I heard that a lot when i was young. My father and his trader friends in the bar after a long haul. " Slainte " they would call to each other then drink thier Beer.
I asked my Dad what it meant ounce and immediatly wished i hadn't because he then turned to me with that " ive got a story to tell you " look in his eyes and i knew i was in for a long night.
But ill cut it short. Many hundreds of years ago, before we came to Sirius, my fathers family came from somewhere called Scotland, or as my Mum used to say, the Bretonia from the past. In those long gone days they spoke a language called Gaelic in some parts of this land. The word "Slainte" loosely tranlated means "Cheers" or "Good Health". Anyway, now you know what the heck it means.
Since i was young my Dad took me with him on trade runs when i was on school break and tried his best, bless him, to get me interested in joining the company when i was older and eventualy captain my own trade ship. But try as i might, i just didnt find it the most exciting career out there. I looked at several different options. The Military, the Police, and even staying on Planet and finding a ground job. But, having been out there , i knew a flying job was what i was after. But what ?
By this time i had purchased a small craft that i used for day trips and exploring the systems a bit in my spare time. And what with the knowledge i had with going out with my Father, I knew my way around Sirius quite well.
Still being young i had a devilish streak in me, so when one of my friends told me off a place that sold some..Ahemmm...slightly dodgy stuff that i wanted i took off without a second thought. Only on my way back did it dawn on me that i could be caught, fined or even jailed for what i carried in my hold. This scared me a bit, but at the same time, excited me too. Before i knew it i was back home and safe, but elated.
My friends noticed that i had some new games and software and asked where i got them. So soon i was doing a brisk trade in these items and making some good creds into the bargain.
This began my career in ...eerrmmm...Trading in slightly....eerrmmm....less than...eerrmmm...legal stuff.
Anyway, enough of this chatter. I have a delivery to make.
Things are going well and life is good.I have discovered a few new Jump Holes that will bring my travel time down some and maybe a little bit safer as i dont think many people know about them.
A couple of days ago i was asked to aquire some modified software for someone, i dont know his name and i didnt ask, who said he would meet me at a spot in the Dublin system. This i did and met him as arranged and delivered the software. He then asked me why i was flying such a small ship as the profit wouldnt be so good. It was a good question, but a simple answer was all it needed. " If by some chance i get spotted by the police " i said " i just dump my cargo and the loss in small, and if i get harrased by a pirate i can fight him off as well. " " 'fair enough " he replied and we went on our seperate ways with him telling me that he would pass on my name to some friends of his who are always looking for something or other.
Besides ive heard a rumour that some of the shipyards are prepareing to release some new models. Maybe ill find myself a ship thats a little bit bigger. But not too big.
I have given in...i just couldnt help myself...i saw her on Planet Cambridge and i just had to have her. I walked into the equipment dealer looking to get some better gear when i saw her out of the window in the shipyard. It was love at first sight and i just couldnt help myself. The Firefly was just what i was looking for. A bigger ship that handles well, can evade police and pirates and with a whole lot more cargo as well.
I know i was happy with my small ship but i was getting inundated with orders and requests, so i just had to get a bigger ship, and the Firefly fitted that order very nicely.
Had her out for a few runs now and i fall in love with her a little bit more everyday. Some people call her ugly and ungainly, but these are the ones that havn't flown her.
I think i may have to revise my...umm..tradeing routes a bit more now but that shouldn't be too hard now my nav computer is almost full.
Off on another run for some friends of mine in...............
Life is good, profits are high and i have just bought a new house.
But somethings not right. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something is wrong. When a run needs doing i jump into my trusty Firefly and a couple of days later im back home with my feet up watching the world go by.
No drama's, just job done.
Then that little niggle in the back of my mind creeps in. I got worried after a little run in with some strange ships i hadn't seen before, glowie blue things they were with guns that hurt my ships shields, a lot! But i checked out at the docs ok so im not physicaly ill.
I dunno, maybe im just getting old or something.
But, still......
I know what it is.....excitment !! Thats what was missing. But i think ive found an answer.
I went on holiday to the Cortez system and just as i landed they were rolling out a new shipline.
Its not as big as my Firefly but is absolutely beutifull....The Luxury Yacht.
Its got everything i need. Fast, a hold thats not too big if i have to drop my cargo, well armed and armoured and most of all i can do what i do in complete comfort and style.
This should bring back that old feeling of sweaty cargo runs through the systems. And what with a new war between Rhineland and Liberty looming and also the discovery of a new set of systems things are looking very nice indeed.
Think what ill do is buy one of these beuts and go see whats what eh.........
Things are working out very well with the Luxury Yacht. Seems the lawfulls in all the systems dont expect a ship of this type to be smuggling anything so normaly they leave me alone...nice. I have a new trick though, slightly underhand i will admit but very good for business heh. What i do is pick up passengers for what they think is a pleasure cruise in luxury, for which they pay handsomely, and before they know it they are up in Malta tending the fields there!! Its great what a bucket full of wine and the odd sleeping pill does!!
Spot of bad news though, seems my mother was killed by a Kusari vessel in Leeds the other day. My father and Brother broke the news to me yesterday. Apparently some Kusari bloke thought she was running the blockade there so he destroyed her ship, a small pleasure craft, and then calmly flew on his way without even tractoring her pod. Her air ran out before a BAF pilot found it floating in space. Dads in bits but my brother is in a terrible rage. He has asked to speak to me in private and i dread to think what he is planning but i do know that he is asking some favours from some very dodgy people. I might need to help him out there......