Logbook entry

This means war [Grand Finale] (25/01/3304)

James did a last check on the Shadow - 1. He walked around the ship, touching the wings, checking engine nozzles, stopping a bit longer at the four dumb missile launchers. He looked inside each tube to verify that they are properly loaded, inspected deployment mechanisms and wiring. Happy with his findings he climbed onboard and ran all the diagnostics checks, repeating the one for Life Support System and Escape Pod three times. Finally he sat in the pilot's chair, buckled up and slowly started flipping switches. When comm system went online, he enabled encryption and keyed the mic.

"Xeniz, you there? It's James".

"I am here, commander" - came a calm reply - "ready when you are."

"Grand. Running some final checks, won't take long" - he glanced up at the station. The latest news were promising - small skirmishes between AGB and Arbuda Company has already started in different parts of the system as the Brothers passed a decree outlawing the corporation from Arbuda. Within a few minutes response came from regional Federal Authorities - no doubt the statement was ready for several days, if not longer - that the decree is considered to be null and void and that AGB should immediately enter into negotiations with appropriate Federal bodies or face prosecution. It was a perfect timing for a strike like his - if he succeeds, he will cut off the head of the serpent. The rest will just be a formality.

"Betty, we need take off clearance"

"Take off authorised, commander".

"Grand. Here we go..." - he felt nervous. The whole plan was risky as hell, but he knew he just had to do it. For all he has suffered from the hands of these bastards he wanted to hit them where it really hurts.

"This is Shadow One to True Intent" - he said as he was slowly making his way towards Landing Pad 01, praying that it was not in use or occupied by some civilian ship.



"Go ahead Shadow One"

"I am on my way, will soon be in position and ready to strike. Standby for pickup".



"True Intent, standing by".

Landing pad 01 was clear. James exhaled with relief and positioned himself above the adjoining complex and once again checked ship's systems. Everything was in the green. He switched to an open channel.



"This is Commander James Barrett to Arbuda Gold Brothers Crew on the Command Bridge at Docking Bay 01" - he said, in the beginning feebly, but then gaining strength with each word - "I have only one message for you".



"Your reign in this system is coming to an end" - he saw small figures gathering at the window and looking at him from inside the complex. Someone was pointing at him, someone else was running towards the communications console - "living off other people's suffering and pain is coming to an end. Making dirty credits on poor women and children sold as nothing more than a meat to distant markets, whore pits or mines is coming to an end".

He deployed the hardpoints. Four missile launchers were locked and ready.



"I am not very good in speeches, ya know" - he noticed that some of the smarter AGB personnel members were now trying to get away from the windows as quickly as possible - "so I prefer to act. Eat this, you motherfuckers!!"

He pressed the trigger. Four missiles hit the glass, throwing debris all around. Immediately after shooting he pulled the ejection handle.

As soon as he regained his bearing in the escape pod, he turned it around to face Shadow-1. He saw his ship sending four more rockets at the command centre. There was even more pieces of metal and plasteel floating around, together with what he thought were bodies.



Station defences responded quickly, shooting at the now empty Diamondback. He also heard a crackle of his comms system and commander Xeniz:

"Nice show. Now hang in there, I am picking you up"

"Deadly! Not going anywhere"

His ship stopped shooting under barrage of laser turrets. Probably systems installed by the Dweller got fried already.



"It would be easier if you stopped turning and bouncing" - said Xeniz.

"I am not doing anything, it's the damn debris!" - indeed, he was down for one hell of a shaky ride. And then Shadow - 1 exploded.



"Holy shit!" - the pod was thrown back by the sheer force of the explosion and bounced off one of the landing pads. James for an instant saw Xeniz in his Imperial Courier desperately trying to change course to follow him.

"God damn it! They are targeting me now, I am a sitting duck with my cargo bay open!" - there was no panic in Cmdr Xeniz voice, only anger.

"Get out of here!! I have a backup from Arbuda Company!"

"I'll give it one more shot, James".



"Nay, get the hell out before..." - his sentence was cut in half as the turrets engaged Xeniz's ship. He tried to boost away while closing the cargo scoop, but it hit one of the control towers and fell off in a fountain of sparks, sending the Courier tumbling across the station space.

"That doesn't look good" - Xeniz's voice was still calm, as if he was talking about the weather. The turrets kept shooting, occasionally hitting structures, pads and other ships. But most of the beams landed on target.

"Xeniz!!!" - James shouted as another explosion rocked the distant part of the station. His pod got hit by another piece of debris and went tumbling towards the huge metal supports located beneath the station entrance. The force of the collision was huge - he saw parts of the cover getting bent into the pod, stopping dangerously close to his flight suit. Myriads of sparks erupted from the small control panel and red lights started to flash. That was the last thing James saw before being embraced by the darkness..