Upgrade
21 Apr 2022Claude Lecardunoie
My involvment into the war between the Revolutionary Party of Veroandi and Blue Netcoms Inc. was not really a success. It's the least you I can say. As this was not enough, I also received bad news from Ehecatl. Juergen, my business partner there, somehow heard about this battle I was in. He understood my motivations, but he didn't want to work with someone who shot at ships of a faction under Federation alliegeance. I called him, and just asked him to keep harbouring the "Petit Baigneur", my old Sidewinder, and even to use it for himself, should he need it.After my failure and poor retreat over Veroandi 4 A 4, I have been tasked by the Party with more casual missions. A courier job to HR 8526 and the assassination of a deserter in Arare. This last one had a bitter taste: I could have defected as well after I retreated from battle.
So, I was very desperate when I got back in Panshin Hub. I wanted to go to the Revolutionary Party pilot's mess, but I didn't really feel welcome there. I could feel the despising look of the other pilots. I am only a mercenary for them, and not a good one. As I was leaving, I came across Ilia, the engineer who worked the other day on my ship, and her techo', Jorge.
- "Hey, this is our wanabee combat pilot", Ilia joked.
- "Not really friendly those pilots, huh, chica", added Jorge.
I din't like their tone, until I realised they were joking.
- "No, not really", I replied, "I was on my way out anyway".
- "Come on, follow us", said Ilia.
In this civil war, Panshin Hub is neutral. The Party coexists here with the other factions, corpo or political groups, but they all keep a low profile: they don't want to mess with EG Union, which controls the station. However each minority has its prefered district. Level 51, sector C, is the Revolutionary Party area. I followed my companions in a small joint there, the "Landing Pad".
- "That's our spot", declared Ilia, "People working on the pads and affiliated to the Party, we all hang and meet here when we're not working".
There was a dozen of persons there: engineers, mechanics, others had a more geeky look, probably experts on how to tune a navigation computer or an assisted supercruise unit. They all knew Ilia and Jorge. And because I was with them, I had my welcome drink from the bartender.
- "So, not feeling well, right?", asked Ilia
- "Nope", I admitted, "I couldn't make any difference out there against the Blue Netcoms Inc. battle ships"
- "Well, girl, you need better modules to take on these Federal navy ships"
- "Ok, but I am running out of credits and I can't find a good piece of equipment here, in Panshin Hub"
- "Yep. First thing you definitely need more money. And we have a deal for you"
- "Yes, there is this megaship, just outside the sta...", started Jorge
- "Shhh", said Ilia, "I don't want anybody to know about this plan. Yes, not to far away there is a megaship with a small cargo of personnal weapons, the price is very interesting. I am not sure this is completely legal, but EG Union they would buy it without any question. I think there are easy Credits, there. Well of course, we'll take our share, I mean, we gave you the information, say 70% for you, 30 for us".
- "Well that seem fair, ok. But say that I have the money, where to find good modules for my ship?"
- "Gotta go to other systems", replied Ilia, as she was turning on her pocket terminal.
She quickly opened the Inara Net portal, a very useful tool, she explained. I've got to use that more often.
- "Ok, let me see", she said, " Ay Indi, no... Fjorgyn, no"
- "How about HR 8526?", asked Jorge
- "Nah, they used to have some decent stuff there, but not anymore", replied Ilia while keeping searching on Inara portal.
- "Got it", she said, "Gebel!!!"
She quickly shared her terminal display with mine. Gebel, Michell Port, it said. And, yes, the list of modules and equipment was quite impressive: pulse lasers, top notch power plants and life support systems, even military composite armours.
- "Ok, now, take a look at the Party missions board. There, a courier job to Gebel, plus one in Fjorgyn, and another one in Anekaliti. Take them, you'll be serving the Cause while upgrading your ship in the same journey".
- "And, then you'll may be worth something on the battlefield", laughed Jorge.