the Three Legs of the Tripod

[Chenzo-]

The time had come, Chenzo had organised Alonso & Jarek to be available with all the assets in place, tested & confirmed fully operational. Chenzo launched from Nuevo Amanecer at 21:25 to find his amigo’s ready and waiting for him.

Without touching any buttons, he activated comms to all crew aboard the Fantasia & to Jarek’s crew in the heavy lifter.

Chenzo: “Good evening ladies, gents. This evening we embark on something totally out of the norm. It’s over all success depends entirely on the future than this evening. We are to speak of this to nobody other than those within our own nation, even then, those you would trust your life with”.

He allows a few moments to pass before continuing

“captains, you were both waiting for me so let’s initiate the jump sequence”

Alonso does so as Chenzo moves to dock his Sabre on the Fantasia, Jarek in the Heavy Lifter enters formation with the Fantasia.

Before he docks, he scans the heavy lifter to ensure it’s got fuel for the return journey. He always checks orders are executed properly, exactly as he asks.

Alonso: “Beginning jump sequence, the estimated time to jump, t-minus one minute. Please get strapped in as per prior tests.”


They hadn’t jumped more than two systems before. Alonso was confident there was no difference & he had quadrupole checked his survey data for cape wrath multiple times too.

Alonso: “3, 2, 1 - hold on tight.”

An extreme ringing of the ears ensues followed by nausea. It quickly passes. Chenzo frantically checks scanners for location & all ships intact.

Chenzo: “All units report, are we all ok?”

Comms from Jarek come first, there is a delay from Alonso before he confirms all clear. The jump to cape wrath was a resounding success.

[b]Jarek: “All clear, that was weird.”

Alonso: Yes, all clear, all systems fine. Had to make sure the whole crew are fine.

Chenzo: “Excellent, Jarek, transfer that return fuel to the Fantasia, then form on me. Alonso, wait here and cloak if anyone comes within scanners, I mean anyone”

At the same time, Jarek & Alonso say

“Roger that”


Chenzo’s scanners are empty, some debris in the distance can roughly be seen as it was backlit by the sun. The co ordinates given by the Bowex.

Jarek was trailing behind in the heavy lifter after offloading the return fuel to the Fantasia.

As Chenzo approached the co-ordinates, no ship signals came from the debris. All transponders and internal equipment were lifeless, some light cosmetic damage on the vessels. Chenzo had paid top prices for these, he was slightly upset. Nevertheless, without a spoken word Jarek began moving the three trains one by one to where Alonso & the crew were waiting.

He scanned the trade lanes either way which were lifeless. The Bowex were true to their word.
Sum 30 minutes later, Jarek had loaded the last of the three trains onto the underside of the Fantasia which had been temporarily adapted to mount these ships. Without a spoken word, Alonso initiated the jump sequence back to Alpha, back to Nuevo Amanecer.

Alonso: 3, 2, 1, let’s go home.

The same weird sensations came over everyone again, but without the nausea. It seems this ‘feeling’ can be got used to over time.

The initial stages of the mission were a success.

Chenzo: “Excellent work everyone, please get some well deserved rest. Apart from you Jarek, can you move the three transports into the mooring fixtures on Nuevo Amanecer please?

A moment passes before Chenzo opens a private line with Alonso.

Chenzo: “Senor, how hard was it to install that equipment to the Fantasia? I’ve been so focused on getting this place sorted, the implications of what else we can use this equipment for has totally alluded me”

Alonso: “I was wondering what was up with you, messing about with transports which aren’t even operational. But yes, we can indeed make use of this for offence, defence & pretty much anything you like. They do however require some assistance from the Spirits, who came and gave me various supplies on the Albion Of Light which lead me to being able to make these devices, curious”


Chenzo: “Very good senor, please proceed. I’m sure the spirits will provide more”


He ends communication with pleasantries toward Alonso before supervising the offload of the Bretonian Shetland Trains into the mooring fixtures on Nuevo Amanecer.

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