The path of Prospector

[Doom]

York woke up early. He rested well and ready for new active day. After morning shower he went to Ouray command room to read reports from night shift.

-Good morning Burns. - York said to officer on duty. - Did we have peaceful night?

-Yes sir, quite uneventful.

-Good. Forward night reports to this monitor please.

While York was reading reports, Burns was conducting preparations for arrival of more Xeno pilots.
When York finished with reports, he turned to Burns and asked him for full list of Xeno pilots who already arrived on Ouray.

-Oh, i see we have some of my old friends here....hehehe good old Tex didn't arrived yet...but i see Bernadotte did...I will leave him to rest for a bit longer then i we will spread our wings a bit.

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York was sitting in the bar drinking coffee when Bernadotte entered. York waved to him and Bernadotte approached the table.

- Welcome to Ouray base Bery...long time no see....

- Ah thanks old friend. Yes life is complicated now...not much time for old friends.

- Yes thats too bad. I eat most of my meals in cockpit of my ship. That is no life. But it is also only way to make money....Barge is bringing some funds but that isn't enough for growing fleet.

- Barge?...Ah yes...is that old bucket still flying?...i haven't seen Thompson for some time

- Hehehe...he was injured some time ago...but he recovered and hes back on that old ship making money by smuggling and pirating. And when pirating is subject, how about you and me see whats flying out there. I need to show you my gunboat...ugly like hell but carry's hell of a punch.
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- This is gunboat Prospector to very heavy fighter ID Bernadotte 086. Lets hunt.

- Scanners on line...

Prospector and Bernadotte were flying in formation when their scanners picked up another Xeno pilot. He joined the formation and they cruised away.
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- Contact...red alert...trader spotted...Open comms
- To trader Scandura, this is Richard York. Will you support Xeno cause with 2 million credits?

Instead of answering trader tried to run, but Prospector was faster. York disrupted trade lanes and transport ship at the same time. Trader was just drifting in space. York repeated his demand while he fired to lower transports shields. Trader pilot did answer this time.

- No. Abort or die.

York couldn't help not to laugh. Such threats from defenseless trader.

-No you say. Well..if u wont support us that means you are against us. And i cant have you bringing money for our enemies. So, DIE.... - with those words Prospector opened fire and transport ship went down in flames.

- I would prefer if he did decide to support us. Better for both parties.

- Heh. You cant expect from traders to understand that once we were like them, one of them. - Bernadotte said.

- I wonder why that trader threaten us in such manner. Watch over your back. I don't like it.
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Prospector was drifting in space near planet Mojave with Berny at his side when scanners picked up another contact. York sent Berny to investigate cause it didn't seem that is a trader or potential target. Both York and Berny were surprised when now VHF tagged as HF attacked Berny. Berny stood up good against him and HF fighter was suffering some damage. York saw how fight was going great so he didn't open fire. Not until he got another contact on scanner. Another HF vessel, but this time destroyer, outcast model. York fired at fighter and it was destroyed quickly. Then both Berny and York attacked HF destroyer. He did put up good fight but after rather short fight he followed fighters faith.
Prospector tractored several escape pods. Later it turned out that York captured several commanders and captains as well as few lower ranking pilots. They were brought to Ouray base and have been processed.

Later in a day Prospector was near Magellan jump gates and was on course to planet LA in California when he stumbled upon another trader. He asked him for support in money but trader didn't want to listen voice of reason and he started to run. Again Prospectors guns were throwing death around...Trader made several desperate attempts to get in cruise speed, but York kept him rupted...Finally trader managed to dock at planet LA leaving York, Berny and Cathartic above the planet.

Dreadful threesome waited outside LA for trader to undock. While they waited Don Cortez appeared and asked for civilians to be left alone. York ordered not to fire at Dons liberty cruiser unless he attacks first.
Trader got some courage from Dons presence above LA, so he undocked. Berny and Cathartic began attack on trader when Don asked them to abort attack. Naturally they didn't obey and he started to fire on them...
Prospector was waiting for that moment and at almost same time he attacked cruiser. Cruisers shields were dropping fast. Both fighters turned from trader to cruiser. Once free, trader gave run for it...
Meanwhile, cruiser received full wrath of xenos for loosing the trader. Don tried to run but Xenos kept him well rupted. He didn't stand a chance and cruiser was destroyed in matter of minutes. Don was rescued by passing bounty hunters.

- He took one to save a trader. You need to respect that - York thought.

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Three Xenos continued to hunt for passing traders or wealthy individuals. Luck was on their side when the saw lonely cruiser. From what York could see it belonged to some kind of priestess of children of bretonia.
Since they seemed to be allies of Junkers, xenos worst enemies, York real didn't expect them to support Xeno cause. But he did ask anyway.

Cruiser responded with fire. Xenos didn't hold back so they fired back. When Priestess saw might of Xenos she started to run. It was long chase trough several systems and finally ended up in New London. There Berny's ship was destroyed by another Children's gunboat who came to help cruiser. Prospector and Cathartic concentrated their fire ton gunboat, but Cathartic got reckless and his ship was destroyed my cruiser missiles. Prospector managed to tractor both escape pods. Once alone against GB and cruiser York really needed to pull all his skill against powerful enemies...
He was lowering Gbs shields with ease while both cruiser and Gb had trouble hitting his ship. When cruiser pilot saw that he was over his head in this fight he took off, leaving GB to fight alone.
Poor GB pilot did his best but it was lost fight. York finished him with cold precise hits.
Since York was on strange turf he immediately turned his ship and went back to Colorado.

At Ouray base Cathartic and Berny were pulled off escape pods and since they didn't suffer any injuries all three of them went to bar for a night cap before well deserved rest.