Fri Apr 08, 2005 11:06 pm
Look, here's more story!!! Please read and enjoy!
Thanks,
Micah
Part 4
Chapter 1
Micah had to check the nav computer twice to be sure that the Star Chaser had actually entered the Hamburg system; the asteroid field the trio found themselves in now looked almost exactly the same as the one surrounding Freeport 2.
“Where’s the nearest trade lane?” Luther asked.
“We can’t use them,” Micah said before Kruger could respond to the question. “The trade lanes in Liberty space record the movements of every ship that passes through them. I’d be willing to bet the Rheinland versions are no different.”
“They’re not Captain,” Kruger said. “We’ll have to stay clear of trade lanes, Rheinland space or not, until our mission is complete. Besides, my associates would prefer that we did not leave a trail on our way to their base.”
“Which way Kruger?” Micah asked, feeding power to the Chaser’s engines.
“I’m entering a way-point into the navigation computer now,” Kruger replied. “You should be able to fly directly to it from here.”
Micah locked the ship’s course onto the imaginary point in space and engaged the cruise engines. It would take several hours, assuming no interruptions, at cruise speed to reach Kruger’s way-point so Micah set the automatic pilot to do the flying for them.
“Let’s keep an eye on those scanners,” Micah said. “If some more of our Hawk friends show up, I’d like to know about it as soon as possible; I’m getting tired of being ambushed.”
The course set by Kruger was almost perfectly straight – as straight as any course in a solar system whose bodies were in constant motion could be at any rate. The ungainly freighter was more than capable of finding her way on her own and the men she carried to parts unknown found the time to get to know one another better. Micah and Luther had only known each other for two short months and each of them had known Kruger for less than a week. As space veterans will, talk inevitably turned to stories of past adventures. Through them, Micah thought, one could learn a great deal about a man.
Micah quickly realized that Kruger was, perhaps, not the stuffy business man that he made himself out be; he had been in too many systems and too many close scrapes for that. But both Micah and Luther knew that Kruger was holding back, that though he wanted to say more, explain more, he did not yet feel that the time was right to do so. Micah was patient, however, and was prepared to wait.
The past few days saw Micah beginning to slip out of the rut that being a trader often entailed. He was beginning to feel, again, the exhilaration he often felt flying his Defender in his Navy days. Luther too, was less the bartender on Freeport 2 and more the Bretonian gunner with each passing hour. But Micah was worried too; he had left the Navy to escape the fighting, the killing, and the wondering whether the next flight would be his last. He wasn’t sure he was ready to face it again, but conflict with the GMG seemed almost inevitable now. Was there some way around it? Wasn’t there any other way? Micah didn’t know but, looking around the command deck of a Bretonian freighter light-years from home at his two companions he was sure they would come through somehow.
Micah turned his chair back around toward the view port shaking his head and smiling, wondering what Captain Phillips would think of all this. The Star Chaser streaked its way past a trade lane, Planet Hamburg glittering like a snow ball, growing in the light of the star it called a sun to the starboard side of the ship. Sweeping past the planet, the ship cruised into another asteroid field. The Chaser had just flown into the field proper when the scopes lit up.
“I’ve got two fighters incoming,” Luther called out, readying the ship’s turrets. “They register as Stiletto heavy fighters.”
The steel gray fighters were streaking toward the ship, literally bristling with weapons. Micah kept his hand over the cruise engine cut-off ready, but unwilling if it was unnecessary to kill the engines and engage the fighters. At 1000 meters the ships were intimidating. At 200 they looked deadly.
The fighters blazed past the freighter without firing a shot.
“Don’t worry Mr. Luther,” Kruger said, staring into his own scanner at the nav computer. “They’re right on time.”
“Friends of yours?” Micah asked, eyebrows raised, breathing a sigh of relief.
“An escort, Captain,” Kruger replied. “They’re here to make sure we reach our destination safely… and to keep an eye on you.”
“An eye?” Micah asked.
“My associates do not trust strangers quickly or easily,” Kruger answered. “When you have met them you will understand why.”
“I can hardly wait,” Luther muttered to himself in the gunner’s chair.
The Star Chaser plunged deeper into the asteroid field, a Stiletto fighter on either side, at cruise speed. Just as Hamburg was becoming snow ball sized again, the nav computer pinged. Micah could see the reflection of a new object on the scope on Kruger’s face.
“Jump hole located,” Kruger said. “Captain, if you would be so kind as to change course and head for the jump hole.”
“Where are we going?” Luther asked as the ship and her escorts made arced through the asteroids toward the tear in real space.
“The Frankfurt system,” Kruger replied. “Where we will be able to rest and where all your questions will be answered.”
The ships, in perfect formation, flew into the hole in space created by unknown forces countless millennia ago and quickly turned light years into minutes.
