruption that would lead to the next galactic war of the powers. A corruption that put him into a coma and frozen in cryo until they can figure out exactly what happened to him so they can fix it. That my brother, and his knowledge of a corruption that could bring about galactic war, was on ice and locked in some Imperial black site somewhere. That he was frozen until they could repair the damage and find out what he learned.
We spoke late into the evening. Ordanon sent out for information on the shadows, the assassin, and the site location of my brother that night. I stayed on board for the time being. I was planning to stay until something came back from the query and a possible site location for my frozen brother. The INV Abhuire was scheduled to make a jump to another nearby system the next morning. I wasn't concerned as it was close enough that I could get back for my other meeting quickly. Being here would give me access to Imperial resources to learn more. It's not every day an Independent Pilot gets high level access to the Imperial Data Network. And just like clockwork, that's when everything went to shit.
We jumped to the Toxandh system at 0600 the next morning as scheduled. I slept in and had a lazy morning nursing my hangover. I might hold a rank now, but I'm still a freelancer. At 1000 I was headed to meet Ordanon. We started talking about some information that came in on the Shadows. He had everything transferred from the Summerland incident as well as a few other recorded occurrences. However, instead of reviewing the data package in detail like we planned, we were rushing to organize our defense as the alarms started blaring. We were under attack by two unidentified vessels. Two "shadows" as the description came in over the comms. We split. Ordanon was heading to the bridge to take command and I went to the docks where I could do some good. At 1043 we were in an all-out battle. Long range communication was blocked. No out of system signals of any type. Without a call going out we were getting no support. We tried to send a support launch out to another system to attempt a transmission but somehow, they had blocked all FSD jumps. The process would charge and then suddenly fail at the last moment leaving the ship making the attempt in an overcharged shutdown mode for a few minutes.
I injected myself with the drug cocktail I've been using again and launched my own ship to aid in the defense. The next few hours were full of confusion, death, and chaos. Two ships. Two... Shadows. Each the size of a fleet carrier. And dozens of smaller ships. Little whisp like crafts not much larger than a Sidewinder. Black voids in space, all of them. Weapons seemed to have little effect but concentrated fire over a prolonged period could take down one of the small ones. Each of the whisps we destroyed seemed to melt into space itself and not even wreckage was left. No matter how many we got, they never seemed to slow or diminish. Unable to run or to call for help, we documented everything into a duplicate set of secured data casings knowing the inevitable. That we would lose.
Hours into the battle there was an explosion from the INV Abhuire. All of the prolonged and considerable damage finally caused a cascade failure and the fusion drives blew. The shockwave shot out like a ring of light spreading from the drive section. It cut through in an instant anything in its path and left an EMP wake that killed any system still intact. Several of the fighters, like me, were thrown free from the conflict area by the force of the wave. The sheer force rending all of us dead or unconscious.
I awoke sometime later to a hail ping. My ship must have automatically rebooted at some point following the blast or else I would be dead by now. I slowly come to my senses, annoyed by the constant ping of the comms hail. My body feels like it's just been worked over by an industrial meat tenderizer. Everything hurts. I don't want to move. But that incessant pinging of the comms relay is keeps ringing in my head. Echoing from the trauma and the headache. I reach over and accept the link.
"Shhhh!" I call into the comms. "Why do you have to ping me so loudly? Can't I just sleep."
"Commander! Commander, by her grace you're alive." Came the response...
(Sometime later)
After I got checked over by medical, I helped in organizing the relief effort. Communication was back online and system forces had responded. Relief crews were checking and processing survivors. Damage to the INV Abhuire was being ascertained. Following the explosion the assailants, the Shadows, just disappeared. Nothing left except our own wreckage. I reported to a Captain Summer, who was leading the relief effort on what happened, and informed them of the data casings to be recovered. I wanted one of them delivered to me. After the debrief I got up to leave and informed the Captain that I was going to a meeting and to have a Corpsman bring me any salvaged data casings and a report at 1300 hours. I will be in Achenar.
"But Sir, you can't go. We need to..." Summer started as I cut him off.
"Medical cleared me apart from some dehydration and a hangover, Captain. I may hold rank again but I'm still an Independent Pilot and I have places to be. Have a Corpsman bring me my data casing Captain, that's and order!" And I marched off to my ship once again.
I returned to Achenar for my meeting with Commander Rico Swave and spent some time at the station to learn a little about him before I met with him. I wanted to know if he really did just come from Azura or not. I docked and set for repairs. Injected myself once again to take the edge of the pain off and keep my reactions up. I didn't know what I was getting into here. Ricos story checked out, to my relief. So... I went to the bar since that's where all the Commanders hang out and I needed a drink. This has been one hell of a week.
Wandering into the bar I order a double bourbon from the counter. Turning back to the rest of the patrons I shouted "Commander Rico Swave! I'm looking for a Commander Rico Swave!" I was tired. I hurt. I didn't feel like being tactful anymore. My Corpsman was late and I wanted to be drunk again and asleep.
