The Freelancer

[JonasHudson]

Part II:
Cold Space

July 10th, 829 AS

A Bustard Class civilian carrier finishes it's docking procedure at Leicester Shipping platform, nestled in a tight orbit around Planet Spraque, in the Omega-3 system. Jonas Hudson was standing on the bridge of the Ragnarok sipping a cup of coffee while overseeing the bridge crew's execution of the docking maneuver. They'd jumped over to the system recently just in case anything crazy went down between Bretonia and Rheinland. Hudson figured they might as well bring in the big boat for this, as at the very least they might be able to offer emergency docking abilities to the Bretonians, for a modest price.

Hudson turned to the ship's first officer and called him over for orders, "Now that the ship is secure, begin refueling and maintain all systems at full readiness. I'll be taking my freighter down to the surface of Sprague to monitor things from there. My bomber and gunship are already waiting down there." Hudson informed him, "Keep a lid on things here until I get back. Otherwise, we'll stay a couple weeks and jump back to the Taus if things pass."

The officer saluted and turned to resume his duty. Hudson's comm link beeped and began to buzz with a voice, "Boltcutter here cap, the Stratocaster is ready to launch in the hangar bay, standing by for orders" Boltcutter reported.

"Roger, I'm already on my way down. Fire up the engines, but we aren't going far" Hudson blurted back as he whisked through the corridors of the Bustard, crew bustling about doing their duties, making way for him as he barreled through.

He arrived at the ship, looking hagard but still running smoothly as always. He trotted up the ramp as it closed behind him and the ship launched normally. He stepped up into the cockpit and took his seat in the main pilot's chair. It was only Boltcutter and Cyclone aboard, with the rest of the crew down on the surface manning the gunship. They stayed quiet as the captain took over the flying.

Re-entry was standard for a docking ring assisted re-entry, and the ship zipped overhead of the main colony there to close in on the landing pads Hudson was renting, bringing it down next to his gunboat and bomber. As he stepped out of the ship, down onto the pad he stood and looked out at the city for a moment as a cool wind blew across the elevated platform. Sounds of heavy ship traffic filled the air. He took a deep breath, exhaled and then took out a small cigar, lighting it up and exhaling the smoke into the wind. The rest of the crew joined him and approached as a group.

"What's on your mind boss?" Bulldog asked, as they all stood there with slightly puzzled looks on their faces, all geared up and ready to go.

"Just thinking folks, just thinking" Hudson replied cryptically.

"That's what we're afraid of" Butterfly blurted as they all chuckled for a moment.

"Alright folks, take shifts keeping the gunboat ready, the rest of you can hit the town for the weekend. Unless something comes up.... so keep your communicators on and within earshot," he said to them as he turned and continued to smoke the cigar.

"What about the Rheinlanders captain? If they show up, we gonna be joining the fight?" Cyclone asked.

"Well," Hudson sighed "Doesn't look like much will be going on. Probably a bluff, no one's in the best position to launch a war still, and the only one's that will really come out on top are the criminals out here," he explained, "The House Goverments know that"

"You think it's the Hessians that scared everyone off?" Boltcutter chimed in.

"Maybe, after what we saw" Hudson said as he puffed his cigar pensively, "That's what I mean. Bretonia and Rheinland wind up committed to a war, who really comes out on top? The Hessians, the Corsairs, the Coalition ..? I suppose if they avoid war, we'll still have chances bagging some decent escort contracts through the Omegas for a while. Time will tell" He finished.

"What about you captain?" Jumpstart asked with concerned frown on his face, as the rest began to disperse.

"Oh me? I'll be at the bar" he said back with a smirk.

"Just...at the bar?" Jumpstart retorted.

"Got a better idea?" Hudson replied, as he finished the stogey and dropped it to stamp it out with his boot, "You know me, I'll be cruising the neural net, if anyone needs me...", he then turned and walked away towards the doors leading to the city.

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