Thanks,
Micah
Part 4
Chapter 1
Micah had to check the nav computer twice to be sure that the Star Chaser had actually entered the Hamburg system; the asteroid field the trio found themselves in now looked almost exactly the same as the one surrounding Freeport 2.
“Where’s the nearest trade lane?” Luther asked.
“We can’t use them,” Micah said before Kruger could respond to the question. “The trade lanes in Liberty space record the movements of every ship that passes through them. I’d be willing to bet the Rheinland versions are no different.”
“They’re not Captain,” Kruger said. “We’ll have to stay clear of trade lanes, Rheinland space or not, until our mission is complete. Besides, my associates would prefer that we did not leave a trail on our way to their base.”
“Which way Kruger?” Micah asked, feeding power to the Chaser’s engines.
“I’m entering a way-point into the navigation computer now,” Kruger replied. “You should be able to fly directly to it from here.”
Micah locked the ship’s course onto the imaginary point in space and engaged the cruise engines. It would take several hours, assuming no interruptions, at cruise speed to reach Kruger’s way-point so Micah set the automatic pilot to do the flying for them.
“Let’s keep an eye on those scanners,” Micah said. “If some more of our Hawk friends show up, I’d like to know about it as soon as possible; I’m getting tired of being ambushed.”
The course set by Kruger was almost perfectly straight – as straight as any course in a solar system whose bodies were in constant motion could be at any rate. The ungainly freighter was more than capable of finding her way on her own and the men she carried to parts unknown found the time to get to know one another better. Micah and Luther had only known each other for two short months and each of them had known Kruger for less than a week. As space veterans will, talk inevitably turned to stories of past adventures. Through them, Micah thought, one could learn a great deal about a man.
Micah quickly realized that Kruger was, perhaps, not the stuffy business man that he made himself out be; he had been in too many systems and too many close scrapes for that. But both Micah and Luther knew that Kruger was holding back, that though he wanted to say more, explain more, he did not yet feel that the time was right to do so. Micah was patient, however, and was prepared to wait.
The past few days saw Micah beginning to slip out of the rut that being a trader often entailed. He was beginning to feel, again, the exhilaration he often felt flying his Defender in his Navy days. Luther too, was less the bartender on Freeport 2 and more the Bretonian gunner with each passing hour. But Micah was worried too; he had left the Navy to escape the fighting, the killing, and the wondering whether the next flight would be his last. He wasn’t sure he was ready to face it again, but conflict with the GMG seemed almost inevitable now. Was there some way around it? Wasn’t there any other way? Micah didn’t know but, looking around the command deck of a Bretonian freighter light-years from home at his two companions he was sure they would come through somehow.
Micah turned his chair back around toward the view port shaking his head and smiling, wondering what Captain Phillips would think of all this. The Star Chaser streaked its way past a trade lane, Planet Hamburg glittering like a snow ball, growing in the light of the star it called a sun to the starboard side of the ship. Sweeping past the planet, the ship cruised into another asteroid field. The Chaser had just flown into the field proper when the scopes lit up.
“I’ve got two fighters incoming,” Luther called out, readying the ship’s turrets. “They register as Stiletto heavy fighters.”
The steel gray fighters were streaking toward the ship, literally bristling with weapons. Micah kept his hand over the cruise engine cut-off ready, but unwilling if it was unnecessary to kill the engines and engage the fighters. At 1000 meters the ships were intimidating. At 200 they looked deadly.
The fighters blazed past the freighter without firing a shot.
“Don’t worry Mr. Luther,” Kruger said, staring into his own scanner at the nav computer. “They’re right on time.”
“Friends of yours?” Micah asked, eyebrows raised, breathing a sigh of relief.
“An escort, Captain,” Kruger replied. “They’re here to make sure we reach our destination safely… and to keep an eye on you.”
“An eye?” Micah asked.
“My associates do not trust strangers quickly or easily,” Kruger answered. “When you have met them you will understand why.”
“I can hardly wait,” Luther muttered to himself in the gunner’s chair.
The Star Chaser plunged deeper into the asteroid field, a Stiletto fighter on either side, at cruise speed. Just as Hamburg was becoming snow ball sized again, the nav computer pinged. Micah could see the reflection of a new object on the scope on Kruger’s face.
“Jump hole located,” Kruger said. “Captain, if you would be so kind as to change course and head for the jump hole.”
“Where are we going?” Luther asked as the ship and her escorts made arced through the asteroids toward the tear in real space.
“The Frankfurt system,” Kruger replied. “Where we will be able to rest and where all your questions will be answered.”
The ships, in perfect formation, flew into the hole in space created by unknown forces countless millennia ago and quickly turned light years into minutes.
NEED MORE!!!! i shall become a zoner this is awsome here a council of zoner this is blowing my mind love it over and over....
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