The Story of Ashford and the Return of ROSF
26 Nov 2024Kales_ashford
Veteran Ashford gazed at the stars from his cockpit, feeling the quiet embrace of space. After years of war against the Thargoids, humanity's victory seemed within reach. Yet the war had left deep scars: lost comrades, lingering wounds, and a weariness that could not be ignored. It was time to leave the battles behind and return "home," to the systems where his comrades from the Romanian Space Force (ROSF) had taken refuge, trying to rebuild their lives.Taking command of the carrier Donnager, Ashford initiated a jump to Upaniklis, one of the four key systems where ROSF had once held a presence. However, what he found upon arrival at Fozard Port was disappointing: ROSF's influence was almost nonexistent, and their operations were in decline.
While stationed at Fozard Port, Ashford analyzed the economic and political terminals, searching for a way to restore ROSF to its former glory. During this research, an opportunity arose: Fozard Port was in desperate need of 1,440 units of agronomic treatment to support local food production. This was the perfect chance to prove that ROSF still mattered.
A Critical Mission
Ashford accepted the mission and set off for Tjakiri, where the required treatments were rumored to be available. With his sturdy Type-10 Defender, the Veteran, he faced the challenges of space: four long jumps to reach the destination and repeated round trips to complete the delivery.
With every journey, the tension grew. The systems were dangerous, and the Eldritch Eye Trading Company, the faction that controlled Tjakiri and, more recently, Fozard Port, was notorious for its aggressive tactics. Ashford already suspected that Eldritch Eye was not thrilled about ROSF's return.
When only one trip remained, the Veteran suddenly suffered a critical failure in its Frame Shift Drive. Stranded at a station for urgent repairs, Ashford lost 20 precious hours. During the downtime, he received an encrypted message from an anonymous informant: “The malfunction wasn’t an accident. Eldritch Eye sees everything.”
Ashford’s fury and determination grew. If Eldritch Eye was trying to stop him, it meant only one thing: ROSF posed a threat to them — and that motivated him even more to press on.
A Bold Maneuver
Once the repairs were completed, Ashford set out for Tjakiri once more to retrieve the final shipment. On the way, his ship’s scanners detected multiple signatures: a group of Eldritch Eye interdictors. It was clear they intended to pull him out of hyperspace before he could complete his mission.
Ashford, however, wasn’t the kind of pilot to engage in unnecessary battles. Drawing on his experience from the Thargoid Wars, he deactivated the Veteran’s shields and shut down all non-essential systems. The ship’s electromagnetic signature dropped dramatically, rendering it almost invisible on enemy radars. Then, he pushed the engines to their maximum before cutting all power, including to Flight Assist and life support systems, letting the ship drift inertially into the darkness of space. He relied on the oxygen reserves in his suit to survive.
As the Eldritch Eye ships frantically searched for him, the Veteran floated silently in the cold vacuum. When Ashford deemed the distance sufficient, he began reactivating the ship’s systems and initiated a final jump to Fozard Port.
The Reward
Ashford arrived just in time, completing the delivery mere moments before the deadline. When he met the broker to collect his reward, 11 million credits were offered. However, Ashford only took 8 million, pushing the rest back to the broker.
“Keep the difference,” he said, fixing his gaze firmly on the broker. “And make sure all your friends know one thing: ROSF is back in business.”
The broker, taken aback by the gesture, nodded with a cautious smile. “You have my word, Ashford. The word will spread.”
As the Veteran left Fozard Port once again, Ashford looked calmly at the stars stretching out before him. Eldritch Eye still posed a threat, and ROSF’s resurgence was only just beginning. But one thing was certain: his mission wasn’t just about business. It was about restoring the hope and values that had once made ROSF a respected force among the stars.
“For ROSF,” he murmured, disappearing into the void of space, ready for the next challenge.