Manhattan May 1, 817 A.S.
At the Manhattan bar was the usual crowed. Off duty spacers, LPI and Liberty Navy. Mixed in with them were several wannabes, young and old. In the back corner booth was an older man with a stiff drink in front of him. He had gone through several of them since he came in. He had been through a very bad year. He had lost his ship, his crew, and a whole year of his life. When he stepped onto the landing pad at Manhattan, he knew that now he could restart his life. That was till he stopped at the banking kiosk at the customs office. The machine scanned his retinas and the screen came up with No accounts listed for you. Please come back again. (and) Have a nice day.
What the .!? Sam was stunned.
A hand was laid on his shoulder, Sir, would you please return to my desk? asked the Customs agent, There seems to be a problem with your identity.
Still stunned by what was on the screen, Sam allowed the agents hand to slowly turn him towards the desk. As Sam turned, he noticed that the room had become smaller with the presence of ten more LPI officers. All watching him. Offering no resistance, Sam took the offered seat facing the agent as he sat down, What seems to be the problem Officer?
Well sir, You have been listed as missing for over a year and the courts have posted you as legally dead for ten months., the officer said as he looked at his screen, And Medical has just verified your retinal scan as belonging to one Samuel Eugene Houston with a request that you be escorted to Medical for a complete and through exam.
In a deep gravely voice Sam started, Son, the last person to use my full name in my presence was my father, that was forty years ago. If you want to say that again, youd had better call for reinforcements. As the officer face paled, Sam continued in a more normal voce, You can call me Sam or Tex if you want, sir.
The LPI officer noticed for the first time that the man sitting across from him was not in any way average. The chair that Sam sat in was lower than normal so the officer, while sitting, would be looking down at an average person and he was having to look up to see this mans eyes. As this information was finally going through the officers mind his computer *chirped* and the last known ID scan of Sam came up.
Born June 24th, 750 A.S. on the Planet Houston as Samuel Eugene Houston.
Last physical stats: 6 2(1.8m), 270lbs (101kg), Brown hair, Blue eyes.
Graduated West Point Military Academy in 774 A.S. Joined the Liberty Navy till 785 A.S. Highest rank achieved was Lieutenant Commander in a Strike Squadron.
Several awards and medals for combat against pirates and was one of the first Navy Search and Rescue teams that went into Kepler in 784 A.S. After the Dark Storm had passed.
Resigned after that in a cloud of court martial charges for striking a superior officer(s).
After that, Sam took over his fathers independent trading company that grew from one large transport to four advance trains. And this had made him one of the richest men in Liberty. Sam had not been politically active or inclined, but his wife had come from a very influential family and with Sams money, was at all the big events. Sam (Tex) Houston was the kind of man that would, if it suited him or some bigwig would tick him off, was known to run food or medical aid through any political or military blockade to help folks that needed it. This was why he had been listed on every Houses watch list of possible troublemakers.
At the end of the report was a added post of the CNS (Colony News Service):
HOUSTON: December 14, 815 A.S. It has just been reported by comm from Freeport 9 that Houston native Sam Houston has been lost and presumed dead in a Pirate ambush about twenty klicks from Freeport 9. Sam a known humanitarian, was heading to Freeport 9 with a load of pharmaceuticals to combat a rare form of space fever that broke out on Freeport 9, when the attack happened. The Houston family lawyer, Tom Schmidt, read a statement from the family, The family grieves for the loss of Sam and the crew that was with him. Sams wife Kristi will be announcing the memorial arraignments later. Only one crewman was picked up by a Zoner patrol responding to the distress call. The doctors at the Medical facility was unable to repair the damage done and she died soon after. Any last statements have been classified by the Zoner Council and the LSF while the incident is under investigation.
MANHATTAN: March 1, 816 A.S. Our reporter at the Manhattan Court building has just reported that Kristi Houston, a well know socialite, and a major player in politics has just had her late husband, Sam Houston declared dead. In a rare twist, Kristi Houston has just liquidated the entire Houston Trading Company and was married to a Mr. Tom Schmidt this afternoon and is spending their honeymoon at Baden-Baden.
After reading, the officer turned the screen to Sam so he could read it. When Sam was done the officer asked, Mr. Houston, would you accompany me to the Medical Facility?
