Mercenary Operation - A Third Option
08 Jan 2018Leon Falkner
The Python hissed coolant and other various and no doubt important fluids as the hangar bay pressurized once more. Luckily planet-side there was gravity to contain such leaks, though it was no such comfort to Leon.Three days as a Merc out here in this end of the woods and he was being put through the wringer. He'd upgraded the stock equipment of his Python: new thrusters, a brand new fusion plant and power distro, and brand new beam tracking turrets. And now here he was, in some system he didn't know the name of a week ago and he had nearly been spaced.
As he walked down the gangplank to examine the outside of the ship, he wondered about his past few months as a pilot. Spaced out of his old Vulture, taken in by the Imps and forced to run cargo ships of all things. Escaping the Empire, then getting enough money to finally buy this Python, only to baptize it in the fire of burning stations. And now, here. A planet somewhere for someone or other's sake.
He ran his gloved hand along a deep gouging scar that ran down one of the hull plates. A meter more, and it would've punctured a line that went to one of the stabilizer thrustsers. He'd been lucky, that was about it. Still, he'd taken down more than his share of ships today. Not counting the majority of the time yesterday playing passenger ferry, and cargo ship before that and bounty hunter before that.
The job description said varied and exciting jobs, and it really did mean it.
Leon took his hand away, time to get some R and R and repair the ship. He'd be going out tomorrow.
Down deep, he never thought he'd enjoy this kind of life. But somehow, he did.