Operation Code: “Sombra Asunto”

[eigos]

Date: 26-JAN-823; Time: 14:16

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They say the deepest sleep comes after a good day of hard work and a job well done. Or in captain Kadego’s case – after a near bodily collapse from exhaustion, lack of nutrients, overdose on adrenaline and an emotional rollercoaster that few pilots could survive without getting a permanent heart condition from. After little over 10 hours of sleep, the captain woke up, checked the ship’s course and made breakfast. He was in no hurry to call the mysterious person, as there was still quite a bit of journey ahead to the last waypoint. A time most welcome to reflect upon the recent events and think about one’s future.

VOX System: *bleep* Incoming transmission…link established.

*Secure Channel* Unknown: Good afternoon, captain. How was your night of sleep? …I was waiting on you to contact me and after each passing hour I was starting to get a little worried. Is everything alright?

*Secure Channel* Kadego: Hey there chief. Everything is fine, I was just taking a little time off to think about things. There really is a lot to think about…

*Secure Channel* Unknown: Of course, monsieur. But looking on the bright side, I’ve got some very good news… as of a few hours ago, I was given solid information that the jumphole to the Rishiri system is in fact phase-aligned and this is the best possible way out of Gallia for you right now. We couldn’t have hoped for a better turnout than this. I am uploading data on that system for you right now. Your best bet would be to jump to Hokkaido from there… have you decided where you will be going after that?

*Secure Channel* Kadego: Hokkaido…hmmm… I have been there before when me and my friends went to that GC base for a party a couple of years ago. Those were some fine girls there, you know…good times. I remember the old jumphole to Kyushu and from there it should be an easy ride to the Tau-29 system, then Baffin and on to Coronado. Do you know the Barrier Gate? That is the best god damn place if one wants to lay low. Reeeally low.

*Secure Channel* Unknown: Won’t you be returning to Omicron Alpha, monsieur? I assume your mission yesterday was a success and there should be no problem for you to –

*Secure Channel* Kadego: But there IS a problem. A lot of problems, even. Here is what is gonna happen:
= First of all, I promised Diego I was quitting this god forsaken “security job” back there at Torino – ain’t no way for me to risk my butt for a meager salary and some stupid rank promotion, only to end up dead the next day.
= Second, if I did really quit, I am losing this ship in the snap-of-a-finger. THAT same ship I kept from being captured OR destroyed. I could have fricken’ crashed it into the sun and catapulted out, for all I care – it wouldn’t have made a difference to the base command. I am not getting paid to survive or to make sure the ship survives….me and this machine, we are the same – expendable. Like some sort of trash. We survived together and there ain’t no way I am giving it up for free, only for them to tap me on the shoulder and say “Good job out there, son! We will find someone else to fly it for us and you can find yourself a job as gardener if you want!”
= Third problem – I need papers for this contraption. Right now, all I’ve got is my Outcast ID Card along with a civilian transponder... if the Maltese Navy sees this, it would take a miracle for me to explain how I am -not- some sort of imposter. And again, they will totally seize the ship! They've got ZERO data on it, since its from a classified unique project. But there is good news… this ship is rated as a Heavy Escort. It ain’t no capital vessel, this thing… they have cut out the capital parts of it. All I need is my man Diego to send me a couple of certificates – those will be used at the Barrier Gate to forge me a new ID card as a freelancer, flying a custom-built ship that noone knows anything about, only that it classifies as a breed between a battle transport and a gunboat. Most of the parts – engines, hull panels, computer systems – they are all border world series and you can buy those from everywhere. Capeesh?

*Secure Channel* Unknown: If I may be honest, that does sound like something I would have done myself, if I were in your shoes, captain.

*Secure Channel* Kadego: After checking my systems, it turned out this love machine will need some extensive care at a repair station. Thing is, the cash that I have on me is kinda tight. However, I CAN afford to pay for an extended stay at The Barrier thanks to the loot I gathered onboard from yesterday’s party in Lorraine. I got some guns here, hull panels, a heavy fighter shield generator… loads of scrap that I will need to take a closer look at later… and believe it or not, there is a load of booze in one of the cargo pods! Must be from that police guy I blew up. The plan of action will be to dock this hulking beast, sell everything in the hold for top dollar, get a Freelancer ID and find a job somewhere as a hired transport pilot until I can buy a cheap one myself. From there on, a couple of well-paid semi-legal contracts would be just enough to get the “shovel” fixed up and ready for some serious bounty hunting – that is where the real money is.

*Secure Channel* Unknown: Oh, ha-ha-ha-ha, what will you do once you get that kind of money, mon ami?

*Secure Channel* Kadego: The first thing I am doing is paying back my old pal Diego. He went to hell and back to upgrade this ship before the mission, just so I can stand a better chance of surviving out there. Now I am going to make sure he doesn’t have to work for the rest of his life. Although he probably will… that bastard’s got more energy in him than three of me.