"Right here!" He says, sitting at the bar, drinking a cream soda. "You like you been out on a long trip in the black, how's it going?" He says, joking a bit.
"Ehh... Not so much long, as sleepless. Or nearly." I say, turning back to the counter to take the seat next to him.
"Delt with a murder attempt on my life just a few days ago. Been running ever since really. Hard to sleep when you have to keep one eye open. Anyway... I hear you're back from Azura just recently huh? Long trip. What brought you back?"
"I understand." He sips the cream soda. "I was looking forward to getting a new ship; two even. And perhaps I was a little home sick. I caught a ride on a carrier to here, so wasn't that bad of a trip. As an explorer, I like to be everywhere... But can't stay away from civilization forever."
"Anyways, while I was in Azura, I meet a young lady that goes by the name of Dr. Burbarry. She gave me this data shard..." He takes the shard out of his pocket places it on the bar in front of Rixses." Looks pretty secure, don't see these kind if shards often, she said you'd know what to do with it." He explains. "I suppose you two know each other well?" He asks.
Unsure of if this is Beebbs or not an not wanting to break any cover I attempt to play along with it.
"Pint sizes pipsqueak that throws her weight around like she owns the place? Yeah, I've had some dealings with them. Did they tell you anything about it and do I owe you anything for this?" I ask as I finish off my drink and take the shard. I then motioned to a nervous looking Imperial Corpsmen who just entered the bar and started looking around. I call to them "Over here!" Of course, they show up now.
"No I don't think so, however I did say I'd call her when I delivered the shard to you safely." He explains, sipping his cream soda again. "She gave me her personal contact. Mind if I call her now? or when I leave?" He asks.
I hurriedly responded "No. Go ahead if you want. But you'll have to excuse me a moment."
I turned slightly to face the new arrival, standing up stright in the process and focusing my thoughts. I was aggitated with them being late. Amplified by the drugs and, what I assume is about three days without any real sleep.
Addressing the corpsmen "You're late!" with a note of disgust in my voice. "You were supposed to meet me two hours ago."
The corpsmen abruptly removes his helmet and salutes as he approaches. While still holding the salute he starts "I'm sorry sir. It took two cycles to retrieve it from the Abhuire."
I finally return the salute and the corpsmen is visibly relieved. "And your report?"
"Retrieval was successful. I ordered it transferred to your ship upon arrival. The Abhuire was lost. Crew retrieval is underway but preliminary scans only show about 40% of the crew to have made it to the lifeboats." He reported.
I dismissed the Corpsman, irritated for no real reason except I felt like shit.
"Apologies. Old business." I say to Rico and then order another drink. "Anything for you?"
I wanted to move this on. I needed more sleep and more bourbon.
"You must have a high ranking here, but what's more amazing is that change in energy." He says chuckling a bit. "I'm good on the drink, thanks though."
"Oh that! Yeah, training never really goes away. Even if you try." I say encouraging the dismissal of that topic. "What about you, you're an explorer you said?"
"Yup, all out explorer, wouldn't have it any other way. Have you done some exploring as well?" He responds.
"Some. I was actually leading a small route mapping expedition several months ago, but haven't been on anything significant since. Been too busy dealing with the problems. So it seems like I'm never too far out. If I can get some of these problems resolved, I might take the opportunity to head out again. Do you have any special interests? I'm fond of route mapping myself." Again, trying to get away from the subject of anything to do with Shadows or my brother. I can't believe I just centered on it again right after trying to change the subject. What a rookie mistake.
"I like to spend time at Nebulae. They are so beautiful from up close. I might even be heading over to the Heart and Soul Nebulae soon." He says happily.
"Oh, I was actually mapping a route to the chameleon nebula on my last outing. I know it's close... But it's really interesting. Next chance I get I've been wanting to go survey the area around it." I finish off my second drink. What am I doing! Back on the same subject again! Abort abort abort!
"Well... I should probably get back to work. I still have too many problems to let them linger. Here..." I pull up my system interface and send over my contact info. "There's my contact info. Feel free to reach out, and thanks again for the shard. If you ever need anything, I'll see what I can do." Motioning as to leave the conversation I just screwed up.
"Thanks, I will. I've got some things to do myself. It was very nice meet you!" He responds with a smile. "Wonder if we'll find catch each other out there in the black."
"Who knows what you'll find in the black, even Raxxla. But I'm sure we'll see each other again. It's getting crowded in my galaxy. See you in the black Commander." I give him a smile and a casual salute as I see him off.
"See you out there." He says, getting up and saluting as well. He walks over towards the lifts and leaves.
Oh thank the Empress! I think to myself as I just couldn't keep from putting my foot in my mouth. I need sleep, now!
[Dialog with Commander Rico Swave used with permissions.]
[Thank you for reading!]