To the rescue (03/10/3305)
03 Oct 2019Archived
Asteroid beltPaesia 2
Paesia System
James sat comfortably in the commander's chair of his Keelback, sipping whisky and lazily pressing the button of the pulse wave scanner. It was quiet, but this is what he has grown to like in the last few months. Silence and boredom in the vast maze of majestic asteroids, slowly rotating in the never ending dance. This calmness was occasionally disturbed by a few minutes of action, whenever he found a rock containing valuable core he would need to tear apart using sub-surface charges. He also didn't mind a steady flow of money that mining was bringing.
Even since things got too hot in Federal and Alliance space, he decided to keep a low profile and move to the Empire, at least until the whole story with Vice-President's aid was forgotten. He enlisted - as a freelancer - with Platinum Imperia Mining Ltd, corporation aligned with princess Duval - which he didn't mind, taking into account her views on slavery, that were very similar to his own.
"Incoming priority message" - announced Betty.
"Get it on screen" - he answered.
Face of Platinum Imperia Vice President Gerrard Wolf appeared. James knew him pretty well - Wolf was in charge of contacts with the top tier of freelancers working for the company. He usually collected the most valuable cargo - void opals or low temp diamonds - and then made sure that millions of credits were safely and promptly transferred to the contractor. But this time it was something different than minerals.
"Mr Barrett, hope I am not distracting you" - both his voice and appearance were disturbed by the asteroid field.
"Nay, it's fine. How can I help you?"
"I was wondering if we can entrust you with a more delicate.. mission than mining, commander".
"I'm all ears."
"Few days ago, we sent a ship to HIP 76713, carrying eight of our managers for a special training. However, we lost contact with the vessel - a Hauler - as soon as it approached the first planet in that system. Soon after we received a coded ransom demand from a group that didn't want to reveal themselves. However, we managed to track their signal to the very system where we lost contact with our ship. We would like you to go there and investigate this matter".
"That's cat about your folks, sorry to hear they're gone. What's in it for me?"
"Two million credits".
"Agreed. I'll get in touch when I get to the system".
"Understood. Thank you, commander Barrett. That will be all" - with that the connection was terminated. James nodded to himself and saluted with his now empty glass.
Ramon Station
Paesia System
Imperial Space
"I wouldn't bother you if it wasn't something important, old friend" - James smiled to the communicator, where his old companion Blasius Hajdu was visible at the helm of his Federal Corvette - "I am not sure what to expect and I could use some extra firepower".
"Of course. Paesia is not that far, I can meet you there in the next few hours."
"Let's meet directly in HIP 76713. I'll brief you there".
"See you, James".
HIP 76713 orbit
HIP 76713 system
Indepenedent
"Thunder" was slowly descending towards the dusty surface of the planet, shadowed by the huge Federal Corvette piloted by Blasius. James described the whole situation to his friend and transferred geolocation data provided by the PLAT Intelligence Service. Presently, they were approaching the suspected crash site.
"Careful now" - James said via the comms system - "This dust ball is at 1.27G".
"Thanks for the heads up. Be careful, though, this could be a trap. Stay frosty".
"Aye. And let's have a good look from above before we do anything...".
They checked several potential sites before finding the actual one: a number of containers scattered around a wreck of a large SRV. Their sensors didn't detect any danger, but they found an Imperial Courrier parked several hundred meters to the north.
"Blasius, keep an eye on that bloke in case he decides to take off and do something stupid. I'll get down in the Scarab and pick up those poor bastards.. if they're still alive".
He landed and quickly entered the small vehicle. He could have steered it using telepresence, but he decided against it and physically entered the tiny cockpit. Soon he was out, counting sealed life pods lying in the sand and stones.
"Blasius, James"
"Send it"
"There are only 6 people here... their live signs are positive. I'll pick them up and transfer onboard the 'Thunder'. How is our friend in the Courier doing?"
"Sitting tight. He is either afraid or asleep".
"Roger, give me 3 minutes."
Soon after that Barrett was back in his ship, hovering 200m above the surface. He clicked the mike again.
"OK, Blasius. I've only 6 survivors. Either there was another SRV, or this guy down there has the others in his hold."
"Should we ask them nicely?"
"Affirm, I have a few hatch breakers. Let's poke him and wait for him to depart".
"Roger!"
Courier's pilot wasn't sleeping. His engines were on and he took off as soon as lasers hit his shields. James locked him up.
"Martin Reurings. Registered with NLTT 18561 Mob. Wanted status... let's see what's in his hold". As neither Blasius nor him had a manifest scanner, they had to check it the hard way. Hajdu kept the small fighter engaged, while Barrett slid behind him and placed the hatch breaker limpet firmly on the cargo bay lock. It completed the full circle and then fell down - no cargo was dropped.
"He's empty."
"Roger" - Blasius replied and unleashed a full fury of his Corvette. The smaller vessel disintegrated within 2 seconds.
"Grand... we still are missing at least two people".
"Check the data from the intelligence. Or enter the supercruise and engage the scanners, maybe we will pick something else up".
"Aye, good plan!"
They soon found another SRV wreck, with six more life pods around it. Picking them up took less than 5 minutes and soon both ships were speeding away from the surface, pilots entering coordinates for the jump to Paesia.
"This doesn't make sense, James. We didn't see any ship wreck, certainly not of a Hauler. Just two SRVs, each carrying 6 people - more that you were tasked to find. There may be more than meets an eye there. Perhaps some kind of an installation? Or a base of that Mob, whatever the number was?"
"Aye" - James agreed - "I'll report it back to PLAT authorites. And maybe we'll have to dig deeper. Thanks for your help, Blasius!"
"Don't mention it. If you need anything else, you know where to find me."
"Aye! Take care, Blasius. And say hello to the general from me".
"Will do, James. Keep me posted how this thing develops".
"I will, yeah".
Barrett set the course for Evans Orbital, where facilities were being prepared to take care of the rescued people. As soon as he landed, he informed the medical services and started typing a quick message to T'Sanak, President of PLAT...
NOTE:
THIS IS THE LAST ENTRY FOR COMMANDER JAMES BARRETT, WHO DIED ON 02/06/3306 DURING EXPLORATION EXPEDITION, WHEN HIS SHIP CRASHED INTO THE PLANET SURFACE. FROM NOW ON, A NEW ADVENTURE WITH A NEW CHARACTER BEGINS - HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY IT!