Wildcat

[Tenacity]

Kat flew for what seemed like hours through the dark clouds of the Pittsburgh debris field, searching for the destroyer she had been operating from days ago. The CSV's scanners were crap, barely able to see past the ship's nose in the cloud... not that it would help her much, the destroyer was running sensor jamming hardware to avoid detection by the Naval patrols.

Without warning, the ship shook violently and pulled to the left, and bright light arcing off the port side. She strained to look back and get a visual, spotting a pair of Hyena rogue fighters on her tail. "Just great," Kat growled under her breath, "friendly fire." She diverted what little power the ship had to it's communications array, trying to boost her signal enough to get an audio link with the patrol.

The comm system was full of static, hardly understandable, but it would have to do. "Rogue patrol, cease fire goddamnit, cease fire!"

Momentarily, the pink-orange laser fire from the two craft halted, and a crackling message came back over the CSV's speakers, "Identify yourself, you're trespassing in Liberty Rogue territory."

"This is Kat Summers, callsign Wildcat, I'm one of yours damnit!"

"What the hell are you doin' in that piece of crap, kat?

She recognized the other voice, it was Ghost, one of her 'associates'. "Ghost? That you?" My fighter was shot down in that suicide attack above Pitts three days ago, this is the only heap I could get my hands on."

She could hear him laughing to himself over the comm, through the breaks and static. "Alright, form up, we'll lead you back to base... Boss aint gonna be happy you wrecked his greyhound."

Location: Liberty Rogue Destroyer, Somewhere near Pittsburgh

[color=#FF6600]CHARACTER PROFILE

Callsign: Ghost
Position: Gunner
<Ghost is an ex-lane hacker, signed on with Boss' crew after being set-up and exiled from Mactan. He's an expert marksman and handles the gunner position aboard the barghest-class bomber operated by Boss. While Ghost typically views Rogue technology as inferior to the Lane Hacker equipment he used to work with, he constantly makes modifications to Boss' ships to keep them ahead of the rest.>

Kat pulled into dock and set the CSV down on the destroyer's makeshift flight deck. This particular warship had it's cargo hold converted into a carrier-style landing and launch bay, allowing Rogue fighters to operate from it in the Pittsburgh field. The ship had also been fitted with basic ECM hardware, allowing it to jam the sensors of any nearby craft, and keep it's energy emissions at a minimum to avoid detection.

Ghost approached the CSV with a grin on his face, shaking his head, "An entire planet of junk and you couldnt get something better than this?" He held out his hand to help her out of the ship, using the other to hold his nose shut, "Ugh, what's that smell?"

"I think the last owner rotted in there for a few weeks before the ship was found... push the damn thing out of the airlock already." They headed towards the exit to the flight deck, and only seconds after the airlock door shut, the bay's loading arm shoved the CSV back out into space, jettisoned just like the trash.

"Come on, Boss is waiting, I dont envy you having to tell him you lost one of his fighters... boy is he gonna be pissed." Ghost took the lead, still laughing to himself as he made his way through the ship's meandering corridors.

After all their time working for him, none of them knew what Boss' real name was. He was one of the many Rogue crimelords, one of the lessers when it came to raw power and influence... but as mean as they came. Boss ran their entire operation, he owned the ships, the equipment, and the pilots... and he made sure everyone knew it. If you screwed up bad enough, he'd kick you out of the airlock without a second thought. A real *******... but the crew didnt have much choice, they had signed a contract to work for him and that was that. You dont go back on a contract... not unless you had a death-wish. At least the pay was good.

Ghost opened the cabin door to Boss' quarters, holding the door open for Kat, but remaining in the hallway and as much out-of-sight as possible. She entered the room apprehensively... most men didnt scare her, she knew how to handle herself and her gun, but even if she managed to shoot boss before he or his guards could take her down, the other Crimelords would brand her a traitor to the Rogues, and they were the only 'family' she had.

Boss sat behind his oversized oak desk, legs propped up onto the desktop and a cigar in his mouth. He loved to shove his wealth in your face... wood was extremely expensive in space, as was just about everything else in his office, and he wanted everyone to know that he was better than they were, even if he was just a bottomfeeding pig compared to the other criminal masterminds behind the Rogues.

CHARACTER PROFILE

Callsign: Boss
Position: Rogue Crimelord
<Boss is an exravagant, self-indulging crimelord among the leadership of the Liberty Rogues. While his actual position leaves him with little power, he exercises that power as frequently and harshly as possible. His underlings fear him, and those with higher rank despise him... but keep him because he's useful, and gets the job done. Boss is currently the temporary captain of a Liberty Rogue Destroyer positioned in the Pittsburgh area, and is tasked with intercepting shipments running from there to Fort Bush and Baltimore Shipyard. His ship also serves as a rendevous point for Rogues smuggling cardamine across New York.>

"Well well well, if it isnt little Ms. kitten. Tell me, where is my Gorram Greyhound, and what the hell was that piece of crap you landed in? I gave you a simple task, and a handfull of men to carry it out, and you come back alone with no loot?"

She started to speak, but he cut her off, standing up from his seat, "No excuses! That fighter was worth ten times more than your pathetic life!" He grabbed her by the throat and shoved her up against the cabin wall, despite her struggling she was pinned and helpless, "Where the hell is my money!?"

She strained to breathe, kicking at his fat stomach and digging her nails into his arms. He pulled her back from the wall and threw her to the floor, "Pathetic wench, you're lucky you're a damn good pilot, or I'd kill you and be rid of your incompetence."

Kat gasped for air, coughing and sputtering as she tried to talk, "It wasnt my fault, the Navy had a dozen ships in the area!"

"Tomorrow you'll be flying the Werewolf, Marcus' crew are going to be hitting shipping along the lanes and will need an escort. Do not screw this up, or I will kill you. Now go, get out of my sight!"

She got up to her feet and left the room, tears welling up in her eyes both from pain and anger. Someone needed to shoot that bastard, he had no right to treat his own people like this. Ghost put an arm around her, helping her to her quarters, "Dont worry about him, kat, he'll get what's coming to him... eventually."

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