broadcast."
"Understood," replied Carter before he pressed the mute button and threw the headset onto the dashboard.
The ships thrusters began to come to life; a blue light flickered within each one followed by bright orange flames. Carter lifted the control stick back slightly and the ship started to hover a few meters above the ground.
"Hanger bay door’s opening; let's take her nice and easy,” said Carter as he increased the throttle.
The ship lurched forward and the nose tilted towards the ground while gaining speed at a steady pace.
"Hold on to your lunch," said Carter.
He then rammed the throttle suddenly to maximum, pinning him and Charlie back into their seats.
Within a split second, they were out in the vastness of deep space and Stout's ship was fading fast behind them in the distance as they increased speed.
"Auto pilot set; all is good,” said Carter as he adjusted the controls with his left hand.
"You are on course to rendezvous with the cargo. ETA, thirty minutes,” advised a voice through the intercom.
Carter knew the drill; he had been on pirate raids countless times. It was what made him one of Stout's best scout pilots but this one was different. Knowing Stout could easily replace him, he had to be on his toes and get it right.
"Thirty minutes? Damn, how fast is this cargo ship going?" asked Charlie.
"Trust me; it’s a slow moving bastard but nothing we can’t handle—speed wise that is," replied Carter.
Their ship continued on its course and moved fast through space; they would reach their target in no time…
The cigar shaped N class cargo ship, HMS Bravo, was over a mile long and was accompanied by one fighter scout flying alongside. The ship was destined for one of the moon bases in the Theros system, home to many trade markets. The crew on-board the N class mainly consisted of military types and standard crew.
It started to slow down and when the booster vapour left a trail the captain on-board said, "Let's take it easy around this sector and be on the watch out for any other vessels; it's a haven for would-be pirates,”
The scout fighter alongside them pulled in closer and was in the captain’s view. He gave a simple salute to the person inside who was flying his first mission in a fighter ship.
"Did you check out his record? Damn rookie assigned; why do they insist on sending rookies?” said the disgruntled co-pilot.
"Hell if I know, but he better be on the ball. What we’re carrying will make someone very rich, replied the captain”.
A blip appeared on the radar on Carter’s ship; they were closing in fast and needed to slow down to retain enough fuel to make it back.
"Okay, we have it locked on target; should be there pretty soon,” said Carter informing Stout.
"If there are any problems, you better take care of it,” Stout replied as he stroked one of his venomous creatures with his steel hand.
"Understood; over and out,” replied Carter.
"Well? Don't just sit there staring; go and get your weapons ready and get belted up next to the ramp bay,” said Carter with impatience.
Charlie unstrapped his seat harness and walked around Carter on his way to the weapon containers.
"Everything I need is here, right?" called Charlie. He thought to himself, “I can't go through with this; I just can't”.
But he knew opting out wasn’t a choice; Stout would trigger the switch and he would be dead.
He loaded up the heavy rifle with a magazine first, then pulled out several other magazines from the container, and secured them in his gear. Two hand guns were remaining which he attached to straps on both his legs.
"You forgot one thing, idiot," said Carter.
Charlie turned around to face him; he did not like his tone.
"Your bullet proof vest. Christ, do I have to spell everything out for you?" said Carter, exasperated.
Charlie bent down and lifted the vest attached near the ramp door; it was light considering what it was made of.
"Best material around, you’ll be
"Understood," replied Carter before he pressed the mute button and threw the headset onto the dashboard.
The ships thrusters began to come to life; a blue light flickered within each one followed by bright orange flames. Carter lifted the control stick back slightly and the ship started to hover a few meters above the ground.
"Hanger bay door’s opening; let's take her nice and easy,” said Carter as he increased the throttle.
The ship lurched forward and the nose tilted towards the ground while gaining speed at a steady pace.
"Hold on to your lunch," said Carter.
He then rammed the throttle suddenly to maximum, pinning him and Charlie back into their seats.
Within a split second, they were out in the vastness of deep space and Stout's ship was fading fast behind them in the distance as they increased speed.
"Auto pilot set; all is good,” said Carter as he adjusted the controls with his left hand.
"You are on course to rendezvous with the cargo. ETA, thirty minutes,” advised a voice through the intercom.
Carter knew the drill; he had been on pirate raids countless times. It was what made him one of Stout's best scout pilots but this one was different. Knowing Stout could easily replace him, he had to be on his toes and get it right.
"Thirty minutes? Damn, how fast is this cargo ship going?" asked Charlie.
"Trust me; it’s a slow moving bastard but nothing we can’t handle—speed wise that is," replied Carter.
Their ship continued on its course and moved fast through space; they would reach their target in no time…
The cigar shaped N class cargo ship, HMS Bravo, was over a mile long and was accompanied by one fighter scout flying alongside. The ship was destined for one of the moon bases in the Theros system, home to many trade markets. The crew on-board the N class mainly consisted of military types and standard crew.
It started to slow down and when the booster vapour left a trail the captain on-board said, "Let's take it easy around this sector and be on the watch out for any other vessels; it's a haven for would-be pirates,”
The scout fighter alongside them pulled in closer and was in the captain’s view. He gave a simple salute to the person inside who was flying his first mission in a fighter ship.
"Did you check out his record? Damn rookie assigned; why do they insist on sending rookies?” said the disgruntled co-pilot.
"Hell if I know, but he better be on the ball. What we’re carrying will make someone very rich, replied the captain”.
A blip appeared on the radar on Carter’s ship; they were closing in fast and needed to slow down to retain enough fuel to make it back.
"Okay, we have it locked on target; should be there pretty soon,” said Carter informing Stout.
"If there are any problems, you better take care of it,” Stout replied as he stroked one of his venomous creatures with his steel hand.
"Understood; over and out,” replied Carter.
"Well? Don't just sit there staring; go and get your weapons ready and get belted up next to the ramp bay,” said Carter with impatience.
Charlie unstrapped his seat harness and walked around Carter on his way to the weapon containers.
"Everything I need is here, right?" called Charlie. He thought to himself, “I can't go through with this; I just can't”.
But he knew opting out wasn’t a choice; Stout would trigger the switch and he would be dead.
He loaded up the heavy rifle with a magazine first, then pulled out several other magazines from the container, and secured them in his gear. Two hand guns were remaining which he attached to straps on both his legs.
"You forgot one thing, idiot," said Carter.
Charlie turned around to face him; he did not like his tone.
"Your bullet proof vest. Christ, do I have to spell everything out for you?" said Carter, exasperated.
Charlie bent down and lifted the vest attached near the ramp door; it was light considering what it was made of.
"Best material around, you’ll be
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