The Drunken Junker

[JunkerTown]

James springs from his seat as he takes out his communicator.
He says..
SJ CIC come in.. sitrep?
San Juan Congress Intelligence Center responds with the situation report..
Aye Arbiter SJ CIC here..
Drone gunship Sentry has detected an alien ship in Puerto Rico.
Small Nomad craft is equipped with fighter class weapons.
Ship has not fired or engaged..
Sentry is in a holding pattern.
Sir do we engage?
No do not engage.
Sentry observe and report.
Stand by..
Aye sir awaiting orders.
Already walking at a fast pace James makes his way to medlab.
Mia and Gypsie follow him desperately trying to keep up as he goes.
Entering medical he approaches the ex order pilot Vlado's room.
James walks into the room and stands at the foot of the bed.
Vlado is laying down with his torso and head slightly elevated.
His lower right arm in a fracture repairing device his eyes just barely opened.
Squinting thru the light he sees a blurry shadow standing at the end of his bed.
Using his left hand he attempts to block the light to make out the figure before him.
He mumbles..
Who's there?
Mia and Gypsie enter the room as James replies..
Hello Vlado I am James Trenton.
It's good to meet you face to face but I would rather it be under better circumstances.
Also if I had more time I'd like to learn all that you know about these aliens.
Heard about your encounter in Texas with one and how you lost your ship.
Rest assured once your recovered we'll work on rebuilding it for you.
Normally I would let you heal up before asking you for anything more.
Unfortunately time is of the essence as you may have heard with the alarm.
If not allow me to show you..
Mia bring up Sentry's vidcam and show him the feed from the holoemitter.
Mia enters in the commands into her tablet and sets the tablet down on the tray table near the bed.
A blue beam projects from the screen and forms into a fully colored holographic display of the live action.
The image of the small Nomad vessel appears on the hologram.
Perhaps enlighten me as to what you know about these things?
Or just what do they want or why the hell they are here??
If nothing else just tell me how to kill it!??
Vlado clears his throat rubbing his eyes and blinks trying to bring the images into focus.
As his eyes widen and his vision clears some he sees the Nomad.
He says..
Well chief.. uhm I'ma still a bit groggy from the painkillers..
You fellas got some mighty strong drugs tha's fer sure.
But to answer your questions.
Not real sure why they're here and about killing em?..
Seeing that ship though.. well lets just say.. its bad and about to get worse.
Need to tell your men NOT to engage and do not fire on that thing.
You don't stand a chance and would be wise to call your men back to base.

James cocks his head slightly to the side raising an eyebrow he says..
Really now?
You managed to take one out by yourself in a bomber.
Sure at the expense of your own ship but we have several ships in the area.
Most are gunships with heavier armor, weapons and guns.
I think we can handle a single small Nomad ship.
We may not be trained by the Order but we've fought them before.
Even killed a few along the way so you'll forg...
Vlado interrupts James before he can finish and says..
Look Chief Junker the best way to put this to you in a way you can understand is..
That small Nomad ship acts as a sort of scout ship.
If it has revealed itself to you then larger ones must be nearby.
It's the reason I risked my life attacking the one in Texas like I did.
Firing the torpedo at that close range I knew there was no way I'd escape the blast.
Still the only way to escape is if the 'scout' ship dies before the bigger ones arrive.
With as much time that has gone by I would bet those bigboys are close.
They're probably already there in fact watching your ships as we speak.
Whatever you do do not let your ships engage it'll be suicide.
Your only chance is to fall back and pray the base defenses can hold them off.
Suddenly on the holoscreen a ship flown by a freelancer comes into view.
The ship brazenly charges in and opens a comm as he says..
HOSTILE ALIEN IN RANGE!!
GUNS ARE HOT.. OPENING FIRE!!!
James activates his communicator and says..
NO Tell that ship to stand down..
cease fire I repeat CEASE FIRE!!
The Nomad ship dodges the incoming fire with ease and a second later..
Two larger alien contacts appear on the screen!
Both vessels materialize almost directly in front of Sentry along with the several other Congress ships in the vicinity.
The alien ships open fire and destroy the freelancer vessel in seconds.
As the fighter explodes the Nomads turn and fire on the Congress.
The holoprojection scrambles, blinks and then shuts down as Sentry comes under heavy fire.
James says into his comm..
Murphy.. are you there?
Aye Boss Oi'm ere..
O'Gordon is ere an waitin fer ya orda's Cap!
Wan' us ta hed ova' der try an help oot?
Sit tight I'm heading to you now.
Roight Cap'n hold'n ere.
James turns around as Mia steps in front of him and blocks his path.
She says..
JT don't go.. Have you been watching or listening?
Its far too dangerous you shouldn't risk going out there!
I cannot sit here and watch these things invade our home.
Besides I'll be in the Gordon its heavily armored and has lots of firepower.
It's the best chance we got to stop these things.
Vlado chimes in..
Ya Chief uhm bout that.
The battleship Gordon doesn't stand a snow ball's chance in hell against those things.
Hate to break it to ya but even with its armor and firepower it will die.
The lady's right you really shouldn't risk it.
James looks back at Vlado and says sternly..
Duely noted but I am still going.
Mia continues..
Please I am begging you.. Don't go!
Mia I will not standby while Junkers are under attack.
Now are you my Deputy Arbiter or my wife asking me NOT to defend PR?!
Mia scowls at his question and with an angry face replies..
I'm both you ass..
James steps around her and begins making his way to the hangar.
Mia follows close behind using her tablet as they walk.
Just as they reach the hangar Gypsie steps in front of James and says..
Hey bro.. hold up a sec will ya!?!
Look I know I'm not Congress but she maybe right ya know.
Maybe you should sit this one out boss man?
Damnit you too Gyp!?
Look for the last time I'm not staying here while Junkers get attacked.
Now step aside and let me..

Before he finishes the sound of the Gordon's engines can be heard inside the hangar firing up.
James pushes pass Gypsie and enters the hangar as the Congress flagship lifts off.
James reaches for his communicator and notices it is now set to only receive messages.
He also sees a text message that appears to be sent from James telling Murphy to leave without him.
Knowing only one person would be able to do all this he looks over at Mia..
DAMNIT woman what'd you do!?!
As your Deputy Arbiter I cannot allow you to run the risk of being killed. The Congress cannot afford to lose its leader right now with all that is going on.
As your wife no damn way your getting on that ship!
James enraged yanks Mia's tablet out of her hands and removes the block from his communicator.
He then flips to another screen and shows it to her.
Look Mia you see that?
Those are beacons from Junker ejection pods floating in space right now.
What am I spose to do huh??
Sit by and let them die?!?
Gypsie speaks up..
Ok JT I have a solution my sally is fully fueled and ready to go.
She has the cloak and we can get out there and save as many Junkers as we can.
While Murphy and the Gordon try to fight em off.
Sound good?
James nods and they head towards Gypsie's ship.
Mia close behind James stops at the bottom of the boarding ramp.
Turning to Mia he says..
You should stay here and wait for my return.
She doesn't break stride as she steps passed James boarding the ship she says..
No sir.. since I am the most medically qualified member of the Congress.
AND since your going to be picking up wounded pilots your going to need my skills onboard.
So lets get going babe.. We got Junkers to save!
James shaking his head he mumbles to himself as he boards the ship..

What the hell was I thinking..
I've created a monster.

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