The One Man Army

[Vogel]

Man, what am I doing here

Dean eyed the looming asteroid station with dread.

At least the Xenos were happy for the help, but this place is just a sty for God only knows what I cant believe Im here

Barrier Gate Station had a reputation for being one of the most unsavory places in Sirius. While it had its own rogue-ish laws and enforcement of those laws, it was nonetheless a place where some of the worst scum of the sector swooped through, plying trades in anything conceivable. Dean had heard plenty of stories about this place, but never dreamt hed ever have to set foot upon it.

The things I do for patriotism

Hed stolen a beat up Rhino freighter on a used ship lot on Denver when nobody was looking. Needless to say the authorities were quick to clamp down on its disappearance, and its transponder, so smuggling was out of the question. If anything, his Orillian.Star was a blockade runner.

The Xenos on Nome Base were curious as to why he was there at first, but merely grinned and told him of a supply route he could use. Even though the Xenos needed it dearly in that radioactive dump, they had an excess supply of anti-radiation medicine rolling in from Ames, and used it to barter with some unsavory characters aboard Barrier Gate for munitions. After that the illegal weapons were taken back to Ouray in Colorado where they were put to use. From there, stolen small arms from Detroit Munitions were sent back to Nome for later dispersal. It was a very unpleasant route, but it was all they had for him.

The Orillian Star set down in one of Barrier Gates numerous hangars with a dull thump. Heaving a sigh, Dean hit the appropriate switches to open the loading doors to the cargo compartment and the landing ramp. Outside the canopy he saw a few people scurrying about in the poorly-lit hangar, along with some sizeable lifter droids closing in from the side.

Suckers work fast. Expecting me, huh?

Trying to sum up some courage, Dean puffed out his chest and strolled down the ramp, a pathetic civilian blaster at his hip. Even as he saw the bearded man with his arms crossed some ten meters away, he felt his confidence slip between his fingers and puddle like the sweat in his clothes.

I need a bigger gun

His eyes shielded by what looked like a visor at this distance, the bearded man nodded and said aloud, You can stop right there, dont even bother, New Blood.

Dean nearly rocked back on his heels; his feet hadnt even left the boarding ramp yet.

Im not new, he managed to stutter out.

Hah! Bull, the man snorted, Just walk back around into that nice little clay pigeon of yours and wait for the stuff to be loaded. Well take care of the rest.

Slowly, his hand by the pistol twitching, Dean backpedaled up the ramp and closed it. He let out a gasp and wiped the sweat off his brow. The figures hed seen behind the bearded man were unmistakable.

Men. A lot of men. With a lot of guns. Theyre arms dealers, alright; if they thought anything was amiss theyd have shot me to pieces if Id taken one more step

But it was over now. It was something of a blessing in disguise. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the loading droids taking his cargo of drugs and rapidly swapping them with eerily nondescript cylindrical containers.

Warheads, bombs, God knows what else Id like it but theyre not mine, and worse yet its like piloting a bomb.

Catching his breath, Dean walked back over to the pilots seat and noted how ironically hed shut the system down.

Didnt know my lovely visit would be cut so short, but thats fine by me.

He needed to steel himself for the return run through Ontario. It was nice that his home was along the route, and hed even played with the people there by zooming past Toronto in full view, with the LPI patrols unable to catch him. But it was dangerous nonetheless. The Xenos were hardly to be seen in some areas, and where they werent, bounty hunters and Rogues abounded.

But hed made it thus far, and was resolved to keep on pushing.

Ontario deserved that much.