Tales of a Renegade

[JonasHudson]

Part VI:
Evacuation

Barrier Gate Station, Coronado System
September 826 AS

Hudson pulled his freighter into the small hangar of the Barrier Gate Station Alpha, and his craft took up a position nestled in between a couple of other freighters. The Stratocaster set down and powered down smoothly. It had been a while since he'd frequented the Freelancer station. Now it was was a temporary home for a while. Things had going south, and fast. The NEMP strike against the mooring fixture was only a quaint gesture compared to what Gallia had had in the works for Leeds. They had responded alright, by ordering the total destruction of the planet. They failed in their push on New London, and enacted a plan to waste the planet if they couldn't have their victory.

Hudson ordered all of his ships to evacuate to California or Coronado. A lot had happenened over a few weeks. Everything had changed. It was over. At least, this part of the battle was over. It was time to take a break, re-organize himself and get his bearings. The war was coming to an end finally. But it wasn't ending the way anyone liked, on either side, it seemed. The "do or die" campaign in Bretonia had burnt out, but was determined to take Leeds with it. No one won, everyone lost something big.

Leeds was in the final stages of coming apart at the seams, literally. The planet was actually becoming volcanically active along its techtonic plate edges and the direct devastation from the Gallic siege weapons, which appeared to be some kind of ship mounted ion cannon, was finally encompassing the last of the major populated areas. At least, that was likely, as no one knew exactly what was going on. The last couple of weeks anyone and everyone with a freighter was dashing in to evacuate anyone they could from what had suddenly become certain death if they stayed. Weeks had passed, and Hudson had made his first low pass of Leeds since the attack. Evacuations had long since halted, and there was literally nothing, and no one, left.

Few worlds have ever wound up in such situations. A huge population of people, even with many Gallians as well, all unhinged before anhilation. An apocalpyse if there ever was one. Hudson had just made it out of the system, back to Barrier Gate, where they'd been held up for a few weeks. Everything had been pulled out. There would only be looking back at a dead world from now on. He'd thought about his options. Pulling back to the underworld seemed like the only real option. Neutral stations like Barrier Gate and the Freeports were always good places to take refuge at times like this.

He left the ship and the crew dispersed, and for the first time, with no real set time on when to meet back up. There were no more deadlines, no more supply lines. They could sit at the bar at Barrier Gate and get drunk for a few weeks. Hudson made his way up the spire linking the asteroid hanger to the main asteroid base, and slowly dragged himself to the bar. The spire was busy with travellers and peddlers, a few strange lingerers...probably peddling Cardimine. He grabbed a drink at the bar on his way in and found an empty booth to sit in. Talk on the news screens was all about the Gallic collapse, the Council victory and a lingering Royal Enclave. For now all they could do is watch and wait. As he looked around and sipped his drink, he recalled the first day of the bombardment, which was the worst for them by far...

1st Day of the Bombardment

August 19th 826 AS

Hudson was standing at the foot of the Stratocaster ramp waiting for the last crates to be loaded. Bulldog and Jumptart came around the corner with them and nodded at the captain as they pushed the anti-grav loaded crate up into the ship. They'd just released a load of refugees onto Outpost Beta. That made for around enough for the Maidstone to haul out a full load to Sprague. Everything had been going well the last few days. Since the arrival of the siege destroyers, chaos had been erupting on Leeds. Hudson and crew had been at it high and low in the freighter running some last minute supplies in and taking out refugees back to base. The bases were crowded now with people, supplies, arms, ammo, and marines. It was certainly the most hectic time they'd had out there so far. Some people were worried they'd be attacked and were getting anxious.

He stepped up behind the others and the ramp closed. They launched normally and they made straight for the planet. It was a long trip but not too long. Juse enough time to unwind for a few minutes. Hudson sipped a mug of hot tea while strapped into the main pilot's seat. Butterfly was working away on her side of the bridge.

He kept his eyes on a pad until they came out of the smog cloud. Hudson glanced up as the computer registed them leaving the cloud, and took a look up at the planet in the distance. At the same time Butterfly did the same and turned, and both froze as they fixed their gaze on Leeds. Off in the distance, many glowing purple beams could be seen around the planet. They must have been those orbital weapons, finally in use. Hudson, reached up and grabbed the hand held and keyed in over shipwide,

"Everyong get up to the bridge now" he blurted.

