Gold Trading
10 Oct 2024AX Stalker
The flickering lights of the station’s docking bay cast a sickly yellow glow on the sleek, silver hull of the Viper MK III, its nose pointed towards the open hangar door. Inside, the pilot, a weathered man named Silas “Iron” Thorne, adjusted his headset and checked his console. His weathered hands, calloused from years of piloting and fighting, moved with practiced ease.“System’s green, Iron,” a voice crackled from the comms. “Clear for departure.”
Iron nodded, a flicker of a smile playing on his lips. This was it. The gamble he’d been waiting for was finally paying off. He’d received a whisper from a contact in the black market, a tip that a new gold mine had been discovered on the planet of LTT 3554 A, a world known for its volatile atmosphere and treacherous terrain.
He had spent weeks studying the data, analyzing the risks, and plotting his course. He knew the authorities would be hot on his trail, but the potential reward was too big to ignore. He was a veteran of the galaxy, a man who had survived countless perils and emerged unscathed. This was just another challenge, albeit a particularly risky one.
As he launched into the void, the Viper cut a swathe through the debris field, leaving a trail of burning metal in its wake. The data stream from his scanner displayed the coordinates, a small asteroid field orbiting the planet. There, the mining operation was hidden in plain sight, a group of rogue miners exploiting the planet’s resources.
Iron knew this would be the easy part. The real challenge would be getting the gold to the right buyer. He’d already made contact with a wealthy collector who was willing to pay a handsome sum for the precious metal. The only problem was that this collector, known only as “The Serpent,” operated in the shadows, a shadowy figure who resided in the lawless expanse of the black market.
After a grueling journey, Iron arrived at the asteroid field. He parked his Viper behind a larger ship, a battered Anaconda that was clearly built for hauling heavy cargo. This was the workhorse of the operation, the one responsible for transporting the gold.
The miners, a motley crew of hardened individuals, welcomed him with wary smiles. They had heard tales of Iron, a man who could get things done, a man who played by his own rules.
“We got what you need, Iron,” said the leader, a burly man with a thick beard and piercing eyes. “The gold is ready.”
He led Iron to a cavern hidden deep within an asteroid, its walls lined with glittering gold bars. It was a sight that could make any man’s heart skip a beat. Iron carefully inspected the gold, verifying its purity with his trusty scanner. The quality was top-notch, exactly what he’d expected.
“Good work, fellas,” Iron said, clapping the leader on the back. “You won’t regret this.”
He loaded the gold onto the Anaconda, taking care to secure it within its shielded cargo hold. He had to move fast, for whispers of his operation were already spreading, attracting unwanted attention.
He set course for a remote trading post, a small, abandoned outpost on the edge of civilization. It was a safe haven for those who operated outside the law, a place where deals were struck in the shadows.
As he approached the trading post, he scanned the surrounding space, searching for any signs of trouble. His scanners detected a few suspicious vessels, but they weren’t close enough to pose a real threat. Iron was a master of deception and evasion, a shadow in the vast expanse of space. He could slip through the tightest of nets, leaving his pursuers lost and confused.
Finally, he docked at the trading post, his Viper blending seamlessly with the other ships parked there. He made contact with The Serpent, a voice crackling through the comms, the tone cold and menacing.
“I have the gold,” Iron said, his voice a calm whisper, “but I want to see the platinum.”
The Serpent chuckled, a deep, throaty sound that sent shivers down Iron’s spine. “Of course, my dear Iron. You are a man of your word. And so am I.”
A small, sleek ship, a Cobra, emerged from the darkness, its cargo hold open, revealing a dazzling array of platinum bars. It was a sight even more breathtaking than the gold. The platinum was even more valuable, a rare and coveted metal, a symbol of wealth and power.
The exchange went smoothly, a silent exchange of goods and credits, a quick, efficient transaction in the dark underbelly of the galaxy. Iron left the trading post with a sense of satisfaction, knowing he had pulled off another daring heist. He had outwitted the authorities, the pirates, and even The Serpent. He was a survivor, a master of his own destiny, a man who danced on the edge of the abyss, playing a dangerous game with the highest stakes.
As his Viper soared through the void, leaving the trading post behind, Iron knew he had to disappear, to fade back into the shadows. His work wasn’t done. There were always more secrets to uncover, more riches to be seized, more risks to be taken. This was the life he had chosen, a life of danger and intrigue, a life on the edge of the galaxy, where the stars were his guide and the void his playground. He was Iron Thorne, and he was just getting started.