Shadows in the Background

[Firebird]

Last CRI Transport: Moving Equipment and Artifacts from Kansai to Atka Research Station

The armored transport had been delayed slightly when leaving Kansai so was separated by a couple of minutes from the rest of its convoy. Escorted by two fighters, the armored transport piloted by Lieutenants Jefferson and Jacobs was following the tradelane to the Sigma-19 jump-gate in the Honshu system.

Jefferson: Man, it's going to be nice to finally get to eat something different. I was starting to get tired of Kusari cusine.
Jacobs: Ya... hey did you see that one researcher there... what was her name?
Jefferson: Sakari. Ya, she's a pretty one... nice too. Heard she was getting transferred to some station on New Tokyo. She told me to look her up the next time I was in the area.
Jacobs: You... When did you get a chance to... <warning signal> wait a minute... I got a Kusari Battleship patrol covering the tradelane exit... they're hailing.
Kusari Battleship Musashi: Armored transport this is Battleship Musashi, you are not transmitting your identification tags, please identify yourself immediately.
Jefferson: Battleship Musashi, this is armored transport Condor, we are carrying research equipment and artifacts as part of a CRI convoy. Transmitting clearance codes.
Musashi: You've been found to be carrying illegal equipment and artifacts. Hold position and identify yourself immediately or we will open fire.
Jacobs: Are they not receiving?
Jefferson: Guess not, bring us to a full stop and flash the docking lights. If we take no provocative action they should just escort us to their docking bay.
Jacobs: K, I hope you're right about this.

As the Armored Transport and fighters came to a full stop, several Kusari fighters swept around from behind the battleship and took flanking positions on all sides. The huge Kusari Battleship overshadowed the group. All guns trained upon the small ships.

Musashi: Armored Transport, proceed to dock but make no attempt to take evasive action, you are being targeted.
Jefferson: Don't have to tell me, twice. K, move us in slowly.

Some distortion suddenly appears just above the transport.

Jacobs: What the hell is that?

A unknown fighter suddenly decloaked only meters above the transport and accelerated quickly towards one of the Kusari patrol fighters, destroying it with a single burst of fire.

Musashi: ITS A TRAP, OPEN FIRE!!!
Jefferson: NO WAIT!!!

Opening fire with all guns and missiles, the Kusari Battleship obliterated the small transport and fighters. The unknown ship, being very agile, easily evaded the fire from the Kusari fighters and effortlessly escaped back to the shadows from which it came.

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Retired

**I AM CANADIAN!!!**


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