Yes, sir. answered Sam as they both stood to leave. The LPI officer waved off the other officers that moved to go with them. After two days being poked, prodded and re-poked and listening to the shrinks after they found that someone by external manipulation or radiation had caused most of his navigational charting storage to be corrupted and had to be removed and new storage installed, Sam had just noticed that the LPI guard had been replaced by a LSF Lieutenant.
Mr. Houston, I am Lieutenant Jones with the Liberty Security Force. The doctors say that you are really alive and fully human. Would you please get dressed and follow me?
Be right there. replied Sam as he swung out of bed and grabbed his cloths.
Sam went with the officer as they left the Medical building and the LSF officer led him to a ground vehicle for the drive to the local LSF headquarters. Once there he was lead to an interrogation room, as he stepped into the room he did a quick side glance to the Lt. Jones. Lt. Jones upon seeing the glance toward him said, Mr. Houston, I am currently in charge of your investigation of your attack and I thought it would go quicker if we talked here rather than my desk. He continued as he sat down, I would like to know everything that you have done in the last two years.
But first, the officer continued as Sam sat down, How would you rate your marriage?
Sam cocked his head and thought for a little bit, I would say that it was a marriage of her convenience.
Please explain sir.
Well, her family had some very good connections that would help an independent trader such as my self, and through that, I had the money for her to keep going to all the political events. As for children, if I had know that she was as cold and barren as California Minor, I would have made a different choice of wives. Sam said with a glint in his eye.
Not wanting to into greater depth with that at this time the officer asked, Was there anyone that rubbed you the wrong way the year before your disappearance?
Nope. replied Sam as he went through the list of friends and trading stops and acquaintance he had had contact with.
Sam thought for a little bit, There was one new contact that I came across. What was his name? A Bretonian. Oh yes, a James Flint. About my age. Was flying a well decked out Rhino. We got to talking and drinking in the Manhattan bar and I think I loaned him a couple of million credits to upgrade to a transport.
The officer pulled up his pad and worked with it for a little bit and then looked at Sam, Yes, we know of him and according to our computers, he has queried your name every time he has come through New York. If I was a betting man, I would say that he is from the old school. No offence sir. Just that I think that he is the type of man that if he had any clue where you are at, he would find you. Or, he is ready to pay back the debt to you.
No offence taken officer. Sam said with a smile. At least there was one person out there that never gave up on him, he thought.
Can you fill me in on what happened from the attack to now Sam?
Well yes, Sam paused, We had cleared the jump hole in Omicron Theta and was just leaving the nebula on a course to Freeport 9 when we got hit. There was a Pirate Transport, a couple of Titans, and two Eagles. They had Corsair Ids on them. I think I just barely got the distress call out when the ship started to come apart. No warning at all. I have no idea how I even got into a survival pod.
Sam continued, When I came to, I was trying to focus on some mans eyes and wondering what stinks.
Ol stinky breath was holding me in a near sitting position and was shouting, .from that transport! Do you know anything about engine chamber containment routings?
Huhhhhhh, yeah I do. I managed to get out, still trying to get my bearings.
Stinky breath let go and shoving me back down to the floor. Turning to another pirate he growled, Take him to that poor excuse of a top Rheinland engineer and get those engines going.
The pirate that was tasked to take me to engineering said, GET UP, and follow me. in a feminine voice.
As I got to my feet I noticed that she was one of mixed blood, possibly of Kusari/Corsair blood and well armed with a Detroit Munitions pistol, pointed right at me. No problem.
Knowing ships like I did, I headed towards engineering with her a pace or two behind. As we were walking, there were fast patches all over the ship and it was dirty. A salvage yard would reject it until an ALG crew did a full decontamination on it. It was that bad. Upon arriving in engineering, it was no different. There were jumper wires everywhere and the chief of engineering was buried up to his waist in a junction panel.
Brought you some educated help old man. said the female pirate. Get this tub moving!
Without moving the engineer said, If you are any good , get to work. If he just stand there. Shoot him and put him in the number two chamber.
