An Outcast among Outcasts

[Cat]

Distant past,
Sitka asteroid field, Hudson,
Liberty Navy Squadron Lambda

- Lambda-2 and Lambda-3, stand by. Lambda-4, on me, we're going to Atka.

- Yes, sir. Forming up on you.

Two Guardians split from the group and diverted course, leaving the asteroid field. Kyle lost the sense of time as he watched the icy planet slowly growing larger and larger in front of him, until eventually there was nothing else in his view but a wall of icy rock behind the atmosphere. That's when the serenity was interrupted by a sudden incoming transmission from the carrier. At first it was just a bunch of static, but then Kyle recognized the voice of Norman, the flight control officer that he knew from West Point times.

- ... Lamda-1, do you read?.. Lambda-1, respond!...

- We read you, Overlord. Got some interference, probably an ion storm or the asteroid field messing with the comms.

- ... Could be... ...couldn't contact Lambda-2... Need you to investigate... over.

- Orders received, Overlord. The interference is getting worse. We'll rendezvous with Lambda-2 and 3 and return, over... Overlord? Overlord, do you copy? Damn, I lost the signal. Cross, we're going back. Comm chatter to a minimum, there's something wrong about this whole thing.

- Roger.

The ships turned around and headed towards the asteroid field. As they flew in silence, Kyle wondered what might've happened. There wasn't supposed to be an ion storm, and asteroids never messed with the comms quite like that. As the two Guardians approached the rendezvous point, Kyle saw nothing, no other ships, or so he thought until the scanners picked something up... metallic debris among the rocky asteroids.

- Cross, get your weapons ready. It is... was... Lambda-3. I'll try hailing the carrier again.

- Y-yes sir... But I don't see an escape pod... What could've happened? Do you think the Rheinlanders...

- This is LNS Guardian to all fighter squadrons. Rheinland forces have attacked the Lambda squadron in Sitka asteroid field and are engaging the carrier. Our long-range comm satellites are down, and we're dead in the water. Bravo squadron, proceed to Texas and alert South Fleet Command. All other squadrons, converge in sector 3D and engage the attackers.

- Lambda 1 to Overlord, we read you and are on our way. We found Lambda 3 debris, but not the escape pod.

- Good to hear that you're ok, Lambda-1. A squadron of Rheinlanders ambushed Lambda-2 and 3, probably with the intend to capture the pilots. Lambda-3 was destroyed, but Lambda-2 managed to reach the carrier. Now the Rheinlanders are covering their tracks. We're launching all squadrons, but we'll need all available help, ASAP.

- Got it. Cross and myself are on our way.

"It's going to be a mess," - Kyle thought.

---

Not so distant past,
Oxygen asteroid field, Tau-29,
Kyle Cross, freelancer from Barrier Gate

- Finally, something on radars... What do we have, hmmm? Outcast, check. Fighter, check. Name... Isabella Llorens. Female, check. Doesn't matter though, she'll end up on Pecos before I can introduce myself properly.

Kyle has been waiting for a target by that jump hole to Tau-23 for hours, and an opportunity finally presented itself. With a chuckle he turned on all the ship's systems, becoming visible for the Outcast, if she even bothered. Apparently she did, because she stopped charging the cruise engines. Knowing that the Outcasts were usually skilled pilots, Kyle didn't take any chances and unleashed a barrage of laser bolts on a hostile Sabre. As he saw the opponent's shields going down, his bravado got the better of him, and he hailed the Outcast.

- Sorry, lady, it's nothing personal. It's just that the Crayterians want the Outcasts to pay for their crimes. That includes you.

- 'Criminal' is a relative term, and I don't consider myself as such. And if anyone's going to pay, it's you for your audacity.

In a slight, almost non-perceivable move the Outcast Sabre barely dodged the incoming shot from Kyle's Mini-Razor and danced out of sight.

"Now that's going to be fun," - Kyle thought, as he made a turn of his own to find the pesky Sabre again.