A Gathering Of Clouds

[Reverend Del]

Russell felt good. It seemed that hed make it home to Liberty in time for a drink or four. Also he might be able to get away from Ariene for good or at least until she needed him again. Of course he could just kill her, but that wasnt Russells way .Better to drink away the memories of the bitch and fall back to old habits. Unless he could stay sober and continue trading, itd be good to have the ship under him for good. To do it properly hed need to be truly independent, and to get that hed need to convince Ariene that shed be better of without him being under her feet, but still under her control.

Sir were reading three bogeys, hovering around the jumphole back into Omega 5. registering Outcast tags and were full of Arties.

Frack! Prep the modules prepare to dump the load. Well not be able to fight our way out of this one. But first we try to run. Come about!

Russell stopped worrying about future plans, piracy was something he was used to, he also knew the issues with trucking in artefacts. Outcasts would not like him for this, he could only hope hey never got close enough to scan him.

Interspace trader, cut your engines or we will open fire.

Russell grinned. Uh.negative. Were on a mission gotta go real quick.

Real quick. That would be an issue in an Advanced train. But hed be sorely damned if he wasnt at least going to try.


We said halt, corsair loving scum. We know what youre carrying, we know where you came from, Drop the loot and well go easy on you, maybe,

Like frell you will, You want me to drop it youre going to have to make me.

Sir, Im reading more at the Gamma hole. We not getting out of this one.

Cram it. Head for Omega 15, well risk the Bounty Hunters.

This smelled wrong, Outcasts didnt randomly block two JHs. They had to know he was coming and what he would be carrying. Only one way that would be the case, betrayal. But by who, the Sairs? He doubted that, Sairs were not known for their ability to work with the Outcasts, not even a little bit. The only other option was the bitch herself, covering her ass no doubt.

Sir, theyre gaining on us, the course change has put them only 3k behind.

The jolt signalled the end of the chase, theyd run into an asteroid. Dropping them another klick and straight into the chasing pack. The CD that hit them signified the end of their attempt at fleeing. All that was left now was the dropping and the going home poor.

Message for you, from your boss. She says thanks for a job well done but youre not needed.

The message cut off abruptly and where once there had been a Falcata bomber now there was just a rapidly expanding loud of debris.

Sir, receiving a new contact, unknown vessel. Approaching. Suggestions?

Yes man the fracking turrets, kill these frelling sons of whores!

The firefight was short, whatever this ship was it was making short work of the Outcasts, aidied by the awesome firepower Russell commanded, it was soon clear the Outcasts could not win this day. All that remained was for them to flee home.

Russell smiled. Now to find out what this mysterious saviour was.

***Greetings Usurper I am Caledbolg, I require your aid***

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Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.