Login

Hawk · 01-30-2011, 02:14 AM,

Jack Crow closed to door to the bridge and took a seat at the table. 'I hope you're finding my little ship comfortable enough. I told you we don't have much to offer here.'

'It's fine thank you. It's a very different experience for me, but given the circumstances I'm very glad to be here, so again, thank you.'

Jack then turned to Mac, 'We've got about twelve hours before we jump to Magellan, I want you and Stephen on the bridge when we do. It will probably take us a couple hours to reach the rendezvous, but I want everyone on their toes. No telling what's in store for us there.'

'No problem. I was about to go catch some sleep, but I'll be ready. You aren't expecting trouble are you?'

'I'm always expecting trouble, that's what keeps me alive. In all honesty though Thumper has been good to us and I trust the jobs he's set up for us. There's nothing to be gained by someone trying to cross us in a deal like this, but there's money to be made by all if the deal goes well.'

'Ok, Captain. See you in a few hours.'

Mac headed down the ladder into the lower levels. Maria then turned her attention back to Jack, 'So, exactly what kind of business are you in Captain Crow?'

'Whatever pays the bills. Right now we're just hauling freight for some people. Simple and unexciting, but it's a living.'

'You seem to take a lot of precautions for such a simple and boring business.'

'Space is a dangerous place for a single vessel like this one to be flying around. You've got to watch your back all the time.'

'I see. So who is it that you are hauling this freight for?'

'People who don't like it when we talk about them if you know what I mean, but I suspect the people we are meeting live somewhere in Magellan and not at the Freeport.'

'Well you do keep some interesting company, don't you?'

'It keeps life from getting too boring.' Jack got up from the table and walked through the doors to the ship's bridge. A few minutes later he emerged from the bridge and walked to the ladder at the other end of the room. 'I'll be downstairs for a bit. Make yourself as comfortable as you can and ask the crew if you need anything.'

'Thank you, 'she said to him, 'this is not exactly what I'm used to, but at the same time I do appreciate what you've done for me. You've helped me a lot.'

Jack sat in his quarters reading a book. He had few luxuries on this ship but his books were something he would not give up. Most of what he liked to read could be found electronically on the neural net and in many cases that was necessary. However, he still liked the feel of a book in his hands. It was his connection to a much simpler time when men had much more control over their own destinies. It was important that humans didn't forget their past. As he read the comm. in his room beeped.

'Talk to me.'

The voice of Stephen Cruz spoke to him from the bridge, 'Jack, we're about to jump to Magellan.'

'Ok, I'm on my way up.' He put down the book and stood up. He picked up his coat and stepped out into the corridor. As he mounted the ladder and began to climb toward the bridge, he saw Mac coming out of her quarters as well. 'You all rested up for the fun?' he asked her.

'Ready as I'll ever be. This should be pretty simple though.'

'I think so. I just like to be ready for anything.'

Jack and Mac both climbed onto the upper deck and walked across the common room to the bridge. Maria was sitting in a chair with her feet up looking like she was ready to fall asleep. She looked up at the two of them as they made their way across the room with very serious expressions on their faces. 'Is everything alright?' she asked them.

'We're just great, 'Jack told her 'it's now time for us to earn our pay.' He and Mac disappeared onto the bridge.

Stephen was sitting in the command chair when Jack and Mac walked onto the bridge. Stephen started to get up and Jack motioned for him to stay where he was. Mac walked forward and took her place at the helm. Jack walked to front of the bridge. The entire front and most of the sides was window from the floor to the ceiling. There were many things about the design of these old vessels he disliked, but this was great. Here he wasn't confined to looking at space only through instruments. He could gave out and see what the ship saw.

What he saw all around them were great massive pieces of ice floating in space. They had just jumped into the Magellan system, most of which was covered by two large ice fields. The ice made it pretty easy to hide, which also made it a favorite hiding place for ships that wanted to avoid easy detection. Jack turned to where Stephen was sitting,
'Any contacts?'

'We picked up a few signals when we first came through the gate. I'd say it was a mix between naval and commercial traffic. Nothing got very close to us and there's nothing in range of us now.'

'How long until we reach the rendezvous?'

'About five hours the way we are traveling now.'

'Ok, good enough.' He paced back and forth by the window looking out at the massive ice field. His ship slipped so easily between the large pieces, especially with Mac driving.

The door to the bridge opened and Maria stepped in. 'I'm sorry, 'she said 'I hope this is restricted territory or anything.'

'Have a seat, 'Jack told her 'I'll let you know when it's not a good time for you to be here.'

Jack walked over to scanning console. There was a young man in his early twenties sitting there monitoring the equipment. 'How are you holding up Baxter?' Jack asked the man.

'I'm good Jack. Everything seems to be working fine.'

'Ok, this is where you really earn your keep. Don't take your eyes off that scanner and let us know before anything gets near us.'

'You got it.'

Login
Username:
Password:	Lost Password?
	Remember me