Fall of the Slavers
11 Feb 2021Skanaby
5th February 3307Words going around the Bubble that a couple of Commanders are offering 'lucrative' mining opportunities to new pilots just outside the Starter Systems. Two Fleet Carriers are being used to transport novices several hundred light years away from the Bubble, then they are being forced to asteroid mine long hours and are getting ripped off upon trading their minerals in. The victims can't escape due to being too far out for their ship's FSDs to jump.
I enquired a bit, and managed to confirm these reports from my sources on the Restricted Net. I've done my fair share of questionable things in the past, but I don't know - enslaving new pilots leaves a real foul taste in my mouth.
Something of a rudimentary plan starts to form in my head at first, but now it's midnight and I'll be ready to move later on this morning.
6th February 3307
Seems to be going as planned so far.
A pristine red Fer-De-Lance, heavily engineered, approached my rusty Cobra Mark III this morning in Iota Pavonis and introduced himself as Grimm.
I greeted him as Julian La Strange, and I was a Mostly Harmless Smuggler/Trader from Dromo.
Grimm asked me how long I had been flying, and I said about two weeks. I got my Pilot's Licence for my eighteenth birthday. I explained that I had heard that he and his buddy Gromm were taking out newbies to an untapped mining system that was earning people billions in credits.
Turns out I had heard right, so I docked my little rust bucket upon his Fleet Carrier, and we tore away into the black.
7th February 3307
They have us doing sixteen hour shifts with no break. Two Carriers in an unknown and uninhabited system, with Grimm and Gromm barking orders via comms at who's turn it is to mine next. Twelve of us at a time - six from each Carrier, and Platinum to be mined only.
When we boarded their vessels, our ships were infected with a virus that severely limits our systems. The Galaxy Map is disabled, and the FSD is only permitted to enter and exit supercruise only.
I lose count of how many loads I hand in. Each one is offloaded from my cargo hold and my Credit Balance barely moves. A few hundred each time maybe?
We have single bunk rooms each that are cramped, dirty and spartan to stay in, and they're only feeding us basic rations, but at least I've got eight hours now to get my head down.
I just have to keep playing along and wait.
8th February 3307
One of the slaves broke down in front of me today. I came across him on my way to the communal showers. A young guy, barely out of his teens. Luckily, this operation that Grimm and Gromm are running is clever, but sloppy. They let us roam unchecked throughout the Carrier, well at least on this one anyway. I haven't even met Grimm in person yet, which is a good thing because he would instantly know I wasn't an eighteen year-old novice from Dromo!
The young guy says he didn't sign up for this. He's been here for over a week now, he thinks, and can't take it anymore. I tell him he needs to be strong, that he needs to hold on just for another day if he can.
I explain that there's a lot of bad in this galaxy, but thankfully there are people that will always be there to challenge it.
9th February 3307
I tap in to Channel - Restricted 0437...
"Sir, all slaves have been secured and are being treated by the Medical Team now. Both Fleet Carriers have been taken offline and impounded, and suspects Grimm and Gromm are now in custody."
"Thank you Lieutenant. Battle report?"
"All sixteen ATRs are operational with no loss of hands. Seven have minor damage only. Megaship The Redoubtable is fully operational. Grimm and Gromm's FCs have all defences neutralised and their engines have catastrophic damage. They ain't going anywhere for now!"
"Excellent work! Do we know yet who sent the signal?"
"No sir, but we discovered where it came from - a Tracking Device attached to one of the asteroids. It has been transmitting for two days and is an emergency broadcast programmed to be picked up by Pilot's Federation receivers only. That's how we found them."
"Hmm. Seems like an inside job to me, but I have a feeling if it was one of the rescued, they would have come forward by now..."
Half a light year away, I'm satisfied I've heard enough so I tune out.
I charge the FSD of Grimm's Fer-De-Lance, set it's thrusters to one hundred per-cent and high wake out amongst the stars.