Their first foray through met no resistance - other than the manic mine maze on the other side, which took them the better part of a day to navigate - so after delivering their report to Genoa, they loaded up on supplies and returned to Gallia. Cruising at random well off the plane (except when they took a jump hole to a different system), they evaded detection whilst listening to the various goings-on.
A week later, they were no closer to hunting down their target than before. The duplicity of the Junkers was beyond question now, though: messages intercepted and decoded with the X11's heavily modified onboard sensor suite - messages they couldn't have hoped to get with their old CSV - made it clear that the Council wasn't exaggerating in the least. Ren had been thoroughly sullen for a couple of days after a particularly incriminating series of transmissions. She still wouldn't admit that there might be a larger conspiracy involving Junkers throughout Sirius, but she did at least admit that it might not be the best idea to hang out at Junker bases until they knew more.
Unfortunately, after a week in deep space, the stockpiled supplies in the X11's hold were running low, and the ship itself was damaged from repeated encounters with GRN patrols. It wasn't easy finding the entrance to the minefield again, but find it they did. Navigating through a narrow tunnel where touching the walls meant near-certain death was harrowing enough in itself without the message they received via what was supposed to be a private channel.
The fruits of betrayal. The meat of deceit. The defiler's spice. You'll get your just desserts...unlike you both, I am an honorable man. My brothers say I am blind with madness; but I say madness is truest that is accompanied by diabolical vision, and justice is blind...therefore, you are mad, and I am justice made manifest. And justice always wins.
I am the Corsairs you killed in Omicron Delta. I am the Mollies you slew in Leeds. I am the Hessians you laid low in Omega-15. I have no name. I have no face. My life until now is nothing. I am a weapon of purpose, born of your own murderous rampage. I cannot take the life of every unrighteous fool that crosses my path...but I can take yours.
I am the ghost of all your misdeeds, come to claim what is rightfully mine; just as I have for thirty-two men and women over the course of my life. Meet me outside Islay. There, we will decide the issue, me and you. And don't think about going anywhere else.
I'm right behind you.
Your time is up.
Jaw slack in disbelief, Katashi got the cruise engines charging..."Incoming missile!" the computer warned, entirely too late. Ren didn't launch countermeasures quite fast enough - it was a train disruptor, made to slow the massive "train" type transports. It easily kept the little X11 from zipping ahead into the dubious safety of the depths of the minefield.
A Titan flew up alongside them, and wagged its wings. Across the local communications channel, an all-too-familiar voice came from the console. "Follow me, or I will destroy you." He fired a few shots across their bow to remind them of the fact - the salvo included the distinctive green of the JADE weapon he'd taken from them. Then the heavy fighter broke left, beckoning Katashi to follow.
Numbly, the pilot guided the shuttle after the Titan, and Ren forced her fingers away from the triggers. Honorable, my ass! He knows we don't stand a chance...even if this thing was undamaged, we're completely outmatched. He's freaking insane! Thinks he's a knight in shining armor, or an avenging angel, or something. Idiot. Their minds and hearts raced as their ship crawled after the Titan, out of the minefield and towards the Edinburgh system.
