Brotherhood Bar-Talks

[Corsair]

Ren walked into the bar, head down, as he massaged the bridge of his nose. He navigated the tables until he reached the barkeep's table. " Ugh, the most expensive and potent drink you have, Senor. I need to sleep off that deal.. " Ren said to the barkeep. The barkeep nodded. " What happened, friend? Trade trouble? " Ren nodded, picking at the table with his fingernails. " I'll illustrate it. Thanks. " Ren took the drink, and took a long drought. He cleared this throat, and began.

" So, senor, I began here, at Crete. Loaded up my Advanced Train with some of these wonderful Artifacts. I picked up some bodyguards in space, two Corsairs. One flew a Titan, and the other a Praetorian. Took me an hour to get through to Gamma-41, because some joker in a Praetorian decided to play Customs Officer.. " Ren took another drink. " Once in Omega-41, we were attacked by Bounty Hunters and Red Hessians. We made it to the Freeport to have a drink, and rest. Met a pretty Zoner woman.. Too bad I couldn't have her. Anyway, we undocked, and proceeded to the Dresden system. At this point, my bodyguards left me, as they would attract too much attention. I was able to beat off the peons of the RHA, and made it into New Berlin. I have run this route many times, so I know the patrol times. I was able to skirt around the patrols to a secret jump hole I found. Zips me right into Colorado, it does, Amigo. " He paused for another drink. " So, I make it to New York, and I decide to cut through some debris fields for Manhattan. I have several thousand Artifacts on board, you see. I don't want to risk getting caught. Some rogues and Xenos try to attack me, but they are no match for my guns.. Anyway, I land on Manhattan, and sell off my goods. HELL OF A GOOD PROFIT, AMIGO! It was some amateur that was obviously new to the business that bought them. I made nearly THREE TIMES the profit of my normal route. I bet that kid got fired. Anyway, I undock, and I am back in Liberty Space. That's when my trouble started.. " Ren finished his drink. " Some Liberty Navy jocks had blocked the Trade Lane. I nearly crashed into a huge Dreadnought, which would have sent me back into the blasted atmosphere, amigo.. Anyway, they start shooting at me! Apparently they caught on that I was a smuggler, and decided to end me. I barely made it out of the system alive. Back in Colorado, I found that my secret jump hole was blockaded. My friend had ratted me out, and sold off my IFF information, Ship ID #, and my secret jump hole. They destroyed my ship, and I made it back here in my pod. I had it retrofitted with a cruise engine, to be auto-piloted back here in case I lost consciousness. The tractor beam on their ship was ripped from their ship when they tried to pull me in. I only just woke up. "

The barkeep whistled. " My sympathy, amigo. " Ren nodded. " Luckily, they have some Starfliers here, which are normally used for initiation for new Corsairs. they let me fly one, until I can sort out my possessions and get a new ship..

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