Doing it for Arissa
11 Mar 2016TheDarkLord
Shajn Market, Kamadhenu.Faulcon DeLacy Cobra “Legacy”, Lakon Systems Type-6 Transporter “ManicMiner”, Gutamaya Imperial Courier “ComebackKid”.
November 3301.
Over the previous couple of weeks, I had been starting to think that there were good earning opportunities for pilots who aligned themselves with one of the galaxy’s major powers. Pilots who operated as hired guns were well-rewarded.
I had done some research, and coupled it with my own galaxy view. Although I still felt alone in the black, I wasn’t unaware of the machinations of political power. Thinking it over, I felt more aligned to a societal system based on the social structure of people rather than of corporations. Corruption in the Federation was rife and unsubtle, with President Hudson in the pockets of the defence contractors, and the system authorities were openly turning the other way when criminal activity took place. Felicia Winters was no better, playing the humanitarian as a cover for her outright bribery. No, the Federation was not for me.
I was, I realised, an Imperial at heart. The Empire was not perfect, I knew. The recent accession to the throne of Arissa Lavigny-Duval had been the outcome of an unseemly internecine fight within the family, and other leaders appeared distracted or inept. There were significant disagreements regarding elements of social care, particularly for the severely indebted. But it seemed to me that the Empire was an organisation in which I could operate.
I moved the fleet down to Kamadhenu, headquarters of the new Emperor. I was going through my usual process of mapping the local area in my head, taking missions and killing pirates. I’d discovered a Pristine Metallic ring for mining in the system of Jura, as well as good bounty hunting opportunities in Calennero and HIP 20277. I’d been on station for ten days or so, and was starting to settle in.
After an evening of moderate-level eating & drinking, I returned to my quarters at the Inara Pilot’s Rest. As I entered, I noticed that an invitation had been pushed under the door while I was out. I bent over and picked it up.
“Herewith, you are offered the opportunity to join The 9th Legion. For action and profit in the service of our glorious Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval.
“Arissa Invicta!”
It was printed in a sleek font on heavy card. On the reverse, in barely-legible handwriting, Wing Commander Nathan de Verne had scrawled “It’s Hammer Time!” and his contact details.
Although I’d come to terms with the realisation that I was an Imperial, I remained unpledged to any of the Imperial powers. My heart said that I should align with the Emperor as she was in power, and a respected member of the Senate. Other elements of me less well known for their sound judgement were drawn to the Emperor’s niece, Aisling Duval…
Emperor Lavigny-Duval, or ALD as she is known, had other good points as a major faction to pledge to, for combat pilots in particular, as she rewarded the incessant application of extreme violence with a sizeable salary and credit-matched bounty vouchers at the higher level.
If I was going to join up to ALD, should I ally myself with an ALD-aligned pilot wing as well? I stayed in my quarters for most of the next day, running queries against my various information sources. The due diligence threads all came up with the same answer: It would likely be dangerous, it would definitely be lucrative, it might be a hell of a lot of fun.
Mid-afternoon local time, I came to my conclusion. I was going to do it. Decision made, I headed down to the ALD recruitment office and scratched my signature on the form. Then I messaged Cmdr de Verne. I was accepted into The 9th Legion, a combat-focussed black ops division running out of Malaikudi.
The 9th was growing fast. Combat-capable pilots were joining up in a steady stream. Extensive covert involvement in other activities sourced an endless supply of high-value missions. I felt a nervous excitement at being part of something larger than me.
I marked this new direction in my career with steak and chips. And quite a lot of Kongan Ale. For tomorrow we fight.