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Binski · 08-19-2015, 05:05 AM,

Divided

Antares was leaning into the bulkhead, slumped over a glowing console in a dark corner of the bridge of the Argo. It was quiet aboard the ship. The screen fuzzed and hummed with static, as he closed off an open broadcast to Sunny. It had been difficult to get a signal to cut through, but if he'd read the reading right, it should have made it to a nearby transmission node, which would then relay it to a base or jumpgate, and then onward across the vast network of communications junctions across Sirius.

It had been an awkward and rough few weeks. They had started out on a new campaign in the Sigmas and Kusarian systems bordering them, going after Samura transports, or any vessels carrying their main export, Platinum. They'd been present at a few engagements where the Blood Dragons had established blockades. First there was a few attempts in Nagano, with limited impact. Next was one in Shikoku. But all the while they had not gotten too close, or deeply involved in their fleet operations.

After a few weeks, Antares had decided to go his own as usual, and employ his own strategy. He'd cut into their profits and hit them in the bottlenecked areas leading out of Kusari for Rheinland. The Sigmas were, although heavily patrolled by the GMG, a relatively lawless area, and like many places, is controlled really by whoever is around at the time. Or, around the most.

Finally they had made a hit which landed them in hotter water than usual. Republican shipping took an extortion a little more serious than the captain had anticipated, and it sent a shutter through the crew. Morale was a little off beat, and the captain started looking over his shoulder, in a sense.

Yet despite learning of revised security protocols among Republican Shipping and a few other assorted friendly groups operating in Rheinland, Antares decided to shift things around a bit. They spent some time laying low, on places like Newport. There was a {AFC}- HQ there now, so having friendlies in the area was good for extra cover, and support. At the same time, they were quite secluded out there in that dark, damp gas cloud which permeated most of the system. There was a bit of local traffic, some daily supply vessels, but with the passing of each strange new ship, Antares wondered if an assassin or bounty hunter might be around the next corner.

As always, the thrill of the chase appealed to Antares most. He had to weigh that sitting still might be the mistake as well, so he gave in and had the Argo back out in little time. He'd spent some time contemplating his decision to leave Liberty for a while. It was always something. If it wasn't the Xenos giving him grief...it was a botched job, or the risk of a botched job due to them being compromised. He had no way of knowing, but stayed the course. This lead him to go back to operating in the adjacent systems. But this time instead of sticking to the lanes, he moved to laying ambushes near jumpgates. In fact, in Sigma -17, the ruins of Freeport 7 make for the perfect cover in laying ambush. They used that spot several times. The downside was, that pirating out there was more difficult. There were no friendly ports in the system, so when out there, they were there to stay until they made their way back to civilization. Not a prospect the crew was fond of, but Antares never had a problem pushing them hard. The crew knew the ship by now though, and knew how to hold it together, if they wanted to make it home too.

This lead them to where they were. Powered down, clung to one of the larger pieces of debris that had once helped make up Freeport-7's main hangar. Ironic that the graveyard made for perfect cover in this otherwise well explored and traversed area. The bonus however was the lack of trade lane, so ships emerging from the gate are open to interception. Antares had stocked them up and basically had decided that not even laying low on a backwater base like Newport Station was good enough. They could park in that debris field and operate on minimal power for some time. All the while Antares kills time like a fly on the wall of eternity. Of course, this meant that they wouldn't be making it back to Liberty or the borderworlds for a while. He'd decided to send at least a communicé to Sunny so at least one person in the loop would know their whereabouts.

The ship was set for radio and EM silent operation for the time being. Power was at minimal levels, the crew were rotating watch shifts, but otherwise killing time in their bunks. Antares quietly slithered off the bridge, down the ladder to the main deck, and down to his quarters. Perhaps it would be a good time to get some logs debriefed. As he sat down to his desk in his dark quarters, he flicked on a lamp, and the main console screen flashed to life. He sank into the chair and hovered over the screen, beginning to sort files. He reached over to the wall beside him and keyed in on the intercom,

"Jonas, I'll be in my quarters for the rest of the night if you need me" he said blankly, never having taken his eyes off the screen.

"Aye cap, all quiet out here, we'll grab you if anything changes" Jonas buzzed back over the speaker. Antares released the switch and sat forward again, and opened the log files.

Begin Log Debrief

"It wasn't long after that we started using the ruins of Freeport 7 to stage attacks. But before we got out too far someone had tipped me off about Republican Shipping complaining to the RFP about our attacks. I guess a few other corporations agreed to tighten security for their shipments, and I've been added to the Republican Shipping bounty board. This is why I have us out here, avoiding stations."

But as days passed, Antares grew restless as always, and lost patience with laying low. He broke water back for Kusari and the Taus. The crew however was at its lowest morale in months. Jonas did nothing but mope about the ship clutching a large cup of coffee, and Rister mostly chewed up his time on duty tinkering or reprogramming equipment, in silence and on his own. Perhaps it was time to spice things up a knotch for them. This was his situation to deal with, and so when they came across Freeport 6, Antares came to his bridge crew with surprise orders.

Antares clamored up the ladder to the bridge as they settled into the station's systems. He looked around and evaluated the crew. As the other members cleared the bridge, he summoned Jonas and Rister over to him. They were both holding onto a mesh of net and backpack with various kit. They normally would be given time on the station to shop, communicate, refresh. This would be different. When the bridge was empty, he stood with his back to them, facing out the viewport, with his arms folded behind him.

"Gentlemen I can't ask you to stay any longer. You're 'tour' has come to its end I think" he said slowly as he puffed his pipe. Jonas and Rister looked at each other as they have in the past, with almost jaw dropping awe. Jonas stepped forward, almost speachless,

"But, uh, but captain, you need us. You'd never back it back in once piece without me and Rister up here" he said. Rister kept silent. Jonas looked back at him, but he just nodded and looked at Antares.

"Kid relax, I'm sending you both out on 'detached' duty. Jonas, I want you to head down to Barrier Gate Station, I have a Sunrider stashed there, you can have it. Go and do what you gotta do son. You can't stay cooped up on this bridge forever. That's for me to do. Rister, same for you. I can handle going down with the ship, but the two of you have different destinies. Rister, you go to Blackport 66, I have a Brigands 'Courier' there, a freighter I got a few months back when I went to Gallia on business for the {AFC} . She's heavily armored and equipped with my back up cloaking device. She's all yours, take one person from every section, your pick, and get a shuttle out. You can do whatever you like with it. Its your ship, your command. Your fate. Both of you, go and finish this trip in your own ways. I won't be far anyways. I'll be expecting regular intelligence reports from both of you. Jonas, I'm still an honorary Archangel, I can put in a good word for you with the fighter club if you like" Antares explained away.

"I'm overwhelmed cap, I don't know what to say...that all sounds great. I still can't believe you're sending us away!" Jonas retorted.

"Its alright boy, the captain needs fresh blood around here, and we need some air. Grab your things and get moving. Say your goodbyes, you're free now!" Rister wisely explained, and laughed.

Antares nodded at both of them, and the both gave him one last look, as they climbed down the ladder. Antares looked around the bridge, empty and silent as it was. It would be a little harder without them, but there was plenty of youngin's out there with the fire in their souls to make it at this game. In the meantime, he'd continue on and recuit as he goes. After all, they still had the element of surprise! Might be a good time to get the ship's AI upgraded he thought.

Begin 2nd Log Debrief

The Further Exploits of Captain Antares (August 2015) │ (alt) JonasHudson
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