Since I was not really ready to die, I went to a panel and started working. In an hour, the engines were working but not at full power. In three hours the we were at cruise. As we sat down to rest the Rhienlander looked at me and commented, Good Work. My name is Hans. If you stay on this ship you will die here like me
I am Sam. I replied. Hans had spent to much time in this engine room. He had to many radiation burns on his body. He looked like he was seventy year old. I had to ask, How old are you?
Forty-two. was his reply.
It took six weeks to get the containment unit to fully seal to the point that when we reattached the containment sensor, that the alarm would not go off.. When we did stop to trade goods or deliver ill gotten goods, the first thing that was bought was quick patches. This ship was in bad shape. At all stops I was locked into a storage room till we were launching back into space. Other than that I was able to eat with the crew, which consisted of Hans, Kylinn, the lady pirate with the gun, Stinky breath, who turned out to be the XO of this tub. His name was Carlos. Besides the Captain of this crate, whose name I never got. There was Roberto, Jamie and Judy. About eight months after the attack, Hans came back after a crew meeting with a dower look.
Whats up? I asked.
We are going to Crete. he said.
So?
Since the engines have been running so good. You will be sold as a slave. he watched the shock hit my face. We will be there in two weeks.
That night while trying to sleep in my bunk room (a nicer name for the storage room). I came up with an idea and over the next week, I spent time getting it ready. About 3 days out of Crete, the containment alarm went off and to reset the sensor Hans had to lean over a pressure relief blowout disk. As he did that I tripped the valve that sent an over pressure down the line. It looked like an accident and Hans was dead. The whole crew came into engineering, including the Captain. The Captain looked at me as two other crew members wrestled Hans body to the waste disposal chute. You are now my chief engineer but you still get locked in the storeroom when we dock.
Yes Sir.
I stayed with the ship looking for any chance to escape. I was left alone in Engineering most of the time and the only time any other crew members where there was when I needed help to move something or needed an extra set of hands to test items. So, I was able to work on the storeroom door. It acted like it locked but it didnt. Since there was not a good chance to escape on a pirate base, I bid my time and was finally rewarded when we docked at Freeport 1 on the Omega 3 system about twelve months after the attack. After being locked in the storeroom and all but one crewman had gone dockside. I let myself out. After leaving a little surprise in the engine room, I was able to sneak off the ship.
I happen to have known a couple of trading agents that was based out of Freeport 1. I found Gilbert in his office and when I came through the door, he looked like he had seen a ghost. I told him some of my story and due to our past dealings, he got me passage to Manhattan with an independent trader. Gilbert never had time to fill me in on what had happened after the attack. Sam looked at the LSF officer as he finished.
What was the surprise? Lt. Jones asked.
Five seconds after hitting cruise. They lost total containment. Sam said as he was thinking that he could now be charged with an act of Piracy.
That fits with a report that we received. Jones stated.
Jones continued, I think that about wraps it up and since you have committed no crimes in Liberty and I am sure that this report will not leave Liberty. I will forward the regular 8,500 credits and a permit for a second or third hand Starflyer and an authorization for a Civilian ID to you here. That is the standard hand out to spacers that get dumped on us here in Manhattan.
Thank You Sir.
You could petition the courts to try and get your company and credits back but I think that it would not be politically prudent or within your reach in legal fees. The Lieutenant said.
I think it would be best for me to just start over sir. I will go mine some silver and maybe that guy Flint will come back around and pay me back. Sam said as he had to stand to stretch his legs.
All ready standing, Lt. Jones handed Sam a authorization slip and said to Sam, Take this to the sergeant at the front desk and Good Luck to you sir.
As Sam left the LSF building, he thought, now if I could just erase some forty years of age, it would be a really fresh start.
Sam did about four good trips in the Starflyer in bring in the silver and traded up for a Rhino. He also did a few trips just to get his navigation data base back into shape. On those long trip he wrote several comm messages to the families of the crewmen that was with him that day of the attack. He was coming back and was probably in a daydream approaching the Manhattan Dock when his com came to life.
Sam,.Sam Houston. This is James Flint approaching the Manhattan Mooring. Meet me in the bar in 2 hours.
After many drinks and telling of stories. James Flint handed Sam a Sirius Credit Card for 10,000,000 credits. The next day Flint escorted Sam to Pittsburgh to pick up his brand new Transport. Finding a crew was easy and Sam set off to Rediscover the Sirius System.