A few seconds passed and the rest of the gang came barreling through the hatch, all also suddenly awstruck by the sight of Leeds, with many tiny glowing spikes, off in the distance.

"This is it, its begun. I'm taking us in as close as we can, but I'm not risking any more of us. Things must be getting crazy down there now. Anything on the comms Butterfly?"

"Uh, yeah, some MRG chatter, and some Rheinlander civi broadcasting an automated message on repeat. " she said.

"Alright, all stop. Pull a 1-8-0 and take us back to base. I'm not risking it with the MRG around"

"Chatter indicates they aren't hostile to evacuations cap, they might let us pass...?" she retorted.

"Nah, not risking it. RTB. Dump these supplies. I'll be ordering the final evacuation of the bases and all of our ships" Hudson replied.

The rest of them were quiet and looked around at each other.

"Yeah I guess its over folks"

"Uh, cap, what about the mine? What about the marines and people on the ground?" Bulldog spoke solemnly, one of the seldom times you'd ever catch him like that.

"You know a way to get in there despite whats going on mate? I wish I did!" Hudson blurted back as he pulled out his flask, "What are we supposed to do? We always knew attacks from orbit could pose a threat, but this?...This is something else entirely. Where'd did this come from? Why couldn't they get here first? I don't know guys. I do know that we're still here, we're safe, the refugees and marines and crew back on the bases are safe, and we can get all of them out still. Then we'll reassess the situation. When we get back to base, send word for every ship to load up and proceed to evacuation point A or B, and be careful. Have the Maidstone move out ASAP. I'll stay and run things from the Repulse until everything and everyone is out"

Hours passed. Things got hectic back at base. Refugees were rowdy, the liner made a successful run, and was ready for the last load. Hudson oversaw the loading and sent them on their way. Hours passed again. He was on the bridge of the Crecy when a crewman passed along word that the liner had been busted open close to the Cambridge jumpgate, and the refugees lost. The ship and surviving crew were dragged back to Isle of Skye by Junkers, and its being repaired. ETA 12 hours. Great. Hudson sighed and rubbed his forhead. The last run. Something else to add to the list.

A few minutes later, he was passed word they'd recieved an automated message from Newport. He was MIA 24 hrs, and it was probably because he never made it back from an evacuation run. Something else to add to the list. He paced the bridge. The small bridge crew watched him when they could as he processed what was happening.

"Alright, send orders, evacuate base crew and the last marines to the Maidstone when they return, and make sure they take a safe route out of the system, I want to make sure they get to Barrier Gate in one piece. The Stratocaster is holding in Edinburgh until I return to it with the Repulse. Once everyone is off of the stations, we'll collapose the modules and destroy them ourselves."

The crew looked at him. Jumpstart and Bulldog were there too and had left the rest evacuate with the freighter a system over. They looked at the captain with that same old look too.

"Yes that's right. We all knew this day would and could come. Besides, the BAF will likely be advancing through the system after the Gauls burn everything in their retreat. If they leave, and Leeds gets wasted, we have no reason to remain, and are only compromised from here on in. Everyone's done a great job in this fight, and its not over. But for now, we withdraw as well, and go from there. " Hudson said in a little speach to the bridge. With that, they went back to work, and the ship undocked to take up position facing the base.

The liner came and went with the last of the personnel, and the last of the valuables were out. Hudson ordered the ship to open fire, and they 'dismantled' the bases themselves, before leaving the smog cloud for one last time.

From there he took the destroyer back over the Edinburgh under cloak and stashed the ship at New Providence, and took the freighter back out, on its way to Coronado. It was done...for now...

The organization was done. But it was anyone's guess on what happens next. Only time would tell. Hudson knew he'd lay low until the storm blew over, and then poke his head out to check for his shadow. One thing was for sure, there was going to have to be some retribution over Leeds, and those who helped the Gauls in their attrocities are still out there.

Hudson finished his drink and signalled the bartend for another. He pulled out his pad and looked at the map of Sirius. He pondered over it for a while with a distraught look on his face. He double checked a few details. He still had the ships to fly whatever he liked, and the crew and hardware to stage attacks on shipping lanes. He could also prowl for those trecherous IMG miners, whom had obviously sided with Gallia after the Aland standoff. This enclave was bound to hide the worst the old GRN had fighting, and plenty of Bretonian or Leeds collaborators. Perhaps he wasn't going to be totally out of business after all. He opened a comms channel on the pad and sent a transmission...

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